Share the article
Last updated
Whether you hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, follow in the footsteps of legendary gladiators at the Roman Colosseum, or take a scenic cruise through the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay, we are always searching for our thoughts blown away on holiday.
Cultural experiences continue to lead travel trends around the world, especially among American travelers, who don’t encounter fairytale towns or majestic castles as often as their European or Asian counterparts. Luckily for the culture-hungry American, TripAdvisor has their back.
As usual every year, the popular travel agency unveiled her latest list by The best things to do on holidayincluding five unique and incredible traveler experiences:
All-inclusive tour Chichen Itza, Cenote and Valladolid
- Departs from: Cancun, Mexico
- Duration: 12 hours
- Price: from $58.65 Viator
- Group size: maximum 40 people
- Approval Rate: recommended by 96% of travelers
We come in at number five and have the ‘Best of the Best’ certified tour of the highlights of Yucatandeparting from the Hotel Zone in Cancun and other select spots in the wider Riviera Maya, the premier resort destination for Americans traveling to Mexico.
When you book this experience, you will stop at Chichen Itzaone of the New 7 Wonders of the World, an ancient archaeological site dating back to the period of Mayan rule, a cenote sinkhole where you can swim in crystal clear waters, and the storybook colonial city of Valladolid.
Since hotel pickup, a bilingual guide, a buffet meal, and entrance tickets to the attractions for all-inclusive guests are included, this tour one of the easiest ways to explore the Mayan world stress-free: from transport to food, almost everything is arranged.
Discover the Angkor Wat Small Group Sunrise Tour with Guide from Siem Reap
- Departs from: Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Duration: 8 o’clock
- Price: from $19 Viator
- Group size: maximum 13 people
- Approval Rate: recommended by 99% of travelers
This one’s for the off-path adventurers: Located in Cambodia, a fascinating Southeast Asian country with a long history spanning thousands of years, Angkor Wat is an archaeological site containing the ruins of the bygone Khmer kingdom, which existed from the 9th to the 15th century .
A huge complex of UNESCO protected stone temples known for their richly carved exteriors, some as old as 1200 years, Angkor Wat and its spearheads chedithe tower-like structures found throughout the park are so iconic that they appear on the Cambodian flag.
The tour itself has a maximum of 13 guests per group, keeping crowds to a minimum.
It starts at sunrise, which means you can soak up the antiquity and mystique of the place as the blood-orange sun rises, and most importantly: without the usual hordes of tourists.
All-inclusive Amsterdam cruise by Captain Jack
- Departs from: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Duration: 1h30
- Price: from $43.69 Viator
- Group size: maximum 20 people
- Approval Rate: recommended by 98% of travelers
Famous for its complex system of navigable canals, lined with gaunt buildings in every muted color known to man, and stately northern Mannerist palaces, Amsterdam itself is a bucket list item for almost every American traveler crossing the pond.
There are many ways to take an unforgettable trip to the capital of the Netherlands, whether you pub crawl the Red Light District or get lost in the art-filled halls of the Rijksmuseum, but nothing is more representative of Amsterdam than take a boat tour through the canals.
If you’re short on time, this is by far the easiest way to discover all the main sights, including the Anne Frank House and the postcard-style houses of the Prinsengracht, while sipping a hot drink and munching on Dutch snack baskets, and hear fun facts only a local guide would know.
All-inclusive private tour of Ubud
- Departs from: Ubud (Bali), Indonesia
- Duration: 8-10 hours
- Price: from $90 Viator (per adult)
- Group size: intimate groups
- Approval Rate: recommended by 99% of travelers
Bali, Indonesia’s most popular island, is one haven for wellness seekers and beachgoers, and between the hundreds of ancient temples it’s home to and the picturesque coastline, there’s certainly no shortage of great activities to get involved in.
The top-rated tour on TripAdvisor departs from Ubud and takes you to some of the main highlights in Bali’s trendiest province, including the Instagrammable Tegalalang Rice Terrace, the beautiful Tegenungan Waterfall and even the Sacred Monkey Forest.
A private excursion including pick-up and drop-off at your preferred location and all can be adjusted based on your travel preferences, it’s almost perfect 99% approval rate on the platform, with a whopping 9,529 reviews, most of which are positive.
The Unconquered tour in Porto city center
- Departs from: Porto, Portugal
- Duration: 2h30
- Price: from $3.31 Viator
- Group size: maximum 25 people
- Approval Rate: recommended by 99% of travelers
The Unvanquished Tour of Porto’s Historic Center, number one, is a guided walking tour of Northern Portugal’s main river port, as well as the most budget-friendly tour on this list, costing from just $3.31 to book.
You can expect large groups because of the low prices, but also a ‘passionate and informative‘guide, beautiful sights including the richly decorated Carmo Church, the baroque Clerigos Tower and Lello bookshop, and ‘amazing stories’ about Porto, told by a local.
There are no recordings included, and for this you need to put on your comfortable shoes, because Porto is quite hilly and you will have to walk a lot; on the other hand, this is the best choice to discover the city in less than 3 hours if you are only there for a short stopover.
✈️Join our Travel Off Path community forum: Where travelers come together, ask questions, share experiences and even find like-minded travel companions!
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to the latest Travel Off Path breaking travel news, delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
