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Venture into the Colombian Andes for eight days and return with a wealth of cultural knowledge. Cosmopolitan Bogotá will show you a complete contrast to on-the-move Medellín – two places that were once among the most dangerous in the world and are now filled with people who want to share their stories peacefully. It’s a tour that highlights the country’s calling cards, such as coffee culture, while uncovering lesser-known elements, including the hundreds of species of orchids that speckle the Colombian countryside.
Cultural exchange is a rewarding aspect of travel, perhaps even more so when you interact with those who are also not native to the place. This 11-day journey through Nepal gives you an opportunity to engage with two cultures. First, you’ll explore the Seven Women Centre, which empowers marginalised Nepalese women. You’ll then travel to a Tibetan refugee camp where you’ll learn to cook traditional steamed momo dumplings as you hear tales of how this community came to Nepal from Tibet.
The ancient city of Petra is a sight to behold, though your fondest memories of this nine-day Jordan getaway will surely be your time spent with a local Bedouin family. Your hosts will meet you in Wadi Rum, ready to welcome you with a cup of Arabic coffee that you’ll learn to brew yourself. As they show you how to cook goat meat and milk a camel (yes, really), you’ll break bread – handmade, of course – and share stories at your remote wilderness camp.
Don’t let the stop in Cancún fool you; this nine-day journey through the Yucatán is all about Maya and Mexican culture. The pre-Columbian ruins of Chichen Itza, the historic plaza in Izamal and the museums in Mérida will introduce you to Yucatecán cuisine, culture and customs. This history lesson is hands-on, too; you’ll partake in a cooking class, sink a few smoky pox spirits in a tasting and even climb the Coba pyramid. All the while, you’ll munch on chips and guacamole, take down tequila shots and chat it up with locals about the contemporary Yucatecán lifestyle.
A honeymoon destination, much like a marriage, should be a journey of discovery, and the rich rural and urban cultures in Vietnam will leave you both wedded to this country in Southeast Asia. Flames will ignite with the flicker of the lantern-lit streets in Hoi An, and the night markets in Hanoi will turn up temperatures with steamy pots of pho. There’s so much to see on this 12-day tour that you might want to visit Vietnam again and again.