Top Culture Trips for Safari Adventures

From the savannahs of Kenya to the cloud forests of Costa Rica, the world’s animal kingdom is yours to explore
From the savannahs of Kenya to the cloud forests of Costa Rica, the world’s animal kingdom is yours to explore | © Nimit Virdi / Getty Images
Nick Dauk

Senior Travel Writer

Animal instinct tops the agenda of these wildlife-themed Culture Trip adventures across Africa, Asia and the Americas.

Whatever your favourite animal was as a child, there’s a chance you’ll get up close and personal with it on a safari trip. From the savannahs of Kenya to the cloud forests of Costa Rica, the world’s animal kingdom is yours to explore with the help of expert guides. Intimate talks with locals and the chance to sample regional cuisine further elevate these insider-led itineraries beyond the ordinary. Ready for a really wild expedition? Let these Culture Trips show you fantastic beasts and where to find them.

speech icon man in bubble

Destinations Unlocked:

Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip

Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
speech icon man in bubble
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

Wildebeest crossing the great mara river

Immersive Kenya

Fill your animal-loving boots to the brim on a safari in Kenya. On this eight-day tour, you’ll explore Kenya’s portion of the Great Rift Valley, which stretches all the way down from Lebanon through East Africa to Mozambique. Next, it’s into the Maasai Mara, home to the Big Five and preferred superhighway for the annual wildebeest migration. Aberdare National Park and Lake Nakuru are ready to dazzle you with Cape buffaloes, African elephants and more. Game drives will make up the bulk of your expedition, while unique cultural experiences – including a day spent with a Maasai tribe – add an extra dimension to this immersive escape to the savannah.

From US$2959

Next available from 10th Mar 2024

Secure your spot with a low deposit

Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Nairobi, Kenya

arrow pointing to the right

ENDS AT

Nairobi, Kenya

DURATION

8

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

info icon

STYLE

Discovery

info icon
Safari guide in jeep with calming sign looking at rhinos in the wild

Splendid South Africa

Our 11-day South Africa trip is not short of incredible wildlife encounters and unique natural landscapes. We’ll start in Cape Town, ascending Table Mountain by cable car and kayaking with penguins in nearby Simons Town. Then it’s onto the gorgeous wine region of Stellenbosch and the ostrich capital of the world, Oudtshoorn. The best is saved for last, however, as we spend two nights at a luxury lodge in Gondwana Game Reserve. You’ll get to go on up to four game drives in search for the Big Five – keep an eye out for rare breeds of antelope and zebra, too – during our stay, which also includes plenty of free time to make use of the reserve’s many activities. Keep it active with fynbos walks and mountain bike excursions, or wind down with a treatment at the Bush Spa, or an afternoon spent chilling by the infinity pool – stay here long enough and you might be visited by a herd of local elephants.

From US$2899

Next available from 3rd Feb 2024

Secure your spot with a low deposit

Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Cape Town, South Africa

arrow pointing to the right

ENDS AT

Cape Town, South Africa

DURATION

11

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

info icon

STYLE

Discovery

info icon
Elephant spotted on a safari in Sri Lanka

Secrets of Sri Lanka by Train

They say an elephant never forgets, so be sure to greet them with a smiling face when you come face to face in Sri Lanka. These majestic beasts are waiting to welcome you to Udawalawe National Park. But don’t forget their friends: monkeys, crocodiles, leopards and other animals are hanging around these parts, too. This 10-day Rail Trip around the island is an excellent safari experience, mixed with ancient fortresses, tea plantations and scenic train trips, for good measure.

From US$1679

Next available from 10th Feb 2024

Secure your spot with a low deposit

Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Colombo, Sri Lanka

arrow pointing to the right

ENDS AT

Colombo, Sri Lanka

DURATION

10

GROUP SIZE

12

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

info icon

STYLE

Discovery

info icon
Three-toed Sloth (Bradypus variegatus) hangs in a tree in the Costa Rica rainforest

The Real Costa Rica

A jungle safari through Costa Rica is one of those trips that have wildlife watchers and would-be Attenborough’s rushing for the “book” button. In between coffee tastings and surf lessons in Tamarindo on this eight-day tour, you’ll assail the Monteverde cloud forest in search of sloth bears on a moon-lit excursion. Salute the Pura Vida lifestyle with a sunrise yoga session or evening hot-spring soak. But don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for capuchins around the cone of Arenal.

From US$2199

Next available from 24th Feb 2024

Secure your spot with a low deposit

Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

San Jose, Costa Rica

arrow pointing to the right

ENDS AT

Tamarindo, Provincia De Guanacaste

DURATION

8

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

info icon

STYLE

Discovery

info icon

Additional words by Gethin Morgan.

culture trip left arrow
 culture trip brand logo

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

women sitting on iceberg

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!

culture trip logo letter c
group posing for picture on iceberg
group posing for picture on iceberg

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points
culture trip brand logo
culture trip right arrow
landscape with balloons floating in the air

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.

X

Holiday Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

Edit article