💶 How much the most expensive vacation costs: prices for cruises, poles and space

The most expensive vacations in the world are nothing like a typical holiday.

When people talk about luxury travel, they usually think of the Maldives, Singapore, and Switzerland. These destinations are certainly not cheap, but the record-breaking sums are paid for something else entirely. The farther and more exotic the point on the map, the higher the price and the risk. We've put together seven types of trips where the bill runs into tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Below you'll see exactly what that price includes: permits, helicopters, icebreakers, and submersibles. The most expensive item on the list isn't a resort, it's space.

Ad: this article contains affiliate links, we earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you.

How much the most expensive trips cost

💡 In short:

The record prices aren't held by beaches, but by expeditions: space, the Mariana Trench, the poles, and Everest.
The cost rises with remoteness, permits, and risk, not with hotel stars.
Prices and access rules: as of 09/2026, verified in materials from Evening Standard.

1. Around-the-world cruise

A six-month sea voyage around the planet appeals to those who care about the journey itself, not the beach. In a single sailing, the ship visits dozens of countries and calls at remote islands that regular tours don't reach.

The price depends on the cabin class. On the 2026 Regent Seven Seas cruise, which lasts 154 nights, an average suite costs around $260,000 (as of 09/2026, Cruise Industry News). Inside cabins on mass-market lines cost an order of magnitude less, so your starting budget will be noticeably more modest.

Large cruise ship docked at a pier at night

The main challenge isn't money, it's visas. Some ports allow a one-day shore visit without a visa, but you shouldn't count on it. If you don't have an EU passport, you need to start planning this route at least six months in advance.

The catch: six months at sea, and you'll see some ports for only a couple of hours.

2. Diving to the bottom of the Mariana Trench

The Mariana Trench (Challenger Deep) is considered the deepest point in the world's oceans. The descent takes place in a titanium submersible, the trip down and back takes several hours, and about the same amount of time goes to filming the seafloor.

Limiting Factor submersible underwater near the surface

This experience is available to very few: only a handful of passengers are taken aboard per season. A spot on the dive to Challenger Deep aboard pilot Victor Vescovo's Limiting Factor submersible cost $750,000 per person (as of 09/2026, Popular Mechanics). You're paying for the crew, the vessel, and open-ocean logistics, not for comfort.

How to get there: only as part of a private expedition, individual tickets aren't sold.
The catch: spots are almost nonexistent, and the depths don't forgive mistakes.

3. Climbing Everest

Everest attracts climbers even at the cost of their lives. People die on its slopes every year, but demand doesn't drop: agencies always have offers available. Climbing requires fitness, acclimatization, and money.

The permit is getting more expensive. On September 1, 2025, Nepal raised the climbing fee from $11,000 to $15,000, the first increase since 2015 (as of 09/2026, The Kathmandu Post). Guides, gear, and logistics come on top of that, so the final total is significantly higher.

Snow-covered summit of Everest above the clouds

© Mount_Everest_as_seen_from_Drukair2.jpg : shrimpo1967 derivative work: Papa Lima Whiskey 2 ( talk ) · CC BY-SAPhoto: Mount_Everest_as_seen_from_Drukair2.jpg : shrimpo1967 derivative work: Papa Lima Whiskey 2 ( talk ), CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

VIP programs cost more but include a personal guide, a support team, and an evacuation helicopter. For an extra fee, even a photographer will accompany you to base camp. You can compare group programs in the expeditions section on GetYourGuide.

The catch: the climb remains deadly even with a guide.

4. The Arctic and Antarctic

The poles attract travelers constantly, but the price is what puts people off. You reach Antarctica by sea: if you skip the shore landing, your budget will be noticeably lower than with a full landing. A flight over the South Pole without landing costs even more.

Operators and seasonal dates in Antarctica are easy to compare on the Quark Expeditions website (according to the operator, 09/2026). At the North Pole there is no land at all, only ice and water. You get there by icebreaker, and you can see polar bears there.

Formally, the Arctic does not belong to any single country, but five states hold rights to it: Canada, the US, Russia, Denmark and Norway. An icebreaker cruise to the pole is among the most expensive expeditions, and tickets run into tens of thousands of dollars. Getting to the departure port is usually harder than buying the cruise itself, so it's worth looking at flights on Kiwi.com well in advance.

How to get there: icebreaker or expedition ship, the starting port depends on the operator.
The catch: short season and heavy dependence on weather.

5. A tour to Somalia

Few agencies offer travel to one of the most dangerous countries in the world. The reason is obvious: risk. But companies willing to take a tourist do exist.

Man carrying a hammerhead shark through a street in Mogadishu

The price of a group tour per person starts at several thousand dollars, and that's without flights and visas. Just a few years ago such trips cost several times more, so for exotic travel hunters this is a chance.

Along the entire route you are accompanied by armed police protection. This reduces the risk but does not eliminate it. Such tours are chosen by those who are collecting all the countries in the world and are ready for non-standard conditions.

The catch: heightened danger and limited freedom of movement.

6. Diving to the Titanic

First-class tickets on the Titanic once cost a fortune. Today, descending to its wreckage at a depth of almost four kilometers costs more. Such a dive promised the chance to see the liner's wreckage up close, but it came down to a risk to life.

A seat in the submersible cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and there were plenty of takers. Everything changed on June 18, 2023: the Titan submersible operated by OceanGate imploded during descent, killing all five people on board (as of 09/2026, Wikipedia).

After the disaster, commercial dives to the Titanic stopped. The US Coast Guard published an investigation report in 2025. You cannot buy such a tour now. The most expensive experiences are sometimes measured not in money but in willingness to take risks.

The catch: dives have been halted after the tragedy, and the depth remains deadly.

7. A flight to space

The most expensive and unusual trip for a tourist takes place beyond Earth. A suborbital flight lasts less than two hours, and you feel weightlessness for only a few minutes.

Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo tourist spacecraft in a hangar

A seat on a Virgin Galactic spacecraft was sold for about 450,000 dollars (as of 09/2026, Times of India). Blue Origin auctions off seats, with bids reaching millions. Orbital missions with docking at the station cost an order of magnitude more.

Competition is growing, and operators promise lower prices. For now, the waiting list and medical requirements rule out most applicants. If you dream of such a flight, start with a health check and correspondence with the operator.

Who it's for: for those ready to pay millions for a few minutes of weightlessness.
The catch: enormous price and strict medical requirements.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does the most expensive vacation in the world cost?

There is no single figure: it all depends on the operator, the season, and the set of services. Use the price range as a guide: a dive to the deepest point of the ocean cost several hundred thousand dollars, a seat on a Virgin Galactic suborbital flight sold for about half a million, and an orbital flight runs into the millions.

What's included in the expedition price?

The amount usually covers logistics, permits, the work of guides and crew, equipment, and insurance. On Everest, it also includes a rescue helicopter. That's why the final expedition price is almost always higher than the fee you see on the operator's website.

Is there a cheaper way to get to Antarctica?

Yes, if you skip the shore landing and choose a short sea route or an off-season departure. The cost depends heavily on the cabin class and the length of the Drake Passage crossing. Operators often discount the last remaining spots before departure.

Is a tour to Somalia dangerous?

Yes, it's one of the riskiest destinations. Group trips travel with armed security, but that doesn't eliminate the risk entirely. These tours are chosen by travelers who are collecting countries visited and are willing to accept unconventional conditions and restrictions.

Why is space the most expensive?

A launch requires a rocket, crew training, and safety systems, and there are only a few seats on board. That's why the price for a few minutes of weightlessness is higher than weeks in the best hotel. Price drops are promised, but for now a flight remains the most expensive experience for a tourist.

In short: what's worth booking

None of these types of vacations can be booked with a couple of clicks, but the logic of choosing is simple. If you want comfort and water all around, book a round-the-world cruise. If you're drawn to records, look at expeditions to the poles and treks to Everest Base Camp. For the most expensive experiences, the ocean depths and space remain, but there everything comes down to permits and waiting lists.

Before a serious expedition, compare insurance options for extreme tourism: it often becomes a mandatory condition for participation.

7 Trips more expensive than real estate: from a round-the-world cruise to a space flight