Culture Experiences

Culture experiences

To truly understand a place, you need to connect with its people. Every destination on our map has a culture (or cultures) all its own, and if you let it, that culture will open your mind and transform your trip. Whether you’re chanting with monks in Bhutan, sharing stories with the vibrant people of South America, learning ancient traditions from Ethiopia’s intriguing tribes, or taking part in a centuries-old tea ceremony in Japan, our cultural experiences offer the chance to really get under the skin of a new destination – and you’ll leave with memories that will last long after you’ve unpacked your bags.

Take a city tour of São Tomé

Visit the capital of São Tomé and discover the wonders of Portuguese colonial architecture and the National Museum. You will visit some of the most important places in the city, including the Fort of S. Sebastião, the National library, the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral, the Independence Square, and the local markets.

Enjoy a dhow sunset cruise in Vilanculos

The southern coast of Mozambique is nothing short of picturesque. Ask anybody and they'd tell you, one of the best ways to take in this dreamy destination is from a dhow. The traditional way of getting around these seas for thousands of years, dhows have become synonymous with Africa's east coast. As the wind fills the wistful, curved sails, you'll cruise across the water - a glass of champagne in hand - as the sun begins to set, keeping your eyes peeled for flocks of pelicans, sea turtles, rare dugong and dolphin dancing in the waves. Temperate and steady most of the year (with the chance of rain between January and March), there isn't a 'bad' time for a dhow cruise.

Venice Lagoon at Golden Hour, by Boat

A wooden boat does what a gondola can't: it leaves the canals behind entirely and heads out onto the open lagoon, where the water has room to catch fire at dusk. You'll pass San Giorgio Maggiore reduced to a black cut-out against the orange and the domes of the Salute going pink, the city thinning to silhouette behind you. A glass of wine in hand, you've far more room than a gondola allows — enough to turn round and actually look. The light does the heavy lifting; the boat just gets you the best seat for it.

Explore Shirakawago's iconic grass houses

In Shirakawago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you'll be enchanted by the traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some over 250 years old. These houses, named for their steep thatched roofs resembling praying hands, are a testament to architectural ingenuity against heavy snow. Exploring inside one, you'll get a real sense of historic rural life in Japan's mountains – a journey back in time. This village is not just a destination; it's a living museum of Japanese heritage.

Meet the semi nomadic Himba people of Koakoland

A number of lodges and camps in the Kaokoland offer a chance to meet the Himba people, a fascinating and disappearing culture who adorn themselves in bright red ochre pigments. The Himba are a proud people, living a unique existence and finding ways to adapt despite modern-day vices, and the increase in tourism. If you do visit the Himba on a guided trip, make sure the settlement gains some benefit from the experience, and most of all, be sensitive to their unique way of life.