Epic Wildlife Adventures You Need To Take Once In Your Life

Get reacquainted with your wild side on Culture Trip’s once-in-a-lifetime nature adventures, featuring close encounters of the animal kind.

Safari guide in jeep as two wild rhinos walk before him

National parks and safari lodges

You’ll struggle to do better than South Africa when it comes to wildlife encounters. Our epic 11-day tour of the country’s gorgeous Garden Route won’t disappoint. After a bit of cultural exploration and a Table Mountain ascent in Cape Town, you’ll get the chance to go kayaking with penguins off the coast of Simons Town. After a boozy detour to the Cape Winelands we’ll continue our journey, first to the ostrich capital of the world, and later the luscious Tsitsikamma National Park. We save the best until last, though, with two nights at a luxurious lodge in the heart of Gondwana Game Reserve. You’ll get to go on up to four safari drives in search of the Big Five – lions, leopards, rhino, elephant and African buffalo – but if you hang out long enough at the infinity pool, the elephants might even come to you.

From US$2899

Next available from 3rd Feb 2024

Secure your spot with a low deposit

Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Cape Town, South Africa

ENDS AT

Cape Town, South Africa

DURATION

11

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

View Trip

Elephant spotted on a safari in Sri Lanka

Encounter leopards and walk with elephants in Sri Lanka

Venture into the authentic heart of Sri Lanka on this 12-day wildlife expedition. You’ll embark on a world renowned train ride through the splendid tea plantations of Kandy and Ella, dine on street food delights in Colombo and discover the remarkable Sigirya rock fortress. Animal lovers will be counting down to day eight, when we head to Udawalawe National Park, which is home to leopards, crocodiles and deer. It’s also the best place to spot elephants in the wilds of Sri Lanka, so our afternoon safari is bound to bare fruit. Don’t worry if not, as we’ll also be visiting a local sanctuary that rehabilitates orphaned baby elephants from the park.

From US$1679

Next available from 9th Mar 2024

Secure your spot with a low deposit

Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Colombo, Sri Lanka

ENDS AT

Colombo, Sri Lanka

DURATION

10

GROUP SIZE

12

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

View Trip

Close up of giant tortoise in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Glamp with giant tortoises in the Galapagos

This unique archipelago off the coast of Ecuador captured the imagination of Charles Darwin for a reason – its diverse array of exotic wildlife is simply extraordinary. Our five-day tour of the islands is dedicated to these animal encounters, starting with white-tipped reef sharks in the Itabaca Channel. We’ll snorkel with penguins and sea lions, stroll past iguanas on the beach and spot rare birdlife while hiking the lava trails of San Cristóbal. We’ll even go glamping in the highlands of Santa Cruz, where a remote campsite is populated with over a hundred giant tortoises, who are free to safely roam the camp.

From US$2499

Next available from 13th Jan 2024

Secure your spot with a low deposit

Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island

ENDS AT

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal Island

DURATION

5

GROUP SIZE

14

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

STYLE

Discovery

View Trip

Hang out with the sloths in Costa Rica

This Central American paradise is unlike anywhere else on Earth. Our eight-day trip takes you from the geothermal hot springs of Arenal Volcano National Park to the mystical cloud forests of Monteverde and, eventually, the Pacific coast. Fuelled by world-class coffee and a hot spring soak, we’ll embark on a sloth-spotting trek through the jungles of Arenal – luckily this shouldn’t be too hard, since they’re going nowhere in a hurry. Then, up in Monteverde, we’ll head out on a nighttime cloud forest walk in search of howler monkeys and pumas. In the laid-back surf town of Tamarindo you can either explore the coastal jungle wildlife, or simply chill on the beach – we won’t judge, you deserve it.

From US$2199

Next available from 6th Apr 2024

Secure your spot with a low deposit

Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

San Jose, Costa Rica

ENDS AT

Tamarindo, Provincia De Guanacaste

DURATION

8

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

View Trip

Nick Dauk, Richard Collett and Louis Rabinowitz contributed to this article.

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.