Discover the highlights of Taiwan on this 11-day adventure. After eating your way through Taipei’s famous street food, travel to Yilan to meet an Indigenous community, learn about their way of life and share a home-cooked lunch. Then, explore the pagodas and trails of the serene Sun Moon Lake in the Central Mountain Range before travelling to Chiayi to visit a tea farm and meet nuns at a Buddhist monastery. With a scenic train ride through Alishan’s tropical forests, clam picking at a traditional fishing village and a local leader to show you around, this is an action-packed, immersive introduction to Taiwan.
How long does it take to fall in love? In a country where history spills from world-class museums and tiny osterias serve up life-changing pasta recipes, eight days might just be enough (but if you have more time, why not extend your adventure?). On this trip, you’ll begin winding your way through the canals of Venice, hiking through the scenic Cinque Terre, soaking up beauty and history of Florence and finishing up in the piazzas of Rome. With plenty of free time for independent exploration and the freedom to discover Italy's history and culture at your own pace, there's no better way to see this popular pocket of Europe.
Get a taste of historical China on this culture-stuffed adventure. Travel from Shanghai to Beijing, taking in iconic attractions such as the Great Wall of China (one of the Seven Wonders of the World!) and the Terracotta Warriors along the way. In between the well-known sights, you'll delve beneath the surface, visit the ancient town and traditional garden in Wuxi City, snack through the Muslim Quarter in Xi’an and watch the sun setting on the Great Wall. In just eight days, you’ll have the perfect introduction to the highlights of China.
Get your Turkish delights on a 15-day adventure from Istanbul. This trip is a mix of ancient ruins and modern cities, Islamic history and Ottoman influence, inland discoveries and coastal cruising – and everything in between! Discover Gallipoli on a guided tour that will teach you about its significance during the First World War, unlock the secrets of the ancient city of Ephesus, admire Oludeniz’s Blue Lagoon from high up on the Lycian Way and swim in the Mediterranean on a traditional gulet cruise from Kas. From the winding laneways of Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar to the bizarre landscapes of Cappadocia, you'll discover the local’s side to Turkey.
I haven't quite absorbed all of what I have experienced on this trip. The animals, birds, insects and vegetation we saw is almost overwhelming. I have gained a stronger appreciation for this world we live in because of this trip. I will definitely take another National Geographic G Adventures tour in the future.
From bustling cityscapes to the blissful countryside to the lush tropical rainforest, this trip showcases the diverse beauty of Malaysia. Across ten days, you’ll learn the local way of life as you journey from a local homestay in Penang to the Ulu Muda Forest and into the Cameron Highlands. You’ll play traditional games with the locals, tuck into a home-cooked dinner and mingle among the street stalls. Trek through the jungle to spot elephants, take a cruise through the wilderness and learn about local fishing traditions – this trip offers culture, nature and wildlife delights all in one!
Immerse yourself in the land and culture of Ifugao during this 5-day, guided tour of the region. Start your hike from from Banaue. See spectacular rice terraces, mountains and waterfalls and visit four different villages in the province.
The term Ifugao does not just refer to the name of the region but also the people whose ancestors were responsible for the famous rice terraces of Banaue, popularly regarded as the eighth wonder of the world.
Travel to Pula, your first Ifugao village, from Manila. Visit Batad, known for its amphitheater-like rice terraces. The final village of this trip is Bangaan, from where you will drive back to Banaue and then to Manila. Enjoy stunning sceneries of mountains, rice terraces and forests along the way. Explore Ifugao villages, spend your nights there, talk to the locals and learn more about their culture. For more about this trip, please go through the itinerary below.
Travel to Bali and discover Indonesia's beautiful island escape. Dotted with small, character-filled villages, smouldering volcanoes rising out of lush rich fields, paradisical beaches and colourful reefs, Bali is everybody’s favourite getaway for a reason! Conquer the slopes of simmering Mt Batur, explore an underwater world in Bali Barat National Park, feast on delicious local cuisine and enjoy moments of absolute peace in Pura Ulun Danu Bratan – a Hindu–Buddhist lake temple dedicated to the goddess of the waters. Fall in love with the warmth of the people, the ornate customs and welcoming culture that are synonymous with beautiful Bali.
See the best of Cambodia on a comprehensive two-week journey right into the heart of the country. Get to know the people, landscape, customs and cuisine, from the capital city Phnom Penh to the rural village Sambor Prei Kuk. Experience the French elegance of Battambang and see the time-worn grandeur of Angkor Wat – a UNESCO World Heritage site – at sunrise. Visit the remote south and discover the country of the Khmers, before heading to Koh Rong Island for two days of blissful beach time. If you want to see all the best sights that Cambodia has to offer, with a local leader who knows all the secrets, this one’s for you.
This tour operator organized a cultural, spiritual and community immersion for me, my husband, my adult daughter and her boyfriend for 16 days in late February/early March of 2023. It was the most exciting trip I’ve taken. This is saying a lot considering I have spent a lifetime of travel, both personal and professional, focusing on Latin America.
Everything ran smoothly, even with chaotic settings and complex logistics. A big part of this was by providing us with amazing guides, starting with Jahel Amaru, who met us at the La Paz airport to whisk us across the altiplano to Oruro for its truly spectacular Carnival. Jahel is knowledgeable, patient, down-to-earth, smart patient, funny, and an extremely enjoyable person to spend time with. She guided us through the hectic Oruro Carnaval during its culminating weekend - with boundless energy and contagious enthusiasm. We had the time of our lives cheering on the colorful characters as they paraded and danced thanks to Jahel knowing exactly where to go, when, and providing invaluable context.
Community tourism (where visitors are connected with everyday Bolivians to learn about their lives) - has started to blossom in Bolivia, and this company is one of its pioneers. We got to experience it in Potosi, where we had another excellent guide, Marlene Quispe. She took us through Cerro Rico mine, which was the world’s leading supplier of silver. Marlene has close ties to mining: her brothers, parents and even she has worked there. As we ventured deeper into the earth, we learned from her about the mining process and cooperatives involved with it. She also introduced us to one of the mine's “tios” (“uncles” who are believed to protect miners), to whom she made an offering as she explained his importance.
Marlene took us to the Quechua community of Phuto Phuto, one of several in the rural district Cabanias that welcomes visitors as part of its community tourism program. Families take turns showing visitors their homes and traditions, including cooking huts with steaming pots, whose contents you later share for lunch. Marlene and one of the family members we met then led us on a beautiful hike to a spot where they invited us to participate in a ritual offering to Pacha Mama (Mother Earth). It was an incredible day I will always remember.
Another wonderful community tourism experience was in the majestic Cordillera Real (Central Andean range), where we appreciated both the nature and culture of the region by staying near the town of Tuni with the multi-generational Quispe family (not related to Marlene). Family members share with guests Aymara traditions like placing fishing nets, spinning yarn, making quinoa flour, and shearing alpaca fleece. Patriarch Jaime is a charismatic host and a certified mountain guide who along with his adult son Denys, also a certified mountain guide, have expertise leading visitors of different ages and abilities. We loved staying with them!
There are a few other places that stood out on our trip:
Hostal Las Olas in Copacabana on the shore of Lake Titicaca with gorgeous, artistic “cabins” and lovely views
Templo del Retiro Espiritual Cruz Andina (the Andean Cross Spiritual Retreat Center), in Tiwanaku steps from the ruins and owned by spiritual and cultural guide Rosse Mary Vargas Vilela. It’s filled with cats and crystals and offers delicious vegetarian meals. This is not a stop for everyone, but worth visiting or staying in if you are interested in mindfulness, ancient healing, and/or new age spirituality.
