Meet your fellow passengers at a cocktail reception followed by a welcome dinner at your hotel.

Board your private jet for Lima, gateway to the wonders of the ancient Inca civilization. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Tonight, the doors of the Larco Herrera Museum open for a private guided tour of the world's largest collection of pre-Columbian ceramics. Your hosts, the museum curators, invite you for a rare look at more artifacts hidden away in private storage rooms normally closed to the public. Afterward, attend a special dinner as guests of a descendant of the museum's founder.

If you have visited Cusco and Machu Picchu before or prefer not to travel to high altitudes, a sea-level alternate itinerary can be arranged for Days 2 to 5. Please ask for details.

Take a short commercial flight to Cusco, high in the Andes, where the rest of the morning is free to adjust to the altitude. Later this afternoon, visit some of the city's highlights, beginning at the 16th-century Cathedral, its first stone supposedly set in place by Francisco Pizarro himself. North of the city proper lies the Incan fortification of Sacsayhuaman, one of the most skillful stone constructions in the world.

Forgotten for centuries by the outside world until its "rediscovery" in 1911, Machu Picchu is one of the best-preserved remains of the Inca civilization. Board the Hiram Bingham Orient-Express, a luxury train that delivers you to Machu Picchu after the morning crowds have left. Explore this magnificent site in peace and quiet, with guidance by local experts and time to wander the terraced walkways by yourself. Following afternoon tea at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, descend by road and board the train to return to Cusco. Dinner is served on board.

Return to Lima on a commercial flight to reunite with your private jet and crew for the journey to Easter Island. Perhaps the most isolated place on earth, this tiny island is an open-air museum of a unique Polynesian culture. After a traditional greeting on arrival, travel to Ahu Tahai, one of the oldest sites on Easter Island, with three burial platforms guarded by moai.

Pause for a cocktail in this extraordinary setting overlooking the sea before transferring to your hotel. Dine this evening at the home of Maria Huke Rapahango, a native Rapanui, and Julio Lagos, her Chilean husband, who prepare a feast of traditional foods cooked over hot stones; dinner is accompanied by local dance and song.

After a leisurely breakfast, a full day of island exploration begins. Your first stop is Rano Kau volcano. Gaze at the fresh water lake of the volcano and visit its archaeological site. Then visit mountaintop Orongo, once the center of the island's mysterious Birdman Cult. Stop at Vinapu, whose stone walls bear carvings similar to those found at Machu Picchu.

At Akahanga, a large ahu (platform) with four fallen moai is said to mark the burial site of the first island king. Rano Raraku is an evocative stop, a quarry and moai "factory" with statues abandoned in all stages of completion. Drive along the northern coast to the archaeological zone at Anakena, the site of an elegantly presented, sumptuous barbecue lunch. There is time to swim or stroll along one of the island's best beaches before evening descends.

Easter Island - Apia, Samoa

This morning, continue exploring Easter Island on the Design Your Day excursion of your choice. Then transfer to Mataveri International Airport and board your private jet for Apia, Samoa, the heart of Polynesia.

• Ana Kai Cave Walk
  Embark on a voyage into the earth by visiting the caves of Ana Kai Tangata, Ana Tepora and Ana Tepahu. Discover beautiful wall paintings associated with the Birdman Cult, and walk down lava tunnels to manavai (enclosed gardens).
• Archaeology via Horseback or Vehicle
  Continue your Easter Island explorations at the ancient ruins of Vaihu and Puna Pau on horseback or by vehicle, and then ride further along the coast to Ahu Akivi. Built in 1460, this site was one of the latest constructions built.
• Moai Hike
  Pay a return visit to the archaeological site of Rano Raraku for a more comprehensive exploration. Discover Te Tokanga, the largest moai ever carved at 66 feet long and an estimated weight of 220 tons, as well as 395 other moai that were abandoned at the quarry.
• Hanga Roa Exploration
  An exploration of the town Hanga Roa includes a visit to the local museum. Museo Antropologica P. Sebastian Englert houses the only known moai fragment that retains its original white eyes. Also visit the local church, where Christian and local symbolism are curiously combined. Hanga Roa market is a favorite stop for craft items.

Arrive in Samoa in the afternoon, local time.

While your airline crew rests, spend this day your way in glorious Polynesia: enjoy beach and water activities, a Samoan Fofo massage at your hotel's world-renowned spa or a round of golf. For those with the desire for exploration, join a trip around the island including a visit to Vailima, Robert Louis Stevenson's home in his later years. Lunch is a picnic on the hotel's pristine sand beach. This evening you are treated to a Samoan fia fia (feast) and a performance of traditional Polynesian dances.

Cross the International Dateline.
After breakfast at your hotel, return to the airport to board your private jet. Enjoy lunch, and then congregate in the lounge, enjoy a DVD, or use the time in flight to nap or read. The day is lost crossing the International Dateline.

Arrive in Sydney in the early afternoon and check into your hotel, where your room features a full view of the magnificent Sydney Harbor. Stroll along nearby Circular Quay or relax until dinner.

Take an "insider's" private harbor cruise that brings you to nearby Shark Island for a barbecue lunch Aussie style, including a boomerang-throwing lesson and didgeridoo demonstration.

Afterwards, visit Sydney on your own (we can suggest a variety of independent activities) or explore this vibrant city on a drive that takes you through the historic Rocks District, into Paddington and its celebrated open-air market, and down to Bondi Beach.

Lastly, enjoy a private, behind-the-scenes tour of the magnificent Sydney Opera House, modern wonder and icon.

In and Around Sydney
Today enjoy the Design Your Day option of your choice, including a private zoo tour or a refreshing afternoon at the spa. Afterwards, you may attend a performance in one of Sydney Opera House's five halls, enjoying dinner at the hotel before or after the performance. If you prefer, skip the performance and dine out at one of Sydney's many wonderful restaurants.

• Blue Mountains
  Travel to Blue Mountains National Park, 90 minutes outside Sydney by road, to walk in a lush setting of sandstone outcroppings and hazy blue forests.
• A Bird's-Eye View of Sydney
  Start the day weaving through catwalks, up ladders and along the upper Arch to the top of Sydney's Harbour Bridge - a climb that ends with an exhilarating full-circle view of one of the world's most beautiful harbors.
• Taronga Zoo
  Visit the renowned Taronga Zoo where an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour conducted by a zoo naturalist shows you Australia's unique wildlife: koala, kangaroo, emu, wallaby, platypus, wombat and echidna.
• Aboriginal Art with Judy Friend
  Explore one of the world's oldest living cultures with a private-access tour in the Art Gallery of New South Wales, led by a museum expert. Then join art historian Judy Friend and view or purchase Aboriginal works at three private galleries.
• Wellness Spa at The Four Seasons
  Refresh your traveller's spirit with a rejuvenating massage or treatment at Sydney's most famous spa, conveniently located at your hotel.
• Wine Tasting in the Hunter Valley
  Hunter Valley is famous for its Chardonnay, Semillon and Shiraz varietals. A short flight brings you to some of the valley's most interesting wineries for tasting.

Your private jet re-crosses the equator, whisking you northwest to Siem Reap, Cambodia, where a Landmark Room is reserved for you at your historic hotel. Dine à la carte at the hotel tonight, choosing from a variety of Continental and traditional Khmer dishes.

Built between the 9th and 15th centuries AD, the Angkor complex of temples, palaces and terraces is an architectural masterpiece of the first order. This morning you explore its most significant sites, including Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, the Bayon, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King, accompanied all the while by an expert local guide.

The morning ends with a visit to Ta Prohm, wildly overgrown with strangler figs and silk-cotton trees.

After returning to the hotel for lunch, a late afternoon visit shows you Preah Khan, where a preservation specialist provides fascinating commentary on the struggle to protect Angkor amidst two decades of civil unrest.

Dine tonight at your hotel or at a restaurant in another of Siem Reap's luxury hostelries.

Design Your Day options fill the morning hours before you rejoin the group for cocktails this evening. Meet Nhean Samban for a personal account of Cambodia's recent history, an enthralling story of hiding from American bombs and surviving depredations of the Khmer Rouge.

• Cambodian Countryside
  Drive into rural Cambodia to visit a local agricultural community, meeting farmers in their fields. This region is home to the Khmer temple of Banteay Srei, renowned for its pink sandstone carvings and significantly different in style from the temples of Angkor.
• Helicopter to Beng Mealea
  Fly over the lush Cambodian countryside to Beng Mealea Temple, abandoned for more than 800 years. Land in a field nearby and walk to the temple, perhaps accompanied by local villagers who rarely see western visitors. The scene is magical - a priceless opportunity for photographers.
• Phnom Penh
  Fly to Cambodia's capital by scheduled air, accompanied by a guide-historian, to explore a city with a rich but violent past. Tour the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, National Museum and Tuol Sleng, a former Khmer Rouge detention center that is now a museum. Shop with the locals at a colorful market.
• Spa at the Grand
  Take time off from sightseeing for a rejuvenating morning at the hotel's Amrita Spa. Choose the Angkor Escape package, a perfect restorative for the weary explorer that combines a powerful hydrotherapy bath with full-body massage and skin care treatment.

Later, an elaborate poolside dinner is followed by graceful Apsara dancing, an ancient art form that tells stories through subtle movements and gestures.

On a day made possible only by private jet, make a true "flying visit" to Myanmar to see Yangon's dazzling Shwedagon Pagoda, gilded with more than eight tons of gold.

After lunch at the elegant Strand Hotel, return to the airport to fly on to Jodhpur, a jewel of a city in northern India whose ancient walls still enclose an exotic jumble of narrow streets and lively bazaars.

Check in to your palace hotel (which remains the home of the Jodhpur royal family) with time to freshen up before cocktails.

The Bishnoi people, who live on the fringes of the great desert outside the city, are famous as "the world's first ecologists." This morning's safari, via air conditioned SUV, takes you to a series of Bishnoi villages for an up-close look at their unique culture, with stops at shepherds', potters' and weavers' communities.

Then travel on to Rohat, once a fort and now an elegant hotel, where the local ruling family welcomes you for lunch. This evening, adjourn to the city's Mehrangarh Fort for a celebration of traditional dance and music, followed by dinner on the ramparts.

Board your private jet for a short post-breakfast flight to Agra and the timeless Taj Mahal. Built 350 years ago by Emperor Shah Jahan in memeory of the wife Mumtaz Mahal, this "monument to love" is a filigreed dream in white marble, a spectacle to which no photogragh can ever do justice.

Reboard your private jet and enjoy a DVD, nap or sip afternoon cocktails en route to Muscal, capital of the Sultanate of Oman. Arrive in the late afternoon and transfer to your luxury hotel on the pristine beach of the Gulf of Oman. Dinner tonight is a la carte at any of the hotel's restaurants.

• A Day in Dubai
  A short commercial flight from Oman, Dubai offers a vastly different experience to its near neighbor. Marvel at the futuristic architecture along the Corniche in the shadow of the world's tallest building, the Burj Dubai. Highlights here include the Palm Islands and the iconic Burj Al Arab, where you stop for lunch. Continue to the Mall of the Emirates, a shopper's nirvana of more than 450 stores and 70 restaurants, as well as the first indoor ski resort in the Middle East.
• The Spa at Shangri-La
  Spend a rejuvenating day at Chi, the spa at Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah Resort. With its spacious private villa rooms and unique holistic therapies, Chi provides a welcome respite, and an indulgent treat, for the weary traveller.
• Cruise Along the Coast
  (weather permitting)
  Board a private vessel and sail along the rim of the Arabian Peninsula, a remarkable region where white desert sands meet the turquoise sea. Lunch is served on board.
• The Oman Countryside
  Leave Muscat for a day in the country, starting with a visit to Birkat al-Mawz, a former fortress once used by local tribes to control the mountain passes. It also incorporates a well-preserved falaj, a stone irrigation system dating back to AD 500 and today recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue to the towering mountains of Jebel Shams (Mountains of the Sun), home to the Grand Canyon of Oman.

This morning's tour of Muscat begins with the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, a massive complex that can hold up to 20,000 worshippers. Not many westerners visit the Mosque, and Islamic dress standards must be observed.

Proceed to Muttrah, a charming seaside quarter of Muscat, complete with traditional bazaar and fish market. In Muscat Old Town you continue on foot, strolling around the palace of Sultan Qaboos and the 16th-century Portuguese Jalali and Mirani Forts. This evening, enjoy a festive party on the beach.

Enjoy lunch aloft while your globe-spanning journey continues west. Arrive in Aqaba, Jordan's southernmost city, then travel north on the King's Highway to Wadi Rum - the "Valley of the Moon." In this otherworldly landscape of shifting colors, sweeping dunes and vast horizons, T.E. Lawrence ("of Arabia") camped with his Bedouin allies during WWI, and the Wadi is still home to Bedouin families who welcome visitors with legendary generosity.

Later drive to Petra, arriving in time for dinner and an early night in preparation for tomorrow's exciting journey to the Lost City.

Just a few steps from the hotel lies the entrance to Petra, the city "half as old as time" that was abandoned almost 1,500 years ago and forgotten by the outside world for centuries. There is time for leisurely exploration of the Treasury, Temple of the Winged Lions, baths, markets and tombs … all hewn from mauve, rose, ochre and blue sandstone.

Eat lunch amid the ruins and continue exploring in the afternoon, or return to your hotel for lunch.

This evening, gather at nearby "Little Petra" for torch-lit cocktails accompanied by oriental music; from there your "Nabataean" hosts lead you to the 2,000-year-old site where dinner and entertainment await.

After breakfast, return to Aqaba airport to board your private jet bound for Egypt.

Travel south to Luxor for a tour of the East Bank temple of Karnak. Then cross the Nile to explore some of the 64 richly decorated tombs in the Valley of the Kings.

Proceed to Cairo by air in the evening and check into your hotel on the banks of the Nile.

Start the morning with a before-hours tour of the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, filled with art and artifacts that evoke the gilded splendors and poignant everyday activities of the ancient kingdom. Highlights include Tutankhamun's golden treasures and the Mummy Room. Pause after your visit for a continental breakfast, and join a guest speaker for a discussion of modern-day Egypt.

Spend the early afternoon at leisure before proceeding to the Pyramids and the Sphinx. The Great Pyramid is the only survivor of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and it remains just as awe-inspiring today. Also visit the Solar Boat Museum, site of the funeral barge of Cheops, deemed the most important archaeological discovery in Egypt since Tutankhamun's tomb.

Gather this evening for an extraordinary event: an evocative Thousand and One Nights-style dinner. Ride a camel caravan out onto the Giza plateau, in sight of the Pyramids, where flaming torches lead you to a tented banquet worthy of a pharaoh. Waiters in traditional Arabian dress present a banquet of meze appetizers, grilled meats and honey-soaked pastries. After-dinner entertainment includes belly dancers happy to offer a lesson to guests, followed by a spectacular Whirling Dervish performance.

Explore other facets of ancient Egyptian culture, chosen from the half-day excursions available today. Lunch is on board a felucca cruising the Nile, with the afternoon free for relaxation and shopping. Your voyage concludes with a private cocktail reception, a final occasion to share memories of your discoveries with your fellow travellers.

• Memphis & Sakkara
  Travel back in time to Memphis, capital of Egypt's Old Kingdom. Its legendary splendors are no more, but the 18th Dynasty's Alabaster Sphinx remains, as does a beautifully carved statue of Ramses II - enough to evoke the days when this was one of the great temple cities of Egypt. Nearby Sakkara was Memphis' necropolis, its many pyramids including the fabled Step Pyramid built by Zoser I in 2686 BC.
• Coptic Cairo
  Glimpse Cairo as it was before the rise of Islam on this excursion through the old city. Within the old fortress of Babylon are Christian sanctuaries untouched by the invading Muslims, as well as the Coptic Museum, home to many fine examples of Christian and pagan art.
• Islamic Cairo
  Cairo's Islamic heritage dates from AD 640 and remains a strong influence within Egyptian daily life. Visit the spectacular mosque of Mohammed Ali, then explore the Khan El Khalili Bazaar, a kaleidoscope of merchants, artisans and treasures that appears nearly unchanged from centuries ago.
• A Day at the Spa
  Abercrombie & Kent is pleased to treat you to a restorative body treatment, facial treatment or massage at your hotel's Spa and Wellness Center. Relax with a glass of cool mineral water, fresh fruits and an array of magazines while specialists restore your zest for life.

Board your private jet for the last time to cross the Atlantic westbound en route to the U.S. Following a fuel stop and crew change in Iceland, you arrive in Boston in the late afternoon.

After clearing U.S. arrival procedures, connect to an evening commercial flight to your home city.