Tag: "culture holidays"

Our Hit List of Culture, Food & History Holidays

There are a huge selection of culture, food and history holidays that you can take to destinations all over the world. See this selection of hand-picked sights and attractions to add to your bucket list.

Jordan

On  Jordan holidays, head to the ‘rose red city’ of Petra  to see first hand one of the most famous archaeological sights in the world; discovered just 200 years ago. It is one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites, where Eastern traditions are blended with Hellenistic architecture.

Petra by night

Cambodia

While on Cambodia holidays,  journey  to the Mother of all temples, Angkor Wat. Believed to be the world’s largest religious building, here you can unravel the mysteries of the bas-reliefs that tell of tales from Hindu mythology and of the glories of the Khmer Empire.

Angkor Wat

Vietnam

Vietnam holidays too, have plenty of culture on offer. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Halong Bay’s myriad mountains seem to rise out of the ocean from nowhere. Another highlight is the “rice basket of Vietnam”, the mighty Mekong Delta is a landscape of floating dwellings and paddy fields criss-crossed with canals. If temples are on your agenda then take a walking tour of Hoi An. In this quaint town you can visit ancient merchants’ houses, a Hokkien temple, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, and the colourful riverside market.

Mekong Delta

India

For Indian culture Rajasthan is a must. Head to Agra to view the majestic Taj Mahal; a sight which must be seen to be believed. Whilst on India holidays, See the Jama Masjid Mosque in Delhi and Jaipur’s Amber Fort. Pause for a stop at Fatehpur Sikri, a late 16th century palace in great condition and soak up the views of bustling Jaipur from the Hawa Mahal.

The Taj Mahal

Egypt

On Egypt holidays, head to the vibrant, sprawling city of Cairo where the ancient and modern rub shoulders. Its medieval splendour, graceful minarets and traditional bazaars are incredible. Museums filled where Pharaoh artefacts  transport you back to an ancient time and the magnificent pyramids overlooking the city are a constant reminder of Egypt’s mysterious past. Discover the awe-inspiring landmarks of ancient civilization with a cruise along the Nile as the rich history of Egypt unfolds itself along the banks of the river.  A Nile cruise offers a truly remarkable experience, with breathtaking scenery and once in a lifetime visits to cultural wonders. While Luxor, the ancient city of Thebes, hosts the mighty Temples of Karnak and is the gateway to the Valley of the Kings with its elaborate tombs and the Colossi of Memnon.

Cairo

Mexico

Mexico holidays allow you to experience the incredible Chichen Itza,  a large pre-Columbian city built by the Maya civilization. The archaeological site is located in the municipality of Tinum, in the Mexican state of Yucatán. The traditional Mayan church can be found in the Cancha Maya, one of the main plazas in Tulum pueblo. Or try Laos, which has its own distinct culture. Discover the beauty of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Luang Prabang, Explor the Pak Ou Caves, walk among the archaeological site of the Plain of Jars or watch the magical sunset on the bank of the Mekong River in Vientiane.

Chichen Itza

Thailand & Cambodia

Experience the culture on Thailand holidays through the countires exquisite cuisine. Thailand has an abundance of towns which offer lessons, classes and courses that will enable you to enjoy Thailand’s culinary arts and its culture through hands-on experience in the kitchen as well as opportunities to explore the country. On Cambodia holidays enjoy a cooking class at one of the very best cooking restaurants in the city, Malis. Luu Meng is Cambodia’s most renowned chef and he will guide you through a morning to remember that includes shopping for ingredients at the local market and then preparing and cooking some choice courses which you can then enjoy for lunch. In Siem Reap enjoy a private cooking class at the Sugar Palm restaurant. Home-cooked Cambodian food, including an introduction to prahoc will be on the menu as you work with the head chef to produce dishes that will make your mouth water in anticipation.

Thailand & Cambodia have many Cooking Classes

What else would you add to this list?

Globe-trotter travel specialist Julie Mathews on her favourite places in the world

When I was little, I grew up listening to fascinating stories told by my dad about the wonderful places that he visited around the world while working on a luxury cruise liner during the 1950s and 1960s. I was inspired to travel and couldn’t wait to see some of those destinations with my own eyes.

As soon as I was old enough, I took up an apprenticeship in travel and tourism and began my career in the travel industry.  I have worked for small independent travel agencies, a large global travel company in Mayfair and a traveller’s club in Knightsbridge and I have now recently joined the Western & Oriental team in London where I specialise in luxury travel in the Far East, Arabia, Indian Ocean and the Caribbean.

I have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to visit some fantastic places around the world both through work trips and personal holidays.  I am fascinated by places that are rich in culture, nature and beauty, I also love the ocean and enjoy shopping and dining in cities.

The Far East is one of my favourite destinations as it offers a perfect combination of culture, beautiful beaches, rainforests and exciting cities.

I particularly love Thailand, where the people are so friendly, there are so many temples, palaces and other places of historic interest to visit, fantastic food and markets, mangroves and islands with stunning beaches and fabulous luxury hotels with spas.  I especially loved the Pimalai on Koh Lanta, located on a hill on the edge of the mangrove with stunning views of the sea, and Rasananda on Koh Phanang, located on the most perfect beach I have ever seen. Both hotels are luxury boutique and have super spas, fantastic food and excellent service.  In the north I visited the fascinating city of Chaing Mai, where I climbed the 300 steps to visit the temple of Wat Prathat Doi Suthep that is perched on a mountside.  I also had an amazing day where I rode an elephant bareback through the mangrove; this was a great experience and one that I will always remember.

I also have a soft spot for Africa where I have been on safari several times including Samburi and the Masai Mara in Kenya and Shamwari in South Africa.  Watching the wildlife in the beautiful savannah is simply spellbinding.  Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities on earth, where you will find some of the best food and wine in the world.

I recently went to Barbados where I stayed at the lovely Fairmont Royal Pavilion which has a spot on the best stretch of beach. I stayed in one of their Beachfront Junior Suites that I highly recommend as they overlook the ocean and you can walk out from your private deck straight out to the beach.  I enjoyed swimming in the warm clear sea and at certain times of the day you can swim out and feed the turtles, this was a wonderful experience and a memory that I will treasure.

Another highlight of my travels was a trip to India. I was there for two weeks so I was only able to see a small piece of this vast country, but I long to go back in the future and explore it further.  I visited Delhi, Jaipur, Samode, Agra and Mumbai.  We sat in the gardens of the Taj Mahal and had tea with our guide while he told us about its history, before taking us through to visit the temple and it was just as beautiful as I always imagined.  Samode Palace was also somewhere very special, it is a Heritage Hotel and was formerly a fort, it has been very well preserved and still has many original features, such as the marble floors and is full of antiques, it was a truly magical place full of charm and character, the service was outstanding, I was made to feel like a princess and it felt like I had gone back in time.

I still have a long list of places that I wish to visit, including the Himalayas, Burma, Vietnam, Laos, Botswana and Namibia to name just a few and there are always amazing new hotels opening up around the world so the list grows.  It’s great when clients come back from their trips and tell us all about their experiences and I always enjoy sharing my personal travel knowledge with clients too.