Amazing Animal Encounters You Can Have With Culture Trip
Content and CRM Executive
From kayaking with penguins in the wild to up-close lion interactions and sleepy sloth encounters, these trips all feature animal experiences that you won’t be forgetting in a hurry.
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Masai Mara safari drives – Immersive Kenya
There’s only one place we could start, and that’s arguably the world’s greatest wildlife destination. A trip to Kenya makes you feel like you’ve climbed into the crackly old television you used to watch nature documentaries on as a kid. Our eight-day trip offers just about every wildlife encounter you could have in the country, starting gently with a visit to Nairobi’s Giraffe Centre. From there we’ll spot exotic birdlife in the Aberdare Mountains, watch a sea of pink flamingos wade alongside buffalo in Lake Nakuru and stroll past baboons on our way to Nyahururu Falls. The real action gets going across our last few days, which will be spent in the famous Masai Mara. This iconic savannah is home to the Big Five – lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and African buffalo – as well as cheetah, giraffes and, famously, migrating wildebeest. You’ll need to keep your eyes sharply peeled as we try to spot them all across multiple safari drives. You’ll even be able to spot some of them from the comfort of our luxury camp, which has a beautiful campfire terrace looking out over the Mara.
From US$2811
Next available from 11th Feb 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
Glamping with giant tortoises – Go Wild in the Galapagos
If Kenya is the most iconic wildlife destination, then this famous archipelago off the coast of Ecuador certainly offers the most exotic array of animals imaginable. Our five-day trip here is entirely dedicated to nature, as you hike along lava trails and through cactus forests, as well as swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding and snorkelling in the surrounding waters. You’ll encounter indigenous penguins and iguanas, stroll past countless sea lions and discover the most incredible selection of colourful frigate-birds – including the famous blue-footed boobies. There’s one star of the show, however, and that has to be the giant tortoise. These ancient wanderers are totally synonymous with the islands, and you’ll even get to glamp alongside them at an eco-campsite, where hundreds gently roam in the remote highlands of Santa Cruz.
From US$1869
Next available from 6th Jan 2024
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island
ENDS AT
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal Island
DURATION
5
GROUP SIZE
14
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
Hanging with the sloths – The Real Costa Rica
This Central American paradise is one of the most extraordinarily biodiverse countries on the planet, with a landscape that goes from volcanic hot springs to mystical cloud forests and gorgeous stretches of sandy coastline. That’s the route we take on our eight-day Costa Rica trip, starting in Arenal Volcano National Park. We’ll take advantage of the region’s natural hot springs, world-class coffee and refreshing waterfalls, before embarking on a sloth-spotting walk through the jungle. Fortunately, these quirky creatures move so slowly that they’re easy enough to spot, and friendly enough if you get up close. Then it’s up into the highlands of Monteverde, where we’ll explore the fantastical cloud forests on a nocturnal hike, keeping an eye out for howler monkeys and pumas sneaking through the trees. You’ll deserve a rest after all that exploring, so we’ll round off the trip in the laid-back surf town of Tamarindo, where you can either chill on the beach or explore the region’s nature via mountain bikes, ATVs or even a surf board.
From US$2099
Next available from 9th Dec 2023
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
San Jose, Costa Rica
ENDS AT
Tamarindo, Provincia De Guanacaste
DURATION
8
GROUP SIZE
17
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
A luxury safari experience – Splendid South Africa
The highlight of our 11-day extravaganza across the Western Cape of South Africa, known as the Garden Route, is without a doubt the luxury safari resort that awaits us on night eight. First we’ll explore Cape Town, go kayaking with penguins in Simons Town, visit an ostrich farm and discover the rich biodiversity of Tsitsikamma National Park. Then we’ll spend two nights at the extraordinary Gondwana Game Reserve, home to 11,000ha (over 27,000 acres) of private wilderness. Our luxurious country lodge looks out over the region, while the nearby infinity pool is sometimes frequented by herds of friendly elephants. There’s indoor and outdoor dining, a bush spa and plenty of activities on offer – think picnics, guided walks and free mountain bike usage – but the most thrilling part of your stay will no doubt be the game drives. You’ll be able to go on up to four safari drives, in morning and afternoon, as we search for the famous Big Five, as well as hippos, giraffe and so much more.
From US$2129
Next available from 2nd Dec 2023
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Cape Town, South Africa
ENDS AT
Cape Town, South Africa
DURATION
11
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Bathe and feed elephants – Incredible Thailand and Laos by Train
One of the most iconic images of any trip to Thailand is of close encounters with local elephants. Sadly, there has historically been a lot of extremely unethical tourism that has exploited these gentle beasts, which is why Culture Trip was extra careful when choosing the elephant activity on day day five of our Thai-Laos Rail Trip. We’ll be visiting an ethical sanctuary in the mountainous region of Lampang, where you’ll be able to get within touching distance of these amazing creatures as you feed them, walk alongside them and give them a lovely mud bath. It’s a truly unforgettable experience and a joyful way to see first hand how playful, gentle and majestic these beautiful animals really are.
From US$1957
Next available from 2nd Dec 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Bangkok, Thailand
ENDS AT
Bangkok, Thailand
DURATION
14
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
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.
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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