Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Exploring Cultures through Travel

We believe travel is about more than a vacation. It is about getting to know a country in all its glory, through interacting with local people & seeing places through their eyes. The world we live in consists of an extremely diverse human population which, throughout the ages, has developed distinct cultural & political norms specific to their religion and beliefs.

Today, this diversity has left us with a plethora of events, some traditional with a deep seeded history & some not-so-traditional developed purely for a specific need, that shed light into & allow us to experience cultures different from our own

“The world is a book & those who do not travel read only one page”….. Saint Augustine

Everyone keeps saying how important it is to travel. So what's all this fuss about?

You will be hit by a number of obstacles to overcome when you travel to a foreign land. From asking questions, some of which might seem embarrassing, to finding your way around streets to figuring out how the public transport works, you are building your confidence. When you conquer a foreign land, you will suddenly discover that you can do more in your home country, where at least you share the same language and culture.

Traveling to a foreign country, especially one where you don’t speak the language is difficult but experiencing a new culture teaches you a variety of new skills. You learn to become more social, flexible, open minded & independent. Exposure to multiple cultures or diversity will lead to better judgment; you will meet people of different religions, color, race, educational background and many other things. You will also learn fun skills such as cooking among others. It will greatly enhance your development as a person.

It is challenging getting around & securing the basics. However, the benefit of getting outside your comfort zone & experiencing another culture & people is immense & it gives us a global perspective that is at once humbling & empowering. When you base your judgment on media propaganda, you tend to have a biased image of a race or country.

What we learn is: despite the differences, people are people. People travel to confront their fears, challenge themselves, meet new people & see this amazing world we live in and the amazing people we share the planet with. If you travel you get to see, hear, feel & overall experience the different cultures you are visiting.

Despite the fact that the world has never been as well connected as today, there are still places that are little known to the average tourist. Setting up a list of places you want to visit is extremely motivating. You have something tangible to go after.

The benefits of traveling are not just a one-time thing: traveling changes you physically & psychologically. It is more likely to have a tremendous impact on your mental well-being, especially if you are not used to going out of your comfort zone

Traveling Improves Your Understanding Of Other Cultures The benefit of traveling to a new place is that it forces you to face the unknown and think differently.

It is sometimes hard to build long-lasting relationship with the people you meet abroad, but it doesn't mean it's not worth meeting new people! No matter how insignificant it may seem, the fact that you have had an experience abroad, something that was out of the ordinary, creates a memory that you will remember for a long time. Everything will make more sense to you. You will be less judgemental when you see things you don’t understand. You will come home a better person than you were before. Learning about culture is an integral part to travelling. It’s not just about stunning scenery, adventurous experiences, or relaxation. Learning about culture is enriching for the mind and soul. It can enhance the whole experience and offer a totally new way of thinking.

Cultural travel is a type of travel that emphasizes experiencing life within a foreign culture, rather than from the outside as a temporary visitor. Cultural travelers leave their home environment at home, bringing only themselves and a desire to become part of the culture they visit.

Cultural immersion is a unique experience that can open doors to a deeper understanding of an unfamiliar place. You’re never going to know a place as intimately as the people who live there, but through cultural immersion experiences, you can begin to understand it all a little better.

Travelers are increasingly seeking these authentic, immersive experiences in new places. It might seem like calling an experience “immersive” or “authentic” is just another way to sell tourists on an activity. When travelers & locals have the opportunity to interact over something they’re passionate about, meaningful connections ensue. People are passionate about their cultures & travelers are passionate to learn about new ones. It’s the perfect combination for a meaningful connection.

The more we share our cultures with one another, the more we understand the significance they place in own lives. So while travelers are benefiting by learning something new, the locals are also working to preserve these customs, crafts & traditions.  By celebrating cultural traditions that are important to locals & indigenous cultures & educating more people about those traditions, these cultures are more likely to be shared with future generations.

Eating local food in a new country is an entirely new experience. All the flavors are different. Don't trick yourself into going to the Sushi shop next door: you don't know what sushi tastes like until you have been to Japan. Cultural immersion is a great way to celebrate the people and traditions that make every place special & unique. It is about connecting the dots between traveler & local, and the exchange of ideas & experiences. It gives you the skills that you can take back home & share with others. If you love to cook, then what better way to experience a culture than by immersing yourself in the food scene and learning the skills and ingredients that are unique to that culture? Some food bloggers travel thousands of kilometers for a specific dish!

While some trips may only involve dipping a toe in the pool of a new culture, immersive travel means just what it sounds like - being completely surrounded with the newness of an unfamiliar place which brings you  in contact with unfamiliar sights, sounds, sensations, flavors & challenges that are unlike anything they’ve known before.

While it is wonderful to meet fellow travelers on the road - sharing stories from our trips & comparing notes on where we’re heading next - we rob ourselves of a very special experience when we fail to interact with the local community. An immersive traveler want to learn all about the new place & the best way to do that, is to interact with the people who call that place home.

Immersive travel can be as simple as taking a walk in a new place. Rather than taking a tour, we can allow ourselves to get lost amidst the chatter we don’t understand and the street names that don’t sound familiar.

But having an authentic cultural experience while abroad is not always as easy as it sounds. Music, dance and social events are often staged for visiting tourists & determining which is authentic (& which is fake) will probably not be apparent until you are there. The odds are that you will get an exciting treatment & experience when you travel abroad. If you don’t, at the very least it will help you to appreciate your own home and culture should you return.

One of the best ways to acquaint yourself with the local customs & acceptable behaviors is to observe others. Even if you don’t speak the language or can’t ask what is right & wrong, you can learn a lot by watching how others interact. Observe how the youth engage with their elders or how females & males interact with one another, as well as how you should greet people when you meet them. Should you shake hands, kiss people on the cheek or hug? And what gestures of respect are normally shown to elders in the community? Observing people is a great way to pick up particular mannerisms & understand the role they play in the local culture.

Trying new food, learning new traditions or cultures & meeting new people with different perspectives & stories will enrich your life greatly and add amazing experiences that you will remember even in old age, whether it is walking through the rice fields of China, taking a trip to the Amazon Basin in Brazil, or walking through the vibrant streets of Tokyo in Japan. So if you haven't done so yet, step out of your comfort zone & travel to experience a whole new world!

Please note currently all our Journeys are listed under the “Culture” theme before being transitioned gradually under the respective Headings. 

Check-out our suggestions & if you have a specific destination or theme in mind, even if it is not yet featured on our site, we can always design & customise a Journey, especially for you. Almost all of our Journeys are available on demand, allowing you to specify a departure date & group size. Private departures are ideal for family, friends & social groups.

We are in the process of updating our experiential offerings of Cultural Journeys. Please contact us in the interim if you want to explore more options & we will be happy to customise & offer suggestions based on your personal preferences……

Come……be inspired & discover the World