Soak in a bit of history and heritage with trendy new cultural tours

The trips are quite pocket-friendly, and offer an enriching experience of the traditions, cuisine, folklore, and art and architecture of the place

Cultural tourism is the new trend in leisure travel. According to the World Trade Organization (WTO), by 2020, cultural vacations will play a leading role in the travel and tourism space, with travelers showing increasing interested in traditional activities while holidaying abroad, within the country or even while on a hometown stay-cation.

According to recent data from TripAdvisor, bookings for cultural and theme tours are up 45 per cent globally over last year, indicating that travelers are increasingly looking to immerse themselves in the local customs and history of the place they visit. 

Says Laurel Greatrix, director, global communications, TripAdvisor: “Globally, travelers are looking to really understand the culture of their destination. So whether you're booking a street art tour in Bushwick or a tour of underground Rome to explore the catacombs, you’ll head home feeling like you’ve really gotten to know a new destination.”

Cultural experiences, which include architectural, historical, literary, and art tours among others, offer a new and completely different perspective of the destination. 

Says Ankit Rastogi, VP, accommodation and activities, Cleartrip: "There is a rise in the number of travelers opting for cultural and heritage activities for their trips according to International research, with the culture of any place being the chief attraction. Destinations such as Spain, Italy, Japan, Egypt, are top picks for current cultural offerings to a traveler." Like food experiences, which have seen massive growth globally, cultural tours, especially in countries like Belgium and Denmark have now become an integral part of traveler itineraries.

Samurai Experience in Kyoto, Japan

Get a peek into the world of the Samurai. You can soak in the history of these Japanese warriors during this two-hour experience at a traditional Kyoto Samurai House, which includes learning about the philosophies of Bushido (Way of the Warrior), handling a real Katana (Japanese Samurai sword), and Zen meditation session. For a personalised experience, you can opt for small-group tours that are limited to 10 people. These tours are conducted from thrice a day, and you can choose the time slot that best suits you. A two-hour personalised trip costs around Rs 7,700 for one. 

Colosseum Underground Tour, Rome, Italy

To get a feel of Imperial Rome, visit these Colosseum underground chambers and gladiator passageways, which are normally off-limits to the general public. This tour includes a visit to the arena floor where gladiators fought each other to the death and where encounters between condemned prisoners and beasts were the entertainment fare of Roman emperors. The three-hour experience ends with a tour of the Roman Forum, where you can view temples and arches of ancient senators and sovereigns. For a personalised experience, the number is  limited to 24 people per group. This three-hour tour costs around Rs 11,000 for one. 

Rainforest Chocolate Tour from La Fortuna, Costa Rica

This is a great destination for those with a sweet tooth, as it offers some delecatable organic chocolate straight from the factory. The tour starts at La Fortuna, San Carlos (a small town in Costa Rica) and ends at the rain-forest, and offers a glimpse of local chocolate production. This two-hour tour includes a visit to the plantation and a tasting session in the rainforest. You can visit a farm where cocoa is grown, processed and made into chocolate. You can also eat as much chocolate as you want while soaking in the history, culture, and traditions of this popular Costa Rican sweet. This two-hour tour costs about Rs 2,000 for one. 

Whitney Plantation Tour, New Orleans

Dating back to more than 260 years, Whitney Plantation is a unique sugar and indigo estate among antebellum Louisiana’s historic plantations. Whitney is dedicated to promoting an understanding of slavery in the American South. The tour is a day trip that starts from New Orleans and lets you explore the sugar plantation-turned-museum, slave cabins and the Spanish Creole Big House. Cost: Rs 4,800 a head.

Geisha experience at Ochaya in Tokyo, Japan

Travelers interested in Japanese culture can opt for this real-life geisha experience on a one-and-a-half-hour cultural tour of Tokyo. This tour takes place in an Ochaya (tea house) and includes geisha performances, complete with traditional songs, dances and games, along with a session on the history of the geisha. The geisha experience will cost you between Rs 5,700 to Rs 7,400, for one. 

Ghosts of Charleston Tour, US

You need to book in advance to get this popular ghost tour in Charleston, United States. You can select the day and time that best suits your schedule. The tour includes a storyteller guide who leads the way through the dark. The main highlight is a trip to the Unitarian Church Graveyard, which is known as the paranormal hot spot. The tour is available at twice in the evening, at 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm. The graveyard isn't open late night, but you can get special access to explore it in the earlier trip. This walking-tour, which lasts a few hours, cost around Rs 2,000 for one.