Dh66,000 pilgrimage for die-hard MJ fan

The UAE and Bahrain are part of a four-month-long eye-watering £12,000 (Dh66,372) package tour celebrating Michael Jackson’s life.

One year after the star’s death, British agency STA Travel rolled out its King of Pop Pilgrimage, the ultimate thrilling adventure for die-hard Michael Jackson fans – giving pop lovers the chance to broaden their horizons as well as celebrate the singer's life and music.

The full tour spans 10 cities in nine countries over five continents and costs £12,000 for the full 126 days, but fans whose wallets don’t quite stretch to accommodate Jackson’s legendary spending power can choose to do it piecemeal, with each stage costing £2,759.

The trip includes visits to the major fan sites such as LA where the memorial spot stands, to discovering the more obscure trails of Jackson's life like the small town in Budapest where a weird and wonderful tribute museum houses a life sized marzipan statue of Michael.

Other more exotic locations include Rio De Janeiro in Brazil, the setting for Jackson's 1996 single They Don't Care About Us and Lima the capital of Peru where Jackson stayed whilst on the way to shooting the video for the 1995 hit Earth Song in the Amazon rainforest.

It also touches on Jackson's personal life, with an option to visit Australia where he married his second wife Debbie Rowe in 1996.

"Referred to as the King of Pop, Michael Jackson is recognised as one of the most successful entertainers of all time, as well as one of the most influential. His music and philanthropic actions took him around the world and we want to celebrate this by offering our customers the opportunity to follow in his footsteps,” says John Constable, Group Managing Director, STA Travel.

“Fans will really be able to experience what made him tick.  And if you can't take the time out for the whole tour, our experts will help you put together a more tailored itinerary."

The trip begins and ends in London, taking in Hungary, Bahrain, Johannesburg, Brunei, Tokyo, Sydney, Lima and New York along the way.

More information is available at www.statravel.co.uk/kingofpop.

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