The Best Trips for Embracing Indigenous...

Indigenous travel and community tours are becoming increasingly popular as travellers become more and more aware of their tourist footprint. Here at Culture Trip we design all of our small-group trips to adhere to our responsible travel principles, which care about local communities as well as the environment. These are the best trips for embracing indigenous cultures and communities.

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Immersive Kenya

Everybody comes to Kenya for the extraordinary wildlife, be it the pink flamingos of Lake Nakuru or the migrating wildebeest of the Masai Mara, but to come here and not pay respect to the country’s rich variety of indigenous tribes would be a crying shame. There is so much to discover, to learn about and to experience here. Our eight-day trip includes plenty of safari drives and wildlife adventures, but also includes visits to the Bomas of Kenya to learn about traditional music and dance, as well as the Riuki Cultural Centre, which offers in-depth insights into the Agikuyu tribe. During a three night stay at a glampsite in the Masai Mara you’ll also get to spend an entire day in a traditional Maasai village. This nomadic warrior tribe has called this famous wilderness home for centuries, and much of their daily routines remain untouched by modern technology. Your visit will have you preparing breakfast with a local family and improving your beadwork skills. You’ll even get to milk cows and held herd the village’s stock. If you really want to embrace tribal tradition, then you can also help select a goat for slaughter, a sacred process in Maasai culture, but one we’ll forgive you for avoiding if it’s not for you.

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

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Berber town in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco

Myriad Morocco

Berber people lived in North Africa long before it become an Arab region, with this diverse range of ethnic groups thought to have descended from Stone Age tribes in the region. There are still many Berber communities across the Maghreb, with the largest population residing in Morocco. The most concentrated examples of well-preserved Berber villages can be found across the Atlas Mountain range, which we’ll explore on day three and four of our short tour of Marrakech and its surrounding countryside. We’ll be staying at a traditional riad in the gorgeous old Berber village of Imlil, perched high on a valley slope, surrounded by rocky cliff-faces and luscious greenery. You’ll have time to meet locals as you peruse small shops and eateries, strolling past donkeys on walking trails and hiking through olive groves. You’ll also get to enjoy a delicious Berber lunch, made with love by local residents, as authentic a dining experience as you can have.

From US$

Next available from 1st Jan 1970

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Marrakech, Morocco

ENDS AT

Marrakech, Morocco

DURATION

5

GROUP SIZE

18

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

STYLE

Culture

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Flash Sale

Handmade souvenirs are sold in the tourist village of Mai Chau district, Son La province, Vietnam

Vibrant Vietnam

Vietnam is an incredibly diverse place, with over 50 recognised ethnic minority groups. This includes the White Thai people, or Tai Dón, who largely reside in the northern region of Mai Chau. This luscious valley southwest of Hanoi is home to a number of minority communities, but we’ll be visiting the Tai Dón on our extensive Vietnam tour. Having transferred from Hanoi in the morning, we’ll have a lunch of local delicacies and cycle through seemingly endless rice fields before reaching a White Thai village. You’ll then spend the day embracing the slower pace of life enjoyed here, helping farmers to collect food for buffalos, as well as feeding them. You’ll sit down for fresh fruit and honey tea with the villagers, who can offer some insight into White Thai culture. You’ll even spend the night at a local homestay, which specialises in sustainable products and renewable energy, while also benefitting from the serene beauty of surrounding rice paddies and tropical forests.

From US$1204

Next available from 5th Dec 2023

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Hanoi, Vietnam

ENDS AT

Hoi An, Vietnam

DURATION

12

GROUP SIZE

18

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

STYLE

Discovery

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Iximche ruins in Guatemala, remnants of an ancient Mayan city

Gorgeous Guatemala

Most people think of the Maya as an ancient civilisation no longer among us, but Mesoamerican pyramids aren’t the only things which remain of Mayan culture, since there is still around 8m people descended from pre-Columbian Central America today. A huge majority of this population is in Guatemala. In fact it’s estimated that around 51 percent of the population here come from 21 different Mayan communities, making Guatemala the only Central American country with a majority indigenous population. Our short trip in Guatemala embraces this rich heritage with a trip to the ancient Mayan city of Iximche, where you’ll get a guided tour with a local expert, before witnessing a traditional ceremony, which is held to set important dates, offer thanks and ask for health, work and wisdom.

From US$934

Next available from 24th Jan 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Guatemala City, Guatemala

ENDS AT

Guatemala City, Guatemala

DURATION

5

GROUP SIZE

18

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

STYLE

Culture

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Smiling man working in Kaffa Hoist Café, Langa, Cape Town, South Africa

Splendid South Africa

It’s no secret that all Black Africans suffered beyond imagination at the hands of colonial rule in South Africa, culminating in the atrocities of apartheid. A trip here is incomplete without acknowledging this truth and paying respect to the communities that flourished amid seemingly arid societal conditions. Our comprehensive tour of the Western Cape takes in luscious national parks, world class wineries and an incredible safari experience, but we think the most important way to start our itinerary is with a cultural tour of Cape Town. We’ll start our first full day with a visit to Langa, the oldest Black African township in the city, where non-white people were segregated throughout apartheid. Our visit here will be an eye-opener, but you’ll also be inspired by the strength of community that ensured a people’s entire culture would not be crushed. After lunch in Langa and some spare time in the city, you’ll also get to meet another minority community in the colourful district of Bo Kaap. The Cape Malay people here represent the city’s Muslim population, and a delicious locally-led cooking masterclass of their African-Asian fusion cuisine will unlock a world of flavour to go alongside a delicious bite of cultural insight.

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

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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.

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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.