A lifelong commitment to learning is what keeps you young. It’s why we believe these cultural experiences can enrich and connect adults of all generations! If you’ve been dreaming (for some time) of an immersive vacation with your grown-up kids, then jump at the chance to dive into different cultures, from Japanese sake to discovering Native American traditions, and reconnect with one another.
Here are some cultural experiences, from world-famous traditons to hidden gems, to inspire your next family holiday.
Visit an award-winning organic vineyard in Portugal
Raise your glass to the good life when you tour Europe with your grown-up kids. On Trafalgar’s Best of Portugal trip, the fun ends with an unforgettable MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience at Vale da Capucha, a family-owned vineyard just north of the capital, Lisbon. Here, approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the Atlantic Ocean, the winemakers produce natural, organic and biodynamic wines. You’ll learn all about it before saying tchin tchin! and tasting the estate’s top-notch vinho over a relaxed dinner.
Watch artisans do Venetian glassblowing
Venetian glassblowing is an ancient craft that’s more like live theatre. A master gathers molten glass on the end of a blowpipe, spins it with decades of learned precision, then inflates it like bubblegum. One wrong breath, it shatters. Grown-up kids will love the mix of danger, skill and design cred. Think centuries-old techniques used to make modern masterpieces. Best of all, it’s a great souvenir to remember Trafalgar’s Best of Italy.
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Taste Japanese Sake in Takayama
Wander the Edo-style streets of Takayama Old Town and taste sake where it’s been brewed for centuries on Trafalgar’s Splendours of Japan trip. This special Dive Into Culture experience reveals how small, family-run breweries here each make their own expression of the region, shaped by the mountain water. Rice, climate and patience are the ket ingredients to sake. Plus, there’s no cultural experience that quite matches trying something at the source. That same day you’ll also visit a family-run washi paper workshop.
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Be My Guest immersive meals
The best experience on a Trafalgar tour might not be the bucket list sights you’ve been dreaming of, but the immersive Be My Guest meals that drop you into local life. In Sri Lanka you’ll join Mrs Shahira Mahuroof in her Galle home for a feast of local dishes and storytelling. While in Italy you might dine with the Cinque Family at Villa Toscanini at Lake Maggiore. Each meal throws you into family homes, historic estates or working farms, where recipes come with stories and wine flows like conversation. Think unscripted, raw, real cultural experiences with generous hosts who have called the land home (often) for generations.
Pick produce at Thanh Dong organic farm in Vietnam
Cultural experiences can be about postive change. On Trafalgar’s Highlights of Vietnam you’ll head into Thanh Dong Village, home to Hoi An’s first organic farm. Pull on a traditional ba ba outfit and head into the fields with local farmers to harvest vegetables the same way they do every day. It’s hands-on, practical and refreshingly real to learn why chemical-free farming matters, and the calm countryside views are just a bonus. Finish the morning with cassava and green tea, then enjoy a traditional foot massage.
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Learn about pisco and shake up two cocktails in Peru
Shake, stir and sip your way into Peruvian culture with a hands-on Pisco lesson led by local chef Ignacio. On Trafalgar’s Highlights of Peru your adult kids and you will learn how to pour the perfect Pisco Sour while learning about the story behind pisco itself, a grape-based spirit with strong national pride. Then, you’ll make the true local favourite: the Chilcano, it’s lighter, zingier and dangerously drinkable cousin. This drink mixes pisco with lime, ginger ale and bitters. It’s an easy and delicious recipe you can recreate at family lunches back home!
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Explore a traditional tannery in Fez
The tanneries of ancient Fez are a timewarp from the Middle Ages. From above, the Moroccan imperial city’s dye pits look like a painter’s palette, each stone vat filled with colour and centuries of history. Watch (with a bunch of mint under your nose) as artisans stomp, soak and dye leather exactly as their families have done for generations, using historic methods. This is one of those cultural experiences that makes you appreciate the hard work and craftsmanship that goes into every leather jacket, bag and slipper.
Connect with Māori traditions in New Zealand
No trip to New Zealand is complete without an evening spent exploring Māori culture. Trafalgar’s Contrasts Of New Zealand includes an enlightening and entertaining evening with a cultural performance and hāngī-inspired dinner. Storytelling and song come alive through powerful performances as the Pohutu Geyser erupts nearby. Then taste traditional cooking with a hāngī (way of cooking food in hot earth) meal.
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Taste the holy trinity – wine, cheese and bread – in Switzerland
Pull up a chair at a family-run vineyard overlooking Lake Geneva and let Swiss hospitality do the rest. The winemaker here will top up your glass with a local vintage while explaining what the lake, slopes and seasons bring to each glass. Add regional Swiss cheeses and crusty breads for a fulfilling and enchanting day with spectacular lake views. It’s a moment your adult kids will love on Trafalgar’s Swiss Delight tour.
Visit a Maasai village in Kenya
After a morning safari game drive on Trafalgar’s Wonders of Kenya you’ll head into a Maasai village in the Maasai Mara National Reserve for an immersive experience. Take a guided walk through the village with a local Maasai host who will share what daily life looks like today – from family structures to customs passed down over generations. Then watch the warriors perform their famous jumping dance, a powerful display of strength and rhythm. Finally, you’ll try your hand at traditional bush hunting skills and leave with a deeper understanding of Maasai culture.
Meet third-generation Bosnian coppersmiths
Step inside a small family-run workshop in Bosnia to meet third-generation coppersmiths Adnan and Kenan. These two are almost like guardians of this Ottoman-era craft and using repurposed war materials, they transform copper into intricate coffee sets, delicate jewelry and decorative pieces. On Trafalgar’s Balkan Delight you’ll watch skilled hands at work and see the contrast in quality compared to mass-produced goods. This special MAKE TRAVEL MATTER experience helps keep this tradition alive for generations to come.
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Discover Lakota culture through song and dance
Connect with Native American culture through a one-of-a-kind encounter with Stephen Yellowhawk. The performer of more than 20 years shares his passion and the history of his tribe over a fun evening of dance and song. Raised by his grandparents from the Lakota tribe and Onondaga Iroquois tribe, Stephen will share his family and tribal history, culture and traditions with guests on Trafalgar’s National Park Wonders trip.
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Taste a wee dram at the source in Scotland
No trip to Scotland would be complete without a distillery tour. On Trafalgar’s Best of Ireland and Scotland guests step into the Clydeside Distillery in Glasgow for a Dive Into Culture tour. You’ll explore the distillery’s heritage, seeing how Scotland’s favorite amber spirit is crafted from grain to glass. Learn the secrets behind distillation, maturation and the distinctive flavors that make each aged whisky unique. Then it’s your turn to taste a wee dram, of course!
FAQs
What is a cultural experience?
A cultural experience goes beyond just sightseeing. It’s about connecting with the people, traditions and everyday rituals that shape a place and make it different. Think sharing a meal in a family home, learning a craft passed down through generations or hearing stories directly from local hosts. Moments like these add depth to your travels and make the journey feel personal, not packaged or staged.
How do I experience different cultures?
You need time, space and an open mind. Travel with curiosity, ask questions and take part in experiences led by the people who live there. Local culture is made up of many parts, from food and music to farming and craft. When you go guided with Trafalgar, cultural moments are built in alongside sightseeing so you’ll tick off your bucket list but also get a real sense for the places you go as you dine with locals.
Did these cultural experiences inspire your next family holiday? Let us know where you’ll go with your grown-up kids in the comments below…