Vistajet Journeys: Chasing the Moon

The moon has always fascinated, the numerous full moon rituals across different cultures are testimony to that. For many the Full-Moon festival is the time for a family reunion.VistaJet Members have a range of fascinating destinationsto choose from to celebrate the moon.

Full Moon Adventureswith Ariodante and the Oracles in Greece

A magical and thrilling adventurecelebratingSelena, the goddess of the moonand aninitiation into the ancient divinatory arts.This bespoke two-week trip by land and sea across the Greek regions of Epirus, Peloponnese and Atticahas travellerswalking in the footsteps of the Greek gods, heroes and historical figures like Homer, Pythia the priestess of Delphi, Aristotle, and more. Visiting places not accessible to the public, museums, historical sites, and even see the gates to the underworld. Through exclusive visits and private gastronomic experiences, guests share an incredible journey ending with a private performance in a UNESCO site where ancient Greek and Chinese poetry and divination come together under the full moon. Key destinations include Athens, Ioannina, Corfu, Nafplion, Porto-Heli and Epidaurus.

Ioannina, often called Giannena, is the capital and largest city of Epirus region in north-western Greece; Nikos Kavvadas/Unsplash.

In Search of the Lost City of the Incas

The Incas worshipped the moon. Mama Killa, also known as “Mother Moon”,was goddess of the moon worshipped for her “admirable beauty” and the “benefits she bestows upon the world. She also oversaw marriage, and was the protector of women in general. The moon was central tocalculating the passage of time and the calendar with many rituals based upon thelunar calendarand adjusted to match thesolar year.Mama Killa cried tears of silver and lunar eclipseswere caused when she was attacked by an animal.Embark on an awe-inspiring adventure to discover the Moon Goddess and the Inca civilization, the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. During this three-week journey in search of the Lost City of the Incas, VistaJet Members will discover the remains of the empire and other incredible sites including the rainbow mountain, the mummies of Arequipa, the condors of Colca Valley and the mysterious Nazca lines. Other exciting activities include flying over the Sacred Valley of the Incas in a hot air balloon, diving into Lake Titicaca, accessing secretive historical places, and sharing an extraordinary display of Chinese lanterns in Machu Pichu under the full moon with your family. Key destinations include La Paz, Tiwanaku, Lake Titicaca (island of the sun and island of the moon), Raqchi Archaeological Park, Vinicuna, Sacred Valley (Aguas Calientes, Moray, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu, Cusco), Arequipa, Colca Valley, Nazca, Vilcabamba and Lima.

Discovering Machu Pichu; Simon Unsplash

In Pursuit of the Moon Queen

From the cultural melting pot of Kuala Lumpur and the small chain of volcanic islands rising out of the deep that makes up the Spice Islands to the limestone isles of Raja Ampat and the critically endangered tigers of Sumatra, this is a once-in-a-lifetime voyage through remote locations. The three-week journey begins in Kuala Lumpur before flying southeast to Ambon, where travellers embark on a magical cruise in search of Yoisi, the Moon-Queen of the Moluccans and Nyi Roro Kidul, the queen of the Southern Sea in Javanese mythology. The ruise in pursuit of the moon will take you to remote islands that were, in the 16th century, an important strategic base for the spice trade and are today a natural treasure of incredible beauty and history. On board a magnificent 65m wooden sailing yacht, cruise through the Spice Islands to discover natural wonders underwater, meet with the Alifuru tribe to witness a traditional warrior dance, visit the Manuela National Park to see endemic wildlife, walk through the historical nutmeg plantations in Banda Bearm, and even take part in the Kora-Kora war ceremonial in Pulau Ai. After stopping on the tiny island of Koon, a veritable natural aquarium of turquoise waters, sail north towards Misool and Raja Ampat, the world’s most bio-diverse marine ecosystem.

The journey concludes on the island of Sumatra, where you can spend the remaining days of the trip helping to protect the last majestic tigers of Sumatra in a private conservation area in the Sumatran rain forest.

Luxury yacht Lamima, Raja Ampat, Malaysia; Danang Himawan/ Unsplash

A Refined Tsukimi in Japan

During Tsukimi in Japan, family and friends gather under the full moon with seasonal food and sake as offerings to the moon, traditionally as a prayer for a good harvest. VistaJet’s version of Tsukimi brings members to Japan, following the moon’s phases to create refined Kaisekis (traditional Japanese multi-course dinner) at every step. The trip will culminate in an extraordinary private ceremony to the full moon held in one of Japan’s most beautiful temples with an unseen dance and taiko performance.

Along the journey, guests will discover the three classical Japanese arts of refinement (kadō – the way of flowers, kōdō – the way of fragrance, and chadō – the way of tea) in iconic private locations such as Imperial Villa, an ancient temple, and the home of a distinguished art collector. Discover Japanese calligraphy on the floor elevated into pure art with one of the most renowned Japanese calligraphy artists and enjoy a refined saké tasting with the Geishas in Kyoto.

This is a sophisticated ten-day-long voyage through Japan’s ancient traditions, history, philosophy and arts. A one-of-a-kind voyage linking to the origins of Japan as travellers meet the country’s oldest tribe, the Ainu people, discover the ruins of Asuka (the Imperial capital from 538 to 710 AD), sites such as Engaku-Ji, Eikando, Toshogu, and more. This trip can be extended to discover some of the most outstanding natural places in Japan and see the incredible wildlife of those remote areas.

The streets of Kyoto, Sorasak/ Unsplash

Moonlight Staycations in China with The House Collective

To celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, VistaJet is moving from the air to the ground with a series of luxurious staycations enriched with tailor-made hospitality from The House Collective – a group of refined, highly individual properties that defy comparison, with The Opposite House in Beijing, The Upper House in Hong Kong, The Temple House in Chengdu and The Middle House in Shanghai. From exquisite seasonal menus to private wellness experiences, make your Mid-Autumn Festival shine this year.

Mooncakes are a signature delicacy of the festival, and The House Collective will curate unique mooncake pairing experiences tailored to the preferences of VistaJet Members – including a cocktail masterclass experience with the mixologist from Salisterra at The Upper House.

With a Michelin-starred restaurant at The Opposite House in Beijing, Chengdu Panda Base and culture tours with The Temple House, along with an intimate sanctuary at The Middle House in the heart of Shanghai, pleasures abound at The House Collective.