9 of the best tours for culture seekers in 2020
From a new approach to the Inca ruins of Peru to an in-depth adventure through Java, these tours are designed to absorb the unique colour, customs and cuisine of the world’s coolest destinations…
1. Explore New Zealand’s stunning East Cape
Cathedral Cove on the Coromandel Peninsula at sunrise (Shutterstock)
Discover the World’sEast Cape Explorer adventure doesn’t so much go-off-grid but more ignores it entirely.
Hop in a car and spend a week exploring this seldom-scratched slice of New Zealand, beginning among the footprint-free beaches and jungle-clad gorges of the Coromandel Peninsula. Drive via the geysers, bubbling pools and Maori culture in Rotorua, spy the white plume of volcanic White Island and trace Captain Cook’s footsteps in historic Gisborne.
Your final stretch will take in Napier’s Art Deco architecture, the vibrant capital Wellington and the sun-drenched wine valleys, where you can toast your time in New Zealand.
Discover the World’sEast Cape Explorer adventure doesn’t so much go-off-grid but more ignores it entirely.
Hop in a car and spend a week exploring this seldom-scratched slice of New Zealand, beginning among the footprint-free beaches and jungle-clad gorges of the Coromandel Peninsula. Drive via the geysers, bubbling pools and Maori culture in Rotorua, spy the white plume of volcanic White Island and trace Captain Cook’s footsteps in historic Gisborne.
Your final stretch will take in Napier’s Art Deco architecture, the vibrant capital Wellington and the sun-drenched wine valleys, where you can toast your time in New Zealand.
Who? Discover The World
When? Year-round
How long? 13 nights
How much? From £2,231 (exc. int’l flights)
2. Soak up Peru’s Inca heritage in solitude
Inca storehouses in Ollantaytambo (Shutterstock)
Forget the idea of packed paths clogging the route to Machu Picchu – join Exoduson The Moonstone Trek, a little-known trail which winds through tiny Andean villages and Inca (plus pre-Inca) ruins.
Tackle the Accoccosa Pass for views of snowy peaks, trace a carved Inca aqueduct and soak up the view from a ridge-perched shrine, before ending the trek among the Inca remains of Ollantaytambo. Latch onto a portion of the Inca Trail, passing the ruins of Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna, before rising early to beat the swell and take in Machu Picchu for yourself.
Forget the idea of packed paths clogging the route to Machu Picchu – join Exoduson The Moonstone Trek, a little-known trail which winds through tiny Andean villages and Inca (plus pre-Inca) ruins.
Tackle the Accoccosa Pass for views of snowy peaks, trace a carved Inca aqueduct and soak up the view from a ridge-perched shrine, before ending the trek among the Inca remains of Ollantaytambo. Latch onto a portion of the Inca Trail, passing the ruins of Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna, before rising early to beat the swell and take in Machu Picchu for yourself.
Who?Exodus
When? 15 May, 26 June, 18 September & 16 October 2020
How long? 11 days
How much? From £2,149 (exc. int’l flights)
3. Explore Portugal’s medieval past
Medieval Templar castle in Tomar (Shutterstock)
Located in the Ribatejo region of central Portugal, the riverside town of Tomar boasts a rich history, beautiful architecture and lush green countryside.
One of the most important towns in 13th-century Portugal, it’s also home to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Convent of Christ, the former seat to the Knights Templar. Follow in the footsteps of the military order of monks made famous by The Da Vinci Code by joining Adagio’sMedieval Portugal walking tour.
After exploring Tomar and its monuments, take in the natural beauty of the Serra de Aires Natural Park. Visit the Gothic Batalha Abbey and the enigmatic castle of Almourol before sampling the region’s wine.
Located in the Ribatejo region of central Portugal, the riverside town of Tomar boasts a rich history, beautiful architecture and lush green countryside.
One of the most important towns in 13th-century Portugal, it’s also home to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Convent of Christ, the former seat to the Knights Templar. Follow in the footsteps of the military order of monks made famous by The Da Vinci Code by joining Adagio’sMedieval Portugal walking tour.
After exploring Tomar and its monuments, take in the natural beauty of the Serra de Aires Natural Park. Visit the Gothic Batalha Abbey and the enigmatic castle of Almourol before sampling the region’s wine.
Who? Adagio
When? 11 April, 23 May, 2 October & 11 November 2020
How long? Seven nights
How much? From £1,699 (inc. int’l flights)
4. Discover the Japan of yesteryear in Ryukyu
Shureimon Gate in Shuri castle in Okinawa (Shutterstock)
Venture where no western tour group has gone before on YellowWood Adventures’Lost Islands of Japan trip – a truly off-the- radar encounter.
Dangling off its main islands, the half-moon- shaped Ryukyu archipelago is a unique glimpse at the Japan of yesteryear. It’s the first western trip to break ground in Tokushima and Okinoerabu islands; the former harbouring eye-popping snorkelling and the latter boasting cerulean-tiered pools within its Ginsuido Caves.
Throw in the ancient cedar forests of Yakushima and the unique cultural heritage of Okinawa, and you’ll be glad hardly a soul knows these Japanese jewels exist.
Venture where no western tour group has gone before on YellowWood Adventures’Lost Islands of Japan trip – a truly off-the- radar encounter.
Dangling off its main islands, the half-moon- shaped Ryukyu archipelago is a unique glimpse at the Japan of yesteryear. It’s the first western trip to break ground in Tokushima and Okinoerabu islands; the former harbouring eye-popping snorkelling and the latter boasting cerulean-tiered pools within its Ginsuido Caves.
Throw in the ancient cedar forests of Yakushima and the unique cultural heritage of Okinawa, and you’ll be glad hardly a soul knows these Japanese jewels exist.
When? 15 April 2020
How long? 10 nights
How much? From £3,299 (exc. int’l flights)
5. Blaze an ancestral trail in the USA
Anasazi cave dwellings built in a sandstone cliff in the Canyon de Chelly (Shutterstock)
The USA’s south-west boasts some of the country’s most larger-than-life landscapes: the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and Arches National Park, to name a few. But the captivating culture of the Native Americans who once thrived here is often forgotten about.
Trafalgar’s South-West Native Trails tour puts that right, visiting places that were important to the Navajo and Pueblo peoples. Among them, Chaco Canyon is home to the ruins of a once-major hub for the latter, while a Navajo guide will help you see the sandstone monoliths and petroglyphs of Canyon de Chelly through a Native American’s eyes.
The USA’s south-west boasts some of the country’s most larger-than-life landscapes: the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and Arches National Park, to name a few. But the captivating culture of the Native Americans who once thrived here is often forgotten about.
Trafalgar’s South-West Native Trails tour puts that right, visiting places that were important to the Navajo and Pueblo peoples. Among them, Chaco Canyon is home to the ruins of a once-major hub for the latter, while a Navajo guide will help you see the sandstone monoliths and petroglyphs of Canyon de Chelly through a Native American’s eyes.
Who? Trafalgar
When? Selected dates April, June, September & October 2020
How long? 10 nights
How much? From £2,995 (exc. int’l flights)
6. Hit the Silk Road in Uzbekistan
Kalta Minor minaret in Khiva (Shutterstock)
First stop Georgia, next Uzbekistan. On Wanderlust Journeys Discover Uzbekistan trip, you’ll not only find everything you would expect from the Silk Road – bustling bazaars, ancient Islamic architecture, the incredible cities of Khiva and Samarkand – but also head to the mountains to explore NuratauNatural Reserve.
And Wanderlust editor-in-chief Lyn Hughes will be right there with you, taking on this Silk Road favourite for the first time and entertaining you with endless stories from her travels.
First stop Georgia, next Uzbekistan. On Wanderlust Journeys Discover Uzbekistan trip, you’ll not only find everything you would expect from the Silk Road – bustling bazaars, ancient Islamic architecture, the incredible cities of Khiva and Samarkand – but also head to the mountains to explore NuratauNatural Reserve.
And Wanderlust editor-in-chief Lyn Hughes will be right there with you, taking on this Silk Road favourite for the first time and entertaining you with endless stories from her travels.
Who? Wanderlust Journeys
When? 26 August 2020
How long? Nine nights
How much? From £1,895 (exc. int’l flights)
7. Overland through incredible Java in Indonesia
Sunrise over Mount Bromo (Shutterstock)
Indonesia has over 13,000 islands to choose from including Bali, Lombok, Sulawesi and Sumatra, but if you can only visit one of them this year, it has to be Java.
All Points East’s Java Overland tour will take you on a journey travelling by road, rail, and boat passing through the verdant forests, paddy fields and coffee plantations of Central and East Java. You’ll visit the charming towns of Yogyakarta, Solo and Malang where you’ll get to admire the ancient Dutch-colonial architecture, go shopping at the local markets and get your hands on tasty street food.
Stare into the caldera of an active volcano at Mount Bromo, then watch the sun rise and set over two UNESCO World Heritage listed temples: the ninth-century Buddhist temple of Borobudur and the Hindu temple of Prambanan. Round off your trip with a relaxing stay at a charming eco-lodge off the beaten track on the island of Bali.
Stare into the caldera of an active volcano at Mount Bromo, then watch the sun rise and set over two UNESCO World Heritage listed temples: the ninth-century Buddhist temple of Borobudur and the Hindu temple of Prambanan. Round off your trip with a relaxing stay at a charming eco-lodge off the beaten track on the island of Bali.
Who?All Points East
When? Selected dates
How long? 13 nights
How much? From £1,895 (exc. int’l flights)
Or if you’d rather, soothe your body and soul on these relaxing and reviving adventures…
8. Look after number one in Vietnam
Lan Ha Bay in Vietnam (Shutterstock)
In a hundred-miles-an-hour world, InsideAsia’s Vietnam Rejuvenation tour is like hitting the pause button.
Recalibrate against the backdrop of Vietnam’s natural splendour, stimulating your mind with sunrise yoga amid the emerald paddies of Cam Thanh near Hoi An and practising tai chi on the banks of Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi.
Nourish your body with local farm-to-fork food in Hue and the chalk-white beaches of Phu Quoc, before soothing your soul by kicking back on a cruise through the spectacular karsts of Lan Ha Bay and cycling through the time- frozen history of Hoi An.
Who? InsideAsia
In a hundred-miles-an-hour world, InsideAsia’s Vietnam Rejuvenation tour is like hitting the pause button.
Recalibrate against the backdrop of Vietnam’s natural splendour, stimulating your mind with sunrise yoga amid the emerald paddies of Cam Thanh near Hoi An and practising tai chi on the banks of Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi.
Nourish your body with local farm-to-fork food in Hue and the chalk-white beaches of Phu Quoc, before soothing your soul by kicking back on a cruise through the spectacular karsts of Lan Ha Bay and cycling through the time- frozen history of Hoi An.
Who? InsideAsia
When? Year-round
How long? 17 nights
How much? From £3,995 (exc. int’l flights)
9. Breathe in the fresh air in Austria
Alpine cabin in the Austrian Alps (Shutterstock)
Even if you haven’t been to Austria, chances are you recognise its traditional Alpine villages and mountainous meadows from a postcard. But Walks Worldwideoffers another great reason to book yourself onto this self-guided walking trip through Austria’s Alpine Splendor.
With every booking, they plant a tree that you can hike to see upon your arrival. As you breathe in the mountain air and pass through scenic valleys, you’ll be rewarded with epic views, and be sure to sample some of that traditional hearty fare while you’re on your way.
Even if you haven’t been to Austria, chances are you recognise its traditional Alpine villages and mountainous meadows from a postcard. But Walks Worldwideoffers another great reason to book yourself onto this self-guided walking trip through Austria’s Alpine Splendor.
With every booking, they plant a tree that you can hike to see upon your arrival. As you breathe in the mountain air and pass through scenic valleys, you’ll be rewarded with epic views, and be sure to sample some of that traditional hearty fare while you’re on your way.
Who? Walks Worldwide
When? Between April & October 2020
How long? Seven nights
How much? From £899 (inc. int’l flights)
