Eager to explore the unfamiliar? For those with an appetite for travel, here are the best ways to make unforgettable memories as you enjoy your trips abroad

Experiential, transformative and conscious travel—the terms fall in and out of favour faster than an influencer gains and loses loyalty. What you need to know is that the best travel experiences can be life-changing for you as well as those around you. In the swirl of travelgrams, overtourism and sharing economies, the well-off and curious are increasingly looking for deep-dive encounters, ones that take them out of their comfort zone, even in familiar destinations.

“We’re living in an age where people are much more open than ever to embracing opportunities that truly better themselves,” says Tom Marchant, co-founder of luxury travel company Black Tomato. “The role travel plays in helping them along that journey is only going to grow.” The company claims to have consistently exceeded 200 per cent year-on-year sales growth. That’s no surprise when, according to a 2018 Skift research report, more than half of travellers rank transformative travel as very important, and more than half also place value on this type of travel.

What’s possible these days is limited only by one’s imagination and budget, with virtually every corner of the globe within reach for unique, knock-your-kit-off journeys. “We have a brilliant network of contacts around the globe that reaches far beyond the travel industry,” says Geordie Mackay Lewis, co-founder of Pelorus. “So we can ensure guests are accompanied by whoever knows the region best, be that an expert marine biologist, ornithologist or photographer. Whatever it may be, we can make it happen.” Take it away with these three.

(Related: Tatler Asia's Guide to the Best Places to Travel in 2020)

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Black Tomato

Long before #traveldeeper became a thing, there was Black Tomato. Founded by three peripatetic Australians, the company was among the first to systematically craft experiences that went well beyond the norms of luxury travel. The company has evolved from headline-grabbing treks to the top of Mount Everest to offer a breadth of experiences spanning all seven continents, suitable for diverse age groups and interests. Among their top picks for 2020 are a hands-on food and wine experience in London and the UK’s Lake District with English chef Simon Rogan, and a Blink experience in Semuc Champey, Guatemala. The latter is next-level glamping, with luxury tents set up for the duration of your stay, then dismantled, leaving no trace of your presence.

blacktomato.com

(Related: The Tatler 10: Luxury Glamping Sites Around The World)

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Extraordinary Adventure Club

The struggle is real for the 0.01 per cent of the population that the Extraordinary Adventure Club (EAC) is aimed at: children who have inherited immense wealth or burnt‑out hedge funders. To be clear, though, this is no holiday—far from it. For those who can afford the minimum £175,000 fee, EAC is a radical personal transformation programme where travel to far-flung places is part of the therapy. First, you need to be vetted by founder Calum Morrison, a former Royal Marines officer, and his team. Then you must commit to six months of coaching and problem-solving with relevant experts before finding yourself in challenging environments, such as trekking with nomads through the Sudanese desert or dog-sledding across a Norwegian mountain plateau.

extraordinaryadventureclub.com

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Pelorus

Co-founded by a couple of former British Army captains, Geordie Mackay‑Lewis and Jimmy Carroll, Pelorus positions itself at the wild and wonderful end of the travel spectrum, with trips planned and executed with military precision. The company specialises in private adventures, which start with an interest or experience such as skiing or culture, before selecting the destination, expedition and special projects that push the limits. This could entail an espionage mission with counterterrorism experts or joining anti-poaching patrol teams on the front line in Kenya. New for 2020 is a family-friendly Moroccan journey from the medinas of Marrakech to the passes of the Atlas Mountains.

pelorusx.com

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