When it comes to travel today, true luxury lies not in a beautiful hotel or a private jet, but in experiences that are rare, precious and memorable. The prowl for that perfect souvenir has given way to a thirst for access, as a new generation of travellers chase adventures in far-flung places. The barriers to entry for experiences like swimming with sharks, training with Special Forces in a James Bond-esque secret facility and exploring the Arctic region have all but broken down. So even in the remotest of locations, these experiences can be accompanied by top-class accommodation and services.

Here is a list of five travel experiences that will take intrepid travellers to places and experiences that were once thought impossible.