Six days, Rs 6.5 crore, one spaceflight: China lists ultra-luxury space tour

For travellers who have already ticked off beaches, luxury resorts and exotic cruises, the next big holiday could be far above Earth. A new space tourism package listed in China is offering an experience that takes luxury travel to an entirely different level—for a price of around Rs 6.5-6.9 crore.

Chinese travel platform Trip.com, also known as Ctrip in mainland China, has listed a six-day space tourism itinerary priced at 5.1 million yuan. The package is being offered in collaboration with US-based commercial space company Virgin Galactic.

But there is an important detail: the six-day package does not mean six days in space.

Four days of training before launch

The actual spaceflight is expected to last around 90 minutes and follow a suborbital trajectory. The rest of the itinerary includes preparation and training before passengers take off.

The first four days are focused on getting travellers ready for the flight. The programme includes simulator sessions, high-G-force centrifuge testing, parabolic flights designed to create brief periods of weightlessness, emergency drills and sensory-overload exercises.

The training is intended to prepare passengers for the physical conditions they may experience during the flight.

90 minutes at the edge of space

The main event is scheduled for the fifth day, when passengers board Virgin Galactic’s spacecraft for a 90-minute suborbital journey.

Unlike an orbital mission, a suborbital flight does not circle the Earth. The spacecraft travels beyond the atmosphere before following a trajectory back towards Earth.

Passengers can experience several minutes of weightlessness and see the planet from the edge of space. The spacecraft’s cabin is designed with 17 windows, offering wide views of Earth during the flight.

After completing the programme, participants are also set to receive an official “Commercial Astronaut" certificate from the Association of Space Explorers.

When can travellers actually fly?

The listing does not necessarily mean a passenger can book the trip and immediately board a spacecraft.

Space tourism flights depend on factors, including schedules, safety checks, training, regulatory approvals and operational availability. Details such as the departure date, insurance, inclusions and refund conditions would need to be confirmed before making a payment.

For those willing to spend several crores on a holiday, this package offers something considerably different from a conventional luxury getaway—a short trip beyond Earth followed by a return home.