tour of neverland ranch

Michael Jackson Fans Can Take A Tour Through His Life In LA

LA is the place to be for fans of Michael Jackson, where they can go on exclusive tours to learn about the iconic musician's life.

Read update

More To See Of The King Of Pop.

Few artists get to enjoy the famed and financial success of Michael Jackson. To say he rocked the world would be an understatement. Today one can go on a tour in LA to see what his life was like.

While Michael Jackson's former homes may not be open to the public (including Neverland and Thriller Villa), Graceland is. If one is visiting Tennessee, pop into the former home of Elvis Presley and see the opulent luxury that the King of Rock 'n Roll once called home. Anyone with a love of music should visit Nashville and go on this trolley tour which explores 100 points of interest in the city .

UPDATE: 2023/01/06 10:48 EST BY AARON SPRAY

In addition to visiting Neverland (if one is lucky enough) and other places associated with Michael Jackson, some of the best places to learn about him are in museums. This article was updated with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and The Hollywood Museum, which predictably have excellent exhibits of Michael Jackson (including some of his original costumes).

The Fame And Success Of Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson was a singer, songwriter, and dancer and was dubbed the King of Pop. He is now regarded as one of the culturally most significant figures of the 20th century. He had a career spanning four decades that saw him influence many music genres.

• Dance: He Popularized Complicated Dance Moves Like The Moonwalk and the Robot
• Awarded: He Was The Most Awarded Music Artist in History

Michael Jackson was born the eighth child of the Jackso family and went on to be one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Some of his famous albums include Thriller (1982), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), and HIStory: Past, Present, and Future, Book I (1995).

• Thriller: The Best-Selling Album of All time
• Bad: The First Album To Produce Five US Billboard Hot 100 Number One Singles
• Accolades: 15 Grammies, 6 Brit Awards, 1 Golden Globe Award, 39 Guinness World Records
• Halls Of Fame: 2x Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame, The Dance Hall of Fame, and Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame

Related: 14 Strange Cars Michael Jackson Actually Owned (8 He'd Buy Today)

What To Know About Neverland

Michael Jackson named his home Neverland Ranch or Neverland. He named it after the fictional island and imaginary faraway place where Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Captain Hook, and the Lost Boys live. It is a land where Peter Pan never grows up; Paradise Treats notes that Michael Jackson "never had the chance to be a child."

• Renamed: Neverland Has Been Renamed Sycamore Valley Ranch
• Address: 5225 Figueroa Mountain Road, Los Olivos, California

Neverland Ranch is now called Sycamore Valley Ranch and is located in Santa Barbara County in California. It was Michael Jackson's home and private amusement park from 1988 to 2005. In its heyday, it was a zoo and amusement park with a variety of animals, including the chimpanzee, Bubbles.

When Michael Jackson lived in it, it was complete with a Ferris wheel, an antique carousel, and even trams for exploring the grounds.

• Formerly Included: Neverland Had An Amusement Park and A Zoo

The home was built to look like a Normandy Manor and occupies nearly 13,000 square feet. It includes multiple suites, guest quarters, a library, and a kitchen. Outside are formal gardens, ponds, lakes, and secret hideaways.

Michael Jackson left the property in 2005 after being acquitted and never returned. He continued to own it until his death in 2009. It was sold in 2020 to billionaire Ronald Burkle for $22 million. Today the home is empty, and the animals have long been relocated to new homes.

• Owned: Today, the Property Is Owned by Billionaire, Ronald Burkle

Unfortunately, Neverland is not open to the public (but one can buy it for some 10s of millions).

• Closed: Neverland is Currently Closed to The Public

While Neverland may be closed to the public, there are plenty of pictures that one can see of Michael Jackson's Neverland , plus a visit may be possible with the guided tour below.

Related: Vintage Photos That Show How Much Disney Theme Parks Have Changed

The "Thriller" House:

One Michael Jackson-related attraction that one can see (from the road) is the "Thriller" House . It is the house that appeared in the "Thriller" and is a 3,532 square-foot Sander house. It was built in 1887.

The "Thriller" House is located in the historic housing district of Angelino Heights and was originally a 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom single-family home. In 1971 the house - along with the entire block on Carroll Street was declared a cultural-historical monument. It has been converted into a duplex-type house.

Note: This Is A Private Home, So Be Respectful if Driving By To See

• Address: 1345 Carroll Ave Los Angeles, CA 9002

Michael Jackson Forever Missed Tour

For those who would like a tour of the life and career of Michael Jackson, consider the Michael Jackson Forever Missed Tour .

This tour begins in Hollywood and Beverly Hills and explores many locations where Michael left his mark. One will see residences where Michael Jackson once lived - from his first home in LA to his last home, where he met his untimely death.

• Duration: 5 Hours
• Suggested Pickup Time: 10.00 am
• Cost: $375.00

See the elementary school he attended and the auditorium that's dedicated in his honor. Explore the recording studios where he recorded his famous albums like Thriller, Bad, and Off the Wall. The tour also explores filming locations of the famous Thriller video.

With this tour, a trip to Neverland may be possible as they say:

" Please Note: A day trip to Neverland, Los Olivos, and Santa Barbara can be arranged for another day ."

Visit Museums To Learn More About Micheal Jackson

Rock & roll hall of fame.

If one is passing through Cleveland in Ohio, take the time to visit the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame . Micheal Jackson became the youngest person to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 2001.

• Admission: $35 General Admission

Summer Opening Hours (July to August):

• Daily: 10.00 am to 5.00 pm (Thursday, Friday, Saturday to 8.00 pm)

If one is also visiting Nashville, take the time to visit the famous Country Music Hall of Fame and learn about great artists like Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, and John Denver.

The Hollywood Museum

Another place to learn about the live and legendary career of Micheal Jackson is at The Hollywood Museum . It has a special tribute to the "King of Pop." Here visitors can see the original outfit he wore on his "BAD" concert tour.

The Hollywood Museum is the official museum of Hollywood and has the largest collection of Hollywood memorabilia. Visitors can see exhibits about many of their other favored celebrities in the world. See Marilyn Monroe's million-dollar dress, Elvis' personal bathrobe, and hundreds of other costumes on display, from Star Trek to Jurassic Park to Leonardo DiCaprio.

• Opening Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 10.00 am to 5.00 pm

See props, photographs, personal artifacts, posters, scripts, vintage memorabilia, and more. After visiting the museum, go behind the scenes and see how movies are made on a Universal Studios Tour .

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Can you visit Michael Jackson’s Neverland ranch?

Share this with

Many will recognise the name Neverland Ranch – and it equate it to Michael Jackson .

Once Jackson’s home, the ranch was heavily featured in the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland – which detailed sexual abuse allegations made against the singer by choreographer Wade Robson and James Safechuck.

A 2022 documentary helmed by Ross Kemp more recently attempted to explore another side of Neverland Ranch, namely the fact it was home to zoo animals as a private amusement park.

Some who have seen these documentaries might be wondering what exactly happened to the property itself, following Jackson’s death in 2009.

Can you visit Neverland Ranch?

For years, fans have made what could be described as a pilgrimage to Neverland Ranch, much in the same way that Elvis fans will go visit his Memphis mansion, Graceland .

However, unlike Graceland, Neverland Ranch is not designed to be a tourist attraction.

Therefore visitors can only go as far as the gate, and once there, read any notes that may have been left by fans of the singer.

Where is Neverland Ranch, and who owns it now?

Neverland Ranch can be found in Santa Barbara County , California.

The exact address is 5225 Figueroa Mountain Road, Los Olivos, California.

The ranch has been known by several names. It started out as the Zaca Laderas Ranch, and was renamed Sycamore Valley Ranch by developer William Bone when he bought the property back in 1977.

It finally became Neverland Ranch when it passed into Jackson’s hands.

Upon Michael’s death, his entire estate, which would have included Neverland Ranch, was given to a family trust.

It’s not known for sure exactly how much Jackson paid to buy the ranch from Bone in 1988, but figures range from close to $20 million (£15.9 million) to roughly $30 million (£23.8 million).

In 2015, Neverland Ranch was put on sale for $100 million (which would equal around £79.5 million today).

Your Daily Horoscope

What does the week have in store? Your tarot horoscope reading for April 22 to April 28

However, Forbes reported in December 2020 that the property and land was purchased by billionaire Ron Burkle for $22 million (£17.5 million).

MORE : Inside Neverland, where Michael Jackson was accused of committing child sexual abuse

MORE : What is the point in Searching For Michael Jackson’s Zoo With Ross Kemp?

MORE : What is the Pepsi ad Michael Jackson starred in with Leaving Neverland contributor James Safechuck?

Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram

Share your views in the comments below

Get us in your feed

Room Request! Casa San Agustín

Wynn Las Vegas Hosts Revelry Festival This June

Prada Launches Beauty

Jimmy Choo Debuts A Golf Collection

The Brightest Light On Broadway: Gayle Rankin

Catching Up With Suzan-Lori Parks

Room Request! Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa

Monte Carlo Steps Up Its Fine Dining Game

Free for All: Dispatch from the 2024 Dew Tour

The Brightest Light On Broadway: Celia Keenan-Bolger

Room Request! The Londoner

A Day In The Life: Josie Maran

Where To Stay And Soak Up The Sun In Ibiza This Summer

The Brightest Lights On Broadway: Eden Espinosa

R+Color Launches At Hair Salons Nationwide

Exciting Aspen Openings To Check Out Now

Room Request! Flemings Mayfair Hotel

Haircare Brand Rōz Comes Into Its Own

Suite Reyad Launches A Haircare Collection

Beautycounter Enters The Fragrance Game

Home » Design » Tour DuJour: Neverland Ranch

Tour DuJour: Neverland Ranch

Michael jackson’s sycamore valley ranch, his former home in california, is on the market for $31 million.

Coinciding with the debut of Michael Jackson’s two-part HBO documentary, Leaving Neverland , the late King of Pop’s former estate has been placed on the market for $31 million. Listed by Suzanne Perkins  and  Kyle Forsyth  of  Compass , Sycamore Valley Ranch is truly one-of-a-kind historic landmark in the world of pop culture. Located on 2,700 acres just north of the town Los Olivos in California, this expansive property is fit for far more than a king.

The residence features a large main home tucked between gardens, a four-acre lake, waterfall, and breathtaking panoramic views. With three separate guest houses, a movie theatre (with stage), barns, animal shelter facilities, corrals and more, this property will leave you wanting nothing.

Click through the gallery for an inside look.

• Homes & Estates ,
• House and Home ,
• Interior Design ,
• Real Estate ,
• Tour DuJour

STORIES DUJOUR

Inside the most luxurious boutique hotel in the coastal city of Cartagena, Colombia More

This four day food, wine and spirit event transcends the typical food festival More

The Italian luxury label enters the beauty arena with refillable skincare and makeup collections More

The British label brings the joy of fashion to the golf course, clubhouse and beyond with a new collection in partnership with Malbon More

The actress plays Sally Bowles, opposite Eddie Redmayne, in the eagerly awaited revival of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club More

The Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright returns to the Public Theater 30 years later for the debut of her new play Sally & Tom More

What to Click Next

Designer Billy Cotton Debuts A Collection With West Elm

The American interior designer collaborates with the lifestyle brand on a range of home furnishings More

J. J. Martin’s Ode To Milan

The La DoubleJ-founder and designer shares a guide to her favorite things about her adopted home More

Ralph Lauren’s Rules of Living Well

The American designer opens up his world and homes in a new book, "Ralph Lauren A Way of ... More

Emporio Sirenuse’s Trunk Show

24 Hours With Scott Pask

The three-time Tony award–winning scenic designer, nominated this year for two Tonys for the musicals "Shucked" and "Some ... More

Puiforcat’s New Silver Designed By Donald Judd

A new collaboration between the Donald Judd Foundation and Puiforcat has yielded pared-down, sculptural pieces in solid silver More

Follow us on Facebook for insider access

See the latest in luxury on pinterest, get behind-the-scenes pictures on instagram, read the news dujour on twitter, discover where luxury lives on tumblr.

The Importance of Protecting Biodiversity

• Advertising
• Terms & Privacy
• Issue Archive
• Contributors
• Wall of Fame

Subscribe to DuJour

© DUJOUR MEDIA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Share This Article

Cookie banner

We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy . Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use , which became effective December 20, 2019.

By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies.

Site search

• Los Angeles
• San Francisco
• Archive.curbed.com
• For Sale
 in LA
• For Rent in LA
• Curbed Comparisons
• Neighborhoods
• Real Estate Market Reports
• Rental Market Reports
• Homelessness
• Development
 News
• Transportation
• Architecture


Filed under:

• Santa Barbara County
• Michael Jackson

Take a Video Tour Through Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch

We heard news today that firm Colony Capital, owners of Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch , are putting the famed property up for sale . The Los Olivos ranch, which once had a giant slide and carnival rides on the premises, occupies over 2,600 acres of land. We've found a video exploring the expansive grounds but mostly focusing on the less-often-seen interior of the main house, which used to contain crazy knickknacks (the Academy Award for Gone With the Wind !) and still has flooring ripped from an Eighteenth-Century French home. Elizabeth Taylor got married here, Marlon Brando hung out here—the house is full of stories.

Next Up In Michael Jackson

• Take a Video Tour of a Post-Michael Jackson Neverland Ranch
• Michael Jackson's Old Encino Home May be Opened for Tours
• Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch is For Sale For $100 Million
• One of Michael Jackson's Garish Old Haunts Selling for $19.5MM
• Here's the House Michael Jackson's Estate Bought For His Fam
• Culver City Dumpster Dive Pays Off

Loading comments...

Share this story.

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories

In pictures: Michael Jackson’s house, Neverland

By AD Staff

Tormented and tainted pop superstar Michael Jackson's home is a lot more affordable these days. Neverland Ranch, which has failed to find a buyer after the King of Pop's death in 2009, wears a deserted look. The 12,598-square-foot French Normandy-style home is perched on 2,698 acres in the Santa Ynez Valley, northeast of Los Angeles. The ranch, which has been re-christened Sycamore Valley Ranch, comes with six-bedrooms, a four-acre lake with waterfall, a pool house, an outdoor barbecue, three guest houses, a tennis court, and a 5,500-square-foot movie theater and stage. The price tag in 2006 was $100 million. In 2017, however, Michael Jackson's former home was on the real estate market again at a new asking price: $67 million.

Michael Jackson's House | Dream Home

Michael Jackson, who would have turned 60 today, bought the sprawling estate in Santa Barbara County, California in 1987. He named it Neverland, after the fictional world in Peter Pan where kids never grow up and decked it out with amusement park rides, a petting zoo, and other attractions to entertain visiting kids. However, Jackson ceased to call Neverland home after his 2005 molestation trial. Neverland almost went under the hammer in 2008 after Jackson failed to repay a $24 million loan on the estate. However, in 2009, before his death, he sold it to Colony Capital for $22.5 million.

Michael Jackson's House | Life at Neverland

Paris Jackson, Michael Jackson's daughter, reminisced about life at Neverland, saying she and her brother (Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr) lived "normal lives on the ranch," according to an interview with Rolling Stones . "Like, we had school every single day, and we had to be good. And if we were good, every other weekend or so, we could choose whether we were gonna go to the movie theater or see the animals or whatever. But if you were on bad behavior, then you wouldn't get to go do all those things," Jackson's daughter went on to say.

By Takshi Mehta

By Aishwarya Khurana

By Natalia Rachlin

By Alisha Lad

By Deepa Nair

Find anything you save across the site in your account

Michael Jackson's Iconic Neverland Ranch

By Paul Theroux

Photography by Harry Benson

This article originally appeared in the November 2009 issue of Architectural Digest.

Much has been made of Michael Jackson's Neverland, but inevitably the images have been of the theme-park exterior and its glittering—and misleading—façade. I entered through a side gate and felt I had stepped through Alice's looking glass. Looming large was a bulky turreted railway station (Katherine Station, named for his mother) that was sometimes mistaken for the Jackson house. The Katherine steam engine was a prominent feature, and Katherine Street conspicuous, though there was no Joseph Street, nor anything bearing his father's name. There were a dozen or so serious rides, a carousel and a Ferris wheel, as well as a movie theater and the constantly flickering screen—always cartoons—of a JumboTron. Beyond the stark tennis court and set of tepees was the gazebo where Elizabeth Taylor, an enthusiastic visitor to Neverland, married Larry Fortensky.

To the rear of the valley was the zoo with its unhappy elephant, its shuffling giraffe, its furious chimp and thrashing orangutan and spitting llamas. The artificial lake was dotted with spouting fountains. The Neverland fire station housed a big red engine. Lining all the gravel roads were winsome statues—flute players, rows of grateful grinning kiddies, clusters of them, some holding hands, some with banjos, some with fishing rods, the bronze sculptures of carefree children gamboling among the shrubbery. In front of Michael's house was a statue of Mercury, rising 30 feet, winged helmet and caduceus and all, balanced on one tiptoe, at sunset a syrupy glow lingering on his big bronze buttocks, making them look like a buttered muffin.

The entrance gate is now iconic, with all its kitschy heraldry, the archway lettered “Neverland” in gold, Michael's name above it, a king's crown and a gilt imitation British royal coat of arms, with the lion and the unicorn and the standard motto, Honi Soit Qui Mal y Pense (“Evil to him who evil thinks”).

This gate was used only by Michael himself, riding in his stretch Rolls-Royce. The train and the amusement park and the movie house were used rarely. And the zoo was so ill-visited that the animals became ill-tempered and had to be relocated. The Neverland movie theater was not the funky one-screen Roxy that it appeared from the outside. I was surprised that there were so few seats, though, craning my neck, I could see that where there would have been a balcony there was an upper room with a double bed behind a vast window, so that one could loll in bed and watch the big-screen movie.

The gate at which I entered was the usual entrance to Neverland, an unprepossessing passage at a high-fenced side road that blocked the view of everything inside. At first glance, the inside was a toy town wilderness of carnival rides and dollhouses and zoo animals and pleasure gardens. The sentry post at this gate did not have a footman in Neverland livery but rather a fierce, khaki-shirted guard with a visual record of possible threats—the wall of the post plastered with mug shots of people suspected of stalking Michael or otherwise threatening him or, in certain cases, believing they were married to him.

Up ahead, at the end of the winding road, lay Neverland's main house, a Hollywood Tudor-influenced design, with touches of the suburbs, dark shingles and bow windows, all sheltered by trees and neighbored by the towering and bewildering statue of Mercury.

Not many people were admitted to the inside, and anyway—the whole of the exterior of Neverland was such a dazzling evocation of childhood fantasies—why bother?

I had the good fortune to be admitted one chilly April day. Michael was not in residence, and yet many gardeners were toiling like elves in the flower beds, and the Michael Jackson security people were out in force, patrolling in golf carts. It is a truism to say that interiors are revealing, but I was not quite prepared for the inside of Michael Jackson's house. At first glimpse, the rooms seemed no more than a jumble of glittery objects, a set of rooms filled with portraits and framed snapshots, statuary and trophies and, in the library, a coffee table with two books on it. The library, like a library in a B movie, was crammed with bright leather-bound never-opened books. All of it seemed like set design. I was tempted to smile. But I kept walking; up close, the whole place was distinctly telling.

The interior of any house can seem to have a personality, the human touch evident in interior decoration and the unconscious flourish of disarray or untidiness. A room can seem like an aspect of the mind. Even when it is the calculated stage set of over-egged furnishing, sometimes known as accessorizing, the furniture and objects deliberately arranged, indicating how the owner wishes to appear—even then it can be unintentionally revealing.

The interior of Michael Jackson's house at Neverland was a sort of shrine to the man himself, filled with power figures, objects of veneration, objects of desire, yearnings, fetish objects and self-portraits, as in the full-length oil painting of Michael as a king in Elizabethan court dress, with ruffed collar and cuffs, holding a crown on a velvet pillow. On the inner walls and on the walls lining the stairway were more portraits of Michael—as a regal figure, with a cape, with an ermine collar; or as a generalissimo, with medals and braid and stripes and epaulets.

By Rachel Wallace

By Katherine McLaughlin

By David Sokol

One book on the coffee table was a large-format illustrated edition of Peter Pan ; the other book was the limited-edition program of HIStory , which was much more than a mere concert program. With asides from Michael and a photographic record of the world tour, this program, like the tour, amounts almost to a testament. The HIStory music has been called a case history—certainly it contains hits from his past and new material, a certain amount of resentment, but also considerable anger as well as crooning.

The significant song “Childhood” is like the Neverland anthem—as evocative of Michael's life in music as Peter Pan was in prose. In it he sings of searching for his childhood, his “painful youth,” his sense of alienation, his “love for elementary things.” It includes the lines, “It's been my fate to compensate/ for the childhood/I've never known.”

Now I understood why, in this 2,700-acre fantasy world, walking through the Neverland shrubbery and down the paths and along the lake, I kept hearing that song. It issued from stereo speakers disguised as large gray boulders. It was the song on a loop at the Ferris wheel, and it was continually playing on the Neverland carousel.

A child star almost by definition doesn't have a childhood, which is why Michael Jackson identified strongly with Elizabeth Taylor and went out of his way to make friends with her. His way of befriending anyone was to be extremely generous. Taylor was the recipient of many baubles from Michael Jackson. When she sent him Gypsy, a live elephant, he presented her with a small brilliantly worked elephant that was studded with jewels.

“Yeah, we try to escape and fantasize,” Michael said, when on a long phone call—his preferred method of communication—I asked him about Taylor's visits to Neverland. “We have great picnics. It's so wonderful to be with her. I can really relax with her.”

I asked him why. “Because we've lived the same life,” he said. “We've experienced the same thing.” And what would that thing be, I wondered. “The great tragedy of childhood stars.” Marilyn Monroe was another image in Michael Jackson's set of personal iconography, along with Charlie Chaplin and Edward Scissorhands. Disney figures occurred as pictures, as statues, as framed tableaux, as cartoon cels, throughout the house, especially Mickey Mouse, whom, with repeated surgery, Michael began to resemble. On the piano, along with Marilyn and Elizabeth and Mickey, were photographs of Michael taken with President Jimmy Carter at the White House and with Nelson Mandela in South Africa.

Perhaps to reassure its owner, perhaps as congenial company, one of the features of the house was its life-size figures, in particular one of a Jeeves-like butler in a swallowtail coat that stood near the kitchen. The kitchen itself was large, more suited to a restaurant than a private house; but with its substantial dining table, it was obviously a more welcoming area than the overdecorated white-carpeted living room, with its white piano, or the library, smelling of overripe leather bindings.

“I love to read short stories,” Michael said when I asked him about his library. He named his favorite authors. “Somerset Maugham,” he said quickly and then, pausing at each name, “Whitman. Hemingway. Twain.”

Prominently displayed on a wall just off the kitchen was a series of three framed snapshots of one of the boys whose name was dauntless, still clawing the window and hurtling toward the shooter. I found this particular game irresistible.

In the course of that long phone call, I asked about this much-used game room. Michael said, “I love video games. X-Men. Pinball. Jurassic Park. The martial arts ones—Mortal Kombat.”

As for Beast Busters, he said, “Oh, yeah, that's great. I pick each game. That one's maybe too violent, though. I usually take some with me on tour.“

But surely half-ton video game machines were too big for that? “Oh, we travel with two cargo planes,” Michael said.

I asked him if he would encourage his three children to be performers. He said, “They can do whatever they want to do. If they want to do that, it's okay.”

But when I pushed him for details, he said he was certain he would raise his children differently from the way he was brought up. “With more fun,” he said. “More love. Not so isolated.”

Children hate darkness: Neverland was a refuge of twinkling lights. Children hate silence: Music was continually playing in the house, in the garden. Instead of the TV that flickers in a child's bedroom, Michael had his JumboTron playing cartoons had been linked, as scandal, to Michael: an adolescent smiling in the sunshine of a California backyard.

A large game room occupied a separate building at the rear of the house. All the games were the sort that would be found at an arcade—a number of pinball machines, shooting galleries, video games and contraptions that could be ridden. The compelling feature of this arcade was that although all the games had slots for quarters, none of them required money—it was a child's dream of endless play on demand, music, bells, gongs and flashing lights.

One of the games, Beast Busters, with a windowlike screen and a machine gun, required the shooter to destroy an overbearing Freddy Krueger-like monster that continually staggered forward. Even spurting blood and mangled, the attacker all day and night. Children love zoos and circuses and amusement parks: Michael had his own. Most of all, Neverland was safe. Here and there, like toy soldiers, were the uniformed security people, some on foot, others on golf carts, some standing sentry duty; for Neverland was also a fortress. To the question, “Has anyone seen my childhood?” Neverland was an idealized answer.

But after the scandal and the celebrated trial, in which he was vindicated on charges of child molestation, Michael said that Neverland was so tainted by the scandal, he would never live there again.

Perhaps his self-imposed exile from Neverland spelled the end of his childhood. Certainly, life was much more difficult for him after that; and then it was impossible.

Related: See More Celebrity Homes in AD

By Rachel Davies

Inside Michael Jackson's transformed Neverland with new rides and ghostly resurrections

Michael Jackson's crumbling former home had reportedly fallen into chaos - but incredible new pics show some of the quirky old attractions have been restored along with brand new rides and more animals

• 02:00, 30 Mar 2023

Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch was falling to pieces after he sold it - but now it's been completely transformed.

The crumbling Californian property looked miles away from it's best and was seemingly unsellable as the asking price rapidly tumbled downwards.

But the 2,700-acre ranch near Santa Barbara, famously named after the home of Jackson's fictional hero Peter Pan, has been given a new lease of life.

When the King of Pop died of acute propofol intoxication in 2009 at the age of 50, there were reports his family wanted to turn the site into a place of pilgrimage for fans.

However, rather than becoming what Graceland is for Elvis it has remained empty for over a decade, although the doors might be about to open.

In December 2020, billionaire businessman Ron Burkle bought Neverland for the cut-price of $22million, which is nearly four times less than it was initially listed for.

At the time, a spokesperson for Burke said the businessman saw the investment as a land banking opportunity.

But now it seems like he has decided to bring it back to its former glory by doing work to restore the grounds and update the old rides.

The property showed plenty of vehicles on site as renovations reportedly began after the 2020 sale, with workers seen driving trucks and carrying tool bags and cables as tarp covered some of the ground.

Incredible new aerial picture show that some of the weird and wonderful former attractions have been resurrected.

During Jackson's heyday, Neverland was known for it's over-the-top attractions as there was a working train station, giant statues, Ferris Wheel, roller coaster and swan boats.

They were either removed or fell into a dilapidated state after Jackson's death, but the fairground area is now looking very pristine.

Although some machines are covered, it is clear that certain stands have been reinstalled in the grounds.

From above, we can see a colourful fun house with obstacles and a long slide named 'Firehouse'.

There are also two bright swinging carriages for a ride known as 'Krazy Planes' - with both attractions situated right next to the railway tracks.

Multiples teepee tents of different colours and sizes have been erected, while some of the huge play areas have been cleaned up.

What looks like bumper cars are covered over by one of the Neverland gardens - spelling out the name of the notorious home despite it being renamed to Sycamore Valley Ranch.

One of the biggest new attractions is called 'Hook's Revenge', a broken pirate ship which is very fitting for the Peter Pan theme.

The famous train station is still there and it looks like one of the original carriages is in storage at the end of the line - but it's unknown if any of the three railroads still work.

Giant swimming pools that were previously drained appear to be refilled as well - and there is a 14-foot lagoon-style pool and a four-acre lake with waterfall.

The elegant winding pathways and tiles throughout the ranch have been cleaned up and the plants are starting to bloom once more.

There are many buildings on the property but the centre piece is a 12,598-square-foot house had five bedrooms and eight bathrooms.

Other amenities at the ranch include a 50-seat movie theatre, dance studio and tennis court, which also has Neverland branding.

Jackson purchased the Californian property in 1987 for around $19.5million, having first visited four years earlier when he saw Paul McCartney while the Beatles star was filming the 'Say Say Say' video.

It's been the centre of some huge events in the last few decades, with Elizabeth Taylor marrying Larry Fortensky in a lavish ceremony in 1991.

Chat show queen Oprah Winfrey famously interviewed Jackson live in front of 90 million viewers in 1993, and Jackson and then-wife Lisa Marie Presley welcomed children from around the globe ahead of the United Nations' 50th anniversary in 1995.

However, police raided the property ahead of Jackson's 2003 child molestation trial. He was acquitted of all charges.

Jackson stated he would never live at the property again as he no longer considered the ranch a home as it had been "too violated" by police during the raid.

He did not return to Neverland and Colony Capital invested $22.5million in 2008, with most sources reporting it had become the majority owner.

Most of the rides and all of the animals were sold off, replaced with a meditative zen garden and a section decorated with Peter Pan.

The estate went up for sale in May 2016 with an initial asking price of a staggering $100 million, but this had fallen to $67 million by February 2017.

In February 2019, the asking price was reduced to $31 million, which was just before the controversial Leaving Neverland documentary aired.

In the documentary, James Safechuck and Wade Robson claimed they were sexually abused as children by Michael while at the Neverland Ranch.

Jackson's estate has repeatedly denied all allegations in the documentary.

Real estate expert Michael Corbett told Yahoo Entertainment at the time: "It was priced where it was in the beginning to capture a celebrity trophy buyer, someone that was willing to pay the extra money because it was Michael Jackson's.

"Unfortunately now, since there's been a lot of negative press, someone is probably not going to purchase it for that reason...now someone’s going to buy it because it’s an amazing piece of real estate."

It was eventually purchased by billionaire Ron Burkle, a former family friend of Jackson, for just $22 million in December 2020.

The petting zoo now also appears to be brought back and animals have been reintroduced, despite the controversy surrounding the previous ones.

While the Thriller singer portrayed himself as an animal lover, his zoo was like something out of a horror movie.

Jackson had over 50 different species in his collection of at least 130 animals, including six giraffes, eight alligators, a bear, 20 exotic birds, three elephants, seven apes, four tigers, monkeys, snakes and lizards.

He spent millions of dollars acquiring them, but has been described as a "consumer of animals" who "treated them like toys that were easily replaceable and often disposable".

The fate of some of Jackson's former pets is shrouded in mystery, scandal or tragedy.

One of his parrots was eaten by a boa constrictor who found a gap in the bird cage, while a llama named Snow White died after being viciously attacked by dogs .

In his ITV documentary last year, host Ross Kemp said: "For a man who spent much of his career accusing anyone who criticised him as ignorant, perhaps Jackson was at best ignorant of his animals best interests or at worse knew how to care for them properly, but in the end chose not to."

With no official record of where the animals went and staff signing non-disclosure agreements banning them from speaking out, finding out what happened proved a tough task.

Kemp managed to speak to a former zoo trainer at the famous Californian ranch, including Mark Biancaniello, who was forced to retire while sustaining near fatal injuries in a car crash with two tiger cubs in the vehicle with him.

Mark describes his former boss as an exemplary owner of animals who would never abandon his pets, but Jackson left Neverland and all his animals behind four years before he died .

"I think for the people that really knew Michael on a deeper level and saw his connection to the animals and everything there's no doubt the compassion and the care and the sensitivity that he had towards his animals," he said.

"I think that's the biggest legacy in my mind. I know that all the animals got great homes."

The Estate of Michael Jackson declined to comment, but it has previously been reported that a source close to the family believed the animals were cared for perfectly well.

There was a bear called Balloo, who he bottle fed as an infant and shared a bed with, before he grew to almost 7ft tall while weighing 650 pounds.

It's been reported that Jackson wanted the bear to perform bizarre tricks that were unnatural and cruel, such as riding in a bumper car.

Primatologist and conservationist Jane Goodall, who visited Neverland when Jackson was living there, described the horrors she saw.

"There was a poor little bear in a sort of circular cage crying. It shouldn't have left its mother," she said.

"People were bending over to stroke it. It was the most pathetic little thing. The whole situation was horrendous."

After getting his first elephant, Gypsy, as a gift from actress Elizabeth Taylor, Jackson bought two infant elephants from the Kruger National Park called Ali and Baba from a man convicted of animal cruelty.

Jackson got rid of his other elephant, Ali, because he was told the the cost of upkeep was going to be too great because he was a big bull.

The Bad singer had a number of giraffes over the years, but they all met rather grisly fates.

The law intervened when the animal welfare standards were not up to scratch, as one of the giraffes was illegally imported and their pen was found to be far too small.

Jackson got a bigger enclosure for Jabbar the giraffe, but his inexperience in caring for wild animals casued danger as two of them almost burnt to death in a barn fire .

The singer's friend and personal portrait artist, David Nordahl, says: "Jabbar was killed in an accident. That was really really really sad the doors that came into the giraffe barn came loose and the door came round and I think broke his neck."

Four more were auctioned off before Jackson died to a woman named Freddie Hancock and her husband Tommy, who had no previous experience with wild animals.

The most famous of all of Jackson's animals was definitely Bubbles the chimpanzee.

After buying Bubbles from an animal trainer for $65,000 in the 1980s, the pair became almost inseparable as Jackson took Bubbles on his Bad world tour.

Initially staying in the Jackson family home in LA, Bubbles was then moved to live side-by-side with his famous owner at Neverland.

Bubbles lived a remarkably different life to any other chimp, sleeping in a crib in his owner's room, eating sweets in the cinema and reportedly throwing his poo around the mansion.

Primatologist Jane Goodall claims Bubbles 'was hit across the room' in order to discipline him - and says Jackson had a smile on his face when she showed him videos of primates in lab cages and circuses.

Telling Ross how she reprimanded Jackson about his treatment of animals, Goodall said: "He looked at me and [asked] 'you wouldn't approve of a chimp being hit over the head, would you?' I said, ‘No, Michael, you know I wouldn't.’

"Bubbles was hit when he did something wrong. Michael said that once he was hit across the room. I said, ‘Well, Michael, did you think that was all right?’ And he said, ‘No, not really.’"

Goodall says her advice can't have been listened too and Bubbles was moved to a sanctuary in Florida before Jackson died and replaced with an infant chimp, also called Bubbles.

MORE ON Michael Jackson

Celeb obsessed get a daily dose of showbiz gossip direct to your inbox.

Healing Neverland

Neverland Ranch is now a camp for Healing Families

Farm to Table Tourism

Visit Neverland Ranch, get a tour of the facility, and dine as Earth friendly as possible in a farm to table immersive nutritional adventure.

Become an investor today. Let’s Heal Neverland together.

Located just North of Santa Barbara, California.

Healing Neverland is a pitch by L.A. Zvirbulis

Let’s Buy Neverland Ranch

To turn it into a camp for families healing from trauma.

Cost of property: $31,000,000

Projected Costs for Three Years: $30,000,000

[email protected]

• Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
• Subscribe Subscribed
• Report this content
• View site in Reader
• Manage subscriptions
• Collapse this bar

Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch sold for $22 million

LOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson's famed Neverland Ranch in California has finally sold, more than 10 years after the death of the pop star who abandoned the property following his trial on charges of molesting a young boy there.

Billionaire investor Ron Burkle, a former family friend of Jackson, recently bought the sprawling 2,700-acre estate, his spokesman said on Thursday.

The Wall Street Journal said the estate, which was renamed Sycamore Valley Ranch several years ago, sold for $22 million according to public records. In 2015, the asking price was $100 million and in 2017 it was re-listed for $67 million.

Burkle's spokesman said the businessman saw the investment as a land banking opportunity. He spotted the estate from the air while looking at another location and contacted Tom Barrack, the founder of real estate investment company Colony Capital LLC, to seal the sale. The ranch was off the market at the time.

Jackson, who died from an overdose of the anesthetic Propofol in 2009 at age 50, bought the property in Los Olivos, about 120 miles north of Los Angeles, in 1988 for $19.5 million. After financial troubles, in 2008 he handed over the title to Colony Capital LLC, which held a loan on the property.

Neverland, a name taken from the "Peter Pan" tale of a boy who refused to grew up, became Jackson's favorite retreat and famously featured a zoo, a railway and theme park rides.

It also was where he entertained children, one of whom brought molestation charges against the singer that resulted in a 2005 trial and Jackson's acquittal on all charges.

Jackson vowed never to return to Neverland after the trial.

Burkle is the controlling shareholder of Soho House, a private members club that attracts people in the entertainment and media industries and which has properties in New York, London, Los Angeles and Hong Kong.

The girls even busted out their signature dance moves from the iconic music video , as seen in footage shared by David Beckham via Instagram on Saturday.

“I mean come on x,” the retired soccer star, 48, captioned his post, tagging all five of the ladies and adding a series of heart emojis.

Fans quickly took to the comments section to weigh in on the epic moment, writing things like, “Is this the teaser for the reunion? Cause I’m here for it,” “Tour WHEN,” “We are all UNWELL” and “Thank you @davidbeckham for doing the lord’s work! ❤️.”

Victoria re-shared the clip to her own page, calling her birthday soirée the “best night” ever. “Happy Birthday to me!” the fashion designer added. “I love you all so much! #SpiceUpYourLife.”

For more Page Six you love…

• Listen to our weekly “We Hear” podcast
• Shop our exclusive merch

The Spice Girls were formed in 1994 and became one of the biggest-selling female pop groups of all time, selling over 100 million records worldwide with hits like “Spice Up Your Life,” “Wannabe” and “Too Much.”

Fans have been patiently waiting for the full group to reunite for years , with many hopefuls begging the ladies to launch an official worldwide tour.

Want more celebrity and pop culture news?

Start your day with Page Six Daily.

Thanks for signing up!

Please provide a valid email address.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy .

Want celebrity news as it breaks? Hooked on Housewives?

After splitting in 2000, the last time all five of the Spice Girls performed together was in 2012 for the closing ceremony during the London Olympics. Since then, Chisholm, 50, Bunton, 48, Halliwell, 51, and Brown, 48, hit the road together in 2019 – but without Victoria.

Brown (aka Scary Spice) reignited tour speculation over the weekend when she shared the performance clip from Victoria’s party via her Instagram Stories.

“About last night,” text over the video read, with the hashtag “#tourdatescomingsoon.”

She previously teased a full reunion would be coming in an interview with The Sun last May.

“My theory is that if I say it enough, it will happen. But actually, we are planning on releasing a statement,” she said at the time. “What that is, I can’t say right now because we’re just finishing off perfecting what we’re going to be doing together, all five of us, but it’s going to be something that the fans are really going to love.”

For her part, Victoria has remained mum on any official reunion news – though she’s been breaking out her Posh Spice persona on several occasions over the past few years.

“Warming up the vocals in Miami! More to come 🤫!! 🎶🎤,” she captioned a clip of herself singing Spice Girls karaoke at a party via TikTok last summer.

The birthday girl, who turned 50 on April 17, dressed to impress for her party over the weekend by stepping out in a mint green sleeveless gown with sparkling silver and gold bracelets on each wrist.

Despite having to still depend on crutches for  her broken foot , Victoria appeared to be in good spirits while celebrating the evening with her closest friends and family members, including David and their four kids: Brooklyn, 25, Romeo, 21, Cruz, 19, and Harper, 12. She sustained the injury in February during a workout and is still recovering.

Other guests at the star-studded bash included Tom Cruise, Eva Longoria, Marc Anthony, Salma Hayek, Gordon Ramsay and Angel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

Share this article:

Advertisement

Moscow Metro Tour

• Page active

Description

Moscow metro private tours.

• 2-hour tour $87:  10 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with hotel pick-up and drop-off
• 3-hour tour $137:  20 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with Russian lunch in beautifully-decorated Metro Diner + hotel pick-up and drop off. 
• Metro pass is included in the price of both tours.

Highlight of Metro Tour

• Visit 10 must-see stations of Moscow metro on 2-hr tour and 20 Metro stations on 3-hr tour, including grand Komsomolskaya station with its distinctive Baroque décor, aristocratic Mayakovskaya station with Soviet mosaics, legendary Revolution Square station with 72 bronze sculptures and more!
• Explore Museum of Moscow Metro and learn a ton of technical and historical facts;
• Listen to the secrets about the Metro-2, a secret line supposedly used by the government and KGB;
• Experience a selection of most striking features of Moscow Metro hidden from most tourists and even locals;
• Discover the underground treasure of Russian Soviet past – from mosaics to bronzes, paintings, marble arches, stained glass and even paleontological elements;
• Learn fun stories and myths about Coffee Ring, Zodiac signs of Moscow Metro and more;
• Admire Soviet-era architecture of pre- and post- World War II perious;
• Enjoy panoramic views of Sparrow Hills from Luzhniki Metro Bridge – MetroMost, the only station of Moscow Metro located over water and the highest station above ground level;
• If lucky, catch a unique «Aquarelle Train» – a wheeled picture gallery, brightly painted with images of peony, chrysanthemums, daisies, sunflowers and each car unit is unique;
• Become an expert at navigating the legendary Moscow Metro system;
• Have fun time with a very friendly local;
• + Atmospheric Metro lunch in Moscow’s the only Metro Diner (included in a 3-hr tour)

Hotel Pick-up

Metro stations:.

Komsomolskaya

Novoslobodskaya

Prospekt Mira

Belorusskaya

Mayakovskaya

Novokuznetskaya

Revolution Square

Sparrow Hills

+ for 3-hour tour

Victory Park

Slavic Boulevard

Vystavochnaya

Dostoevskaya

Elektrozavodskaya

Partizanskaya

Museum of Moscow Metro

• Drop-off  at your hotel, Novodevichy Convent, Sparrow Hills or any place you wish
• + Russian lunch  in Metro Diner with artistic metro-style interior for 3-hour tour

Fun facts from our Moscow Metro Tours:

From the very first days of its existence, the Moscow Metro was the object of civil defense, used as a bomb shelter, and designed as a defense for a possible attack on the Soviet Union.

At a depth of 50 to 120 meters lies the second, the coded system of Metro-2 of Moscow subway, which is equipped with everything you need, from food storage to the nuclear button.

According to some sources, the total length of Metro-2 reaches over 150 kilometers.

The Museum was opened on Sportivnaya metro station on November 6, 1967. It features the most interesting models of trains and stations.

Coffee Ring

The first scheme of Moscow Metro looked like a bunch of separate lines. Listen to a myth about Joseph Stalin and the main brown line of Moscow Metro.

Zodiac Metro

According to some astrologers, each of the 12 stops of the Moscow Ring Line corresponds to a particular sign of the zodiac and divides the city into astrological sector.

Astrologers believe that being in a particular zadiac sector of Moscow for a long time, you attract certain energy and events into your life.

Paleontological finds 

Red marble walls of some of the Metro stations hide in themselves petrified inhabitants of ancient seas. Try and find some!

• Every day each car in  Moscow metro passes  more than 600 km, which is the distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
• Moscow subway system is the  5th in the intensity  of use (after the subways of Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai).
• The interval in the movement of trains in rush hour is  90 seconds .

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the walking tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

Write your review

Tour Details

Moscow metro tour: architectural styles of the subway.

Duration: 2 hours

Categories: Culture & History, Sightseeing

This metro tour of Russia’s capital and most populous city, Moscow, is your chance to get a unique insight into the beautiful and impressive architecture of the city's underground stations. Admire their marble walls and high ceilings representing Stalin's desire for glory after World War 2, and see first-hand how the interiors change with the rise of new political eras. Your guide will lead you through the complex network, which is one of the most heavily used rapid transit systems worldwide, with over two billion travelers in 2011.

Opened in 1935, Moscow’s underground system, now 190 miles (305 km) long with 185 stations, is today one the largest and most heavily used rapid transit systems in the world. On this Moscow metro tour, discover the impressive architecture of Moscow’s underground stations and learn how they reflect the Soviet era.

Getting around by metro, your local guide will take you through parts of Moscow’s infamous history. Stop at stations built during the time of the USSR (Soviet Union) that are praised as one of the most extravagant architectural projects from Stalin’s time. After World War 2, he was keen on establishing Stalinist architecture to represent his rising regime and a recognized empire. Learn how when his successor started the de-Stalinization of the former Soviet Union in 1953, the extravagancy of the architecture was toned down.

Discover how the unique character of each station reflected several different eras. While stations like Kievskaya and Slavyansky Bulvar have pompous halls and high stucco ceilings brimming with extravagant decorations, those built later, like Volzhskaya, are lightly adorned with sparse furnishings. Architect Alexey Dushkin and painter Alexander Deyneka were just two of the many artists who made these magnificent landmarks possible.

Revel in Moscow's glory days, as well as the years of scarcity, on this fascinating Moscow metro experience. Conclude your tour at one of the central stations in Moscow. If you're lucky, you may even find the secret entrance to the unconfirmed Metro-2, a parallel underground system used by the government -- a mystery which has neither been denied nor confirmed today.

Nearby tours

Soviet-Era Walking Tour in Moscow: Lubyanka Square and the Gulag History Museum

If you love history, would like to know more about Russia’s past, or just want to take an interesting walk, book this guided Moscow walking tour of Soviet-era sites. With your expert guide, walk through Lubyanka Squ...

Walking Tour of Moscow's Kolomenskoye Estate

On this walking tour through the Kolomenskoye Estate in Moscow, immerse yourself in Russia’s interesting royal history. Walk around the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ascension Church, built in 1532, and enter the Hou...

Moscow Cultural Walking Tour: Red Square, Kitay-Gorod and St Basil's Cathedral

Take a guided walking tour of Moscow's cultural highlights, like the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage-listed Red Square, said to be the central square of Russia. Walk through the adjoining district Kitay-Gorod, one of ...

Kremlin Grounds, Cathedrals and Patriarch's Palace Tour from Moscow

A great three hour tour exploring the Kremlin Grounds, Cathedrals and Patriarch's Palaces in Moscow! The small city in the center of Moscow, once the residence of Czars and Patriarchs, contains Russia's main cathedra...

Moscow City Tour

The Moscow City Tour covers all the highlights and most beautiful places in the enchanting Russian capital. The tour begins with a stop at the Red Square and St. Basil's Cathedral, the architectural masterpiece and w...

Culture Shock Rating

We have a wide range of tours designed to give you an insight into the destination you're travelling in and there is something for everybody. The culture shock ratings considers the destination visited, transport used, activities undertaken and that "Wow, I'm really not at home now!" factor. While generalisations are always tricky, a summary of our gradings is as follows…

This is the least confronting of our tour range. Transport used on the trip is either private or a very comfortable public option, the activities included are usually iconic sites and locations that are not all too confronting.

The tour can include a mix of private and public transport providing a level of comfort that is slightly below what you would experience at home. Sites visited are usually iconic sites, tours can also include market visits, visits to communities etc that provide the traveller with a fantastic insight into destination.

Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether it's a packed public bus where you are forced to stand, a visit to a local market, a local community, you are sure to have an experience that is very different from what you're used to at home.

The comforts of your home town and the environment you are used to are more of a rarity. Expect some challenging transport options, visits to local sites and areas that don't resemble anything at home.

You're out there in the global community! You are likely to be exposed to the elements, travel in whatever means of transport is available and basically take it as it comes, whatever comes! It can be tough.

Physical Rating

Our physical rating gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour. While generalisations are always tricky, a summary of our gradings is as follows…

These tours have very limited physical activity. Usually climbing in and out of the transport provided, walking through sites, markets etc included in the itinerary.

These tours have a bit of physical activity but nothing that should challenge you too much. This could be climbing on and off public transport through to a walk through the destination you're travelling in, they can include walking only tours or a combination of walking and transport.

These tours involve a bit of physical activity from walking up and down hills in the destination you're travelling in or the surrounding areas. Climbing on and off local transport or riding a bike up to 30 kms along predominantly flat terrain or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.

These Tours will provide you with some solid physical activity. Whether its bike riding, walking, trekking, kayaking or riding on public transport you will need to have a good level of fitness to enjoy this tour.

Be prepared for some serious physical activity. These tours are our most challenging and involve some serious walking, hiking or bike riding. Can involve step climbs by foot or pedal and some challenging public transport options in the destination you are travelling.

Luxury Rating

Some trips are like a stroll on the beach, while others have you trekking alpine passes. Some of you thrive on camping out on the savannah, while others may prefer a hot shower and a comfortable bed in a lodge. Follow the grading systems below to find the right trip for you.

To help you choose the trip that's right for you, we've broken all of our trips down into four service levels. Measuring the comfort level of the accommodation and transport. So whether you're travelling on a budget and want to save money by using public transport, or prefer upgraded accommodation and are happy to pay a little more, then we have a level for you.

This is grassroots travel at its most interesting

Authentic experiences with some of the comforts of home

For those who like to travel in comfort

All the unique experiences wrapped up with a gold ribbon