Top Trips for Feeling Like Indiana Jones
Not ready for your last crusade? Get roped in by these worldly adventures inspired by the all-action Dr Jones.
Do you, like Indy, usually make it up as you go along? Next time, why not let us whip up the adventure instead? You and a trusty sidekick can weave your way out of trouble and into paradise on any one of these expeditions. Young or old, it doesn’t matter: “It’s not the years, honey. It’s the mileage.” So, “Jock! Start the engine!”, because you’re in for one hell of a ride with these Indiana Jones-inspired Culture Trip adventures.
Secrets of Sri Lanka
Take a leaf out of Indy’s book and don’t bother following maps to buried treasure; “X never, ever marks the spot.” Instead, let us do the leg work as you delve into this prized possession of a trip, spanning 12 days. You’ll have to plunge your way down white-water rapids and climb the 350m (1,144ft) ancient Temple of Doom fortress at Sigiriya to get your hands on any plunder. On your less active days, you can teach the local kids all about the adventures of a part-time archaeologist when you visit a rural Sri Lankan school, and fend for yourself by cooking up some local delicacies at a cooking class – don’t fret, it won’t be eyeball soup and chilled monkey brains.
From US$
Next available from 1st Jan 1970
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Colombo, Sri Lanka
ENDS AT
Kosgoda, Sri Lanka
DURATION
12
GROUP SIZE
14
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Discover Jordan
Despite the 2,000-odd years of history, the magnificent ancient city of Petra is known by many simply as the place where Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade (1989) ends. We can’t blame Mr Spielberg for taking a shine to the city’s totally singular entrance gate but Petra, and Jordan as a whole, has so much more to offer. Our trip features two days in Petra, plenty of time for hazy flashbacks of your Indy-watching youth, but also spends a couple of days in another Hollywood favourite – Wadi Rum. This otherworldly red desert has welcomed John Wick, the giant sand worms of Dune (2021) and various Star Wars heroes over the years. We’ll explore it’s rocky expanse via 4×4 and spend a night in a cosy desert camp – now that’s an adventure.
From US$2379
Next available from 6th Jan 2024
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Amman, Jordan
ENDS AT
Amman, Jordan
DURATION
8
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Adventurous Ecuador
Make sure your rival doesn’t get there first with this Amazonian adventure. Start your eight-day trip by immersing yourself in the architecture of Quito and scouting out adventure companions over a Pilsener, Ecuador’s favourite beer. There’ll be no need to commandeer a horse when you head out into Cotopaxi National Park – you’ll be provided with one when you’re introduced to the Chagra cowboy culture of the Ecuadorian highlanders. A stay at Kuyana Amazon Lodge won’t see you sword fighting dangerous pursuers on rickety bridges, but you will trek through the rainforest alongside the Jatunyacu River – one of the main tributaries of the Amazon.
From US$1459
Next available from 9th Dec 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Quito, Ecuador
ENDS AT
Quito, Ecuador
DURATION
8
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Ultimate Egypt
Unlike Dr Jones, the only thing you’ll be fighting in Egypt is your desire not to leave. Get lost in the wonders of handcrafted souvenirs and rich spices at the Khan El-Khalili Bazaar in Cairo, before meeting potential lifelong friends (like Sallah) outside the Sphinx and Pyramids of Giza – the largest being the last surviving marvel of the Ancient World. Remembering that, “This… this is history,” unleash the archaeology professor in you when you visit the Temple of Karnak. Ramses V will also be waiting for you at the Valley of the Kings, so it’s safe to say that you’ll definitely be in possession of some rare and precious memories with this Egyptian experience.
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
Majestic Turkey
From it’s crown-jewel palaces and temples to its bustling spice markets, there isn’t a city on Earth more suitable for Dr Jones to be chased through than Istanbul. That’s where our story begins, as we explore the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and various spice markets – it won’t be hard to imagine yourself opening a secret door in Topkapi Palace, or blending in with the crowd in the Grand Bazaar. Indy would love everything about this trip – there’s the ancient archeological sites of Aspendos, Perge and Hattusas, the otherworldly rock formations of Cappadocia and the underground city of Kaymakli. Just don’t tell him that there are snakes in Turkey.
From US$2294
Next available from 13th Oct 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Istanbul, Turkey
ENDS AT
Antalya, Turkey
DURATION
12
GROUP SIZE
18
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Maja Proescholdt and Gethin Morgan contributed additional reporting to this article.
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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