The Best Luxury Trips to Take This Year
Content and CRM Executive
Treat yourself to something special this year. Embrace big coastal resorts, glamorous river cruises and once-in-a-lifetime experiences with these luxurious Culture Trips.
Everybody deserves a treat now and again. Our philosophy is that if you can do it, do it! Luxury comes in many forms, from dreamy coastal beach resorts to high-class cruises. You might consider a big hotel in a bustling city to be glamorous, or perhaps to you indulgence is all about good food and relaxation. Whatever kind of holiday you choose to go on with Culture Trip, we’ll make sure you’re treated like royalty, but if you really want to amp up the luxury look no further than these pampering adventures.
Splendid South Africa
South Africa has a luxury culture like no other, which we embrace fully on this 11-day Garden Route tour. We’ll start with a stay in the stylish Sea Point district of Cape Town, where we’ll explore the city and ascend Table Mountain. Then it’s time to up the ante with a trip to the Cape Winelands, the country’s world-renowned wine region. You’ll get to spend an entire day exploring the region’s best vineyards using the joyously quirky hop-on, hop-off wine tram, before retiring to our gorgeous country lodge for the evening. After one night at a boutique olive estate and two more in the charming seaside town of Knysna, we’ll end up truly embracing South African luxury at Gondwana Kwena Game Lodge. This 11,000ha game reserve is truly spectacular, and our lodge has an infinity pool you might have to share with the elephants. You’ll get to go on as many as four safari drives in search of the Big Five across two nights of luxury in this glorious five-star retreat.
From US$2129
Next available from 2nd Dec 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
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
Ultimate Egypt
You might not think of Egypt immediately when the word luxury comes to mind, but the passion for pampering here didn’t die with the Pharaohs. We’re ready to prove it on our comprehensive nine-day tour, half of which is spent living the good life on an incredible luxury river cruise down the Nile. Lounging on deck, cocktail in hand and sun shining bright, whilst you float past ancient temples and vast stretches of wilderness – now that’s North African luxury in action. We’ll hop off along the way for a shopping spree in a local souk, a candlelit visit to Luxor Temple and a kayaking adventure down the Nile.
From US$2116
Next available from 11th Jan 2024
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Cairo, Egypt
ENDS AT
Aswan, Egypt
DURATION
9
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
Spectacular Sicily
Sicily was put firmly on the luxury map by season two of The White Lotus, which was set in a stunning five-star hotel in Taormina. Our completist tour of Italy’s largest island embraces la dolce vita in a truly indulgent way, putting food at the forefront of your experience. We’ll stay at a range of beautiful hotels – our favourite is Hotel Cefalù Gli Alberi del Paradiso, as pictured above – as we go from Palermo to the Madonie Mountains, Aeolian Islands, Mount Etna, Syracuse, and Catania. You’ll take multiple expert cooking classes, have a wine tasting in the mountains, tuck into lunch on a Mount Etna farm and sample the finest chocolate and gelato you ever tasted in the stunning baroque towns of Val di Noto – now that’s what we call treating yourself.
From US$
Next available from 1st Jan 1970
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Palermo, Italy
ENDS AT
Siracusa, Sicily
DURATION
8
GROUP SIZE
14
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
Blissful Bali
A lot of backpackers do Bali on a bit of a budget. There are plenty of hostels, cheap food and transport, not to mention a vibrant party culture. Injecting a bit of glamour into this Indonesian paradise, however, gives it a whole new dimension. Our 12-day itinerary is the way to do it, immersing you in the local culture and nature, but leaving plenty of time for some pampering along the way. You’ll start the trip at a luxury oceanfront hotel, before visiting temples, swimming in waterfalls and climbing Mount Batur at sunrise. Then we’ll shoot off to the Gili Islands on speedboat, where the stunning Hotel Vila Ombak awaits on Gili Trawangan. You’ll have plenty of time to explore the island and go snorkelling with sea turtles, but don’t forget to make the most of the resort’s stunning pools and excellent spa facilities. Muscles massaged and tan topped-up, we’ll return to the main island to stay at another gorgeous beach resort in Canggu, where you’ll have two more nights to bask in the glorious tropical glamour of Bali.
From US$1350
Next available from 7th Oct 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Bali, Indonesia
ENDS AT
Bali, Indonesia
DURATION
12
GROUP SIZE
18
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
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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