Embrace the Barbie Spirit by Visiting the World's Most Colourful Cities
Content and CRM Executive
Hi Barbie! With cinemas around the world welcoming an explosion of hot pink onto our screens, we decided to get into the Barbie spirit by looking at some of the most vibrant cities on the planet. They’re not quite Barbie World, but we’re sure she’d approve.
Jaipur and Jodhpur, India
There’s only one spot we can start, and that’s the place known by many as the Pink City! Jaipur, India’s 10th most populous city, is home to huge works of grand Islamic architecture, most of which are coated in bright pink. The finest of them all is the spectacular Hawa Mahal palace, which essentially looks like a Barbie house brought to life. This architectural quirk actually came about in the mid-nineteenth century, when Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh decided to paint the city pink to welcome Prince Albert Edward (later King Edward VII). Much of the city has kept its unique hue to this day, so much so that Margot Robbie would look right at home popping her head out of a top floor window. India has a track record for getting carried away with brightly coloured paint, since nearby Jodhpur is similarly coated in a striking bright blue – perfect for the Ken’s out there – which contrasts beautifully with the surrounding countryside. You can visit both Jaipur and Jodhpur, as well as the Taj Majal and Amber Palace, on our 10-day Regal Rajasthan trip.
From US$
Next available from 1st Jan 1970
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Delhi, India
ENDS AT
Udaipur, India
DURATION
10
GROUP SIZE
18
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
Chefchaouen, Morocco
Someone in Morocco must have seen Jodhpur’s blue buildings and decided to double down with its own cerulean city. There’s nothing gloomy about the blue streets of Chefchaouen, however. It’s eye-popping combination of blue and white stone houses stands out remarkably amid the surrounding forests and hills of the Rif Mountains. This place was originally a military outpost, which welcomed huge numbers of fleeing Muslim and Jewish refugees, having been forced out of southern Spain. Today it’s a charming old city, housing barely 50 thousand inhabitants, and welcoming holidaymakers from both Morocco and the rest of the world, keen to meander through the city’s surreal blue streets, embellished with mini mosaics and hanging plant pots. Barbie may be more of a pink girl, and blue might traditionally be more Ken, but we’re pretty sure she’d love to spend some time in Chefchaouen. It’s one of the highlights of our Epic Morocco itinerary, a comprehensive tour of the gateway to Africa, which heads straight to the Blue City on day two.
From US$1897
Next available from 7th Oct 2023
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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
Bo Kaap, Cape Town
We’re going to zone in a little more specifically than just a city for this one, because Cape Town’s Bo-Kaap district has more than enough colour on its own. Racial segregation was rife in apartheid South Africa and, while the more immediate image conjured up is that of Black African townships like Langa, there was also the Malay Quarter, where the city’s Muslim population were segregated. Out of dark times flourished a variety of vibrant communities with a strong sense of togetherness, identity and cultural pride. Now known as Bo-Kaap, the district remains majority Muslim to this day, and the cobblestone streets here are lined with a rainbow-like collection of brightly painted buildings – this is the Rainbow Nation, after all. It’s a joyous sight, and quite rightly has National Heritage status in South Africa. You’ll be able to visit the area on our 11-day Splendid South Africa trip, which starts and ends in Cape Town. Our excursion to Bo-Kaap is centred around an authentic Cape Malay cooking class, so you can simultaneously learn about Cape Town’s Muslim community whilst feasting on their delicious African-Asian fusion cuisine.
From US$2129
Next available from 2nd Dec 2023
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Cape Town, South Africa
ENDS AT
Cape Town, South Africa
DURATION
11
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Cartagena, Colombia
Colombia’s most colourful city is famed for its eye-catching array of colonial buildings. Bright yellow is the dominant colour, but expect plenty of vibrant oranges, reds, greens and light blues, not to mention hanging baskets of tropical flowers draping down from colonial balconies, and pristine whitewashed walls that contrast beautifully to the domineering pops of colour either side. It’s one of the most popular cities in South America amongst seasoned travellers, and its lively nighttime atmosphere reflects the energetic aesthetic of its streets. This is a place of music, of dance, of rum and incredible street food. There might not quite be enough pink for Barbie’s liking, but fear not, the Pink Sea of Colombia is only about 45 minutes north of the city! The water’s remarkable hue comes from the fact it’s actually a salt mine, but this doesn’t make it any less Barbified. Cartagena acts as the base for the first four nights of our dreamy Caribbean Colombia trip, which includes a walking tour, rum-tasting, street food tour and dance lesson – what better way to embrace the colourful Colombian spirit!
From US$1711
Next available from 9th Dec 2023
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Cartagena, Colombia
ENDS AT
Santa Marta, Colombia
DURATION
8
GROUP SIZE
14
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
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