A local artisan shapes clay vessels in Papua New Guinea. Photo / Pearl Expeditions
Take a deep dive into the world’s most fascinating destinations with eight tours that prioritise local connections over box-ticking sightseeing, writes Tamara Hinson.
Don’t get us wrong – when time is short, nothing’s wrong with a whistle-stop tour. But to truly immerse yourself in the aspects that shaped the world’s most interesting destinations, tours that offer opportunities to feast on regional delicacies, to meet the locals and to learn about the traditions and beliefs that shaped the place are worth their weight in gold.
Here are eight tours offering carefully curated opportunities for cultural immersion, all of which have been designed to deepen your understanding of the destination while forging bonds with the locals you’ll meet.
A north-to-south adventure taking in Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Ho Chi Minh and plenty of other exciting stop-offs, this trip is a culture vulture’s dream. Tours of architectural gems (in Ho Chi Minh, for example, these include the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and Opera House) enable a deeper understanding of the destination, and there are endless opportunities to mingle with locals, including a stint on an overnight local train to Hue.
“If there’s one thing which captures Vietnam, it’s the spirit of its people, from the north to the south,” says tour guide Dat Nguyen. “Vietnam isn’t just about the food, the history, or the landscapes – it’s about the way locals welcome you like family, share what they have and take pride in their culture.”
intrepidtravel.com
It’s the deep connections between Hatari’s founders (Marlies, Jörg, and Donyo Gabriel) and Tanzania that make this trip special – it’s their home, as well as their workplace. Yes, this tour includes treks up Mt Kilimanjaro, but there are also Massai-led nature hikes, numerous opportunities to try local delicacies and visits to projects supported by Hatari. These include farms that are part of Hatari’s Wondergarden scheme, created to preserve traditional knowledge and support local markets.
“Religion and tradition are woven into the harvest here – when you taste a dish made from heritage Bambara nuts or red sorghum, you aren’t just eating; you’re participating in a 600-year-old dialogue between the people and their landscape,” says Marlies Gabriel, Hatari’s co-founder.
hatari.travel
Full disclosure, these are day tours, although they’re also the reason many visitors head here in the first place. Craft masterclasses, meetings with locals and guided visits to historic sites offer an insight into the history of the island, a place shaped by bounty mutineers, Tahitian royalty and fishermen. You’ll learn (with the help of various artefacts) about the culture and aspects that shaped this part of the world, whether it’s industries such as whaling or crafts such as weaving.
“Norfolk Island is a storybook island filled with tales of intrigue and mystery, and of ships packed to the gunwales with intrepid explorers and convicted felons,” says Rachel Nebauer-Borg, owner operator of Island Explorer Tours. “But I love to show visitors that it’s also about home, heartstrings and happiness.”
norfolkisland.com.au
Seoul and Busan both feature on this itinerary, but so do lesser-known destinations such as Chuncheon, Gyeongju and Yangdong Folk Village. In Seoul you’ll stop by tiny restaurants for mouthwatering hotpot dinners, visit Gwangjang Market to learn about the hottest dishes in town from elderly Korean imos (aunties) and find out why chewing nuts under the bridges that span Seoul’s Cheonggyecheon Stream is said to bring good luck. One of the most popular activities in Chuncheon is the chance to pedal along a former railway on a so-called railbike, while in Gyeongju it’s a visit to the Hwangridan-gil arts district to learn about the local art scene.
“Rather than simply sharing facts, I explain how Korea’s past shapes its society and social values, because I’m a firm believer that this helps travellers gain a deeper understanding of the country,” says Inside Asia guide Sunyoung Park.
insideasiatours.com
Yes, the Northern Lights are stunning, but so, it turns out, is the Norwegian town of Narvik, famous for its connections to World War II’s most dramatic naval confrontation. Or Sweden’s Sami culture, which you’ll learn about during a meeting with a local Sami family (and their reindeer), or Scandinavia’s oldest historic sites (one of which will be the setting for a stone age-style lunch). In summary, while admiring the Northern Lights is a highlight of this trip, travellers can also expect a deep dive into coastal Norway and Swedish Lapland.
“The ever-changing Arctic light, the immediate closeness to the ocean and the dramatic mountains rising straight from the sea make this region unlike anywhere else,” says local Anders Løvik.
fiftydegreesnorth.com
The Ma’ohi people of French Polynesia’s Raiatea Island take their culture seriously. Aroha Experience’s one-day Spirituality and Connection tour offers a range of deep dives into various aspects of their lives. Don’t miss the chance to take part in the Ma’ohi’s beloved Circle of Contemplation, when low beats from a wooden pahu drum lull participants into a deep sense of relaxation, or the opportunity to learn about the lei crown – not just a staple of hula performances, but a symbol of love and friendship. You’ll also get the chance to honour what might just be your new favourite destination – not with a neon-hued tiki cocktail but with a masterclass in Pari Pari Fenua, the oratory art of paying homage to the region.
arohaexperience.com
Papua New Guinea isn’t the kind of destination you can simply rock up to with zero planning, which is why we’re big fans of tour operators with deep connections to the region. Pearl Expeditions offers numerous experiences that aren’t offered by anyone else, whether it’s the chance to paddle traditional canoes through the fjords of Tufi or the snorkelling sessions over remote World War II shipwrecks. On Tuam Island, you’ll learn about the songs and ceremonies beloved by locals, and on Tami Island you’ll meet artisans who’ll share the woodcarving techniques they use to make their canoes.
“Papua New Guinea’s 800 languages represent the greatest linguistic diversity of any nation, and that statistic is a tiny part of what changes between one river bend and the next here,” says Mick Fogg, Pearl Exhibitions’ general manager. “We travel between these communities by invitation, leaving no trace. That kind of access takes years to earn, and it’s not something you can replicate at scale.”
pearlexpeditions.com
The crowd-free Balkans region is often overlooked, but sign up for this fantastic tour and many of Europe’s hotspots will suddenly look rather boring. In the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv you’ll explore its beautifully reserved Roman theatre, before stopping by Lake Ohrid, with its Byzantine and Slavic Orthodox monasteries. A visit to Albania includes an exploration of Berat, an Ottoman city carved from alabaster and stone. For New Zealander Alex McKay, a cultural historian and tour leader, this is one of the tour’s highlights.
“Closed off under the dictator Hoxha, it was, aside from North Korea, one of the most closed community states of all time until it opened to the world 30 years ago,” he says. “One minute you’re looking at some of the best Greek and Roman ruins in the world, the next you’re looking at bunkers built to withstand a nuclear war that never came – now those same bunkers are nightclubs and bars.”
renaissancetours.com.au
