The Best Local Culture Travel Experiences

| © Denis Feldmann / Alamy Stock Photo
Siobhan Grogan

Get under the skin of a place and pick up a skill – whether that’s dancing in Sicily or cooking in Georgia – on one of these Culture Trip small-group tours.

The best trips are so much more than a holiday. Venture away from the pool to experience different cultures and discover a destination like a local, and you will not regret it. From family-run restaurants off the tourist trail to historical monuments only locals know, these carefully curated Culture Trip adventures allow you to experience culture in the world’s most unforgettable destinations.

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The real White Lotus location

The toecap of Italy’s boot has gained fresh hype following season two of TV’s most wanderlusty show, The White Lotus. Just like the characters, you’ll spend time in Taormina, Cefalu and Noto as you see the best of Sicily at a slow pace – in keeping with the local rhythm of life. Over 8 days in the largest island in the Mediterranean you’ll savour the sights and sounds of southern Italy, with plenty of pit stops for gelato and limoncello. You’ll go on a fascinating trip to the Aeolian islands for close encounters with smoking volcanoes and hot springs, and explore the dramatic slopes of Mount Etna. Sicilian cooking workshops and multiple street food experiences will help you immerse yourself in the local cuisine, while culture and ancient history abound in Taormina and the baroque towns of Noto, Ragusa and Modica.

From US$2924

Next available from 20th Apr 2024

Secure your spot with a low deposit

Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Palermo, Italy

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ENDS AT

Siracusa, Sicily

DURATION

10

GROUP SIZE

14

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

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STYLE

Discovery

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Winter Sale
A person prepares filled Georgian bread on a table with a tin and a bowl

Getting stuck into a cooking lesson in rural Georgia

From the very first day exploring Old Tbilisi’s fourth-century Narikala Fortress, this cultural trip will take you back in time in the place many believe is the Land of the Golden Fleece. Your local experience will include a cooking lesson in a chef’s home, a trip to remote Juta village and a visit to the Kakheti region, where wine has been made since 6000BCE in clay vessels buried underground.

From US$1199

Next available from 18th May 2024

Secure your spot with a low deposit

Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Tbilisi, Georgia

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ENDS AT

Tbilisi, Georgia

DURATION

9

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

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STYLE

Discovery

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Winter Sale
Many people gather at mountain-top Pura Penataran Agung Lempuyang temple, with a view towards a taller volcano

Taking part in a Balinese blessing ceremony in Tabanan, Bali

It might be famous for its beautiful beaches, but Bali is also renowned for its welcoming, spiritual people. This cultural trip will introduce you to their way of life, so you can truly experience a new culture, from placing an offering at Batukaru Temple to taking part in a traditional Balinese blessing ceremony. You’ll also attend a cooking class and spend time in Ubud, with its thriving arts, crafts and dance scene.

From US$1929

Next available from 16th Mar 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Bali, Indonesia

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ENDS AT

Bali, Indonesia

DURATION

12

GROUP SIZE

18

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

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STYLE

Discovery

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People browse and staff various stalls, mainly selling fruit and veg, at Kadiköy market

Sipping Turkish tea and haggling in Istanbul

Tourists may make a beeline for the beach resorts of Turkey – but to really experience culture in this fascinating country, you need to travel a little further. In just 12 days, this tour will take you through the Old City of Istanbul and across the Bosphorus to Asia, before moving on to the ancient sites of Hattusas, Yazilikaya and Cappadocia via belly dancing, rock-carved chapels, wine tasting and a visit to watch local craftspeople weave rugs.

From US$2699

Next available from 1st Mar 2024

Secure your spot with a low deposit

Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Istanbul, Turkey

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ENDS AT

Antalya, Turkey

DURATION

12

GROUP SIZE

18

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

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STYLE

Discovery

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Maja Proescholdt contributed additional reporting to this article.

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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.

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