Anantara Hoi An Celebrates Ethnic Minorities
A cultural event capturing the beauty and pride of Vietnam’s 54 tribes, Anantara Hoi An’s Ethnic Minorities Festival returns in a monthly format on 31 January…
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A cultural event capturing the beauty and pride of Vietnam’s 54 tribes, Anantara Hoi An’s Ethnic Minorities Festival returns in a monthly format on 31 January…
Dresden is giving its visitors a special gift: die Dresden Card. The free card gives you discounts for all the museums of the city of Dresden, as well as savings…
Bamboo Travel has created the ultimate foodie’s trip entitled ‘Gourmet China’ and, thanks to the new high-speed train link between Xian and Chengdu – which started operating December 2017 –…
Corinthian Travel has created a new itinerary entitled Local Kerala – The Real Marigold Experience based on the popular TV show in which a group of well-known personalities were exploring the possibility…
Expecting nothing but the soaring mountains in the Pamir region of Tajikistan, Johan Smits gets far more than he bargained for when trekking the Wakhan Valley. “Some of these petroglyphs…
As darkness falls and temperatures freeze in the midst of winter, thoughts draw to sunshine, sea life and palm-fringed beaches. The Palm Beaches offers 47 miles of pristine beaches, many…
Now in its sixth year, VAULT Festival returns to London from January 24 to March 18, 2018 with 300 individual shows, championing new writing, immersive experiences, comedy, film and late…
The hotly anticipated Louvre Abu Dhabi opened its doors to visitors in November, following a VIP inauguration that was attended by French President Emmanuel Macron…
As 2018 approaches, many travellers seek a new destination to explore. For those who want the best experience, Spain’s Valencia Region should top your must-visit list. Bursting with natural beauty…
If your image of Pittsburgh is of a dirty industrial city think again, there are now a wide range of things to do in Pittsburgh whether its for a weekend…
It’s been 50 years since Civil Rights topped the agenda in America’s Deep South, making visits in 2018 all the more poignant. Last weekend (Saturday 9 December) saw the opening…
Five experiences that can only be found in Québec, Canada From tasting chips covered with curd and gravy to running across ice-covered rivers for sport, Québec is full of the…
Costa Calida Spanish are delighted to invite you to the beautiful Bay of Mazarron with its unspoilt blue flag beaches for one of our week’s bespoke Pilates/Yoga/Learn Spanish Holiday Retreats…
As the world’s largest adventure company, Intrepid Travel has revealed its predictions for 2018’s hottest travel trends for the year ahead. With new foodie experiences, visiting off-the-beaten track destinations and…
Most people associate St Andrew’s Day, which falls on 30 November, with Scotland. As the country’s patron saint, Scots celebrate his day with a national holiday. In fact, St Andrew…
VisitEngland has uncovered new ways to explore England in 2018, including tree top experiences; cultural trails that uncover England’s rich heritage; horseback exploration and the latest foodie hubs. So whether…
Seeing the Northern Lights, visiting the Seven Wonders of the World, and swimming with dolphins are among the top things on Brits’ bucket lists. The Oxford Ski Company surveyed* 2,000…
When Hull was chosen to be the UK’s latest city of culture a few pairs of eyebrows were raised – mine for one. I had spent three years in the…
It has been an amazing year for Hull, packed with spectacular events, ground-breaking art and stunning performances. But it’s not over yet by a long stretch. Hull has thrown open…
Adventure travel specialist Explore has announced nine new ‘Beyond’ trips for 2018. Getting back to our pioneering roots, the Explore team has designed a collection of exciting new trips for…
Corinthian Travel has launched the UK’s most comprehensive and luxurious programme to Ladakh which, until now, has largely been the preserve of budget group tours and trekking holidays. Ladakh is…
Christmas is coming and nowhere is more Christmassy than SouthWest Germany. In the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg, all five senses come in to play: guests see sparkling decorations at…
Walk through virgin rainforest in Ghana or meander through Italy’s Prosecco region by bike. Witness a rocket launch from Kazakhstan or visit one of the world’s most remote islands, St…
The town may be synonymous with Angkor Wat – the world’s largest religious structure – but there are plenty of things to do in Siem Reap other than visiting temples…
For many an appreciation of the culture of the country or community that you visit on your holidays is a major part of the travelling experience, especially for the more mature traveller.
Whether you are taking a short city break to Amsterdam or Paris, or going on a longer trip to a distant and exciting land, your experience is enriched by an appreciation of the local culture.
Ideally, time your trip to coincide with a major festival. At Travel Begins at 40 we have a whole section devoted to some of the most colourful and spectacular festivals from around the world. So whether it is the whirling dervishes of Konya, Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival, the Tsagaan Sar in Mongolia or Benin’s Voodoo Festival that tickles your cultural fancy, let us guide your way.
Visiting an unfamiliar country can lead to a bit of a cultural shock, but don’t let this put you off making that special journey. Often it is when we leave our comfort zone that we reap most rewards.
Not that we always have to travel that far to have a rich and rewarding cultural experience. Hull is the current city of culture in the UK, and a trip there can be a surprisingly rewarding experience. Enjoy it.