This Company Wants To Send You Around The World Tracing Your Ancestry

Millions of years ago your distant ancestors evolved in East Africa. Where they migrated after that was (possibly) an epic, cross-continental journey that eventually led to you reading this, right now, from your little pocket of the globe. Now, 23andMe—a health and ancestry DNA testing service that can reveal your global genetic makeup—wants to take you on an all-expenses paid trip around the world to retrace their steps.

Here’s how the science works: You post a swab of your cheek cells to 23andMe and, after their team of experts analyze it, they send you a breakdown of your ancestral DNA. Even if you know where the last several generations of your family are from, new and unexpected insights are virtually guaranteed. Not only will you see how your genes equate to different world regions in terms of percentage, but you’ll also find out how many generations ago each population came into your family tree.

Ancestry DNA results and itinerary from 23andMe

Order the Ancestry DNA kit from 23andMe before August 3rd 2017 and you’ll be entered into a sweepstakes to win a round-the-world trip with an itinerary based on your global genetic make up. Twenty-three winners will be selected at random over 23 consecutive days, and each will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to trace their ancestral lineage from country to country, experiencing the cultures that comprise their roots.

23andMe is also known for their DNA health tests, which highlight diseases and ailments you might be genetically pre-disposed to. Knowing your inherited biological weaknesses, although scary, can help inspire lifestyle changes that preempt those weaknesses from ever manifesting as illness.

The cost of these tests ($99 for ancestry, $199 for health and ancestry) is a small price to pay for the potentially life-altering opportunity to get to know yourself on a cellular level.

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.