Under a destination's skin
Through our years of designing journeys we’ve grown to understand that experiencing culture is a hugely personal undertaking.
Whilst some travellers would delight in trance dancing with an African tribe, others would be happier watching a choreographed tango performance, maintaining a safe distance at all costs. Some consider street art the voice of the people, while for others a hushed art gallery says it all. Mothers might connect with other mothers as they sit and weave together and children joining a game of street soccer will quickly find social differences disappear.
Celebrations always bring people together and there’s no better way to throw yourself into a culture than to join the revellers in their joy. You could throw paint with childlike abandon at India’s colourful and chaotic Holi Festival or observe the rites and rituals of Togo’s Ouida Voodoo Festival; dance at Lake of Stars Festival on the shores of Lake Malawi or whirl with dervishes in Morocco; cheer as southern right whales appear off the coast of South Africa at the Hermanus Whale Festival or participate in the most unique christening – Kwita Izina – the Rwandan naming ceremony for baby mountain gorillas.
Whether you’re in to anthropology, wildlife or the arts, experiencing culture in a way that is comfortable and meaningful for visitors and locals alike allows you to cast your inhibitions aside and really get under the skin of a destination…
Whilst some travellers would delight in trance dancing with an African tribe, others would be happier watching a choreographed tango performance, maintaining a safe distance at all costs. Some consider street art the voice of the people, while for others a hushed art gallery says it all. Mothers might connect with other mothers as they sit and weave together and children joining a game of street soccer will quickly find social differences disappear.
Celebrations always bring people together and there’s no better way to throw yourself into a culture than to join the revellers in their joy. You could throw paint with childlike abandon at India’s colourful and chaotic Holi Festival or observe the rites and rituals of Togo’s Ouida Voodoo Festival; dance at Lake of Stars Festival on the shores of Lake Malawi or whirl with dervishes in Morocco; cheer as southern right whales appear off the coast of South Africa at the Hermanus Whale Festival or participate in the most unique christening – Kwita Izina – the Rwandan naming ceremony for baby mountain gorillas.
Whether you’re in to anthropology, wildlife or the arts, experiencing culture in a way that is comfortable and meaningful for visitors and locals alike allows you to cast your inhibitions aside and really get under the skin of a destination…
You will love
- Getting under the skin of a destination
- Experiencing culture as a participant, not a voyeur
- Casting your inhibitions aside
- Engaging with locals in a meaningful way
- Ditching the guide book
Itineraries & set departures
Colombia El Presidente
Itinerary Inspiration | Colonial Heritage
A 12-day itinerary with variety - explore the busy metropolis of Bogota, head off the grid to Los Llanos and on safari in a luxury tented camp, meander the cobblestone streets of quaint Barichara and delight in the coffee, colours, culture and charm of bustling Cartagena. A journey of relaxed experiences and also those for the outdoor adventurer, along with differing styles of accommodation throughout.
Souks, Sahara & High Atlas
Itinerary Inspiration | Morocco's Souks, Sahara & High Atlas Mountains
Journey through Morocco's Imperial Cities, cross the Atlas Mountans to experience the vast sea of sand that is the Sahara Desert, shop til you drop in fascinating souks and savour the seabreeze along the picturesque Atlantic coastline. This journey ticks all the boxes - ancient history, striking architecture, sunset camel rides in the Sahara, sensational shopping and exceptional cuisine. You may not want to return home...
Classic India & Pushkar Camel Fair
Inspiration Itinerary | Camels, Culture & Iconic Cities
The Pushkar Camel Fair is an Indian spectacle on an epic scale! Thar camel drivers converge on the holy town of Pushkar for just two weeks every November. It is a once in your lifetime opportunity to witness the colour and carnival of one of India's last great traditional fairs and, combined with a journey through some of India's most iconic cities, you have the makings of a perfect recce of Rajasthan – what better way to bring a touch of eccentricity to our bespoke luxury India tours?
Kids on Safari
Inspiration Itinerary | Kenya's playground
Kenya offers a sensational family holiday, imagine feeding a giraffe over breakfast, watching hippos wallow in the mud, seeing lion in their natural habitat. Kenyans love kids and families and many safari camps offer 2-bedroom family tents so you are safe under one roof. The camps cater for kids of all ages with kid packs, guided walks around camp looking for dung beetles, cooking classes and other thrilling and educational adventures to.
Colombia El Presidente
Itinerary Inspiration | Colonial Heritage
A 12-day itinerary with variety - explore the busy metropolis of Bogota, head off the grid to Los Llanos and on safari in a luxury tented camp, meander the cobblestone streets of quaint Barichara and delight in the coffee, colours, culture and charm of bustling Cartagena. A journey of relaxed experiences and also those for the outdoor adventurer, along with differing styles of accommodation throughout.
Souks, Sahara & High Atlas
Itinerary Inspiration | Morocco's Souks, Sahara & High Atlas Mountains
Journey through Morocco's Imperial Cities, cross the Atlas Mountans to experience the vast sea of sand that is the Sahara Desert, shop til you drop in fascinating souks and savour the seabreeze along the picturesque Atlantic coastline. This journey ticks all the boxes - ancient history, striking architecture, sunset camel rides in the Sahara, sensational shopping and exceptional cuisine. You may not want to return home...
Classic India & Pushkar Camel Fair
Inspiration Itinerary | Camels, Culture & Iconic Cities
The Pushkar Camel Fair is an Indian spectacle on an epic scale! Thar camel drivers converge on the holy town of Pushkar for just two weeks every November. It is a once in your lifetime opportunity to witness the colour and carnival of one of India's last great traditional fairs and, combined with a journey through some of India's most iconic cities, you have the makings of a perfect recce of Rajasthan – what better way to bring a touch of eccentricity to our bespoke luxury India tours?
Kids on Safari
Inspiration Itinerary | Kenya's playground
Kenya offers a sensational family holiday, imagine feeding a giraffe over breakfast, watching hippos wallow in the mud, seeing lion in their natural habitat. Kenyans love kids and families and many safari camps offer 2-bedroom family tents so you are safe under one roof. The camps cater for kids of all ages with kid packs, guided walks around camp looking for dung beetles, cooking classes and other thrilling and educational adventures to.
Cultural experiences
Experience a Maori Powhiri
A private and personal experience meeting with a powerful, spiritual and cultural group of Maori people who enjoy sharing their culture with our visitors in a close and intimate environment. This most often includes a Powhiri, a formal welcome to… Read more
A private and personal experience meeting with a powerful, spiritual and cultural… Read more
Admire the street art of Valparaiso
The seaside town of Valparaiso sprawls across a series of hillsides and is one of Chile’s most charismatic destinations. Known for its cool, bohemian atmosphere, it has long been home to some of South America’s best artists, writers and musicians,… Read more
The seaside town of Valparaiso sprawls across a series of hillsides and… Read more
Celebrate the day of the dead
From October 31st for three days each year it is believed that the dead return to visit the land of the living. ‘Día de los Muertos’ is an age-old festival that dates to pre-Aztec times and is still one of… Read more
From October 31st for three days each year it is believed that… Read more
Dance the Tango
Discover the history of the tango, the sensual rhythm of life in Buenos Aires, which remains Argentina’s premier musical art form. Your first hand tango experience will start with a group class (shared with locals) before going to a Milonga… Read more
Discover the history of the tango, the sensual rhythm of life in… Read more
Ride a rickshaw through Chandni Chowk
Chandni Chowk (Silver Street) is the colourful main street and main shopping bazaar of Old Delhi. It runs through the middle of Delhi’s walled city, from the Lahore Gate of the Red Fort to Fatehpuri Masjid. Chandni Chowk is one… Read more
Chandni Chowk (Silver Street) is the colourful main street and main shopping… Read more
Shop 'til you drop in Marrakech’s souks
The souks of Marrakech are world famous and offer the greatest variety of products imaginable. Having evolved and grown organically through the centuries there is absolutely no structure or order to them but getting lost is half the fun. Shop… Read more
The souks of Marrakech are world famous and offer the greatest variety… Read more
Wander the Valley of the Kings
As you meander through the Valley of the Kings, you’ll discover 63 royal tombs carved into the hillside. These include the legendary burial place of Tutankhamun, still enclosed in 35-century-old walls, the enormous Temple of Hatshepsut, ancient Egypt’s first female… Read more
As you meander through the Valley of the Kings, you’ll discover 63… Read more
Learn to hunt with the Hadzabe tribe
The Hadzabe people have lived in an area near the beautiful Lake Eyasi in northern Tanzania for hundreds of years and their way of life remains relatively unchanged. They continue to live as hunter-gatherers in harmony with their surroundings. You… Read more
The Hadzabe people have lived in an area near the beautiful Lake… Read more
Revel in the Holi Festival celebrations
The colour, mess and madness that unfurls during the celebration of Holi is a once in a lifetime spectacle! Enjoyed all over India, Holi is a festival that celebrates rebirth and the arrival of spring, symbolically eradicating winter and rejoicing… Read more
The colour, mess and madness that unfurls during the celebration of Holi… Read more
Observe the rites and rituals of West Africa
Travel to such countries as Ghana, Togo or Benin to discover the lost tribal worlds and ancient spirits of remote West Africa. Think hypnotic fire dances, fetish markets and voodoo practitioners! Experience the cultures that very few westerners and virtually… Read more
Travel to such countries as Ghana, Togo or Benin to discover the… Read more
Learn at the Mountain Echoes Literary Festival
Spend three blissful days in the mountains at the Mountain Echoes Literary Festival. This is held every year at the end of august in Bhutan’s stunning capital, Thimphu. It is a celebration of Bhutan’s varied cultural heritage and it brings… Read more
Spend three blissful days in the mountains at the Mountain Echoes Literary… Read more
Chant with monks in Thiksey Monastery
Perched 3,600m above the Indus Valley in Ladakh, lies Thiksey Monastery. The monastery is filled with lots of interesting Buddhist art, statues, paintings and decorative swords, as well as being home to around 80 monks. Every morning at 7am, the… Read more
Perched 3,600m above the Indus Valley in Ladakh, lies Thiksey Monastery. The… Read more
Be an esteemed guest at a Rwandan naming ceremony for baby gorillas
Be an esteemed guest at a most unique christening - Kwita Izina - the Rwandan naming ceremony for baby mountain gorillas born in the past year. The ceremony is based on a traditional Rwandan naming ceremony for humans but has… Read more
Be an esteemed guest at a most unique christening - Kwita Izina… Read more
Glamp in supreme comfort at the Hornbill Festival
The Hornbill Festival is a 10-day event showcasing the region’s various tribal cultures with colourful performances, elaborate costumes, indigenous games, handicrafts and local foods. A luxurious pop-up camp offers real glamour in the wild with colonial-style furnishings, plush four poster… Read more
The Hornbill Festival is a 10-day event showcasing the region’s various tribal… Read more
Accommodation for culture vultures
Explora Rapa Nui – Easter Island
Dramatic location with cultural intrigue
Located on mythical Easter Island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Explora Rapa Nui is the most sought after property for travellers to Easter Island and was the first in South America to obtain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification. This is a land full of cultural intrigue, whose origins and evolution remain unexplained! Read More
Rawla Narlai – Narlai Village, Rajasthan
A gem in rural Rajasthan
Located between Udaipur and Jodhpur in the heart of the Aravalli Hills of rural Rajasthan, Narlai is the ideal spot to break your journey and take a breath within the busy itineraries of our luxury India tours. This 17th century property was once a favourite hunting lodge of the Jodhpur royal family. Today, a real highlight at Rawla Narlai is the ‘Stepwell Dinner’, dining by candlelight Read More
Mwiba Lodge – Serengeti National Park
Front row seats for calving season
Overlooking a rocky gorge amongst stone boulders and acacia trees, Mwiba’s setting in the southern Serengeti has ‘wow’ factor. It plays hosts to exceptional wildlife whilst remaining quiet and exclusive with only a handful of visitors. With a delicate balance of cultural authenticity and remarkable wildlife, Mwiba offers an outstanding safari experience. Read More
Legado Mitico – Buenos Aires
Palermo Boutique Hotel
Legado Mitico's theme mixes images of old Argentina with modern luxury. Each of the rooms has been individually decorated and named to incorporate eleven of the most famous Argentinean artists. The property pays homage to Argentina’s heroic heritage - located in Buenos Aires’ most-buzzing barrio. Read More
Ol Malo – Laikipia
A stunning family run lodge on the Laikipia Plateau
Sitting on the last frontier of Northern Kenya, Ol Malo offers an untamed adventure in the heartland of the Samburu tribe. Enjoy a range of activities from helicopter expeditions into the Great Rift Valley to horseriding and refreshment in the infinity pools. Read More
Hacienda Zuleta – Ecuadorian Highlands
Century old hacienda in the highlands
Located in the Andean highlands of Ecuador, Hacienda Zuleta is a colonial working farm of 4,000 acres with a distinctly homely feel. Paddock-to-plate style dining presents delicious homegrown produce while horseback riding, mountain biking and horse drawn carriage trips showcase the farm, mountain views idyllic rural life. Read More
Exellent and wonderful, reaching way above expectations.
Elizabeth MackintoshJulia you did a fantastic job - everything was first class. Well organised, efficient and stress free. We all agreed it was the best holiday we've ever had. Cant wait to travel with CSC again.
Milford familyWe are so happy we put our trust in CSC, we had an amazing adventure and would recommend them to anyone.
Kim & Brad BalanceThe trip exceeded my expectations and was the best family holiday I have ever had. Our children simply loved it and now I know more about African wildlife than they do about our own farm animals.
Rowntree familyClassic Safari are the people who genuinely know other culture and offer incredible insight to perfectly meet your expectations.
Melanie McMillan & Iain JonesWe loved it all. Our son wants to go back tomorrow. We would ALL go back again!
Laurence & Remi CunninghamAn amazing experience - the best family holiday we have ever had. We were extremely impressed by the meticulous attention to our itinerary. I can't speak highly enough of all the elements of this exciting journey!
Sheryl & Robert TaylorThank you for making our trip to Africa so spectacular. The attention to detail really made it special. It really was the trip of a lifetime.
Paul CozziVery knowledgeable and patient. Our trip was all that we hoped for. Wonderful!
Jane & Robert HappellEverything was perfect! Advice and information on destinations and activities hit everything I had hoped to experience. I contacted the Classic Safari Company upon recommendation and have now, in turn, recommended to others.
Tim BradleyYou can't improve on perfection. I had my best birthday and holiday with my family celebrating my 80th birthday in Africa. Everything that Julia organised was perfect and the whole trip was a highlight!
Buckingham FamilyThe trip of a lifetime, couldn't have dreamt of a better adventure if I tried.
Emma JeffcoatAbsolutely everything was first class & so well organised.
Simon & Jackie AdamsClassic Safari Company has done it again! A unique experience that ticked all the boxes - wildlife, culture and dining experience. A dream come true!
Ros WheelerTheir experience and knowledge of Africa is evident and we couldn't have been happier with the total package. This has given us a taste for Africa - now we are ready for more.
Andrew & Pip StevensIf you want the most sensational experience in Africa let Julia and the staff at Classic Safari Co plan it for you! Their knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm for their job means your every wish will be fulfilled.
Miriam & Joseph HarrisonClassic Safari is the place to go to for "top end" adventure travel.
Ron & Alison GuthrieClassic Safari Company were brilliant - 10/10
Di & Kingsley YatesThe Classic Safari Company is the best I have dealt with. Extremely knowledgeable & professional, friendly, patient & understanding of first timers to Africa.
Annette WhileyIt certainly was the best trip we have EVER had. The experiences were mind blowing. We want everyone we know to experience Africa - the animals, the people - magical.
Jo-anne & Dean MifsudWould do it all again and not change a moment. Best holiday ever!
The McGowan TribeAn absolutely fantastic travel company - every one of the many trips they have organised for us over 22 years have been faultless and fabulous.
Judith & Roger Williams
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