You Can't Call Yourself A Travel Lover If You Haven't Planned These 10 Things

 | © Stijn te Strake / Unsplash
| © Stijn te Strake / Unsplash | © Stijn te Strake / Unsplash

We all want to be ahead of the curve.

Whether it’s wearing the hot new colour a few weeks before your friends or heading to an exotic destination just before it blows up on Instagram, working out what’s hot and what’s not is fraught with anxiety.

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Destinations Unlocked:

Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip

Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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Luckily, Pinterest has assembled a helpful list that collates information about the biggest hitters being pinned onsite. The company has tracked what products, places and concepts have seen an increase in ‘saves’ over the past year to help you determine what people are really into right now.

Quick: read these and get ahead of everyone else.

Travel journals

Saves +169%

It’s not enough to just photograph your holiday – it’s much more memorable to keep a journal while you’re there. It’s the ideal way to note down experiences, inspiring sights and favourite foods. Invest in a leather-bound notebook and write to your heart’s content. You’ll thank yourself when you open it in a few months time and all your memories are there just waiting to be relived.

Deserts

Saves +125%

Keep a journal while you travel

Cities are noisy and full of people, beaches are overdone and everyone knows how to ski now. The next big destination trend? Deserts. They’re the perfect mix of adventure, tradition and uniqueness. Think about heading to Dubai or Morocco to cash in on this hot, sandy trend.

Mexico City

Saves +96%

One of the jewels of Mexico, this bustling city is becoming a hotbed of culture. The storied history of the city’s colonial-era splendor has a contemporary edge that makes this location worth a visit. Think interesting dining, fascinating museums and boat trips to look at the stunning vista.

Street art

Saves +79%

Street art is trendy

No longer the domain of scabby alleyways, street art is a huge trend worldwide. You can now go on street-art tours to check out work from artists such as OSGEMEOS, a pair of Brazilian twin brothers, or Retna, from LA, who are receiving accolades they would never have a decade ago.

24-hour trips

Saves +134%

If you can’t spare a whole weekend, this trend is for you. Packing all a location has to offer into 24 short hours sounds stressful, but getting everything done in one concerted burst of energy means really seeing the best of what a city has to offer. Plus, if you stay up all night, you don’t need to get a hotel.

Mediterranean travel

Saves +96%

Striking Santorini

If you needed an excuse to visit ever-popular destinations such as Greece, Croatia and Italy, this is it. Sunny, romantic and perfect for summer, get pinning those beaches and brushing up on your Romantic languages.

Climbing

Saves +82%

Climbing is possibly the ideal hobby. It testss both your mind (working out routes to climb) and your body (constantly lifting your own body weight will make you ripped). It can be social or solitary. And best of all, you can practise in your hometown and then take your skills with you on vacation to a real rockface.

Historical travel

Saves +92%

Nice as booze cruises and mindless days lazing on the beach are, sometimes it’s nice to come back from holiday feeling enlightened. Travelling with the express purpose of learning the history of a place and getting into its roots is a worthy aim, and great to do with your family.

River cruises

Saves +346%

Cruises are cool now

Cruises have shaken off their fuddy duddy image. Now they’re a convenient and immersive way to travel with a group of like-minded people. If you want to experience of sleeping in a different location every night but keeping the same bed, a river cruise down the Rhine or the Nile could be just the thing. You can even get in on the trend with a daylong cruise down the Thames or the Seine, seeing a city from a different perspective.

Living like a local

Saves +146%

Pretending that you’re not a visiter in a place is one of the best ways to travel. Not only do you experience a side of a location that many don’t (shopping in small, local businesses, staying in a lesser-known part of a city and heading to hidden hotspots), you get to imagine what your life would be like if you actually lived where you’re holidaying.

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Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

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HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

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Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

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KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Holiday Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

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