For decades, humanity has dreamed of leaving Earth behind. Science fiction promised that by now we'd all be commuting between planets, enjoying weekend getaways on the Moon and complaining about the traffic around Mars. The reality? You can absolutely book a holiday to space today — provided your holiday budget has several extra zeroes attached to it.

Commercial space tourism is no longer science fiction. It is a genuine industry with paying customers, celebrity passengers and private companies racing to make the final frontier just a little more accessible. But before you start packing sunscreen (you won't need it) and a swimsuit (also unnecessary), there is one small obstacle: the price tag.

Welcome to the world's most expensive vacation!

At present, commercial space travel is reserved almost exclusively for the ultra-wealthy. Depending on the experience you choose, a ticket can cost anywhere from approximately US$450,000 for a brief suborbital adventure to well over US$50 million for an orbital mission lasting several days. Add in medical assessments, specialised training and extensive safety briefings, and this is hardly the kind of trip you'll find bundled into a travel package.

Still, despite the eye-watering costs, demand remains surprisingly strong. For those fortunate enough to afford it, floating weightlessly while watching Earth slowly rotate beneath you is apparently worth every cent.

Several private aerospace companies are leading what many describe as the next great space race. Virgin Galactic has perhaps become the face of space tourism. Founded by Sir Richard Branson, the company focuses on suborbital flights that climb just beyond the Kármán Line — the internationally recognised boundary of space. The journey lasts roughly 90 minutes, with passengers enjoying breathtaking views of Earth and several unforgettable minutes of weightlessness before gliding back to the runway. The company is developing its next-generation Deltaclass spacecraft, designed to fly far more frequently than previous vehicles, although commercial operations have experienced delays while the new fleet is completed.

Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, offers a similar suborbital experience aboard its fully automated New Shepard rocket. Unlike Virgin Galactic's spaceplane, New Shepard launches vertically like a traditional rocket before the passenger capsule separates and gently returns to Earth under parachutes. The company has flown celebrities, scientists and civilians alike, although its tourism programme has recently paused while resources shift toward larger orbital and lunar ambitions.

For travellers seeking something far more ambitious, SpaceX has completely redefined private human spaceflight. Rather than briefly touching the edge of space, its Crew Dragon spacecraft carries private astronauts into orbit for several days, circling Earth at incredible speeds. Some missions have even included scientific research alongside sightseeing, while partnerships with companies such as Axiom Space are paving the way for privately organised missions to the International Space Station. These extraordinary journeys, however, come with equally extraordinary price tags reaching tens of millions of dollars per passenger.

And if actually crossing into space feels like a little too much of a leap, 29mig offers an experience that gets you remarkably close — without quite leaving the atmosphere. Its Edge of Space flight puts passengers aboard a MiG-29UB training jet, climbing to altitudes of 18 kilometres or higher at speeds exceeding 2,000 km/h. From the stratosphere, passengers can see the curvature of the Earth and the darkening sky above, before descending for a high-speed aerobatic experience with an experienced test pilot. The approximately 45-minute programme can include manoeuvres such as loops, rolls and inverted flight, with the flight programme and g-forces discussed with the pilot beforehand. It may not technically take you into space, but it certainly offers a rather spectacular taste of what lies above the clouds.

So... Can Anyone Go?

Technically, yes. Practically? Not quite.

Suborbital flights generally require only basic medical screenings and a few days of preparation, making them accessible to reasonably healthy participants. Orbital missions, however, are a completely different challenge. Passengers often undergo months of physical conditioning, emergency simulations, and spacecraft training before launch.

Then there's the obvious reality: space remains an unforgiving environment. Every commercial passenger signs extensive legal waivers acknowledging the inherent risks involved. Rockets are significantly more complex than commercial aircraft, and even with remarkable advances in technology, spaceflight still carries risks that simply don't exist on your average holiday flight.

That said, not everyone is convinced space tourism is worth the investment.

Critics argue that it currently serves only the world's wealthiest travellers while consuming enormous financial and environmental resources. Others question whether these brief joyrides meaningfully advance scientific research.

Supporters, however, see a much bigger picture. Private investment has accelerated spacecraft development, reusable rocket technology and human spaceflight capabilities at a pace that government agencies alone may have struggled to achieve. Many private missions also conduct experiments involving human health, materials science and plant growth in microgravity, helping researchers prepare for future long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars. The industry's growing visibility has also reignited public fascination with space exploration, inspiring a new generation of engineers, scientists and dreamers.

If you're hoping to book a family package to orbit sometime next summer, it's probably best to manage expectations. Industry experts largely agree that commercial space tourism will remain a luxury experience for many years to come. Launches remain relatively infrequent, spacecraft production is limited, and every mission requires enormous logistical planning. While technological improvements should gradually reduce costs, routine, affordable space travel for middle-income families is unlikely before the latter half of this century.

That said, history offers reasons for optimism. The first commercial aeroplane flights were once reserved for society's elite, yet today millions of people cross continents every single day. Air travel became commonplace because technology improved, production expanded, and competition steadily reduced prices.

Space tourism could eventually follow the same trajectory. It may take decades rather than years, but the first steps have already been taken.

Commercial space travel is no longer a futuristic fantasy — it's simply an exclusive one.

Today, only a fortunate handful of people can afford to gaze back at Earth from above its atmosphere. Tomorrow, that experience may become more attainable as technology matures and competition increases.

Until then, most of us will have to settle for watching rocket launches from the comfort of solid ground. The view may not include weightlessness or the curvature of the Earth, but it does come with one very attractive feature: no multimillion- dollar boarding pass required.