The Best Places to Travel in August
Snorkel with sea turtles in Bali, sip cocktails on a Greek island or hang with the giant tortoises in the Galápagos. Book your place for a unique experience on one of these specially selected Culture Trip adventures.
No matter what kind of adventure you’re after, August is a great time to get away, when the scorching heat and heavy crowds of northern hemisphere summer have begun to die down. To help you decide where to go, we’ve rounded up the best trips you can book with Culture Trip.
Sicily, for culinary delights and exploring volcanoes
Home to rugged volcanic landscapes, atmospheric hilltop villages, a proud culinary heritage and even its own set of islands, Sicily is one of Europe’s top summer destinations. Palermo, the capital, is a great starting point, featuring an eclectic mixture of Greek, Roman, Arab and Norman architectural and cultural influences. There are also several pulsating food markets, and an excellent choice of places to stay. On this eight-day trip, you’ll enjoy a traditional Sicilian cooking class in Palermo, hike in the Madonie mountains and trek across Mount Etna. An island-hopping excursion to the Aeolian Islands, including a chance to soak in geothermal springs, is a particular highlight.
From US$
Next available from 1st Jan 1970
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Palermo, Italy
ENDS AT
Siracusa, Sicily
DURATION
8
GROUP SIZE
14
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
Bali, for snorkelling with sea turtles and swimming in jungle waterfalls
Looking for a tropical spot for your August vacation? Bali is just the ticket. One day you can be hiking through cloud forests to the summit of Mount Batur for unforgettable sunrise views, and the next, you can be learning to surf off the coast of Canggu, or snorkelling among sea turtles and underwater statues around the Gili Islands. You can experience all of that with this specially curated 12-day trip, on which you’ll also discover the secrets of Balinese cuisine in a cooking masterclass, explore the majestic Lempuyang Temple, swim in the Banyumala Twin Waterfalls and learn the art of high-flying yoga in Ubud. August is within the dry season, so it’s an ideal time to go.
From US$1350
Next available from 7th Oct 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Bali, Indonesia
ENDS AT
Bali, Indonesia
DURATION
12
GROUP SIZE
18
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
The Galápagos Islands, to observe a vast array of endemic wildlife
A journey to the Galápagos Islands – a sprawling archipelago off mainland Ecuador – offers the chance to observe an extraordinary variety of animals, on land and at sea. Temperatures don’t vary greatly through the year, but August is within the slightly cooler, drier season, and marine life is abundant at this time. On this five-day express trip, you’ll safely observe whitetip reef sharks while kayaking in the Itabaca Channel, spot Galápagos giant tortoises in the Santa Cruz highlands and have the chance to swim, snorkel or scuba dive with sea lions, sea turtles, penguins and many other creatures off the coast of San Cristóbal. You’ll also visit a remote, uninhabited island, hike through cactus forests and across lava trails, and have plenty of time to relax at the beach.
From US$1869
Next available from 6th Jan 2024
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island
ENDS AT
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal Island
DURATION
5
GROUP SIZE
14
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
Greece, for sunset views and afternoons on the beach
There is nothing quite like a balmy summer evening in Greece, cocktails in hand as the sun slowly disappears behind the Mediterranean’s gentle surface. Get a taste for the good life on our eight-day island-hopping odyssey, which sets off in Athens and ends with the whitewashed houses of Santorini, bathed in sunset orange. In between we’ll visit two underrated Cycladic islands – first there’s Milos, to get a feel for laid-back island life as you stroll through charming old fishing villages, and then there’s Naxos, home to some of the finest beaches in Greece. What more could you want from an August getaway?
From US$2056
Next available from 28th Apr 2024
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Athens, Greece
ENDS AT
Santorini Island, Greece
DURATION
8
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
South Africa, to go on a Big Five safari
August is the back end of winter season in South Africa, so the weather won’t be at it’s hottest – although this is hardly Iceland – but it does mean off-peak prices and smaller crowds. More importantly, August is a great time to see the country’s extraordinary array of wildlife, with big cats, whales and rare plants all more sociable at this time of year. Our 11-day epic includes a cable car ascent up Table Mountain, a day exploring the flora fauna of Tsitsikamma National Park’s coastal paths, and a boat cruise off Knysna. Most importantly, we wrap things up with two nights at a stunning luxury game lodge, heading out on up to four game drives, with plenty of free time to explore the reserve’s vast landscape, or just chill by the pool and wait for the elephants to come to you.
From US$2129
Next available from 2nd Dec 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
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
This is an updated version of an article originally by India Irving. Additional reporting by Gethin Morgan.
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meet our Local Insider
Hanna
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!
Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.
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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.
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