Private islands

Elevating the ultimate in exclusivity

Whether it’s epic parties alongside bioluminescent waters or learning to freedive with yogic breathwork so a private chef can prepare your spearfishing catch, we specialise in buyouts, so we can pair you with the right property and build out experiences just for you.

For families, we’ve created actor-led pirate treasure hunts on deserted atolls, while for big group celebrations we’ve set up dancefloors on rooftops and roped conversation pits in the jungle canopy.

Yes, there are the Indian Ocean and Caribbean classics, but we also know the secret off-market options. Expect everything from European island forts to private designer homes in Panama, home to the world’s largest collection of contemporary African art.

Throughout, we take into account everything from your design sensibilities and personality type to the simple things, like geographic preferences.

Then, after finding the correct location, we’ll put together an experience just for you, whether that’s bringing in Olympic surfers for private lessons or building a bespoke camp from scratch on a desert island.

All media taken on Cookson Adventures trips

Cookson Adventures takes stressed executives to Yakushima private island in Japan to learn martial arts and “hara” breathing from a Renshinkan karate master, or uses Sami guides to teach clients to survive and learn to free dive in the snowy wastes of the Arctic.

January, 2020

Off-market properties & buyouts

From private homes to properties only open to the inner circle, we have access to unique options. That’s alongside all the tropical-idyll classics, so we can offer you a fully informed decision of where to stay.

Customisation

We have an “island as a canvas” approach. Whether it’s bringing in floating saunas for a wellness ritual or drone shows of your monogram for your closing-night party, we’ll build something that fits your tastes.

Immersive experiences

Murder mysteries with actors posing as staff members. Secret agent missions with submersibles and remote-operated robots. And, treasure hunts with narratives tailored to your group. We’ve organised truly special experiences, handcrafted for our clients.

Bringing in the experts

Perhaps you’re interested in learning to wakeboard with a championship winner, stargaze with a Nasa astronomer or dine with the Michelin-starred chef that put your host country’s food on the map. Cookson Adventures will bring in the world’s top experts.

Platform for adventure

We’ll ensure that your stay is much more than white-sand good looks. In French Polynesia that might be taking a yacht out to swim with humpbacks, while in the Indian Ocean it might be going behind the scenes of an NGO tracking manta migrations. Or, it could just be using helicopters to explore the mainland.

Taste matching

The most important part of our role is matching our clients with the right property and experience. With our comprehensive knowledge of the world’s best private islands, we’ll get to know your exacting tastes, so we can pair you with your perfect trip – right down to your design preferences.

To inspire, we’ve picked out a few sample themes of trips:

Desert island party – dressed up as an enchanted jungle or barefoot Crusoe shipwreck, your island is given over to a thematic event – from DJs and temporary art installations to sandbar runway shows using garments dyed using local botanicals. We’ve also layered in multiple surprises, such as A-list concerts, that favourite yoga teacher from a decade ago or entire days dedicated to something close to your heart.

Multi-generational escapes – we’ve built out experiences that span from great grandparents to infants. That could be multi-layered treasure hunts with alternative-reality pirate maps, coral reef sculpting with marine-safe 3D printing or mythological journeys personalised to the family, with activity-based tasks culminating in a fire-dance production show.

“Formula I” – for a group of competitive friends, our Formula Island concept can mean beach wind buggy races on custom courses, rows with Tahitian competition winners and surfing competitions with Olympians. All to the backdrop of an ultra-luxury private island.

Wellness retreat – given your isolation, a private island can become a wellbeing sanctuary. Think ocean resonance domes built from driftwood for sound-bathing sessions. Top breathwork practitioners to teach freediving techniques, before you get in the waters with mantas and whale sharks. And, personalised mood kits, with each guest receiving playlists, prompts and daily rituals to achieve their goals – from invigoration to relaxation.

Nordic & polar islands – from idyllic Scandi timber lodges to private camps in Greenland, we can create a private island with a difference. We can see you warm up in floating hot tubs amongst the icebergs, kayak out to track whales with conservationists using hydrophones and sleep in glass igloos under the northern lights. This is luxury in a remote setting.

Castaway experience – for a night, indigenous guides and ex-special forces operatives can guide you on a survival experience. Learn to spearfish and prepare your catch over an open fire with a Michelin-star-winning chef. Build shelters from secret caches you’ve discovered. And, if you’d like a bit more luxe, complement your stay with a gourmet foraged dinner or island mixologist on hand for tropical cocktails.