In a time when luxury travel is under immense pressure to offer unique experiences to demanding consumers, Quintessentially Escape is leading the way with exceptional tailor-made travel ideas that offer exclusive access to the apparently inaccessible

Imagine carrying out a mission with former intelligence agents in the dusty North African desert, a private tour of the Pyramids, a helicopter trip to see the famed Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda or, closer to home, a selection of the finest sporting experiences that the British Isle’s has to offer. These aren’t glamorous episodes from a blockbuster movie but in fact come courtesy of a London-based luxury experience company, Quintessentially Escape.

Established in 2007, Quintessentially Escape was formed by the global luxury lifestyle group, Quintessentially. According to Lucy Johnson, the newly appointed and charismatic UK Managing Director of Quintessentially Escape who has supported the company from its inception, “We felt luxury travel was becoming clichéd and didn’t really get to the very nature of what luxury has always been. We think it’s really two things – bespoke and unique – and that’s what we aim to provide.” Looking at the apparently prescriptive list of experiences created by Quintessentially Escape on the website, it’s a little difficult at first to see why this company claims to offer tailor-made holidays. An unruffled Johnson replies, “What you see on the website is our Definitive Collection, they are examples of a small selection of our once-in-a-lifetime experiences that no one else will have done. We use this collection as a starting point for our clients, who ultimately are the ones who decide the final itinerary; it’s all based on individual preferences. Unlike other companies who claim to offer exclusive experiences, you won’t find ours anywhere else.” She may well have a point. Who else can claim to offer an after-hours tour of the Egyptian pyramids and lunch with the gregarious Egyptian archaeologist, Zahi Hawass or an opportunity to gain exclusive access to Petra for a romantic candlelit dinner? Quintessentially Escape prides itself on providing inspirational solutions for any occasion and has created a wide range of exciting experiences with a twist, all of which further its reputation as the thinking traveller’s company.

Espionage and intrigue in North Africa
If you’ve ever seen yourself living a glamorous life of top-secret missions, fast cars and high-octane adventures, you don’t need to experience it vicariously through re-runs of James Bond movies. Quintessentially Escape offer a selection of finely tuned, action packed experiences, such as “Quintessentially Bourne”, which recreates the grittier action found in the Robert Ludlum Bourne books. You are summoned to Waterloo at 9am by an elite Special Forces Unit who train and test you on counter-surveillance, weapons training, evasion driving and close quarter combat using iconic London landmarks like The Gherkin and the Underground. After a day’s intensive training, you are given a top-secret briefing on a real-life military scenario that will require you to fly on helicopters and follow a mystery suspect to Morocco, preventing another MI5 spy from carrying out a mission. Johnson comments, “You’re taught insider tricks of the trade that the world’s intelligence agencies don’t like to reveal and it’s all in a day’s work.”

Yoga in Ibiza
Most people know Ibiza as a congested ‘triple S’ destination. Interestingly enough, its current party reputation comes from the hippy movement of the ‘60s and ‘70s which saw the island branded as we see it today. Hippies returning from Afghanistan, India and China would stop off at Ibiza to sell their oriental wares at Island markets, many are still bustling today. This free-love vibe inevitably goes hand in hand with spiritual yoga. Nicholas Samuels, Johnson’s dynamic associate, claims “we wanted to create an experience that would pay tribute to the island’s free-thinking, liberal history with the onus on luxe relaxation.” Luxe it certainly is, with a stay at a 400-year-old Iberian Finca nestled in the foothills of Ibiza, you’re encouraged to take part in three or four hours of yoga per day including a tailor made programme of Ashtanga, Hatha or Iyengar. Those on the Escape are also able to experience Ibiza’s famed nightlife with a VIP service at many of the top spots and restaurants.

Families and adventure – Gorillas in the mist
Combining luxury and the demands of a family can be a bit of a juggle as we all know. Johnson, herself a veteran traveller, is keen to point out that there is more to luxury travel than romance. “Two seems like the magic number when it comes to luxury travel but there’s a false perception that ‘luxury’ and ‘couples’ go hand in hand. Even if you have a large brood, we can arrange an action packed luxury trip that’s sure to make the whole family happy.” They may have found the solution too with a family-friendly escape that evokes images of famed zoologist Diane Fossey in the field. Quintessentially Escape is proud of being able to offer a trip to see Rwanda’s endangered Mountain Gorillas. It’s a rare privilege few can afford and all visitors enjoy VIP status. Those taking part can also choose to continue their trip with an exciting glimpse into life within Kenya’s Maasai Mara, where ritual dance and performances by tribal warriors really raise the temperature. After getting up the next day, they can view game at sunrise in the majestic surrounds of Mount Kilimanjaro. What more could any family ask for?

Luxury at home 
More and more people are taking holidays at home in the UK. Johnson notes, “We realised that many people wanted to experience the UK in a slightly different way and we wanted to move away from the typical idea of a weekend trip to a cottage in the country and give people something a little more distinctive whilst really showing the very best of our homeland.” Quintessentially Escape’s Corrour Lodge experience transports you via seaplane or supercar to a 55,000-acre estate in the Scottish Highlands. Designed by Moshe Safdie, a Boston-based architect, the geometric shape of Corrour Lodge is in pleasant contrast to the surrounding 19th century gardens designed by Sir John Maxwell. Once you’re ensconced, you can take a helicopter trip over the Isle of Skye for lunch and enjoy a tasting at a famed whisky distillery. You can also take part in falconry, shooting or even fly-fishing. Samuels, a keen advocate of the Corrour Lodge experience, is very proud of his involvement with it. “Remember, clients can come to us from the very beginning and ask us for advice relating to an experience or tell us about something special they have in mind and wish to live out.”

“There really is no limit to what we can create. We were commissioned by one client to develop and execute a breathtaking Seven Wonder’s of the World experience; this ultimate pioneering Escape shattered the boundaries of what is possible and was worth just short of £2m….it was truly life changing for all involved” a clearly proud Johnson claims..

Contact
For more information about Escape Packages, or for tailor-made inspiration, please email enquiries@quintessentiallyescape.com or call +44 (0) 845 224 2506 www.quintessentiallyescape.com
10 Carlisle Street, London, W1D 3BR