Elite Traveler March-April 2015

INSPIRE ADVENTURE

elite traveler MAR/APR 2015 ISSUE 2 107

MONGOLIA TRAVERSE THE STEPPES ON A MOTORBIKE AND BECOME A MODERN-DAY NOMAD Few people can go it alone in the wind-whipped landscapes of Mongolia. Run out of water here and you quickly run out of time. This is why Brown and Hudson link up with the most accomplished local pathfinders to look after their clients, who have included George Soros and Richard Gere. Here the horse is the favored mode of transport, but you can also saddle up on a motorbike or hop around by helicopter. You could join an intrepid archaeological excavation, which has recently uncovered 3rd century chariots, or fly into the Gobi Desert to help paleontologists chip away at prehistoric fossils in the shifting sands (at the aptly named Flaming Cliffs, dinosaur eggs were first discovered in the 1920s). One of the most thrilling experiences is with the fur-clad Kazakhs, who hunt on horseback with golden eagles: watch as this majestic raptor takes off from your arm and returns with the gift of a fox or rabbit. Wherever you head, a private camp is waiting, a traditional domed "ger", with en-suite bathroom and a menu that includes yak meat and the finest Russian caviar. At night, lie back on camel-skin rugs and gaze at the crystal-clear starscape. Many clients have commissioned a bespoke ger to ship back home. Price: From $30,300 per person. Contact: Denise Gogerty +44 203 358 0110 brownandhudson.com

WEST PAPUA HEAD EAST TO THE FINAL FRONTIER AND RIDE THE WAVES IN STYLE

Surfers are modern-day pathfinders to off-the-radar coastal spots, but not everyone wants to end the day flopping down in a beach shack. To do it in style, you’ll need Tropicsurf, the outfit that international champions turn to when they want to go the extra mile. Set up by Aussie instructor Ross Phillips, its most intrepid destination is West Papua, on the far-flung Pacific island of New Guinea. To get there, hop on a private jet from Singapore to board the Silolona, a teak-trimmed, black-sailed replica of a Spice Islands schooner. For a real rush, climb along the 30ft bowsprit and watch the ocean stream past below. Once you arrive at West Papua, Phillips will hunt down the best waves, whooping as he spots a perfect hollow tubing right-hander just as the sun begins to dip behind rugged mountaintops. Don’t worry if you don’t know what that means, the team welcomes beginners and has pitch-perfect training programs that use radio transmitter helmets to relay instructions. Conditions for stand-up paddle boarding are also excellent; and for one client the team brought along a professional freediver. What you won’t find here is another surfer, just curious villagers. On a recent trip, an entire village gathered round and started playing home-made instruments. That's an experience that just can’t be planned. Price: From $160,000 for seven nights; Silolona operates on a bespoke charter basis. Contact: Ross Phillips, ross@tropicsurf.net tropicsurf.net

From top: Surfing in West Papua, and crossing the Mongolian steppes