In the upper echelons of luxury travel, the choice between spending your vacation on land or at sea can be a delicious dilemma – one that most of us would gladly wrestle with, needless to say. This summer, however, Swiss-based ultra-luxury hospitality brand Ultima Collection and the world’s foremost superyacht specialist, Burgess Yachts, have decided to settle the matter most spectacularly, joining forces to deliver a 14‑day odyssey that bridges the best of both worlds.
Few things capture our attention like a well-matched collaboration. Whether it’s Louis Vuitton inviting Takashi Murakami to cloak its monograms in his grin-laced psychedelia or George Michael and Aretha Franklin having what can only be described as a soul-off for the ages, there’s something uniquely gratifying about seeing two players at the top of their game bang their heads together. The high-end travel sector isn’t a stranger to such headline-making unions, and this summer, there’s a new one to talk about.
The Ultima Collection and Burgess Yachts collaboration arrives as what feels like a natural progression for two brands fluent in the language of luxury. Since launching in 2016, Ultima has amassed an award-winning portfolio of chalets, villas, residences, and hotels (including Ultima Gstaad, which we had the pleasure of staying at), each set in coveted locations and offering the kind of full buyout experience, privacy, and bespoke service that has led guests to describe them as ‘superyachts on land’ (and if you’re going to be compared to a superyacht, make it a Burgess one!). Meanwhile, the yacht brokerage founded 50 years ago by former Royal Navy officer Nigel Burgess is known for being among the first to treat yacht operations with the same rigour as aviation or fine art dealing, becoming the go-to firm for royalty, celebrities who we’d name-drop if we could (the brand doesn’t make a habit of publicising its clients), and high net-worth OutThere travellers.
Together, the two heavyweights are merging their expertise into one itinerary that invites travellers to seamlessly split their time between land and sea, beginning with seven nights aboard KOGO, a 235 ft (71.7 m) superyacht available through Burgess’s charter fleet. Fresh from a multi-million-euro refit, the vessel offers generous accommodation for up to 12 guests across a master suite and six spacious doubles, all designed with serene, Zen-inducing interiors courtesy of Terence Disdale. True to her stature, KOGO comes equipped with every indulgence you could ask for… and then some. An onboard spa and gym, jacuzzi, outdoor cinema, and gadgets and gizmos aplenty – Seabobs, wave runners, eFoils, kayaks and even an electric hydrofoil for good measure – provide enough diversions when guests aren’t plunging into exclusive dive sites, partying on deck, or dropping anchor at hot spots in the Mediterranean. Behind the scenes, a dedicated crew of 21 ensures that every moment on board is catered to with quiet precision and warmth.
From there, the journey continues for another seven nights on land, though you won’t be giving up any freedom or intimacy. Guests will choose from a selection of Ultima properties, including Ultima Corfu, a multi-tiered cliffside retreat with soul-stirring Ionian Sea views and a dedicated wellness space, or Le Grand Jardin Cannes, the only private retreat on Île Sainte-Marguerite – a hidden oasis shielded by Richelieu’s stone fort and a 3.5-acre botanical garden filled with olive trees and citrus groves. For those craving a different kind of horizon after a week on the water, the collaboration also opens the door to the brand’s illustrious alpine retreats, including the upcoming Ultima Promenade Gstaad, which boasts over 500km of hiking and biking trails and offers entry into the highest tiers of Swiss wellness culture.
Ultima’s collaboration with Burgess signals a growing shift in how luxury travellers are choosing to experience the world. Increasingly, hospitality brands are recognising that today’s globetrotters don’t want to be tied to one mode of escape. The real luxury lies in fluidity: being able to move seamlessly from turquoise waters to terraced vineyards, from sun-lit open decks to secluded spa suites, without ever compromising on service or style. Case in point: the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has also piqued our interest recently with news of its latest voyage. This December, the brand’s newest superyacht, Luminara, will sail the Indian Ocean as part of two itineraries featuring a land-based interlude at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands.
It’s exciting to witness brands like Ritz-Carlton and Ultima Collection in partnership with Burgess Yachts take the familiar format of amphibious travel and reinterpret it through a more refined, private, and deeply personalised lens, one that stretches the luxury experience between both land and sea without losing momentum or magic. Should this mark the next chapter in travel, then we’re more than ready to set sail.
Photography courtesy of Ultima Collection and Burgess Yachts
