The Superyachts Built to Explore the Unknown

Flexplorer 146: Built for the Unknown

The Cantiere delle Marche Flexplorer 146 is made for leaving the familiar behind. With a 5,000-nautical-mile range at 10 knots, its reach is roughly equivalent to travelling from London to New York and back, with distance to spare.

Maverick, one of the Flexplorer 146s, features a 22mm ice belt above and below the waterline, designed for northern waters. Her owners planned to take her towards the Northwest Passage, where Mediterranean coastlines give way to ice, glaciers and vast stretches of wilderness.

A four-tonne A-frame crane can launch a 9.5-metre tender, opening up possibilities for diving, fishing, reaching remote beaches and exploring coastlines far beyond the yacht itself.

AFTER YOU: The Base Camp

Damen Yachting's 60-metre AFTER YOU takes the idea of an expedition base camp to sea. With hybrid technology and helicopter capability, she allows owners and guests to travel further inland while the yacht remains offshore.

Her capabilities have already earned recognition, with AFTER YOU named Best Explorer Yacht at the 2026 Robb Report Best of the Best Awards, one of luxury's most respected accolades. She provides a comfortable base for reaching places far beyond the usual cruising grounds, whether by helicopter, tender or simply by going further under her own power.

Draak: The Support Act

Oceanco's 92.9-metre Draak takes exploration one step further by acting as a dedicated support yacht to Leviathan.

Reconfigured for expedition use, she carries a 12.6-tonne crane, a dive centre with a decompression chamber, specialist equipment and additional space for crew and expedition personnel. Her ice-class hull also makes her suited to colder waters.

Rather than simply getting guests somewhere remote, Draak is designed to make it possible to stay there, bringing the equipment and support needed to go further.

BOLD: Built for Speed

Silver Yachts' 85.3-metre BOLD brings a different approach to adventure. With a 23-knot top speed and a shallow 2.8-metre draft, she can cover serious distances before getting into waters that larger yachts cannot reach.

Her vast deck carries tenders, toys and expedition equipment, while a commercially certified helideck provides another route ashore. She also carries diving equipment, an underwater drone and an impressive collection of watersports gear.

It's an expedition yacht with a distinctly sporty edge: fast enough to chase the horizon, shallow enough to get close and comfortable enough to enjoy the journey.

O3: Going Further

At 107.4 metres, Lürssen's O3 takes expedition cruising to another scale. Purpose-built for global exploration, the yacht combines ice-class capability and an ice-strengthened steel hull with the space and refinement expected from one of Germany's most renowned superyacht builders.

Its expansive proportions leave plenty of room for helicopter operations, tenders and exploration equipment, while generous deck spaces provide a platform for getting closer to the destination.

Inside, the atmosphere is considerably more comfortable. Spacious accommodation and large communal areas are designed for long-range voyages with owners, guests and crew, making O3 equally suited to polar expeditions, scientific missions or simply spending longer in places far from the usual cruising grounds.

From Arctic passages and scientific expeditions to remote diving spots, these yachts open up a much bigger version of the world. With the range, equipment and technology to stay out there for longer, they give owners the freedom to shape an itinerary around the destination, rather than the other way around.