Luxury Cultural Tours: Deepen Your Travel Experience

Curated luxury tours with deep cultural immersion, covering heritage sites, festivals, and expert-led experiences.

Discover six of the world’s most captivating cultural destinations, where centuries-old traditions live on and rich histories unfold in magnificent museums and galleries. Cultural exploration awakens all five senses, offering a rare chance to connect with lives far different from your own. As you travel, landscapes come alive through oral storytelling, meals are elevated by the bold flavours of homegrown ingredients and cherished family recipes, and evenings are lit up by local hospitality, traditional dances, and vibrant festivals. Take our hand, and let us guide you through a world of magical cultural journeys.

Why Cultural Immersion Matters in Travel

Culture forms a core part of any of our luxury, tailor-made tours, enriching your experience with genuine insights and meaningful interactions. When visiting a new country, the people matter. People are what provide a destination its character, warmth, and rhythm, embellishing a place with unique traditions, cuisines, and a heritage made accessible through art, architecture, museums, and more. Whether its a heart-warming religious festival, a mystifying World Heritage Site, a striking war memorial, or a lively street market, cultural immersion opens doors you'd be foolish to miss on your trip.

We hold cultural tours close to our hearts. Our travel specialists are masterful in the customs, festivals and cuisines of their destinations, and are eager to craft a journey which invites you to touch the beating heart of your chosen country or countries. If you so wish, each exclusive tour and immersive experience will grab hold of opportunities to delve into the country's timeline, familiarising you with its most intimate realities in the most ethical way.

Top Cultural Destinations for Luxury Travellers

While we don't intend to be reductive, recognising the value and impact of each cultural tradition around the world, we do have our favourite destinations for immersive and out-of-the-ordinary cultural tours. Here are seven amazing places to visit to experience some of the world's most unique and long-standing cultures:

1. Japan

Japan's remarkable heritage enriches every journey with dazzling artistic tours, spiritual experiences, and stays that immerse you in a time long gone. The country's capital makes an ideal starting point, with Tokyo's neon-lit nights and inspiring daytime tours introducing an enchanting balance of old and new. The city is both a symbol of modern urban energy, with the world-famous Shibuya Crossing and bustling street markets, and a celebration of cultural preservation, with gems like the Senso-ji Buddhist Temple. This inspiring contrast of modern and ancient can be witnessed across many of Japan’s cities and rural regions, where futuristic architecture stands alongside intricate shrines, and bullet trains glide past rice paddies and wooden farmhouses.

Japanese art has earned global recognition, with artists like Kawanabe Kyosai creating masterpieces that have established the nation's place in the world of fine art. You can visit places like Naoshima to experience firsthand the flourishing trends of artistic expression in Japan, with an overnight stay in Benesse House, an immersive gallery hotel. Meanwhile, Japan's experimental art scene is brought to life in new ways each day through TeamLab Borderless and TeamLab Planets, digital art museums featuring immersive, interactive experiences for all ages.

A journey to Japan isn't complete without a stay in one of the country's picturesque onsen towns, renowned for their volcanic landscapes and natural hot springs. In localities such as Ginzan, Kinosaki, Takayama, and Dogo, long-standing traditional inns, known as ryokans, feel like a warm hug, offering multi-course traditional meals and private baths. Winter is one of the most magical times to visit, when powdery snow blankets the rooftops and gas lamps cast a soft orange glow over tranquil, icy evenings. From its buzzing cities to its peaceful mountain retreats, Japan’s graceful architecture and vibrant geisha traditions are reflected in an equally refined and delicate culinary heritage.

Discover our exceptional cultural tours in Japan, including our brand new Ski & Culture Tour, including a three day stay in the beautiful Ginzan Onsen:

2. Kenya

As you traverse the gorgeous grasslands and sweeping savannahs of Kenya, the country's rich biodiversity stirs your soul, awakening you to the extraordinary wonders of Africa’s natural world. Yet a trip to Kenya wouldn’t be complete without its people, communities with centuries of intricate traditions and languages, who warmly welcome you into eco-luxury lodges that preserve and celebrate the beauty of tribal culture.

In the Masai Mara, our partnered safari lodges integrate the Maasai culture into everything they do, teaching you about how local tribes and wildlife intertwine and holding fireside chats with local guides and elders. With some lodges, you can head on safari with a fairly-paid Maasai guide, who bring a unique, indigenous perspective to your experience, outlining the ancient spiritual beliefs tied to the land you explore. Similarly rich and authentic cultural tours are held in the Samburu Conservancy, northeast from the Mara North Conservancy. The traditional clothing, rituals, and song and dance of the Samburu culture are fascinating, with local tribes often being open to cultural exchange under community-led programmes. 

Following your eye-opening Kenya safari tour, its Indian Ocean Coast awaits with enchanting stays in beachfront resorts like Kinondo Kwetu (south coast) and Peponi Hotel (north coast). These five-star hotels champion Kenya's indigenous cultures through Swahili-style architecture, community engagement, and coastal African cuisine. Nearby these luxury resorts are Kenya's best coastal villages and towns, like Diani Beach and Mombasa, places where Swahili culture is very much alive, with unmissable landmarks like Fort Jesus and the Lamu Old Town.  

3. New Zealand

Along with its vibrant modern culture, a melting pot of contemporary Pacific and European influences, New Zealand beholds a treasure trove of Māori heritage to dive into. Each of its most spectacular landscapes and towns cloaks a far-stretching timeline - and, luckily for you, New Zealand's people are renowned for their friendliness, extending a welcoming gateway to those keen for ethical cultural exchange on their trip.

The rich and colourful Māori culture stretches back around 1,000 years, from when East Polynesian settlers landed on the North Island, where today, insights into the proudly preserved and celebrated culture are easily found. Paihia, gateway to the magical Bay of Islands, is a wonderful place to start, where you will find the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, a protected site which marks the 1840 treaty allowing the Maori people and British settlers to live amongst each other. Southward down the North Island, Rotorua is an unmissable stop on your cultural New Zealand tour, where spots like Tamaki Maori Village and Te Puia showcase the alive and thriving Māori customs, from ceremonial rituals to geothermal landscapes engrained with heritage. 

To find out more about experiencing Māori culture in New Zealand, read our expert blog.

New Zealand’s modern culture is proudly diverse, built on the bicultural foundations of the Treaty of Waitangi and enriched by immigration from Asia and the Pacific Islands. Its most populous cities offer a vibrant mix of creative arts and cuisine, with cultural hubs like the Auckland Art Gallery and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa celebrating both contemporary artistic expression and the country’s colonial history. Modern Kiwi identity places a strong emphasis on environmental respect, with outdoor adventures reflecting a deep national love for nature, as well as a cultural preference for humility and informality.

See how Māori culture is interwoven into New Zealand's landscapes, like this rock carving at Lake Taupo, North Island.

4. India

The second most populous country on the planet, India's culture is as rich as its enchanting natural wonders, where Bengal tigers and majestic Asian elephants wander. From bhangra and dry agriculture in the North, to classical dance and tropical waters in the South, Indian heritage is incredibly diverse and can't be reduced to one singular set of traditions. The country is home to over 700 tribes, 22 official languages, and is the birthplace of four major religions, with vibrant festivals, architecture, and cuisines to match. So, strap in and prepare for a cultural tour like no other!

The history of India unfolds across many eras of imperial grandeur, from the prosperous Gupta dynasty (320-550 CE) to the much more familiar British Raj, with varying styles of social structure and cultural tradition. From this illustrious past emerges a rich tapestry of artistic and architectural styles that span the country: ancient cave paintings and intricate stone carvings to marble Mughal mosques, ornate neoclassical monuments, and intimate tribal artworks rooted in mythology. Throughout this soul-stimulating visual world of culture, India's religious plurality is equally influential.

Spirituality lies at the heart of many iconic landmarks, such as the Taj Mahal and the Golden Temple in Amritsar, and it deeply informs everyday life across the country. This is most vividly expressed in India’s many festivals, from the light and joy of Diwali, to the pageantry of Durga Puja, and the community spirit of Baisakhi, all of which invite you to take part in the celebration. As you continue on your soul-stirring route, India invites all five of your senses to partake, tantalising your tastebuds with rich, hearty dishes like rogan josh and butter chicken as you traverse the north, and with flavourful recipes of fish and coconut on the southern coast.

Our Rural Rajasthan Holiday takes you on a magical route through Rajasthan's countryside and architectural gems: a true celebration of Indian culture.

5. South Africa

South Africa: a world in one country, where the untamed African bush meets luxurious winelands and city gems. To accompany the holiday of a lifetime, South African culture covers all bases, living up-to the nickname "Rainbow Nation", as a dazzling mix of traditions, histories, ethnicities, and 11 official languages lead the way to whirlwind tours that transport you through time. And, enriching your tour even further, luxurious stays in South Africa's best heritage hotels immerse you into stories of its fascinating past.

In Johannesburg, tragic yet enlightening stories unfold in sites like Constitution Hill, a memorial site of the prison where Mandela was once held, and the Apartheid Museum, an in-depth lesson on South Africa's racial history. Meanwhile, local creative triumphs are at your fingertips in the Maboneng Precinct, an iconic street art and gallery spot. From north to south, South Africa's cities answer your travel dreams, with Cape Town's gleaming cultural diversity a not-to-be-missed next stop. Wander the widely photographed streets of Bo-Kaap, characterised by a unqiue blend of Cape Dutch and Georgian buildings painted in bright colours, see the city's modern artistic feats come to life in the Fugard Theatre, or experience the culinary prowess of the Cape Winelands.

Cultural expressions of South Africa’s indigenous people can be experienced across the country, from the Cradle of Humankind, a World Heritage Site, to the practice of traditional Zulu medicine. In the Eastern Cape, you can ethically observe Xhosa communities, known for their distinctive language clicks, while soaking in the natural beauty of Coffee Bay and the Wild Coast. In KwaZulu-Natal, cultural exchange is warmly encouraged: enjoy traditional Zulu beer and cuisine, witness the soul-stirring Zulu Warrior Dance, and explore the richness of oral storytelling traditions.

South Africa can be paired with a neighbouring destination to create an incredible multi-country Africa tour:

The Bo-Kaap area of Cape Town is lined with bright, colourful houses.

6. Argentina

From its head to toe, Argentina is a place of immense natural beauty with a culture to match. Begin with its capital city, Buenos Aires, the home of tango and the country’s artistic scene, where a range of trendy boutique hotels invite you to embrace the city’s bohemian flair. Facing the sparkling blue of the Rio de la Plata, Buenos Aires' open plazas and cosy streets are dotted with neoclassical landmarks like the Metropolitan Cathedral, quirky Art Nouveau masterpieces like Palacio Barolo, and striking modern sculptures like Floralis Genérica. One of the best places to experience Argentinian culture is the La Boca neighbourhood, known for its open-air cafés and brightly painted buildings. If you want to learn tango, or watch a dramatic dinner-side performance, this is the place!

Moving north, the cities of Salta and Jujuy offer a vibrant contrast to the European influences of Buenos Aires. Here, indigenous Andean traditions intertwine with Spanish colonial heritage, set against a dramatic backdrop of desert valleys and ancient mountains. You can explore colourful artisan markets filled with traditional textiles and pottery, before trying the region’s distinctive cuisine, from delicious empanadas salteñas to the locally revered coca tea. The relaxed pace of rural life in these highland towns makes for a peaceful escape and a fascinating cultural encounter.

In central Argentina, sweeping wine valleys provide a chance to unwind in peaceful colonial buildings while indulging in the region’s outstanding culinary tradition. Horseback rides through the vineyards introduce you to one of Argentina’s most enduring cultural icons, the gaucho. This cowboy tradition is most alive in the sprawling grasslands of Las Pampas, where warm, family-run estancias offer a charming and authentic stay. Days are filled with horse riding, outdoor adventures, and evenings around the fire, sharing stories over a traditional asado. It’s a wonderful way to experience Argentina’s deep connection with nature and its welcoming, down-to-earth culture.

Explore some of our Argentina tours and discover the best ways to experience the country's culture:

Enquire Now through our no-obligation form to begin your journey, or explore our destinations to learn more about where you can go.

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