Expert-led Cultural Adventures, Perfected Over 50 Years
The guidebook can stay at home. It can’t introduce you to local people, lead you to a tucked-away lunch spot or tell a story that gets the whole table laughing.
Luckily, our local guides know exactly how to make it all happen.
Paired with expertly crafted itineraries, they take you to the iconic sights and then into the real life of a destination. Explore the lively souks of Morocco, watch the Taj Mahal turn gold at sunrise, dine with local people at a family-run trattoria in Italy or navigate the Mekong Delta in Vietnam to your homestay-guesthouse.
Behind the scenes, we’ve arranged the transportation, transfers, hand-picked accommodations and activities. Your guide keeps each day running smoothly, handles the unexpected and always has a great local recommendation to share.
So, come curious and ready to join in. We’ll bring the know-how, good company and sense of adventure. You’ll get closer to the culture, have plenty of fun and return with stories you’ll love telling.
Uncover the once-mighty civilisations that shaped our world, embarking on expertly led tours of iconic archaeological sites, ancient cities and remarkable ruins.
Discover historic towns, iconic monuments and UNESCO World Heritage sites on a journey through art, history and tradition in some of the world’s most fascinating cultural landmarks.
Experience nature’s extraordinary power and beauty. Gaze over thundering waterfalls, marvel at erupting geysers and explore landscapes unlike anything you’ve seen before.
Join the traditions, ceremonies and celebrations that define cultures around the world. Carefully timed around the main event, these journeys give you a front-row seat for the festivities.
Follow your tastebuds across the globe. Whether you’re breaking bread with local hosts or learning recipes passed through generations, these offer immersion through food and drink.
Discover the world by rail, where spectacular scenery unfolds beyond your window. Blending iconic routes with time to discover, train travel makes the journey an adventure.
There’s a whole world out there waiting to be discovered, so every season we launch new cultural tours to make it even easier for you to explore more of it.
Want to choose your travel companions? Gather your family and friends and let us create a personalised Private Adventure packed with culture and shared experiences.
Find Your Perfect Cultural Vacation
Our Activity Levels make it easy to find a cultural vacation that suits your pace and ability. From on-foot sightseeing and museum visits to longer guided walks through historic sites and cultural landmarks, each tour is graded to help you choose with confidence. If you’re unsure where to start, consider your fitness, and how much activity you’re looking for — or speak to our experts for advice.
A good mix of temples and monasteries, natural wonders, traditional lifestyles, and everyday modern life.
The gers were fine, even the more basic ones, as were the hotels. It was good to have the option of en-suite bathrooms in some, which made things easier for my wife. Several other group members would have take up tthis option if they had known about it, although Duuree did well to arrange them on the fly.
The drivers were all good, some better than others obviously, and presented an interesting variety of characters and styles. Special shout-out to Oggi. The cars were comfortable recent-model Lamd Cruisers, not just “jeeps”, which is just as well because there is a LOT of driving.
I absolutely loved every minute of that trip. I went in April and we got to see many different dramatic landscapes and amazing wildlife. Every evening we had clear details on what would happen the next day, departure and driving times, number of stops, and what to wear. Some drives looked long on paper but the landscapes were always interesting to watch and we never knew when wildlife would be visible.
The itinerary is well designed as we discovered landscapes and alternated days with short drives and multiple hikes and days with longer drives but plenty of stops on the way. Some mornings started relatively early but that is necessary to see wildlife and walk in the desert before it gets too hot.
The lodging ranged from absolutely fabulous (Damara Mopane Lodge and Otjiwa Safari Lodge for example) to painting peeling off the wall in Etosha National Park. Regardless, all were clean and quiet and being so close to the waterhole in Etosha was well worth the slightly less luxurious room.
The bus we used is especially well designed to travel on dirt roads and to see immense landscapes and wildlife. The provided extra cushions were welcome on bumpy roads and all seats had seatbelts. Once we got into Etosha, we opened the roof and (shoes off) would stand on seats to have a 360 degrees view. The front and side windows also open. That means everyone could see the wildlife from different angles with obstructing the view of others in the group.
I had high expectations when I booked that trip and I came home with all those expectations exceeded.
An excellent introduction to a fast-changing country. A varied itinerary took us through the beautiful Albanian scenery and included visits to mosques, churches and houses of interest as well as archaeological sites.
Curious how our small-group cultural vacations work? You’ll find your answers here. From traveling with our expert local guides to group sizes, fitness levels and accommodations, this is everything you need to know.
What is a cultural vacation?
A cultural vacation explores a destination through its history, traditions, food and everyday life. Rather than simply visiting famous landmarks, you might explore ancient sites with a local guide, browse neighborhood markets, join a hands-on cooking class, stay with a local family or take part in a traditional festival. Exodus cultural tours go even deeper, with local guides revealing the stories and customs that shape each place through their insider access and hard-earned knowledge.
What makes Exodus cultural vacations different from other tours?
It comes down to the local guides and expertly planned itineraries. Exodus cultural vacations introduce you to the people, traditions and stories behind each destination. Activities combine iconic highlights with less-visited places, while expert local guides add context that can be difficult to gain when traveling independently. You travel in a small group, typically 8–16 travelers, allowing for more natural encounters and a less disruptive way to explore local communities, historic sites and everyday life.
What can I expect from an Exodus small group cultural tour?
On an Exodus small-group cultural tour, expect an immersive itinerary, expert local guides and a small group of like-minded travelers, typically 8-16 people. Depending on the destination, your days might include exploring archaeological sites, learning traditional crafts from artisans, cooking with local chefs, visiting religious landmarks, or gazing at natural wonders. Transportation, accommodations and many activities are arranged for you, though exact inclusions vary by trip. Most itineraries also include free time or optional excursions, giving you space to explore independently.
How immersive are Exodus cultural vacations?
Exodus cultural vacations fully immerse you in the destination, rather than just letting you observe it. Alongside major historic and cultural landmarks, itineraries may take you into local markets, family homes, traditional restaurants, rural villages or lesser-visited neighborhoods. Some departures are timed around festivals, while others include cooking experiences or locally hosted stays. Your local guide will explain customs, history and everyday life, helping you gain a deeper understanding of the destination.
What local experiences are included on an Exodus cultural vacation?
Each local experience on an Exodus cultural vacation reveals a new layer of the destination, which means they vary by itinerary. You might visit local markets, eat in family-run restaurants, stay in locally owned accommodations, meet local artisans or spend time with families in their homes. Some cultural tours also feature festivals, regional cooking, traditional transportation or overnight stays in smaller communities. Check the individual Trip Notes for the exact experiences included.
Are food experiences included on Exodus cultural tours?
Food experiences are included on many Exodus cultural tours, although the number of included meals and activities varies by itinerary. Depending on your tour, you might cook with a local chef, explore spice plantations, taste your way through a night market or share a meal with local hosts. The emphasis is always on local cuisine, so you’ll come away with a deeper understanding of the destination. Check the itinerary and inclusions for your chosen tour to see exactly what’s included.
Who are the guides on Exodus cultural vacations?
Exodus cultural vacations are led by experienced local guides who know their destinations inside and out. They are selected for their local expertise, enthusiasm and ability to bring a group together. But their role goes well beyond logistics. Your guide will share insights into local history and customs, introduce you to local people along the way and tailor to the group’s interests.
Are Exodus cultural tours suitable for solo travellers?
Absolutely, Exodus cultural tours are well suited to solo travelers because you join a small, guided group rather than traveling alone. Our small groups – typically 8–16 travelers– are a welcoming mix of people from different backgrounds, all with a shared interest in cultural discovery. Your local tour leader handles the main logistics and helps the group settle in, while free time on many trips gives you some independence.
How active are Exodus cultural adventures?
Exodus cultural tours range from easy-paced to more active adventures with longer days and some more physically demanding activities, such as hiking or kayaking. Each trip is given an Activity Level from 1 (Easy) to 4 (Moderate & Challenging), based on both the activities involved and the overall pace, helping you choose a vacation that suits you. Before you book a trip, make sure to check the Activity Level and read through the itinerary to make sure you’re comfortable with the activities.
How does travelling with Exodus support local communities?
At Exodus, we believe travel should help both people and nature thrive in harmony. As a certified B Corp, we take a nature-positive approach and aim to contribute to the communities in the destinations we visit.
Where possible, we stay in locally owned accommodations, eat in family-run restaurants and work with expert local guides, so your trip directly benefits local people.
