The king of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdul Aziz, is traveling to Indonesia this week—and he is not packing light. Per The Washington Post, King Salman is visiting the country along with 506 tons of cargo, an amount that roughly translates to 240 elephants or 300 cars.
It’s the first time a Saudi king has visited the country in 46 years, and he’s going all out. Among the huge haul are some pretty high-luxury items: Not only will King Salman be traveling with two Mercedes-Benz S600 limousines, he’s also bringing his own vertical methods of transportation in the form of two electric elevators.
Of course, since the king’s luggage outdoes even the most liberal of carry-on policies, transporting the cargo is its own considerable undertaking. Adji Gunawan of the airfreight company PT Jasa Angkasa Semesta (JAS) reportedly told the Antara news agency that his company used 572 workers to effectively arrange transport of the Saudi cargo.
It’s not just his luggage that’s large. The Saudi king is also taking a massive entourage on the nine-day trip. According to The Jakarta Post, around 1,500 people will make the journey, including 10 ministers, 25 princes, and at least 100 security personnel.
Dramatic though it may seem, the grandiose travel style is nothing new for Saudi royalty. In 2015, King Salman and a 1,000-person entourage reportedly angered a local mayor on the French Riviera after an attempt to build an elevator in a local beach’s sand without permission. That same year, when visiting Washington, D.C., the royal enclave bought out the entirety of the 222-room
Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C.
in Georgetown.
King Salman’s trip to Indonesia comes as the economic relationship between the country and Saudi Arabia takes on renewed significance. The royal will also travel to Japan, China, the Maldives, and Jordan. All we’re left wondering: What’s in the king’s carry-on?
Originally Appeared on Condé Nast Traveler
