Cultural and heritage holidays

Chennai, Mahabalipuram & Pondicherry Coastal Break

A short East Coast Road trip from Chennai: Pallava shore temples at Mahabalipuram, then two easy days in Pondicherry's French Quarter and Auroville.

8D / 7NChennai · Kanchipuram · Thanjavur · Madurai

Temples of Tamil Nadu

The great temple towns in one week: Kanchipuram's silk and shrines, the Chola masterpieces around Thanjavur, Madurai's Meenakshi and the corridors of Rameswaram.

4D / 3NMadurai · Chettinad

Honeymoon packagesCouples' holidays

Chettinad Heritage Honeymoon

Madurai's Meenakshi temple lit up at night, then two nights in a restored Chettinad mansion with Athangudi-tiled courtyards, village walks and a Chettinad feast.

4D / 3NThanjavur · Madurai

Chola Heritage Trail

Built for architecture lovers: the Big Temple at Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Darasuram, then Madurai's palace and evening temple ceremony.

11D / 10NChennai · Mahabalipuram · Puducherry · Thanjavur

Tamil Nadu Grand Tour

Ten days across the state, from the coast and Pallava monuments through the Chola heartland and Madurai to the Palani and Nilgiri hills.

3D / 2NChennai

Chennai City & Culture Short Break

Two days of Chennai at its best: Mylapore's temple streets, Fort St George, the Chola bronzes at Egmore, filter coffee and the beach at sunset.

Plan cultural holidays in Tamil Nadu → Explore Tamil Nadu

Itineraries

Cultural holidays: 167 itineraries

5D / 4NChennai · Mahabalipuram · Puducherry

Chennai, Mahabalipuram & Pondicherry Coastal Break

A short East Coast Road trip from Chennai: Pallava shore temples at Mahabalipuram, then two easy days in Pondicherry's French Quarter and Auroville.

8D / 7NChennai · Kanchipuram · Thanjavur · Madurai

Temples of Tamil Nadu

The great temple towns in one week: Kanchipuram's silk and shrines, the Chola masterpieces around Thanjavur, Madurai's Meenakshi and the corridors of Rameswaram.

4D / 3NMadurai · Chettinad

Honeymoon packagesCouples' holidays

Chettinad Heritage Honeymoon

Madurai's Meenakshi temple lit up at night, then two nights in a restored Chettinad mansion with Athangudi-tiled courtyards, village walks and a Chettinad feast.

4D / 3NThanjavur · Madurai

Chola Heritage Trail

Built for architecture lovers: the Big Temple at Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Darasuram, then Madurai's palace and evening temple ceremony.

11D / 10NChennai · Mahabalipuram · Puducherry · Thanjavur

Tamil Nadu Grand Tour

Ten days across the state, from the coast and Pallava monuments through the Chola heartland and Madurai to the Palani and Nilgiri hills.

3D / 2NChennai

Chennai City & Culture Short Break

Two days of Chennai at its best: Mylapore's temple streets, Fort St George, the Chola bronzes at Egmore, filter coffee and the beach at sunset.

3D / 2NPuducherry

Pondicherry & Auroville Weekend

Cafés, colonial lanes, the Promenade and a morning at Auroville: a two-night French Quarter break that is easy to reach from Chennai and Bengaluru.

6D / 5NKochi · Munnar · Thekkady · Alleppey

Kerala Highlights: Munnar, Thekkady & Alleppey

Family holidaysHoneymoon packages

Kerala Highlights: Munnar, Thekkady & Alleppey

The classic first trip to Kerala: Fort Kochi's heritage, two nights in Munnar's tea hills, Periyar's spice gardens and a night on a houseboat.

9D / 8NKochi · Munnar · Thekkady · Kumarakom

Kerala & Kanyakumari Grand Tour

Nine days from Kochi to the tip of India through tea hills, spice country, Vembanad Lake and the Kovalam coast.

5D / 4NKochi · Kumarakom · Thiruvananthapuram

Kerala Heritage & Culture Trail

Culture first: two nights in Fort Kochi for Kathakali and spice markets, Kumarakom's village life and Trivandrum's palace and museum quarter.

4D / 3NHampi · Badami

Hampi & Badami Heritage Trail

The best of the Deccan's stone heritage: two days among Hampi's boulders and ruins, then the Chalukyan caves and temples of Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal.

9D / 8NBengaluru · Mysuru · Coorg · Chikmagalur

Cultural holidaysRoad trips

Karnataka Grand Tour

Nine days from palaces to plantations to the ruins of Vijayanagara, taking in the state's three most different landscapes.

Cultural holidaysBudget holidays

3D / 2NHampi

Hampi Short Break

Two days in the ruined capital: Virupaksha, Vittala's stone chariot, a coracle ride and sunrise from Matanga Hill.

4D / 3NHyderabad

Hyderabad Heritage & Food

Charminar and the Old City's bazaars, Golconda's evening show, the Nizams' palaces and a biryani and haleem trail.

4D / 3NHyderabad · Warangal

Hyderabad & Warangal Kakatiya Trail

Qutb Shahi Hyderabad followed by the Kakatiya gateways of Warangal and the UNESCO-listed Ramappa Temple.

3D / 2NMumbai

Mumbai City Break

Two days of Mumbai: the Gateway of India, CSMT, the Elephanta Caves, Marine Drive at sunset and a street-food trail.

3D / 2NAurangabad (Ajanta & Ellora)

Ajanta & Ellora Caves Tour

Two full days for the painted caves of Ajanta and the Kailasa temple at Ellora, planned around the Monday and Tuesday closures.

6D / 5NMumbai · Aurangabad (Ajanta & Ellora) · Shirdi · Pune

Maharashtra Heritage Circuit

Caves, shrines and Peshwa history: Mumbai, Ajanta and Ellora, Shirdi and Pune's Shaniwar Wada.

5D / 4NAhmedabad · Rann of Kutch

Rann of Kutch Festival Trip

Full-moon nights on the white salt desert, Rann Utsav tents, Kutch's craft villages and the old capital Bhuj.

8D / 7NAhmedabad · Rann of Kutch · Dwarka · Somnath

Cultural holidaysWildlife safaris

Gujarat Grand Tour

Ahmedabad's heritage walk, the Rann, the temple coast and lion country in eight days across Gujarat.

3D / 2NAhmedabad

Ahmedabad Heritage Weekend

The dawn heritage walk through the pols, Adalaj step well, Sidi Saiyyed's jali and Manek Chowk's night food market.

Photography holidaysCultural holidays

5D / 4NRann of Kutch

Kutch Crafts & Desert

A slower Kutch trip with time in the weaving and embroidery villages, Kalo Dungar, Mandvi's palace and two nights near the White Rann.

8D / 7NJaipur · Jodhpur · Jaisalmer · Udaipur

Royal Rajasthan Tour

The four great cities of Rajasthan: Jaipur's forts, Jodhpur's blue city, a desert camp at Jaisalmer and Udaipur's lake palaces.

11D / 10NJaipur · Pushkar · Jodhpur · Jaisalmer

Rajasthan Grand Heritage Tour

Eleven nights across Rajasthan, adding holy Pushkar and Bikaner's Junagarh Fort to the classic four-city circuit.

Festival and seasonal tripsPhotography holidays

4D / 3NJaipur · Pushkar

Pushkar Camel Fair Trip

Timed for the Kartik full moon: livestock trading, folk performances and ghat rituals at the Pushkar Camel Fair.

3D / 2NJaipur

Jaipur Weekend

Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, City Palace and Jantar Mantar, with time to shop for block prints and gems and watch sunset from Nahargarh.

7D / 6NJaipur · Ranthambore · Udaipur

Wildlife safarisCultural holidays

Rajasthan Forts & Tigers

Combine palaces with the wild: Jaipur, three safaris at Ranthambore and the lakes of Udaipur.

6D / 5NJodhpur · Jaisalmer · Bikaner

Photography holidaysCultural holidays

Rajasthan Desert Triangle

The Thar's three desert cities: Jodhpur's fort, Jaisalmer's golden walls and dunes, and Bikaner's palaces and camel farm.

6D / 5NDelhi · Agra · Jaipur

Golden Triangle Tour

India's classic first circuit: Delhi's Mughal monuments, sunrise at the Taj Mahal and the forts and palaces of Jaipur.

7D / 6NDelhi · Agra · Ranthambore · Jaipur

Wildlife safarisCultural holidays

Golden Triangle with Ranthambore

The Golden Triangle with a tiger detour: two nights and safaris in Ranthambore between Agra and Jaipur.

8D / 7NDelhi · Agra · Jaipur · Varanasi

Golden Triangle & Varanasi

Add India's spiritual heart to the classic circuit, with a dawn boat ride and the evening aarti on the Ganga.

3D / 2NDelhi

Delhi City Break

Old Delhi by cycle-rickshaw and food walk, Humayun's Tomb, Qutub Minar, India Gate and Akshardham's evening show.

8D / 7NDelhi · Agra · Jaipur · Amritsar

Golden Triangle with Amritsar

Add the Golden Temple and the Attari border ceremony to the classic Delhi, Agra and Jaipur triangle.

3D / 2NLucknow

Lucknow Nawabi Food Trail

Galouti kebabs, Awadhi biryani and chikankari shopping, plus the Bara Imambara's labyrinth and the 1857 Residency.

6D / 5NVaranasi · Bodh Gaya · Nalanda & Rajgir

Buddhist Circuit: Varanasi to Bodh Gaya

Sarnath, Bodh Gaya's Mahabodhi Temple, Rajgir's Vulture's Peak and the ruins of Nalanda's ancient university.

5D / 4NAgra · Lucknow

Agra & Lucknow Heritage Tour

Two Mughal and Nawabi cities: the Taj, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, then Lucknow's imambaras and kitchens.

5D / 4NDharamshala & McLeod Ganj · Dalhousie & Khajjiar

Hill-station holidaysCultural holidays

Dharamshala & Dalhousie

Tibetan monasteries and Triund views at McLeod Ganj, then Dalhousie's colonial walks and Khajjiar's meadow.

6D / 5NAmritsar · Dharamshala & McLeod Ganj · Dalhousie & Khajjiar

Cultural holidaysHill-station holidays

Amritsar, Dharamshala & Dalhousie

The Golden Temple and Wagah, then into the Dhauladhar hills for monasteries and Khajjiar's meadows.

Cultural holidaysHill-station holidays

5D / 4NAmritsar · Shimla

Amritsar & Shimla

Punjab's food and faith, then a scenic drive into the hills for Shimla's colonial charm.

5D / 4NLeh

Leh Monasteries & Culture

Thiksey, Hemis, Shey, Leh Palace and Shanti Stupa, plus rafting on the Indus and Zanskar.

4D / 3NOrchha · Khajuraho

Khajuraho & Orchha

Bundela palaces and riverside chhatris at Orchha, then the sculpted temples of Khajuraho and a Panna safari.

7D / 6NBhopal & Sanchi · Ujjain · Khajuraho · Bandhavgarh National Park

Cultural holidaysWildlife safaris

Heart of India Tour

Temples, stupas and tigers: Sanchi, Ujjain, Khajuraho and Bandhavgarh in one Madhya Pradesh journey.

3D / 2NKolkata

Kolkata Heritage & Food

Victoria Memorial, a heritage tram, Kumartuli's idol makers, College Street and a sweet-shop trail.

Festival and seasonal tripsPhotography holidays

5D / 4NKolkata

Kolkata Durga Puja Special

Four nights during Durga Puja to see the city's pandals, rituals and street celebrations at their peak.

5D / 4NBhubaneswar · Puri · Konark

Odisha Golden Triangle

Bhubaneswar's temples, Puri's Jagannath and beach, and the Sun Temple at Konark, with Raghurajpur's painters.

6D / 5NBhubaneswar · Puri · Chilika Lake

Photography holidaysCultural holidays

Odisha Temples, Lakes & Birds

Temples, crafts and winter birding at Mangalajodi and Nalabana on Asia's largest brackish-water lagoon.

4D / 3NBodh Gaya · Nalanda & Rajgir

Bodh Gaya Pilgrimage

The Mahabodhi Temple and international monasteries, then Rajgir's Vulture's Peak and Nalanda's ruins.

6D / 5NGuwahati · Kaziranga National Park · Majuli

Cultural holidaysWildlife safaris

Assam Tea, Rhinos & River Islands

Rhino safaris in Kaziranga's grasslands, then a ferry across the Brahmaputra to Majuli for its Vaishnavite monasteries, mask makers and Mishing stilt villages.

8D / 7NGuwahati · Shillong · Cherrapunji (Sohra) · Kaziranga National Park

Northeast Grand Tour

Guwahati, Meghalaya's plateau, Kaziranga and the river island of Majuli, a deep introduction to the Northeast.

Adventure holidaysCultural holidays

5D / 4NGuwahati · Tawang

Tawang Monastery Trip

The Sela Pass, Tawang Monastery and high lakes, with an Inner Line Permit and a night at Dirang or Bomdila on the way.

4D / 3NZiro Valley

Ziro Valley & Music Festival

Apatani villages, rice-fish fields and the Ziro Festival of Music in September (outside festival dates, a quiet village stay).

4D / 3NKohima

Hornbill Festival Tour

The Hornbill Festival at Kisama in early December, plus Khonoma village and the Kohima War Cemetery.

4D / 3NRanchi · Deoghar

Ranchi Waterfalls & Deoghar

Hundru, Dassam and Jonha falls around Ranchi, then darshan at the Baidyanath Jyotirlinga in Deoghar.

5D / 4NRaipur · Jagdalpur (Bastar)

Chhattisgarh & Bastar Discovery

Sirpur's ancient temples near Raipur, then Chitrakote Falls, Kanger Valley caves and tribal haats in Bastar.

4D / 3NImphal and Loktak Lake

Manipur: Imphal & Loktak Lake

Imphal's Kangla Fort and women's market, a boat ride on Loktak's floating islands and the sangai deer at Keibul Lamjao.

5D / 4NGwalior · Orchha

Gwalior & Orchha Heritage Trail

Gwalior's hilltop fort and Jai Vilas Palace, then the riverside palaces and cenotaphs of Orchha.

4D / 3NChettinad · Madurai

Chettinad Heritage & Food Trail

Two nights in a restored Chettiar mansion with a cooking class and tile workshops, then the Meenakshi temple in Madurai.

4D / 3NVadodara · Statue of Unity (Ekta Nagar)

Vadodara & Statue of Unity

Laxmi Vilas Palace and the UNESCO site of Champaner-Pavagadh, then the Statue of Unity at Kevadia.

5D / 4NUdaipur · Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur · Chittorgarh

Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh & Chittorgarh Forts

Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh & Chittorgarh Forts

Udaipur's lakes and City Palace, the 36 km wall of Kumbhalgarh with Ranakpur's marble temple, then the great hill fort of Chittorgarh.

4D / 3NJaipur · Mandawa (Shekhawati)

Jaipur & Shekhawati Painted Havelis

Jaipur's Amber Fort and Hawa Mahal, then two nights in Mandawa with a guided walk through the frescoed merchant havelis of Shekhawati.

Cultural holidaysBeach holidays

4D / 3NKannur

Kannur Theyyam & Malabar Coast

Three nights on the Malabar coast for theyyam at village shrines, St Angelo Fort, the Muzhappilangad drive-in beach and Thalassery biryani.

5D / 4NVijayapura (Bijapur) · Badami · Hampi

Vijayapura, Badami & Hampi Heritage

The domes of Gol Gumbaz and Ibrahim Rauza at Vijayapura, the cave temples of Badami, then two nights among the ruins of Hampi.

5D / 4NKochi · Kodungallur · Malayattoor

Kerala St Thomas Christian Trail

Santa Cruz Basilica and St Francis Church in Fort Kochi, the Marthoma shrine at Azhikode where St Thomas is believed to have landed, and the hill shrine of Malayattoor.

5D / 4NAgra · Fatehpur Sikri · Ajmer

Agra, Fatehpur Sikri & Ajmer Sharif

The Taj Mahal, ziyarat at Shaikh Salim Chishti's dargah in Fatehpur Sikri, then two nights in Ajmer for the Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti and Thursday qawwali.

3D / 2NKochi · Kodungallur

Kochi & Cheraman Juma Masjid

Fort Kochi's spice-trade quarter and Mattancherry, then Kodungallur's Cheraman Juma Masjid, traditionally held to be India's first mosque, and the Muziris heritage sites.

4D / 3NThanjavur · Velankanni

Velankanni, Nagore & Thanjavur

The Brihadeeswara temple at Thanjavur, then Velankanni's basilica and the Nagore Dargah, three faiths along the Kaveri delta coast.

3D / 2NAjmer · Pushkar

Ajmer Sharif & Pushkar

Ziyarat and qawwali at the Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer, then Pushkar's lake, ghats and Brahma temple over the hill.

4D / 3NDelhi · Ajmer

Delhi Sufi Trail & Ajmer Sharif

Thursday qawwali at Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah and Jama Masjid in Delhi, then the train to Ajmer for two nights at the Dargah Sharif.

4D / 3NUdaipur · Mount Abu

Dilwara & Ranakpur Jain Temples

The marble Jain temples of Ranakpur on the road from Udaipur, then two nights at Mount Abu for the Dilwara temples' carved ceilings.

3D / 2NMysuru · Shravanabelagola

Shravanabelagola & Mysuru

Mysuru's palace and Chamundi Hill, then the barefoot climb to the great Gommateshwara statue and the basadis of Chandragiri.

4D / 3NPatna · Bodh Gaya

Patna Sahib & Bodh Gaya

Langar at Takht Sri Patna Sahib, birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, then the Mahabodhi Temple and monasteries of Bodh Gaya.

4D / 3NNorth Goa · South Goa

Goa Churches & Old Goa Heritage

The Basilica of Bom Jesus and Se Cathedral in Old Goa, the chapels of Fontainhas and a quiet night in south Goa, timed for the Feast of St Francis Xavier on request.

4D / 3NKolkata

Kolkata, Dakshineswar & Belur Math

Kalighat and Dakshineswar Kali temples, Belur Math across the Hooghly by boat, and the Mother House of Mother Teresa.

3D / 2NChidambaram

Chidambaram Nataraja & Pichavaram

Darshan at the Thillai Nataraja Temple, the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and a rowing boat through the Pichavaram mangroves, timed for Natyanjali on request.

9D / 8NKanchipuram · Chidambaram · Kumbakonam · Thanjavur

Grand Tamil Nadu Temple Tour

Tamil Nadu's great temples in one journey: Kanchipuram, Chidambaram, the Chola temples of Kumbakonam and Thanjavur, Srirangam, Madurai's Meenakshi and Rameswaram.

4D / 3NMadurai

Pongal in Madurai

Mid-January in Madurai for Pongal: kolams and sugarcane in the villages, the Meenakshi temple, and jallikattu at Alanganallur when it is held.

6D / 5NChiang Mai · Chiang Rai

Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai Northern Trail

Northern Thailand's temples, mountains and markets, with the White and Blue Temples and the Golden Triangle.

6D / 5NBangkok · Ayutthaya · Kanchanaburi

Bangkok, Ayutthaya & Kanchanaburi Heritage

Bangkok, Ayutthaya & Kanchanaburi Heritage

Thailand's history beyond Bangkok: the ruins of Ayutthaya, the River Kwai bridge, Hellfire Pass and Erawan Falls.

6D / 5NSukhothai Historical Park · Chiang Mai · Chiang Rai

Northern Thailand & Sukhothai

The first Thai kingdom at Sukhothai, then Chiang Mai's temples and mountains and Chiang Rai's contemporary temples.

6D / 5NBangkok · Chiang Mai

Bangkok & Chiang Mai Culture Trip

Two great cities: Bangkok's grand temples and Chiang Mai's Lanna heritage, cooking class and night markets.

5D / 4NKuala Lumpur · Malacca · Penang

Penang & Malacca Heritage

Two UNESCO port cities with street art, clan houses, Peranakan food and colonial history.

9D / 8NKuala Lumpur · Cameron Highlands · Penang · Langkawi

Malaysia Grand Tour

A slow loop of peninsular Malaysia from Malacca's old town to Langkawi's beaches.

7D / 6NYogyakarta · Ubud · Bali (South Coast)

Java Temples & Bali

Indonesia's two temple heartlands: sunrise near Borobudur and Prambanan's Ramayana ballet in Yogyakarta, then Bali's water temples, rice terraces and beaches.

4D / 3NYogyakarta

Yogyakarta Heritage Short Break

Sunrise near Borobudur, Prambanan's Ramayana ballet, the Kraton and a Merapi jeep ride.

8D / 7NHanoi · Ha Long Bay · Hoi An · Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam Highlights

North to south in eight days: Hanoi's Old Quarter, a Ha Long Bay cruise, lantern-lit Hoi An and Saigon.

10D / 9NHanoi · Sapa · Ha Long Bay · Hoi An

Vietnam Grand Tour

Mountains, bay, old town and Mekong in ten days, including Sapa's terraces.

4D / 3NHo Chi Minh City

Saigon & Mekong Delta

The Cu Chi Tunnels, the War Remnants Museum and a Mekong Delta boat trip to floating markets and orchards.

8D / 7NHanoi · Ha Long Bay · Ho Chi Minh City · Siem Reap (Angkor)

Vietnam & Cambodia

Vietnam's north and south plus Angkor Wat in Cambodia, linked by short flights.

5D / 4NHoi An

Hoi An Food & Culture Trip

A cooking class in Tra Que, street food tours, lantern nights and a day at the My Son ruins.

4D / 3NSiem Reap (Angkor)

Angkor Wat Explorer

Three days at Angkor with sunrise at Angkor Wat, the Bayon's faces, Ta Prohm and Banteay Srei.

6D / 5NPhnom Penh · Siem Reap (Angkor)

Cambodia Discovery

Phnom Penh's palace and memorials, then the temples of Angkor and the Tonle Sap floating villages.

6D / 5NBangkok · Siem Reap (Angkor)

Angkor & Bangkok

Bangkok's temples and markets, then a short flight to the great Khmer temples of Angkor.

6D / 5NLuang Prabang · Vang Vieng

Luang Prabang & Vang Vieng

Temples, alms giving and Kuang Si Falls in Luang Prabang, then caves, kayaking and balloons in Vang Vieng.

7D / 6NChiang Mai · Luang Prabang

Laos & Northern Thailand

Chiang Mai's temples and markets, then a short flight to tranquil Luang Prabang.

8D / 7NTokyo · Kyoto · Osaka

Cultural holidaysTrain journeys

Japan Highlights: Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka

Japan's golden route by bullet train: Tokyo's neighbourhoods, Kyoto's temples and Osaka's food.

7D / 6NKyoto · Nara · Osaka

Kyoto & Osaka Culture Trip

The Kansai region in depth: Kyoto's shrines, Nara's deer and Osaka's street food.

8D / 7NSeoul · Busan · Jeju Island

South Korea Highlights

Seoul's palaces and K-pop, Busan's beaches and markets, and volcanic Jeju Island.

8D / 7NBeijing · Xi'an · Shanghai

China Highlights: Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai

China Highlights: Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai

The Great Wall and Forbidden City, the Terracotta Army and Shanghai's Bund by high-speed train.

7D / 6NBeijing · Shanghai

Beijing & Shanghai

China's two great cities linked by bullet train, with Shanghai Disneyland as an option.

6D / 5NColombo · Kandy · Nuwara Eliya

Sri Lanka Ramayana Trail

Sites linked to the Ramayana, including Seetha Amman Temple and Ravana Falls, with Kandy's shrine.

5D / 4NSigiriya & Dambulla · Kandy

Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle

Sri Lanka's ancient heart in four nights: the Sigiriya rock fortress, Dambulla's painted caves, Polonnaruwa's ruins and Kandy's Temple of the Tooth.

11D / 10NColombo · Sigiriya & Dambulla · Kandy · Nuwara Eliya

Sri Lanka Grand Tour

Ten days around the island: ancient cities, tea hills, the Ella train and Galle Fort.

6D / 5NKathmandu · Lumbini · Chitwan National Park

Nepal Buddhist Circuit

Boudhanath and Swayambhunath, the Buddha's birthplace at Lumbini and a Chitwan safari.

8D / 7NKathmandu · Paro · Thimphu

Nepal & Bhutan

Two Himalayan kingdoms in eight days: Kathmandu's Durbar Squares and stupas, then Bhutan's dzongs in Thimphu and the climb to Paro's Tiger's Nest.

6D / 5NThimphu · Punakha · Paro

Bhutan Highlights

Thimphu's dzong and Buddha, Dochula Pass and Punakha, and the hike to Tiger's Nest in Paro.

6D / 5NDubai · Abu Dhabi

Dubai & Abu Dhabi

Dubai's icons plus the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi, BAPS Mandir and Yas Island.

4D / 3NAbu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Culture & Theme Parks

The Grand Mosque, the Louvre, Qasr Al Watan and Yas Island's parks.

5D / 4NMuscat · Nizwa & Jebel Akhdar

Oman Discovery

Muscat's mosque and souq, Nizwa's fort and a night in the Wahiba Sands desert.

3D / 2NQatar

Doha Stopover

Museums, Souq Waqif and a desert safari to the Inland Sea on a two-night stopover.

6D / 5NAmman & the Dead Sea · Petra · Wadi Rum

Jordan Highlights

Jerash and the Dead Sea, two days at Petra and a night in a Wadi Rum desert camp.

9D / 8NAmman & the Dead Sea · Petra · Cairo & Giza · Luxor

Jordan & Egypt

Petra's rock-cut city and Egypt's pyramids and Luxor temples in one journey.

8D / 7NRome · Florence & Tuscany · Venice

Italy Highlights: Rome, Florence & Venice

Italy Highlights: Rome, Florence & Venice

Italy's three great art cities by fast train: ancient Rome and the Vatican, Renaissance Florence and the canals and islands of Venice.

5D / 4NRome

Rome Short Break

Ancient Rome, the Vatican Museums, Trastevere and a day trip to Pompeii.

7D / 6NFlorence & Tuscany · Rome

Italy Food & Culture Trip

Cooking classes in Tuscany, a Roman food walk and markets in two culinary capitals.

8D / 7NLondon · Edinburgh · Scottish Highlands

London & Scotland

London's landmarks, then by train to Edinburgh's castle and Royal Mile and on into the Highlands for Loch Ness, Glencoe and Skye.

8D / 7NBarcelona · Madrid · Seville & Andalusia

Spain Highlights

Gaudí's Barcelona, Madrid's museums and the Moorish heritage of Seville and Granada.

5D / 4NSeville & Andalusia

Andalusia Heritage Trail

Seville's Alcázar and cathedral, plus day trips to the Alhambra in Granada and Córdoba's Mezquita.

6D / 5NLisbon · Porto & the Douro Valley

Portugal Highlights

Portugal's two cities by train: Lisbon's trams, fado and a day in Sintra's palaces, then Porto's riverside and a Douro Valley vineyard trip.

6D / 5NBerlin · Munich & Bavaria · Black Forest

Germany Highlights

Germany north to south: Berlin's Wall and museums, Munich and Neuschwanstein Castle, and a night in the Black Forest.

7D / 6NVienna · Salzburg & Hallstatt · Innsbruck & Tyrol

Austria Highlights

Austria in six nights: Vienna's palaces and concerts, Mozart's Salzburg with a day at lakeside Hallstatt, and Alpine Innsbruck.

7D / 6NVienna · Czech Republic (Czechia) · Hungary

Vienna, Prague & Budapest

Three great Central European capitals by train: Vienna's palaces and coffee houses, Prague's castle and bridges, Budapest's baths and Danube views.

6D / 5NAthens · Santorini

Cultural holidaysCouples' holidays

Athens & Santorini

Two nights in Athens for the Acropolis and Plaka, then a ferry or flight to Santorini for three nights among its white clifftop villages.

7D / 6NIstanbul · Cappadocia · Pamukkale & Ephesus

Turkey Highlights

Turkey's three essentials: Istanbul's mosques and bazaars, Cappadocia's balloons and valleys, and the white travertine terraces of Pamukkale.

8D / 7NIstanbul · Cappadocia · Pamukkale & Ephesus

Turkey Grand Tour

A fuller Turkey trip with internal flights: Istanbul, two nights in Cappadocia and two at Pamukkale for the terraces and the ruins of Ephesus.

7D / 6NCairo & Giza · Luxor · Aswan & Abu Simbel

Cultural holidaysCruise and houseboat holidays

Egypt Highlights with Nile Cruise

The pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, then a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan.

4D / 3NCairo & Giza

Cairo Short Break

Three nights in Cairo for the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, Saqqara's Step Pyramid, the Grand Egyptian Museum and Khan el-Khalili bazaar.

9D / 8NCairo & Giza · Aswan & Abu Simbel · Luxor

Egypt Grand Tour

Egypt in depth: Cairo's pyramids and museums, Aswan with Philae and Abu Simbel, then three nights in Luxor for Karnak and the Valley of the Kings.

7D / 6NMarrakech · Merzouga (Sahara) · Fes

Morocco Highlights

Marrakech's souqs, a Sahara camp at Merzouga and the medieval medina of Fes.

8D / 7NMexico City · Cancún & Riviera Maya

Cultural holidaysBeach holidays

Mexico Highlights

Teotihuacan and Frida Kahlo's Mexico City, then the Caribbean and Mayan ruins.

5D / 4NMexico City

Mexico City Culture Trip

Four nights in Mexico City for the Anthropology Museum, Frida Kahlo's house, a balloon over Teotihuacan and Xochimilco's boats.

5D / 4NCusco & the Sacred Valley · Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu & Cusco

Cusco, the Sacred Valley and a night at Aguas Calientes for an early entry to Machu Picchu.

7D / 6NSydney · Melbourne & the Great Ocean Road

Sydney & Melbourne

Australia's two great cities, with the Blue Mountains and Phillip Island's penguins.

6D / 5NAuckland · Rotorua

New Zealand North Island

The North Island in five nights: Auckland's harbour, the Hobbiton set, Waitomo's glowworm caves and Māori culture and geysers in Rotorua.

5D / 4NZurich · Bern · Interlaken & Jungfrau

Cultural holidaysTrain journeys

Zurich, Bern & Interlaken

Zurich's lakefront, a night in Bern's arcaded old town by the Aare, then two nights in Interlaken for Jungfraujoch and the lakes.

5D / 4NBelgium

Brussels & Bruges

The Grand-Place, Atomium and chocolate workshops in Brussels, with a night in canal-lined Bruges and a day in Ghent.

Cultural holidaysCouples' holidays

7D / 6NRomania

Transylvania Castles & Bucharest

Bucharest's grand boulevards, Peleș and Bran castles, and the medieval towns of Brașov, Sighișoara and Sibiu.

Cultural holidaysBudget holidays

6D / 5NBulgaria

Bulgaria: Sofia, Rila & Plovdiv

Sofia's golden-domed cathedral, the frescoed Rila Monastery, Plovdiv's Roman theatre and the Valley of Roses.

6D / 5NVienna · Slovakia · Hungary

Vienna, Bratislava & Budapest

Three Danube capitals: imperial Vienna, Bratislava's castle and old town, and Budapest's thermal baths and river views.

8D / 7NMoscow · St Petersburg

Moscow & St Petersburg

Red Square and the Kremlin in Moscow, the Sapsan train north, then the Hermitage, canals and Peterhof in St Petersburg.

6D / 5NArmenia

Armenia: Monasteries & Mount Ararat

Yerevan, Khor Virap beneath Ararat, Garni and Geghard, Lake Sevan and the Wings of Tatev cable car.

7D / 6NIsrael

Israel Holy Land Tour

Jerusalem's Old City, the Dead Sea and Masada, the Sea of Galilee and Tel Aviv–Jaffa, subject to current travel advice.

8D / 7NTashkent · Samarkand · Bukhara · Khiva

Uzbekistan Silk Road

Tashkent, the Registan in Samarkand, Bukhara's old town and walled Khiva, linked by high-speed train.

4D / 3NKathmandu · Lumbini

Lumbini Pilgrimage

The Maya Devi Temple where the Buddha was born, the Ashoka pillar and the international monasteries of Lumbini, with Boudhanath in Kathmandu.

4D / 3NRome

Rome & Vatican Pilgrimage

St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, the Papal audience when scheduled, and the major basilicas and catacombs of Rome.

5D / 4NLisbon · Porto & the Douro Valley

Lisbon, Fatima & Porto Pilgrimage

Lisbon's churches and old quarters, a stop at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima for the candlelight procession on the way north, then Porto's Sé Cathedral and riverside.

4D / 3NIstanbul

Istanbul Mosques & Ottoman Heritage

Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Süleymaniye and the Eyüp Sultan Mosque, with the Topkapı Palace relics and a Bosphorus cruise.

4D / 3NUbud

Bali Temple Trail

Tirta Empul's holy springs, Besakih mother temple, Tanah Lot and Uluwatu at sunset, with temple sarongs and offerings explained.

5D / 4NKandy · Sigiriya & Dambulla

Sri Lanka Buddhist Trail

The Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the Dambulla cave temples and the sacred city of Anuradhapura with its Bodhi tree, from a Sigiriya base.

6D / 5NThimphu · Punakha · Paro

Bhutan Monasteries & Tiger's Nest

Thimphu's dzong and Buddha Dordenma, Punakha Dzong at the river confluence, and the hike to Taktsang, the Tiger's Nest, above Paro.

5D / 4NTashkent · Samarkand

Cultural holidaysGroup tours

Tashkent & Samarkand Short Break

Tashkent's Khast Imam complex, Chorsu Bazaar and metro, then the Afrosiyob train to Samarkand for the Registan, Shah-i-Zinda and Timur's tomb.

6D / 5NTashkent · Samarkand

Tashkent, Chimgan & Samarkand

Tashkent with a day in the Chimgan mountains and Charvak Lake, then Samarkand's blue-tiled madrasas by high-speed train.

7D / 6NAlmaty · Astana

Almaty & Astana

Almaty's mountains, lakes and canyon, then a short flight to Astana for the Bayterek Tower, Khan Shatyr and the capital's bold architecture.

9D / 8NTashkent · Samarkand · Almaty · Bishkek

Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan

Three Central Asian countries in one trip: Tashkent and Samarkand on the Silk Road, Almaty's mountains, and Bishkek with the Ala-Archa gorge.

7D / 6NBaku · Gabala · Sheki

Baku, Gabala & Sheki

Baku's old city and Caspian boulevard, the Tufandag cable cars and Nohur Lake in Gabala, and the painted Palace of the Shaki Khans.

7D / 6NTbilisi · Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) · Batumi

Highlights of Georgia

Tbilisi and Mtskheta, a night in the mountains at Kazbegi, and the scenic train to Batumi's Black Sea boulevard.

8D / 7NTbilisi · Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) · Armenia

Georgia & Armenia

Tbilisi and the Caucasus at Kazbegi, then the road south to Yerevan for Khor Virap beneath Ararat, Garni and Geghard.

5D / 4NMoscow

Moscow City Break

Red Square, the Kremlin and Armoury, the palace-like metro stations, a Moskva river cruise and an evening at the Bolshoi.

Cultural holidaysCouples' holidays

5D / 4NSt Petersburg

St Petersburg White Nights

The Hermitage, Peterhof's fountains, Catherine Palace's Amber Room and late-night bridge raisings during June's White Nights.

5D / 4NParis · Lourdes

Lourdes & Paris Pilgrimage

Notre-Dame, Sacré-Cœur and the Miraculous Medal chapel in Paris, then the TGV to Lourdes for Mass at the Grotto and the candlelit evening procession.

6D / 5NMadurai · Rameswaram · Colombo · Kandy

Madurai, Rameswaram & Sri Lanka

Madurai's Meenakshi temple and Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, then a short flight to Colombo and the hill city of Kandy, linking the temples of both shores.

6D / 5NThimphu · Punakha · Paro

Bhutan Happiness Tour

Six days in the Land of the Thunder Dragon: Thimphu's giant Buddha, the 108 chortens of Dochula Pass, Punakha's river-fort and the cliffside Tiger's Nest monastery above Paro.

6D / 5NKandy · Nuwara Eliya · Bentota · Colombo

Sri Lanka Highlights Holiday

Hill temples, tea estates and a beach finish in six easy days: Kandy's Temple of the Tooth, Nuwara Eliya's tea country and Ramayana sites, a Bentota river safari and a Colombo city tour.

8D / 7NTokyo · Mount Fuji & Hakone · Kyoto · Osaka

Japan Golden Route

Japan's classic first trip: Tokyo's temples and neon, a ryokan night by Mount Fuji, the bullet train to Kyoto's shrines and bamboo grove, a Nara day with the deer and Osaka's food streets.

6D / 5NBeijing · Shanghai

China: Beijing & Shanghai

Imperial Beijing and modern Shanghai: the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall at Mutianyu, then a high-speed train to Shanghai for the Bund, Yu Garden and the view from the Shanghai Tower.

8D / 7NHanoi · Ha Long Bay · Da Nang · Ho Chi Minh City

Cultural holidaysCruise and houseboat holidays

Vietnam North to South

The length of Vietnam in eight days: Hanoi's Old Quarter, a night aboard a cruise in Ha Long Bay, the Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills and lantern-lit Hoi An, then Saigon, the Cu Chi tunnels and the Mekong Delta.

9D / 8NBangkok · Siem Reap (Angkor) · Manila · Boracay

Multi-country toursBeach holidays

Thailand, Cambodia & Philippines

Three countries, three moods: Bangkok's Grand Palace and floating market, sunrise over Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, and three beach nights on Boracay's White Beach in the Philippines.

6D / 5NDelhi · Agra · Jaipur

Golden Triangle Group Tour: Delhi, Agra & Jaipur

Group toursCultural holidays

Golden Triangle Group Tour: Delhi, Agra & Jaipur

India's classic Golden Triangle as a group tour with a tour manager: Old and New Delhi, sunrise at the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, and Jaipur's Amber Fort and bazaars.

Best forCouples, weekend breaks, heritage and food lovers

167 itineraries

Where to go

Destinations for cultural holidays

South India

HeritageBeachCity

Puducherry

Puducherry (Pondicherry) is a former French enclave three hours south of Chennai.

Best forFirst-time visitors, history and food lovers

North India

CityHeritageFood

Delhi

Delhi is two cities in one: the lanes of Old Delhi around the Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk, and the broad avenues of Lutyens' New Delhi.

Best forArchitecture lovers, families, stopovers en route to the hills

North India

CityHeritageCulture

Chandigarh

Chandigarh is India's first planned city, laid out by Le Corbusier in the 1950s as the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana.

Best forCouples, entertainment lovers

East Asia

CityHeritageNightlife

Macau

Macau, a former Portuguese colony, blends a UNESCO-listed historic centre of churches and squares with the casino resorts and shows of the Cotai Strip.

Middle East

CityDesertCulture

Qatar

Qatar is a compact Gulf state whose capital, Doha, has world-class museums, a restored souq and a waterfront Corniche.

Best forStopovers, culture lovers

Best forCouples, families, art lovers

CityCultureNature

Netherlands

The Netherlands is small, flat and easy to explore: Amsterdam's canals and museums, the windmills of Zaanse Schans and Kinderdijk, Keukenhof's tulip gardens in spring and the cheese town of Volendam.

Best forCity lovers, Scandinavia combos

CityNatureCulture

Sweden

Sweden's capital Stockholm is spread over fourteen islands, with a medieval old town, the Vasa warship museum and a vast archipelago for boat trips.

CityHeritageCulture

Czech Republic (Czechia)

Prague is one of Europe's best-preserved medieval cities, with a castle complex, the Charles Bridge, the Old Town Square's astronomical clock and Gothic and Baroque streets.

Best forCouples, history lovers

Best forCouples, culture and wellness lovers

CityHeritageCulture

Hungary

Budapest straddles the Danube, with hilly Buda's castle district facing grand Pest and its Parliament building.

Best forCouples, food and culture lovers

South America

CityCultureFood

Argentina

Buenos Aires is a European-style capital of grand avenues, tango halls and steakhouses.

Best forFamilies, design lovers, Scandinavia combinations

CityCultureFamily

Denmark

Denmark is a small, friendly Scandinavian country that is easy to explore.

Best forCouples, food lovers, Benelux combinations

CityHeritageFood

Belgium

Belgium packs a lot into a small country: the Grand-Place in Brussels, the canals and belfry of medieval Bruges, Ghent's castle and Antwerp's diamond quarter, all linked by quick trains.

Best forRoad-trippers, nature lovers, couples

NatureCityCulture

Ireland

Ireland is famous for green landscapes, dramatic Atlantic cliffs and warm hospitality.

Best forCouples, history lovers, value seekers

HeritageNatureCulture

Romania

Romania is one of Europe's best-value destinations, with fairy-tale castles, medieval Saxon towns and the wild Carpathian Mountains.

Best forCouples, culture lovers, budget-conscious travellers

HeritageNatureBeach

Bulgaria

Bulgaria combines Orthodox monasteries, Roman ruins and Black Sea beaches at prices well below Western Europe.

Best forCentral Europe combinations, hikers, castle lovers

HeritageMountainNature

Slovakia

Slovakia is central Europe's quiet secret, with a compact capital on the Danube, more castles per head than almost anywhere, and the High Tatra mountains.

Central Asia & the Caucasus

HeritageCultureMountain

Armenia

Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity, and its mountain monasteries are among the most atmospheric in the world.

Best forCouples, culture lovers, first-time Europe-style trips on a budget

HeritagePilgrimageCulture

Middle East

Israel

Israel holds sites sacred to three faiths within a small area.

Best forPilgrims, history lovers

Best forFood lovers, families, first-time East Asia trips

East Asia

CityNatureFood

Taiwan

Taiwan is a safe, efficient island with superb food and dramatic scenery.

Best forCity breaks, culture, food lovers

CityHeritageBeach

Chennai

Chennai is Tamil Nadu's capital and the gateway to the south: a coastal city of Dravidian temples, colonial-era landmarks and Marina Beach, with a serious Carnatic music and dance scene every December.

Best forHistory lovers, day trips, couples

HeritageBeach

Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) is a seaside town of seventh- and eighth-century Pallava stone carvings, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

PilgrimageHeritageShopping

Kanchipuram

Kanchipuram, the city of a thousand temples, was the Pallava capital and remains one of Hinduism's seven sacred cities.

Best forPilgrims, culture and shopping

PilgrimageHeritageCulture

Madurai

Madurai is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in India and grew around the Meenakshi Amman Temple, whose fourteen gopurams are covered in thousands of painted figures.

Best forPilgrims, culture, photography

PilgrimageBeachHeritage

Rameswaram

Rameswaram is an island town linked to the mainland by the Pamban bridges and is one of the Char Dham pilgrimages.

Best forPilgrims, families