Icelandair has teamed up with National Geographic to provide an exclusive worldwide jet tour. Passengers will fly on a modified Icelandair Boeing 757, fitted with 75 fold-back leather seats, accompanied by a number of experts in fields ranging from photography to conservation.

National Geographic is offering the trip of a lifetime – a tour of some of the world’s greatest natural, historical, and cultural wonders on a private jet. According to the scientific and educational organization, it whisks passengers around the world on a specially modified Boeing 757 provided by Icelandair.

At each of the stops on the worldwide tour, which includes 10 UNESCO World Heritage sites, passengers will stay in some of the finest accommodations each destination has to offer. Alongside tours, excursions, and entertainment, the lucky travelers will be able to attend lectures from a series of experts and researchers accompanying them on the trip.

Around the world by private jet

National Geographic’s Around the World by Private Jet tour offers passengers an incredibly exclusive experience. As expected, it’s not cheap. The price for a double occupancy booking comes in at $99,995 per person, whilst the price for single occupancy is even higher, at $109,990.

It’s a lot of money, but not that much when you consider the fact that it includes around-the-world flights, accommodations, meals, entertainment, and talks with world-renowned scientists. The itinerary has been adapted over the years, presumably amid social and political shifts, but the wanderlust appeal remains the same.

In its present form, the tour starts in Washington, DC, and travels south towards Peru and Easter Island before heading across the Pacific to Samoa and then to Fiji.

From there, passengers will travel to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, Cambodia, Nepal, and Bhutan. Then, it’s on to India's Taj Mahal, followed by either the Serengeti Plain or Ngorongoro crater in Tanzania.

For the final stretch of the journey, the tour stops at the ancient city of Petra in Jordan before heading to either Marrakech or the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. The adventure then ends back in the capital of the United States.

The private jet itself

While National Geographic may be an industry leader in broadcasting, travel, and conservation journalism, it doesn’t have much experience when it comes to operating aircraft. That’s why it has teamed up with Icelandair. The flag carrier of Iceland has provided a Boeing 757 for National Geographic’s ‘Around the World by Private Jet’ tour.

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Four different airlines operate the Boeing 757 within or to the United States.

The aircraft initially conducting these operations held registration TF-FIS. It was specially modified with its own National Geographic livery and 75 leather reclining seats for the passengers. However, this aircraft was converted to a freighter in 2021 and is now conducting cargo operations with Amerijet International.

TF-LLL is currently the unit that is performing the National Geographic services. According to Planespotters.net, this aircraft was painted with the partnership livery in September 2022.

According to National Geographic, the flight includes a "seasoned and specially-trained flight crew — including three pilots, an expedition chef, a catering officer, multiple flight attendants, an engineer, and a dedicated luggage handler." There is also a "dedicated expedition physician who accompanies the group on the jet and on land."

So, there are plenty more features than on a standard Boeing 757, which usually has 233 seats, giving passengers the authentic private jet experience.

Notably, TF-LLL was involved in a tail strike in India in November last year. Thus, a 767-300ER was swapped in to continue the National Geographic itinerary during that schedule.

National Geographic and Icelandair are showing no signs of stopping their partnership. This year, six private jet tours are planned. The first of them begins on January 25 and runs through to February 17.

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