The Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens In The World

The serenity of a great botanical garden, prettily designed and full of exotic plants, can be an oasis of calm amid the hustle and bustle of a city, or simply a place to pause from high-energy adventures. From Sri Lanka to Brazil and beyond, these are the most beautiful botanical gardens you can visit with Culture Trip.

Winter Sale

Vivid blue building and garden of cacti and exotic plants in Majorelle Garden, Marrakech, Morocco

Jardin Majorelle – Epic Morocco

The tightly packed streets of old Marrakech are hardly synonymous with greenery, but tucked away a little outside the old medina is this striking botanical landscape garden. The site was created by noted French Orientalist artist Jacques Majorelle over a 40-year period starting in 1923. It’s a pretty small space, about one hectare (or two acres), centred around a charming bright blue cubist villa designed by Fresh architect Paul Sinoir. The gardens are embellished with cacti, sculptures and fountains, as well as around 15 endemic North African bird species. Indoors, meanwhile, is the Berber Museum and a selection of Majorelle’s own paintings. You’ll have a free afternoon in the city on the last full day of our 11-day Morocco tour, and we can’t think of a better place to reflect on the adventure of a lifetime.

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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Low angle shot of cacti in Zapotitlán Salinas botanical gardens, Puebla, México

Zapotitlan Salinas – The Complete Mexico Experience

While many botanical gardens are found in major cities, Helia Bravo Hollis Botanical Garden couldn’t be more off the beaten path, in the area of Zapotitlan Salinas deep in the central heartlands of Mexico. The gardens were named after a female botanist, who herself has six species of cacti named after her. It’s plants of the prickly variety that dominate this landscape, with countless cacti sprouting amid unique rock formations in the region’s rugged valleys. What’s most joyful about this garden, as well as the fact it’s just so unique, is that the plants are well within their natural habitat, as part of the wider Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve, an area that still looks like a classic stretch of the old west. This eight-day Mexican extravaganza includes a visit to the gardens en route to Oaxaca.

From US$2399

Next available from 24th Feb 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Mexico City, Mexico

ENDS AT

Puerto Escondido, Mexico

DURATION

8

GROUP SIZE

14

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Royal Botanic Gardens in Peradeniyam, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Kandy Botanical Gardens – Secrets of Sri Lanka by Train

The island nation of Sri Lanka is not short of luscious greenery, be it mountainous forests or rolling tea plantations, which you’ll carve through via scenic train rides on this 10-day Rail Trip. One of our key stops is the central city of Kandy, where you’ll be able to join an optional visit to Kandy Botanical Gardens, which lie a few kilometres outside the city. Found on the banks of the river Mahaweli, the trees, ferns and tropical gardens of this place have been pruned for over 200 years, with the site itself having a history far older. The walk through makes this place feel more like a park than just a garden, such is the scale of its 61 hectare (150 acres) grounds, situated about 1,550ft (472m) above sea level. Marvel at around 4,000 species, from the lake to the spice garden, cacti house and bamboo collection.

From US$1679

Next available from 9th Mar 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Colombo, Sri Lanka

ENDS AT

Colombo, Sri Lanka

DURATION

10

GROUP SIZE

12

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Winter Sale

Shukkeien Japanese Garden is a beautiful greenspace in the centre of Hiroshima

Japanese Gardens – Japan by Train: The Grand Tour

Japanese Gardens are like a sub-section of the botanical garden, with an unmistakable look representative of classical Japanese design, usually featuring a range of ponds, rocks, cute little bridges and ornamental structures, as well as a diverse range of shrubbery. The gardens are imbued with philosophical and artistic inspirations, elevating the feeling of serenity to a whole new level. You can discover majestic gardens all over Japan, which means you’ll have plenty of chances to discover some on our 12-day Rail Trip. We recommend visiting Shukkei-en garden while we’re in Hiroshima, Ryoan-ji Temple in Kyoto and Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in Tokyo.

From US$4119

Next available from 28th Mar 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Osaka, Japan

ENDS AT

Tokyo, Japan

DURATION

12

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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landscape with balloons floating in the air

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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.