The Best Wellness Trips You Can Take with Culture Trip
Content and CRM Executive
Travel is good for the soul. All of our trips aim to offer a level of cultural immersion and unique experience that make for pure escapism. Discover this selection of our most wellness-orientated Culture Trips.
We’ve all experienced that exhausting holiday routine. You hurriedly book a last-minute trip and hope for the best, only to return as tired as ever, looking and feeling as crumpled as your unpacked laundry. Time to rethink your next break. Culture Trip offers a carefully thought-out collection of small-group adventures designed for every travel taste and personality. Our cherry-picked network of expert Local Insiders will get you under the skin of a destination, meaning you don’t have to worry about planning ahead. All you have to do is turn up, join in and enjoy.
These trips will take you to places of remote natural beauty, with activities such as yoga, paddleboarding and hiking that will leave you refreshed and reinvigorated, ready to face the world again.
Blissful Bali
This little tropical paradise has become one of the most beloved wellness destinations on Earth, but our Bali trip aims to offer you a deeper level of cultural immersion alongside the detoxifying qualities of this magical island. You’ll learn how to make a traditional Balinese offering and place it in a sacred temple, hike through serene rice paddies and marvel at the majesty of Bali at sunrise from atop Mount Batur. You’ll swim in waterfalls, try FlyHigh yoga and attend a Balinese cooking masterclass, before our trip takes a detour to the Gili Islands. Here we’ll spend three nights at a luxurious island resort on Gili Trawangan, which is small enough to walk around in a few hours. Snorkel with sea turtles and discover hidden beaches in between spa sessions and dips in the infinity pool, before returning to Canggu, where you can have a surf lesson before taking part in a traditional Balinese blessing ceremony.
From US$1350
Next available from 7th Oct 2023
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Bali, Indonesia
ENDS AT
Bali, Indonesia
DURATION
12
GROUP SIZE
18
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
The Real Costa Rica
Costa Rica is one of the most extraordinary landscapes you could ever find, with every little microclimate offering a different kind of food for the soul. Our eight-day trip starts in Arenal National Park, which is home to stunning rainforest, waterfalls and natural hot springs warmed by the power of Arenal volcano. We’ll be staying in a lodge where you can enjoy views of the volcano from the comfort of a hot spring, while activities include a coffee-tasting session, a dip in a waterfall and a sloth-spotting hike through the jungle. From there it’s up into the cloud forests of Monteverde, where you’ll go on a nighttime trek and learn how to master Costa Rican cuisine. We’ll end up in the laid-back surf town of Tamarindo, where you can either chill on the sandy beach or hit the waves yourself.
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
Soulful South Korea
The wellness culture in South Korea is ancient, tracing all the way back to its long history with Buddhism. Our 10-day trip is a pretty comprehensive tour of this unique East Asian nation, taking in Seoul, Busan and the DMZ for a start. On the wellness front, you’ll get to enjoy the serenity of Seoraksan National Park’s luscious mountain vistas, cycle around Gyeongju and sample soju on the beach in Busan, where you’ll also have the chance to visit a traditional jjimjilbang bathhouse. The most soul-centring experience you’ll have, however, comes in the sixth-century Buddhist temple of Golgulsa. Here you’ll partake in a traditional Korean temple stay, learning about a martial art called Sunmudo, working on your meditation skills and having an archery session, before settling in for the evening in the temple itself – that’s wellness the Buddhist monk way!
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
Go Wild in the Galapagos
If wildlife experiences are your route to wellness then have we got the trip for you. This famous Ecuadorian archipelago is one of the most extraordinary places on the planet. There’s something truly peaceful about escaping to a remote island, and something heartwarming about spending your holiday surrounded by such a vibrant array of rare species. There’s iguanas, penguins, blue-footed boobies and sea lions, not to mention giant tortoises, of course. Our trip is a total exploration of the island and its surrounding waters. You’ll explore the ocean by using a kayak, a paddleboard and snorkel equipment, while on land lava trail hikes and birdwatching adventures await. You’ll also spend two nights at Galapagos Magic Camp, a dreamy safari-style glampsite in the highlands of Santa Cruz. The camp is populated by over a hundred giant tortoises, who roam the area freely and safely. They’re the kind of laid-back companion everyone needs on a wellness retreat.
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
Georgia and the Caucasus
There’s something spiritual about the grandeur of the Caucasus Mountains, and in their shadow lies arguably the most underrated destination in Europe (or Asia, depending on where you stand at any given moment). Georgia offers pure escapism, whether that’s through hiking in the lush hilly forests of Lagodekhi National Park or learning about the country’s ancient baking and wine-making traditions. Our trip includes both of the above, as well as an authentic cooking class and a stunning hike to Gergeti Trinity Church, a fairytale structure standing high in the shadow of Mount Kazbegi. We’ll round off the trip with a well-earned soak in the sulphur baths of Tbilisi – perfect for soothing the muscles after all that hiking.
From US$1167
Next available from 24th Sep 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Tbilisi, Georgia
ENDS AT
Tbilisi, Georgia
DURATION
9
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
This is an updated version of an article originally written by Jo Fernandez.
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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