Beyond The Tourist Traps: Experiencing Authentic Culture In 2024

Are you tired of the same old holidays, queuing up with the masses, snapping photos of the endlessly snapped old building and getting caught in tacky tourist restaurants? Well, with Culture Trip your vacations become authentic, immersive experiences thanks to these locally led tours, all of which offer you an incredible cultural getaway in 2024.

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Immersive Kenya

Kenya might just be the best safari destination on the planet but, although this eight-day trip will feature plenty of lions, leopards, elephants and wildebeest, a visit to East Africa should be as culturally immersive as it is naturally. That’s why we’ve made sure our time in Nairobi includes transportation in vibrant Matatu vans, a multi-coloured symbol of modern Kenya. It’s also why our time in the iconic plains of the Maasai Mara will be split in two. One half will be dedicated to safari adventures, but we’ll also spend a full day hanging out with a Maasai tribe in a rural village. The tribe to this day lives largely detached from modern civilisation, and you’ll get to learn hands-on about their farming, cooking and beadwork techniques. You’ll even get to witness the majestic jumping dance of the local warriors, soundtracked by tribal chants and soulful songs in the middle of the savannah.

From US$2959

Next available from 10th Mar 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Nairobi, Kenya

ENDS AT

Nairobi, Kenya

DURATION

8

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

STYLE

Discovery

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Holiday Sale

Soulful South Korea

South Korea has a long and diverse history, so the range of cultural experiences you’ll have on this 10-day adventure is rich and varied. You’ll embrace the modern tradition of karaoke in Seoul and explore recent history at eery military remains on the border with North Korea, but you’ll also get an insight into traditional Korea at a Hanok village in the capital, as well as a visit to Abai Village, a rural community which became a refuge for displaced North Koreans in the 1950s. Things get really immersive near Gyeongju as we head to the Buddhist cave temple of Golgulsa to experience a traditional Korean temple stay. You’ll spend the night in this sixth-century complex, dining on veggie delights, mastering the art of archery and meditation, as well as trying your hand at Sunmudo, a traditional Buddhist martial art.

From US$3499

Next available from 10th Mar 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Seoul, South Korea

ENDS AT

Seoul, South Korea

DURATION

10

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Holiday Sale

Berber town in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco

Epic Morocco

Morocco’s position, at the westernmost reaches of the Mediterranean and as the gateway to Africa, means that countless cultures have planted their seeds in the nation’s many towns and cities, be it desert nomads or refugees from the fall of Moorish Spain and the remnants of colonial France. Our extensive 11-day itinerary aims to give you a full picture of this myriad landscape, including a series of truly unique cultural experiences. You’ll eat a home-cooked meal and witness traditional storytelling with a local family in Fes, hang out with the Gnawa people of the Sahara and lunch in a Berber village, nestled high in the Atlas Mountains. In our final destination, Marrakech, food is the ultimate cultural signifier, so we think it’s only fair that you sample some snail soup on our street food tour of the old Medina.

From US$2369

Next available from 10th Feb 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Casablanca, Morocco

ENDS AT

Marrakech, Morocco

DURATION

11

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Elderly woman in traditional Vietnamese hat carries baskets full of bananas along a sidewalk by a worn yellow wall

Vibrant Vietnam

You probably associate Vietnam with chaotic cities and the contrasting serenity of Halong Bay, but don’t forget the countless tiny communities living in between. Our 12-day epic here takes in Hanoi, Hue and Hoi An, as well as plenty of giant bays and limestone karsts, but we reckon your most memorable moments will be made in the countrysides of Mai Chau. This lush valley is covered in small villages, rice paddies and farmsteads, and we’ll spend two days here getting an insight into local life. We’ll spend one day at a White Thai village to get hands on with farm life, before tucking into fresh fruit and honey tea with the locals and later dining at a traditional homestay. The following day we’ll visit Na Chao village, where you’ll glimpse inside traditional stilt houses and learn about the history and culture of the White Thai people. You’ll even get to try your hand at weaving bamboo baskets in someone’s home before heading back to the city.

From US$1689

Next available from 17th Feb 2024

Secure your spot with a low deposit

Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Hanoi, Vietnam

ENDS AT

Hoi An, Vietnam

DURATION

12

GROUP SIZE

18

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

STYLE

Discovery

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Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

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!

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

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points

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.