The Grand Tours of Ireland are brand new rail adventures aboard the Belmond Grand Hibernian, the new Celtic sister to the world-famous Belmond Royal Scotsman and the first luxury touring train in Ireland. Accommodations are sumptuous, daily outings are culture focused, and onboard entertainments, cuisine and festivities are legendary. Three itineraries are available, through October, in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland: Highlights of 2-night “Realm of Giants” journey north from Dublin to Belfast and Portrush Titanic Experience in Belfast Giant’s Causeway Old Bushmills Distillery English Market culinary tour in Cork Expedition by jaunting car, or pony and trap…
Author: Deep Culture Travel
After your family’s tour of Croatia with Adriatic Luxury Journeys this summer, your kids or grandkids will surprise their teachers with how much they know about medieval architecture and the history of the Roman Empire. Offering a nice combination of cultural and arts attractions and easy, outdoor adventures, the Croatia Family Experience is specifically for kids, from grammar school ages through high school. You will join only a few other families on an exploration of Croatian towns and countrysides, national parks, Dalmatian islands, and an historic knight’s tournament. Guides are knowledgeable Croatian natives who will entertain the kids and plan…
A gateway to Yellowstone National Park, the town of Cody, Wyoming is an historic destination on its own. Before heading into the park, set aside a few days to discover and learn about Western and American Indian history. The area is called “Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country” because it was the home and adventure playground of Buffalo Bill Cody, the flamboyant and iconic character who founded the town in 1896. The main attraction for history buffs is the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, which encompasses five world-class museums under one roof: Buffalo Bill Museum documents the life and times of…
Specializing in learning excursions for 55 and older travelers, Road Scholar offers The Maya and More: History and Culture of Honduras, Guatemala and Belize, a rich itinerary highlighted by expert-led tours of the spectacular Mayan archeological sites of Copan, Tikal, Cahal Pech, Lamanai and Xunantunich. In the towns and villages of Honduras, Guatemala and Belize, travelers learn from nearly a dozen lectures and daily guided tours by authorities in the fields of ancient and contemporary Mayan art, architecture, lifestyle and science. A sampling of the jam-packed itinerary of The Maya and More: History and Culture of Honduras, Guatemala and Belize…
Planning to be in Mexico this year or next? If so, this Mexico City Markets and Culinary Tour could well be the highlight of your visit, especially if you’re a foodie and/or a cook. The creator of Inside Route tours and a popular chef and cooking teacher at Casa de Cocinas in San Miguel de Allende, Michael Coon is famous for his culinary-focused expeditions. His close relationships with top restaurant chefs around the world, and long dedication to the traditional ingredients, the marketplaces and the recipes of Mexico, are among the unique elements of his lively tours. Coon also works…
Adding cultural richness to the sophisticated, tech-oriented city of San Jose is an ethnically diverse population, including 1/4 million Latinos and nearly a quarter million Asians. Add to this the history of 17th century Spanish colonization, and a flowering of architecture during the Victorian and Gold Rush eras of the 1800s, and San Jose is the cultural heart of California’s Silicon Valley, a treasure chest waiting to be opened. The downtown is anchored by leafy Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park, where annual festivals are held, from Vietnamese New Year Tet to the Mariachi and Mexican Heritage Festival. Involving several hundred…
Add an unforgettable enrichment to your Yellowstone National Park visit with the two-day seminar and tour “Connecting with Yellowstone’s History” this September, offered by the Yellowstone Association. Based at Lamar Buffalo Ranch Field Campus, excursions and lectures are focused on cultural events that shaped Yellowstone’s past and present. You will visit these sites and learn about: Fort Yellowstone The park’s collection of historic automobiles Behind-the-scenes at the Heritage and Research Center Museum collection, rare books, and archives Mammoth Hot Springs The Roosevelt Arch Area Old railroad sites in Gardiner, Montana Prepare for “Connecting with Yellowstone’s History” It is recommended that…
It’s easy to add a culture-oriented daytrip or a museum visit to your stopover in Vancouver. B.C. and/or Vancouver Island, with the option of a little exercise and fresh air at the same time. A vibrant mecca of First Nations British Columbia culture preserves and expresses its heritage in many ways, from carvings, art and totem poles to traditional festivals and world-renowned interpretive centers. And for cultural immersion, local tour companies give visitors a chance to learn about and experience First Nations traditions and history through narrated walks, talks, and kayak and canoe expeditions. Salish Canoe Expedition Near Vancouver in…
A lesser-known, much-less-cruised river although it’s the fourth largest on the European continent, the Elbe River affords lovely scenery and abundant cultural experiences in the former East Germany and the Czech Republic. According to Travel Weekly, cruising is exploding in popularity on the Rhine and the Danube, making an Elbe cruise a good choice for travelers who favor a less crowded route. Viking Cruises is launching two vessels on the Elbe River in 2015. With all the bells and whistles found on larger Viking ships, the 98-passenger Viking Beyla and Viking Astrild both feature: indoor/outdoor Aquavit terrace sleek Scandinavian design…
Designed by G Adventures for families with teenagers, Amazon to the Andes Teenage Adventure is a trip of a lifetime to Peru! Your kid or grandkids will never forget the lost city of the Incas––Machu Picchu–– or staying in a jungle lodge on the Amazon, and all the history and cultural riches of Lima and Cusco. Besides providing award-winning, small-group cultural tours for active travelers, G Adventures works with Planeterra Foundation, a non-profit organization that focuses on the social and environmental welfare of the communities and the people touched by G Adventures tour groups. Highlights of Amazon to the Andes…
Every year, the title “European Capital of Culture” is awarded to two cities in EU member states. For 2015, it’s the architecturally spectacular city of Pilzen in the Czech Republic (and the city of Mons in Belgium). Just 90 minutes from Prague, a daytrip or a weekend in Pilzen makes a great addition to your stay in Prague. Founded in 1295 at the confluence of four rivers, the West Bohemian city of Pilzen (Plzeň) is famous for its beer and for an architecturally spectacular town center with a 13th century Gothic cathedral, a Renaissance city hall, many Baroque-style buildings, a…
The 150th anniversary of the birth of William Butler Yeats has prompted Ace Cultural Tours to offer an exceptional, once-in-a-lifetime tour of the landscape, architecture and history of the poet’s spiritual home, County Sligo, which he called the “Land of Heart’s Desire, where beauty has no ebb.” Yeats poetry lovers will be familiar with many of the sites on the 5-day “Yeats Country” itinerary, among them Rosses Point, Dooney, Dromahair, Lissadell, Innisfree and Drumcliffe, where the poet is buried beside a church where his paternal great-grandfather had been rector. A few highlights of the Yeats Country Tour by Ace Cultural…
Classical Greece Cruise with Adventure Smith Explorations Gliding around the Greek islands on a sleek mega-yacht – just imagine that! Every day on this 8-day Greek islands yacht cruise you will explore ancient archaeological sites, medieval fortresses, romantic Byzantine-era architecture – and wander fishermen’s villages and visit with locals. Culture seekers know about cruises offered by Adventure Smith Explorations, an award-winning company famous for small ships and yachts; knowledgeable, engaging guides; and sustainable practices, all focused on getting passengers up close to cultural attractions and interaction with people, and on many of their cruises, up close to nature and wildlife.…
The newly refurbished, 88-passenger S.S. Legacy, a replica coastal steamer sails weeklong, 1,000-mile river cruises on the Columbia and Snake Rivers, roundtrip from Portland, Oregon. Among the onboard historians and guides is Todd Weber, an expert in Lewis and Clark and early American history, who joins Fall departures in 2015, presenting the fascinating details of Lewis and Clark’s expedition along the rivers. (Explorers, Lewis & Clark with Todd Weber: October 31, November 7, 2015) Un-Cruise Adventures “Columbia and Snake Rivers History Cruises” Shore excursions to museums, forts, and wineries included! Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area & Multnomah Falls Transit…
Villagers, monks, nuns, artisans and traders are among the locals with which travelers connect on Boundless Journey’s “Myanmar: Ancient Passages” tour in October. With the focus on cultural encounters, and enriched by the tour company’s incomparable local connections, the trip includes: Artisan districts of Mandalay, the cultural center of Myanmar A jade market, 11th and 12th-century temples in the ancient capital of Bagan 2-night deluxe, small ship cruise down the Irraawady River Fishing and pottery villages Ancient capital of Bagan, home of thousands to 12th-century temples. Explore the markets and villages by foot, bicycle, or horse and carriage Inle Lake…
Although Palau is primarily known as a scuba diving mecca, many people go to those idyllic Micronesian islands for a variety of other attractions, in particular, World War II and Micronesian museums. And, of course, there are the visitors who accompany those avid divers who spend every day underwater! Besides beach combing, snorkeling, exploring Jellyfish Lake, kayaking, fishing and riverboat cruising, culture vultures can look forward to more than a week’s worth of daytripping to historic and cultural sites: Belau National Museum Etpison Museum Badrulchau ancient monolith World War II Museum on Peleliu The oldest museum in Micronesia, the Belau…