The Oldest Religious Sites You Can Visit With...

Whether you have faith or not, there is something inherently spiritual about a truly ancient place of worship. Maybe it’s the power of time, or perhaps it’s just the wonder of humankind’s most extravagant creations, either way we challenge you not to get tingles all over when you visit these ancient religious sites with Culture Trip.

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Luxor Temple – Ultimate Egypt

The Sphinx and Pyramids of Giza might take the headlines when it comes to tourism in Egypt, but you could argue that the ancient city of Luxor is the most historically significant part of the whole country. The temples of Luxor and Karnak were seen as two of the holiest sites in all of Egypt, where priests and pharaohs would worship the gods. Luxor Temple saw several famous Pharaohs come and go, adding their own Nubian sandstone structures to the complex. The original temple is thought to be a remarkable 3,443 years old (approx.), making what remains today surprisingly well-preserved. The site is best visited at night, under the glow of candlelight, with the atmospheric Avenue of Sphinxes leading you to the temple entrance. That’s exactly how you’ll experience Luxor Temple on day four of our comprehensive Egypt tour. That very same morning you’ll also check out Karnak Temple, Luxor’s baby brother at a mere 2,000+ years old.

From US$2116

Next available from 11th Jan 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Cairo, Egypt

ENDS AT

Aswan, Egypt

DURATION

9

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

STYLE

Discovery

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Flash Sale

Relief of the Twelve Gods in Yazilikaya, a holy site near Hattusa, the ancient capital of the Hittite Civilization in Turkey

Yazilikaya – Majestic Turkey

Turkey is not short of ancient wonders, as our 12-day trip highlights. We kick off the trip by visiting two of Istanbul most famous religious sites, the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia – the latter being around 1,486 years old, spending time as a Greek Orthodox church, a Roman-Catholic cathedral and, eventually, a mosque. That has nothing on the remains of Hattusa, capital of the Hittite Empire, dating back to the Bronze Age. We’ll visit this ancient site on day five, most notably exploring the remains of Yazilikaya, a holy site found just a short walk from the city. This place is estimated to be around 3,200 years old, and the deities you can still see carved in limestone today offer an extraordinary glimpse into truly ancient religious practices.

From US$2294

Next available from 13th Oct 2023

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Istanbul, Turkey

ENDS AT

Antalya, Turkey

DURATION

12

GROUP SIZE

18

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Flash Sale

Golgulsa Temple in Gyeongju-si, South Korea.

Golgulsa Temple – Soulful South Korea

This ancient Buddhist temple, thought to date back to the sixth century, is one of the only cave temples in all of South Korea. The idea of grotto temples was more common in India, and it is said that the monk who built Golgulsa was inspired by those in South Asia. On our 10-day Korean epic you’ll even get the chance to stay here. Korean temple stays have become a popular tourist experience, as travellers are given the opportunity to learn about Buddhist monk culture first hand. You’ll take archery lessons, work on meditation chants and try out the martial art of Sunmudo during your time here.

From US$2414

Next available from 8th Oct 2023

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Seoul, South Korea

ENDS AT

Seoul, South Korea

DURATION

10

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Angkor Wat – Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam

This iconic temple complex is relatively young for this list, clocking in at around 900 years old (what a baby!) but we simply had to mention the world’s largest religious structure which, if anything, feels older than it is. That’s partly due to the magical powers of Mother Nature, who continues to slowly reclaim the land, grasping old stone structures with its thick tree roots and sprawling vines. It was originally built as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu, during the Khmer Empire, before later being converted to a Buddhist site. The sheer majesty of the structure, both in scale and intricacy, combined with its visual representation of the slow passing of time, makes it a serious spiritual place to visit, even for those who aren’t that way inclined. The best way to embrace this spirituality is at sunrise, when the whole complex glows in a warm orange hue. It’s a sight you’ll never ever forget, and one that you can experience on day four of our Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam trip. This one’s worth the early start, trust us.

From US$1874

Next available from 14th Jan 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Bangkok, Thailand

ENDS AT

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

DURATION

11

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Flash Sale

peru-machupicchu-willian-justen-de-vasconcellos-unsplash

Machu Picchu – Ancient Peru

This is certainly the most controversial addition to the list, since we don’t actually know exactly what Machu Picchu was. There has always been an awe-inspiring sense of mystery to this lost ancient citadel, but experts assume that it was either a grandiose royal Incan estate or a sacred religious site. Either way there must have been some form of worship going on in such a soul-stirringly spiritual place, surrounded by clouds high in the Andes, so we’re happy to include it. Much like Angkor Wat, this place feels older than it actually is. It’s actually thought to only be just over 600 years old. Perhaps it’s the fact it was only discovered in 1911, or maybe there’s a transportive quality to the place, so vivid in the way it takes your imagination back to a bygone age, that makes it feels far, far older. You’ll get to experience all of that on day five of our Peru itinerary, which spends an entire day exploring this otherworldly ancient site.

From US$1824

Next available from 1st Dec 2023

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Cusco, Peru

ENDS AT

Arequipa, Peru

DURATION

9

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

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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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.