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We're taking you beyond the bucket list with six recommendations hand-picked to help you experience the more authentic encounters some of the world’s top destinations have to offer (alongside their more famous attractions). Some might be new to you, while others may be indisputably iconic. But one thing’s for sure, these highlights are essential for any traveller who seeks to understand the world — its natural phenomena and its people — through first-hand experience, rather than through the windows of a bus.
So, let's get off the beaten track with travel experiences that are sure to delight, surprise and challenge your view of the world. Ready? Let’s go!
1. Focus on fireside folk tales in Botswana
A land of wild tablelands and verdant grasslands, Botswana is prime safari country — and one of National Geographic Traveler magazine’s 20 must-visit places in 2016. But in a country famed for its safaris, tourists don’t always go beyond the “Big 5” to explore Botswana’s deep-rooted, cultural heritage. So, on your next safari, add to the symphony of night noises under the big sky with fireside folk tales spun by indigenous storytellers.
Enjoy an evening of culture with celebrated author Bonty Botumile and the Thari-E-Ntsho Storytellers, a local enterprise dedicated to preserving Botswana’s oral tradition. Listen as Botumile shares her in-depth understanding of the region’s cultural history through stories passed down through generations. Want to hear more? Check out the Botswana Safari Experience. Or take our “Where to Next?” quiz — and we’ll recommend the adventure that suits you best! Click here.
2. Sample the flavours of São Paulo
One of the largest countries in the world, Brazil offers plenty to see. Rio de Janeiro and Iguassu Falls spring immediately to mind, but São Paulo rarely occupies the same headspace. The pollution, traffic, and the devastatingly ever-widening gap between rich and poor can prove frustrating; however, those that take up the challenge will discover a world-class city renowned for its restaurants, museums and multicultural flavour.
Next year is poised to shine its spotlight on Rio de Janeiro — the Summer Olympics host city — so the diverse flavours of São Paulo will likely be sidelined. That makes it the perfect time to go beyond the bucket list in Brazil and sample the city’s “água de coco,” alongside such Brazilian delicacies as cheeses, chocolates and artisanal breads. Have we whetted your appetite yet? Get your fill on a Brazil Journey. Or take our “Where to Next?” quiz — and we’ll recommend the adventure that suits you best! Click here.
3. Turn over the tea leaf in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a tropical island that is comprised of sandy beaches, lush forests and cool hill towns spread with the tea plantations, which, in quieter times, made Sri Lanka famous. Today, it’s the world’s largest exporter of tea —and every tea lover’s paradise. While tea may be the draw, ancient health practices like yoga and Ayurveda are deeply embedded in the culture.
After all, the population is overwhelmingly Buddhist and ancient traditions (influenced by Hinduism) are still practiced at holy sites scattered across the island. While it’s unlikely you’ll miss the island’s tea plantations, it’s worth “turning over the tea leaf” to delve into the history of these alternative forms of medicine and find out how herbs, spices and yoga, are used to help cure common ailments—from headaches to fever—from a local practitioner. Go deeper and Discover Sri Lanka. Or take our “Where to Next?” quiz — and we’ll recommend the adventure that suits you best! Click here.
4. Challenge your perspectives in Israel
From all cultural, political and historical perspectives, there's probably no country on Earth as interesting as Israel. Sacred ground to Jews, Christians and Muslims, Israel is home to a dazzling diversity of influences and historic sites that comingle across a modern state. The result? The highest number of museums per capita in the world!
Instead of queuing up to learn about the ancient world in one of the region’s many museums, opt instead to explore the country’s history in the company of those living it and take a dual-narrative walking tour with a Palestinian guide and an Israeli guide. Really delve beneath the surface of Israel by rounding out your trip in the home of a local rabbi who specializes in conflict resolution, and then visit the home of a Palestinian family to participate in a cooking class before sharing an authentically local dish. Curiosity piqued? Learn more here. Or take our “Where to Next?” quiz — and we’ll recommend the adventure that suits you best! Click here.
5. Dig deep in Costa Rica
Costa Rica has become synonymous with all an unspoiled tropical paradise can be. Rarely does reality measure up to hype, but Costa Rica certainly comes close. The country's quiet history as a backwater free of colonial excesses has today become a boon, and Costa Rica has cashed in on its purity, and not without merit. Blessed with beaches and biodiversity, this is a verdant land of misty volcanoes, roaring rivers and lush jungles teeming with exotic fauna.
While some tourists prefer to zip through Costa Rica’s cloudforests, others want to go deeper by digging into reforestation efforts first-hand. Play an active role and visit the National Geographic-supported Monteverde Institute and get your hands dirty by either planting trees to restore habitat, assisting in tree care in the nurseries or collecting data to provide information that will aid the success of tropical reforestation programs. Roll up you sleeves and explore Costa Rica here. Or take our “Where to Next?” quiz — and we’ll recommend the adventure that suits you best! Click here.
6. Stop and smell the flowers in South Africa
An entire continent’s worth of greatness concentrated into a single gorgeous package, South Africa practically bowls visitors over with its abundance of natural splendour, exotic wildlife, cosmopolitan flair and friendly faces. Most are here for South Africa’s flagship national park, Kruger, which is the country’s biggest tourist draw. But there are hundreds of reasons to come to South Africa—savannah, safaris, the vineyards of Stellenbosch, dazzling Cape Town and the stunning Garden Route, to name but a few—and once you’ve gotten yourself here, you’ll discover thousands more.
Before hitting Kruger, you should stop and smell the flowers on a tour of Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, named one of the “10 most magnificent gardens in the world” by National Geographic. In 2004 the Cape Floristic Region, including Kirstenbosch, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it is the first botanic garden in the world to be included within a natural World Heritage Site. Go beyond the Garden Route and explore more of South Africa here. Or take our “Where to Next?” quiz — and we’ll recommend the adventure that suits you best! Click here.
Win a trip for two from National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures!
Want to get beyond the bucket list? Win a trip for two from National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures. Just click here to take our quiz and we’ll recommend an adventure that suits you just right. So, where to next?