The Best Places To Travel In September 2024

The summer is winding down. You start to wonder whether you made the most of it. You begin to dread the oncoming chill of winter, hiding around the corner. Well, the best cure for these anxieties is to make sure you have travel plans next September! Decent weather, fewer crowds and a whole host of amazing destinations to discover with Culture Trip – what’s not to like?

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View from a flowery field as the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) zooms past Mount Fuji in the Japanese countryside

Japan by Train: The Grand Tour

The summer warmth carries on well into September in Japan, making it an ideal time of year to avoid peak tourism season. Our 12-day Rail Trip aims to offer you a pretty comprehensive introduction to this beautifully eclectic nation, where modernity and ancient history sit side-by-side. We start in Osaka, before hopping on the Bullet Train to explore Hiroshima and Miyajima Island. Marvel at the serenity of Arashiyama bamboo forest and prepare to be charmed by Kyoto, arguably Japan’s prettiest city. We’ll head up to the Japanese Alps to sip sake and explore an open-air folk village museum, head to Hakone for a traditional hot spring experience, and go cruising with views of Mount Fuji on Lake Ashi. Our final destination is Tokyo, where you’ll try taiko drumming and sushi-rolling, watch sumo wrestlers train and spend a night belting out karaoke tunes in a neon-lit bar.

From US$4045

Next available from 2nd Sep 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Osaka, Japan

ENDS AT

Tokyo, Japan

DURATION

12

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Spring Sale

Jacobite steam train crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct, as seen in Harry Potter

Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands by Train

The transition from summer to autumn in Scotland creates a lovely crispness in the air, as temperatures remain fairly mild and the countryside slowly begins to change. The best way to enjoy the rugged beauty of the Scottish Highlands is unquestionably by carving through it on a train, which is the idea behind this magical seven-day itinerary. Having crossed the border on the overnight train from London – waking up to amazing views in the process – we’ll start off in Fort William. From there you’ll hop onboard the Jacobite steam train (AKA the Hogwarts Express) to Mallaig, crossing the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct en route. Now on the west coast, you’ll explore the Isle of Skye, Inverness and Cairngorms National Park, before finally rounding off the trip on the gorgeous gothic streets of Edinburgh.

From US$2728

Next available from 27th May 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

London, England

ENDS AT

Edinburgh, Scotland

DURATION

7

GROUP SIZE

18

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Greek Island Odyssey

Cling onto summer until its very end by joining this island-hopping Mediterranean retreat. You’ll get the full Greek experience over eight days, starting in Athens, where you’ll get a guided tour of the Acropolis. Our first island stop is Milos, where charming fishing villages, magical cave systems and undiscovered beaches await. Naxos is next, where you’ll get to take part in a Greek cooking masterclass within a rural family home. Our final stop is Santorini, the most sophisticated of all the Greek Islands, and the perfect place to watch the sun go down over summer in style.

From US$2039

Next available from 26th May 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Athens, Greece

ENDS AT

Athens, Greece

DURATION

9

GROUP SIZE

18

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

STYLE

Discovery

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The walls decorated in the neighborhoods of Chefchaouen Morocco

Epic Morocco

The middle of summer can be a little too intense if you want to explore Morocco properly, as you will on this extensive 11-day tour. Things cool down a little in September, especially by the time our trip departs on the 21st. You’ll start by visiting Africa’s largest mosque in Casablanca, strolling down the blue streets of Chefchaouen and time-travelling to old-world North Africa in Fes. Then it’s time to venture deep into the Sahara – where it will naturally still be very hot – for a night spent wine tasting and stargazing at a luxury desert camp, before getting up early for a sunrise camel ride. Things should cool back down again in the heights of the Atlas Mountains, while our final destination, Marrakech, offers you the chance to go on a street food tour and take an authentic cooking class.

From US$2343

Next available from 12th Apr 2025

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Casablanca, Morocco

ENDS AT

Marrakech, Morocco

DURATION

11

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Seductive Southern Italy

The sun still shines and the ocean waters are more than inviting throughout the month of September, and we can’t think of a more glamorous way to wrap up your summer than a dreamy jaunt along the coastlines of southern Italy. We have two departures running in September 2024, both of which will start with an incredible street food tour in Naples. After that we’ll wind down the Amalfi Coast by road and by boat, before heading east towards Puglia. Several scenic inland stops – Matera, Alberobello and the Itria Valley – embellish our travels, but it’s the beaches of Polignano a Mare that makes the journey really worthwhile. Our last few days will be spent visiting a local olive oil farm, an incredible cave system and some of the most beautiful towns and cities in all of Italy.

From US$2623

Next available from 25th May 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Naples, Italy

ENDS AT

Lecce, Italy

DURATION

10

GROUP SIZE

14

PHYSICAL RATING

Easy

STYLE

Discovery

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turkey-cappadocia-hot-air-balloon-ridwan-meah-_wtP2TIJLuA-unsplash

Majestic Turkey

Turkey is another destination where there’s so much to explore, but doing so in the heat of July or August can be a little intense. You’ll certainly want to be able to stay fresh and take in all of the amazing sights on our comprehensive 12-day tour. We’ll start in Istanbul, where you’ll get guided visits to the city’s most iconic sights, as well as foodie tours in some underrated neighbourhoods. We’ll head inland to Ankara, the ancient ruins of Hattusas and the incredible region of Cappadocia, most famous for its unique rock formations and countless hot-air balloons. You’ll get to hop onboard one yourself, as well as taking part in a pottery workshop and a wine tasting, before exploring the underground city of Kaymakli and the rocky Red and Rose valleys. After more ancient archeological sites and the sacred city of Konya, we’ll finally reach the Turkish Riviera, where you can catch the last of the summer sunshine on the beaches of Antalya.

From US$2798

Next available from 16th Aug 2024

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

View Trip

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.