How to Make the Most of Your Extra Holidays This Year

2022 was the year travel was meant to be back. Many of us had saved up money, banked a few days extra at work and even rolled over unspent vacation days from last year in anticipation of a big revenge holiday.

Things haven’t quite gone to plan so far, however, with some restrictions taking a while to lift and air travel proving difficult this summer. Thankfully things are now looking much better, but now the question is what to do with a surplus of time and only a few months left before losing some of those extra days of paid leave?

Here are some of the best departures we have waiting for you at Culture Trip, with a few suggestions for early 2023 thrown in too just in case you are able to rollover a few more precious days into the next 12 months.

These incredible adventures are departing soon but you still have time to join an Epic Trip with Culture Trip to these popular destinations.

Discover clifftop villages, secluded beaches and authentic Italian cuisine on this 10-day journey across southern Italy. Starting in Naples, you’ll venture south to Salerno, gateway to the Amalfi Coast. Your trip continues inland towards Puglia, stopping in Matera en route – a city renowned for its network of ancient cave dwellings carved into a hillside. After a night in the atmospheric beach town of Polignano a Mare, you’ll move on to Lecce – often labelled the Florence of the South due to its gorgeous array of baroque architecture – for the final leg of your adventure.

See the full itinerary for our dreamy Southern Italian adventure.

From pristine beaches to snow-capped mountains, discover the majestic landscapes of Colombia’s Caribbean coast on this eight-day adventure. Wander the cobblestone streets of Cartagena’s walled city, sample authentic street food and canoe through mangroves in La Boquilla before taking a day trip to the tropical Rosario Islands. Your journey continues north towards the base of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, where you’ll trek to deserted beaches in Tayrona National Park and try river tubing on the Río Don Diego. Cap off your trip with a farewell dinner in Palomino.

Find out more about this coastal extravaganza on the shores of South America.

Ever dreamt of gliding over Cappadocia in a hot-air balloon? Or getting lost in the Grand Bazaar? On this 12-day journey through Turkey, you’ll do precisely that, and then some. Your adventure begins where two continents collide in a glorious explosion of colour: Istanbul. After discovering the beauty of this cosmopolitan city, you’ll venture out to the traditional capital Ankara and the curious troglodyte dwellings of Cappadocia, plus the wild Taurus Mountains and coastal serenity of Antalya. There’s also time for a food tour of Kadıköy, and the chance to marvel at centuries-old ruins in Hattusas.

Interested? Check out every amazing detail of this Turkish Epic Trip.

From snorkelling with turtles to swimming in tropical waterfalls, experience the vast array of natural wonders Bali and the Gili Islands have to offer. Starting in the lively beach resort of Legian, your journey continues north into the jungle-covered mountains. Climb Mount Batur for spectacular sunrise views and attend a cooking masterclass in Ubud before taking a speed boat to Gili Trawangan – a tiny island off the coast of Lombok. Return to Bali and cap off your trip with an optional surf lesson, traditional beachfront blessing ceremony and an unforgettable farewell dinner in Canggu.

If that snippet has caught your attention then prepare to be blown away when you see the full itinerary.

Discover a lesser-known side of Jordan. On this nine-day journey, you’ll trek through rust-coloured mountains, snorkel in the Red Sea and wild camp under the stars. But not before the chance to sample street food, taste local wines and explore the old city ruins in Amman. You’ll leave the capital behind to summit Mount Haron at sunrise and hike through the red-rock canyons of Petra: from the Siq to the monastery. Enjoy an Arab cooking class, stay with a Bedouin family and soak your weary limbs in the purifying waters of the Dead Sea. Avid adventurers, this trip is made for you.

Joining us in Jordan this year? Find out more about this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Experience Peru like never before on this nine-day trip. Start in Cusco, where you’ll try your hand at a Peruvian cooking class before embarking on a walking tour to see the city’s top sights. We’ll venture to Piuray Lagoon, where you can choose between a kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding session, before heading to the Sacred Valley. We’ll take in Maras and admire the Inca ruins at Moray, followed by a stop at the Incan fortress of Ollantaytambo. Ready for the main event? It’s off to the extraordinary 15th-century ruins of Machu Picchu, high in the Andes Mountains. Snap incredible photos at Colca Canyon before finishing in Arequipa. Your last send-off is a foodie tour of the city’s sizzling picanterias (local lunch restaurants).

Premium travel itineraries don’t come better than this. Here is everything you need to know.

The lush granite mountains of Colorado and the mighty red-rock deserts of Utah: there is arguably no other state divide in the US where two more remarkable landscapes converge. On this eight-day trip, you’ll hike through the Moab canyonlands, bike down dusty trails in Arches National Park and go rafting on the Colorado River. You’ll also visit quaint alpine towns, soak in hot springs, and – with any luck – spot a black bear or two in the Colorado Rockies. Designed with thrill-seekers in mind, this trip brings you non-stop adventure, combining both Moab and the Rocky Mountains in a single trip. Foodies and culture fiends won’t be disappointed either, with cocktails at the hotel from The Shining (1980) and wine tasting at Grand Junction.

See the full itinerary for this adventurous trip in America’s Wild West.

Browse our full collection of Epic Trips departing this year and beyond, as well as our short-but-equally-sweet Mini Trips.