Culture
The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals
Slide Nr 1Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, Burj Khalifa – been there, done that? As it happens, travellers looking for a more authentic way to delve into local cultures can turn to the peer-to-peer online marketplace. Sites like With Locals, Vayable and even Airbnb are pairing curious travellers with in-the-know locals keen to offer unique experiences and share deeper insights into the people, places and traditions around them. We root out some of the best on offer across the globe.
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Culture
The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals.
Slide Nr 2Witness The Amazing Contrast Of The Traditional And Modern Side Of Dubai – Dubai is a seductive city where tradition meets modernity and old meets new, with both existing in harmony. The Contrasts of Dubai Tour will help you discover the city’s “spicy” history while simultaneously impressing you with its modern luxury and spectacular skyscrapers. Check out the experience on withlocals.com.
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The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals.
Slide Nr 3Stroll Through Medieval London With An Oxford Historian – London is overflowing with restaurants to eat at, bars to drink at and great stores with incredible variety to shop at, but none of these will educate you about this historic city’s storied past – and least, not like this walk around medieval London with an Oxford history graduate and London native will. For movie buffs, during this two-hour walk you’ll see up close the square where William Wallace (I’m talking about you, Braveheart) was executed. Freedom!!! Check out the experience on airbnb.com.
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The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals.
Slide Nr 4Learn The Art Of The Samurai Sword In Tokyo – You might not learn all the secrets of a samurai in just two hours, but this unique experience will offer you the chance to dress like one, hold an unsharpened katana, and take part in a traditional zen meditation – a famous samurai prayer ceremony. The local expert swordsman will also enact a fascinating performance using a real katana, moments before you all have lunch together in a cosy environment. Check out the experience on airbnb.com. [Photo courtesy Yusuke Goto]
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The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals.
Slide Nr 5Eat Like A Greek With A Food Journalist In Athens – If you think Greek cuisine is all about souvlaki and moussaka, then the time is ripe for you to take a food tour with someone who knows their stuff – and can take you to the best markets in Athens. Georgia is a passionate foodie who promises to introduce you to fresh, traditional delicacies at the local markets over two and a half hours. The end of this tour includes a cup of Greek coffee and lively conversation, complete with a stunning view of the Acropolis. Check out the experience on withlocals.com. [Photo courtesy Georgia Zavitsanou]
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Culture
The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals.
Slide Nr 6Experience Argentinean Art In Buenos Aires – Argentina is particularly famous for its rich football history, as well as for inventing the sexy tango and serving up delicious steaks, but once you get a chance to walk the colourful streets of Buenos Aires, you’ll quickly notice something it’s not exactly famous for, but should be: its art. On this intimate tour, you’ll meet and speak with local artists – and catch a rare glimpse of their creative spaces. Check out the experience on vayable.com.
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The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals.
Slide Nr 7Explore Berlin’s Underground Music Scene – A city once partitioned by an unforgiving wall, modern Berlin has become a popular cultural centre where painters, sculptors, musicians and other creatives from around the world freely produce their art. For those searching for a true underground music experience, Berlin offers a distinct encounter with its legendary music scene, both past and present. This “experimental music event” allows you to record your own music samples in the lab of a local sound engineer, who invites you to hang out and will introduce you to many “crazy” audio and video footage samples. Check out the experience on vayable.com.
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Culture
The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals.
Slide Nr 8Go On A Tour With One Of Nelson Mandela’s Prison Wardens In Cape Town – Visiting a prison may not sound like the most ideal way to spend your vacation, but in this case, the immense cultural value of seeing the cell where one of the greatest revolutionaries of the 20th century spent 27 years of his life is definitely worth every minute of the nine-hour tour. What makes things even more authentic is that your tour guide will be one of Mandela’s wardens, who has many first-hand stories to tell. Check out the experience on airbnb.com. [Photo: Wikimedia Commons]
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Culture
The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals.
Slide Nr 9Combine Yoga And Trendy Veggie Dining In Vienna – Austria’s capital is famous for many things, but yoga is definitely not one of them. However, if you happen to be a health-conscious traveller looking to combine sightseeing with a yoga class, followed by a delicious vegetarian dinner at one of the city’s trending veggie restaurants, then you should definitely book this unique tour available once a week on Fridays from 4 p.m. Check out the experience on vayable.com.
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Culture
The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals.
Slide Nr 10“Get Shot” And Live To Tell Your Tale In Los Angeles – No doubt many of us have at some point wondered what it would be like to be an action movie star. If you’d like to find out, take the FataLAtour next time you’re in Los Angeles. It won’t make you a movie star (unfortunately), but you will get to experience being part of an action movie, seeing up close the special effects that make the magic unfold. You’ll tour downtown LA, hearing stories of deaths both real and fictional – and when you’re near the spot of a famous homicide, the blood packs in your strapped-on Hollywood effects pack will automatically explode! When the mini-tour is over, you’ll get a T-shirt as a reminder of how you once stood in Sylvester Stallone’s shoes for a couple of hours. Check out the experience on vayable.com.
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The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals.
Slide Nr 11Take A Street Photography Workshop In Madrid – Vibrant Madrid is an ideal place to master your skills when it comes to street photography; the Mediterranean sun and gorgeous architecture of the Spanish capital will motivate you to interact with the friendly locals and take pictures with them. If, however, observing from a distance is your thing, this workshop can also teach you how to discreetly take photos of strangers on the street. Check out the experience on withlocals.com.
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Culture
The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals.
Slide Nr 12Go On A Sunrise Volcano Trek In Bali – For the daredevils out there seeking an adrenaline rush, taking a selfie atop the second most active volcano in Bali is an unmissable experience. In addition to your moment on the edge of the earth, you’ll get breathtaking views of the crater lake and a spectacular sunrise, all while breathing in the fresh air of this virgin location. Romance and adventure? Check and check. View the experience on withlocals.com.
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Culture
The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals.
Slide Nr 13Get A Close Encounter With Wild Wolves Near Seattle – Only 90 minutes outside Seattle, you can find one of the largest wolf packs and wildlife refuges in the Pacific Northwest. There, your host will introduce you to wolves featured in movies and shows like Game of Thrones, and escort you along sun-dappled trails. In this once-in-a-lifetime experience, you can safely touch, take photos of, or even howl (if you’re brave enough) with wolves, while also glimpsing other beautiful animals that call the region home, including cougars, foxes and rare birds. Check out the experience on airbnb.com.
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Culture
The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals.
Slide Nr 14Reveal Mumbai’s Hidden Divine Knowledge – In one of the world’s most spiritual countries, it would be a shame to leave without seeking out a divine awakening. This Mumbai Temple Tour offers the chance to explore some of the most historic temples and religious places in all of India, where thousands of people come to pray on a daily basis. Even if you’re not religious, the energy and unique aura of these temples is something you’ll want to experience for yourself. Check out the experience on withlocals.com.
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The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals.
Slide Nr 15Discover The Local Culture Of Nairobi – Your hosts Pam and Vio provide an incredible cultural tour in which you can devour delectable Swahili foods, contemplate every stage of Kenyan pottery, and try African dances in a traditional sisal skirt, all over the course of three different experiences spread over three days. Not a bad deal, huh? Check out the experience on airbnb.com.
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The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals.
Slide Nr 16Run And Relive The Renaissance In Florence – Regardless of how fast you can run, your host will be the one deciding the pace on this jogging tour along the streets of Florence, as his main concern is showing you all that this spectacular city has to offer, from architecture to food, natural beauty and fashion boutiques. After the two-hour run is over, you can enjoy a mini Italian breakfast at one of the best bars in the city. Check out the experience on airbnb.com.
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The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals.
Slide Nr 17Tour The Floating Market of Amphawa Near Bangkok – Thailand’s floating markets are some of the most famous attractions in the world, with many tourists visiting Bangkok just to stroll along the banks or take a boat tour. Amphawa Floating Market, also known as “Food Paradise”, is an afternoon and evening market where you can taste some of the best local seafood and tour a magical 17th-century riverside village. The experience also includes a visit to a coconut plantation, as well as lunch at a local shophouse. Check out the experience on withlocals.com.
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Culture
The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals.
Slide Nr 18Roll Cigars At A Plantation In Cuba – Cuba is the undisputed capital of the most delicate and expensive cigars in the world, and the Viñales Valley World Heritage Site is the place where Cubans have been cultivating their tobacco for decades. Walk through the legendary tobacco fields and take in the aroma of the local fermented leaves while learning everything about the tobacco process from beginning to end. Then, enjoy a bit of conversation with the producers over a cigar or a cup of coffee. Check out the experience on airbnb.com.
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The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals.
Slide Nr 19Cruise Through Paris With A Local – Start the day with a tasty croissant while getting to know your host, before hopping aboard a Parisian batobus (boat “bus”) to cruise for the next three hours, taking in the romantic city’s most iconic landmarks as your hosts share their favourite historic facts and funny anecdotes. Once the mini-cruise is over, you’ll explore a trendy Parisian neighborhood where you will end this amazing experience with a beverage at a local café. Check out the experience on airbnb.com.
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The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals.
Slide Nr 20Trek Through The Nature Trails Of Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka’s diverse and luscious hill country is a real paradise for trekkers, offering numerous opportunities to take in clear rivers, dense forests, rushing waterfalls (where you can also swim), lush tea plantations, terraced paddy fields and colourful Kandyan home gardens. Exploring this beautiful scenery is only one of the unforgettable gifts the average city dweller can give themselves while visiting Sri Lanka. Check out the experience on withlocals.com. [Photo courtesy Roshan Wijesekara]
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The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals.
Slide Nr 21Lift Your Spirits With Gospel In Harlem, New York – In the city that never sleeps, you can pretty much do, taste or see all you’ve ever dreamt of, but nothing will lift your spirits quite like this experience: The founder of the Mama Foundation for the Arts will introduce you to the history and art of gospel music, as well as explain its cultural importance in the Harlem district. Don’t hesitate to join the choir and sing along with them if you like. Check out the experience on airbnb.com.
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The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals.
Slide Nr 22Enjoy An Authentic Catalan Breakfast In Barcelona – The “Esmorzar” authentic Catalan breakfast isn’t just a meal, but rather a whole cultural experience that starts with a tour of Barcelona on vintage bicycles and involves hanging out in a cosy, secret bar where you’ll enjoy a delicious breakfast with a bottle of house wine and coffee. Just make sure you don’t drink too much, because the tour continues soon after the meal is over. Check out the experience on vayable.com.
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The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals.
Slide Nr 23Paddle Around Lake Albano With A Kayak Guide – Rome is a magnificent city, but it can get really crowded during peak season and at certain times of the day. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, take refuge on a kayak tour of Lake Albano, just outside the city. You won’t just be taking a dip in nature, but also a leap into the past, as the guide regales you with stories of ancient history. Check out the experience on airbnb.com. [Photo courtesy Stefano Bucci]
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The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals.
Slide Nr 24Free Dive Or Snorkel In The Underwater World Near Sydney – If underwater photography and close encounters with colourful fish are your thing, then the coast off of New South Wales is the place to be. More specifically, Shelly Beach is waiting to be explored, where according to experts, you can see and photograph more species of fish than you could find in the entire Mediterranean Sea. Check out the experience on airbnb.com. [Photo courtesy James Dawson]
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The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals.
Slide Nr 25Uncover The Secrets Of The Cu Chi Tunnels In Ho Chi Minh City – Looking to escape the hectic downtown of Ho Chi Minh City? Head towards the Cambodian border, where your guides will help you safely explore the fascinating tunnels constructed by Viet Cong guerilla fighters under the Cu Chi district during the Vietnam War. During the five-hour tour, you’ll also visit the notorious B-52 bomb crater, see the inside of a bunker, and discover a secret entrance and a bamboo trap. Check out the experience on withlocals.com. [Photo: Bryan/Flickr]
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Culture
The Top 25 Travel Experiences By Locals.
Slide Nr 26Get Lost In The Impressive Batu Caves In Kuala Lumpur – The Batu Caves, one of Kuala Lumpur’s most frequented tourist attractions, is a limestone mountain comprised of three major caves and a number of smaller ones. Your guide will share local knowledge and stories with you during this half-day tour and introduce you to hidden gems along the way. You’ll also visit the magnificent Kanching Falls and later enjoy mouth-watering nasi lemak, a fragrant Malay rice dish cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf. Check out the experience on withlocals.com.
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