25 Destinations for Immersive Travel Experiences

Immerse yourself in new cultures, histories and ways of life…
The world is filled with incredible places that are perfect for travelers wanting to get away from their usual routines and discover a new way of life by simply experiencing it. From the vineyards of France to the green tea fields of Japan, these destinations offer great immersion into their cultures, histories and ways of life. Click through this slideshow to see a short list of destinations that offer great immersive experiences.

Loire Valley, France
Just outside of Paris is a valley home to gastronomic delights and historic chateaux: the Loire Valley. Cultural delights and natural wonders combine in this fruitful region of France, making it a great place for travelers looking to enjoy a slower pace. Travelers can cycle through the valley’s chateaux route, visit the biodiverse (and stunning) Brenne Regional National Park, hike Sologne’s moors and awe at the medieval-era man-made lakes that dot the countryside. Don’t forget the food! The region produces delicious wines and other ingredients that makes cooking or eating out in the Loire Valley a true feast for the senses.

Grenada
Grenada is a small island in the Caribbean known for its production of spices like nutmeg, but it’s also home to some incredibly immersive experiences. It boasts over fifteen waterfalls and thirty dive sites for nature lovers, while foodies will love digging into freshly prepared meals at any one of the island’s local eateries. The island was the first destination in the world to be named a Culinary Capital by the World Food Travel Association. Travelers can also learn about the island’s history by visiting historic rum, chocolate and spice production facilities. The Grenada Tourism Authority also just made its very own Simple Stays Grenada program, which features budget-friendly locally owned accommodation offerings to help immerse travelers in the island’s culture.

Anatolia, Turkey
There are certain places in this world where one can truly walk through the path of history, and Anatolia is one such destination. This Turkish region is home to numerous ancient cities and towns, as well as religious history. In Anatolia, travelers can choose from three distinct walking paths. The first is The Hittite Way, which stretches 385 km (or 239 miles) offers seventeen marked trails visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hattusa, along with several other ancient cities.

Another one perfect for fans of ancient history is the Pisidian Cultural Heritage Route, spanning 350 km (or about 217 miles) and winds through the Taurus Mountains, visiting ancient sites of Sagalassos, Pisidia Antioch, Adada and many more ancient cities. It also connects to the third Anatolian hiking route, Saint Paul’s Way, a popular among Christian travelers. This route is the second-longest in Turkey and takes pilgrims from Perge to Isparta.

Costa Rica
Costa Rica is mostly known for its biodiverse, volcanic interior, but its Caribbean Coast is a perfect destination for travelers looking to immerse themselves in the country’s cultures, foods and nature. It’s also home to plenty of eco-friendly and low-impact accommodation options. The Caribbean Coast is home to a surprising blend of diversity, with influences ranging from Indigenous and Afro-Caribbean to Chinese and Italian. It’s where travelers can enjoy Calypso music, tour a banana or chocolate plantation (or both!), learn about native cultures and how they’re being preserved at the Bri Bri community in Talamanca, plus enjoy all of the fun of just beaching it along the warm Caribbean coastline or visiting the region’s four national parks.

Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan is most famously known as the home of picture-perfect Mt. Fuji, but it’s also a culinary destination in and of itself. Green tea has been grown in the region for over 1,000 years, giving it a true legacy of producing some of the world’s finest matcha and other green tea varieties.

Travelers can immerse themselves in the region’s way of life and green tea industry by spending a night or two at a traditional Japanese farmhouse, participate in green tea picking, planting or tour the production facility (depending on the time of year), visit a tea museum and learn about the Chagusaba farming technique, which has been used to sustain the region’s green tea fields for agricultural use centuries. Additionally, the prefecture is home to several temples and hiking routes around and on Mt. Fuji for travelers to enjoy.

Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico may be the only destination on this list that U.S. citizens can travel to without a passport, but it offers a truly immersive Caribbean getaway. In fact, its latest campaign, Live Boricua, is all about experiencing the island like a local! Whether it be participating in agrotourism at woman-owned farmstay, El Pretexto, or learning how to dance the Bomba at the Don Rafael Cepeda School of Bomba and Plena, Puerto Rico offers so many opportunities for travelers to get in touch with and immersive themselves in the local culture, food and ways of life.

Hoi An, Vietnam
The UNESCO World Heritage city of Hoi An might not be the first city one thinks about when they think of Vietnam, but it’s a definite must-see for culture and history lovers. It has a centuries-old history of being an important market and port city, and it’s still home to a rich tradition of tailors. While in Hoi An, travelers can visit the My Son Sanctuary, home to Hindu temples and burial sites dating all the back to the the fourth century A.D, another World Heritage Site.

Another important site is the Imperial City of Hue, which was the seat of Vietnam’s last empire. It’s also home to tomb complexes which are open to the public. Colorful lanterns, flavorful food and rich history make this destination a true gem. Resort-lovers won’t be left out, either: it’s home to the luxurious Four Seasons The Nam Hai, Hoi An.

Samoa
While Samoa’s neighboring islands are known for their pricey yet stunning accommodations, Samoa should be considered for its more approachable vibe. It’s home to much of the same tropical jungles, stunning beaches and beautiful ocean vistas that Fiji or Tahiti offer, and provides several different options for travelers to truly immerse themselves in Samoan life.

Travelers can choose to stay in a fale, a traditional house built on poles over the beach, wander through local fish markets, hop aboard one of the brightly painted buses to get around like a local or visit the Samoa Cultural Village, a completely free experience that includes traditional Samoan gatherings, called Fia Fia nights, which help travelers understand Samoan ways of life and celebration.

Kakheti, Georgia
The Kakheti region of the country of Georgia is home to incredible opportunities for outdoor adventure, being nearby the Caucasus Mountains and home to the Lopota Lake. Being a less popular destination allows travelers to immerse themselves more into this fascinating country, which has been rated one of the world’s friendliest countries. It’s also home to a winemaking tradition that dates back 8,000 years! Travelers can enjoy a mixture of the resort life with their immersion experiences at the Lopota Lake & Spa Resort, home to its own vineyard, Slavic bath house, forest spa, farm, horse stable and more.

Antarctica
When we think of immersion, we often think cultural immersion, but this destination takes the cake for being one of the harshest environments on Earth: Antarctica. The oft-named “White Continent” has been getting a lot of buzz lately with cruise lines and tour operators, like Aurora Expeditions, offering more polar expeditions to this remote region of the world. Its draw is simple: isolation, rich biodiversity, and its important role in our global environment spur many to make the voyage beyond the famed Drake’s Passage. Travelers can immerse themselves in its harsh landscape because they must, and this makes Antarctica a destination for true adventurers.

St. Kilda, Victoria, Australia
This suburb of Melbourne offers great experiences for immersing yourself in the wildlife and culture of Australia. Whether it be trying out the city’s foodie offerings, visiting a local crafts market or enjoying Phillip Island’s nightly Penguin Parade (which, yes, includes viewing wild penguins – and in Australia!), St. Kilda has something for everyone, including a less touristy escape for travelers wanting to experience the Aussie way of life. Spa lovers can also enjoy the St. Kilda Sea Baths, which feature heated saltwater pools and baths for ultimate relaxation.

Madeira
The Portuguese island of Madeira offers bounteous opportunities for cultural immersion. It offers a spectacular array of festivals year-round, including the three-week-long Flower Festival during the spring, when the island comes alive with flowers of all kinds. The island’s capital of Funchal offers great opportunities to try local cuisine, which features fresh, local fruits and fish, along with delicious bakery items. It’s also where travelers can explore some of the best local markets, which include freshly cut flowers.

The Madeira National Park is a UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve because it’s home to several endemic plants, including several types of laurel trees and orchids. Within this park and throughout the island, travelers can walk in the footsteps of its history by following the levadas, small stone channels that were built centuries ago to provide water to different parts of the island.

Quebec, Canada
Quebec, Canada is the home of French culture and language in North America, and it’s also home to some of the oldest buildings on the continent. Old-world charm meets sixteenth and seventh-century architecture in cities like Quebec City, famed for its castle-like Chateau Frontenac, said to be the world’s most photographed hotel, and the city of Montreal, a diverse metropolis that preserves its historic quarters and French culture while progressing into the future. Here, travelers can practice their French, try signature dishes like poutine and all things maple and immerse themselves in the charming UNESCO World Heritage-designated historic quarter of Quebec City.

Akagera National Park, Rwanda
Rwanda’s Akagera National Park might not be as popular as Serengeti or the Okavango River Delta for safaris, but it’s seen quite a lot of success over the past few years in its conservation efforts and offers a less touristy park from which to view the famed Big 5 without too many interruptions from other vehicles. Home to lions, zebras, elephants, antelope, giraffes, monkeys and over 490 bird species, it’s a true animal lover’s paradise. Travelers can also take a scenic boat ride on Lake Ihema, where they can watch hippos and Nile crocodiles swim in the waters and enjoy the sights of land from the water.

Lake Como, Italy
While Lake Como is a popular destination during the popular tourist seasons, it does calm down during the colder months, making it just as stunning but a bit more comfortable for true immersive travelers. The region offers several different villages to discover, all their own unique attractions, while Lake Como itself provides ample opportunity for boating, nature painting and photography nearly year-round. Plus, if you love the cold, the region takes on a different charm and a quieter vibe during deep winter.

Martinique
The French-Caribbean isle of Martinique is an outdoor-lover’s paradise. With over two-thirds of the island protected parkland, travelers can truly immerse themselves in the rich biodiversity that is the rainforests, bays and beaches of Martinique. The island offers 27 different trails around the island, while the area surrounding the island is also the second-largest French Natural Underwater Reserve, which is part of the region’s UNESCO Biosphere designation, along with the island itself. And it doesn’t just stop at the activities: with an eco-conscious bubble house hotel, Domaine de Bulles, located right within a lush nature preserve, travelers can immerse themselves in nature from the minute they arrive on the island.

Fiji
Travelers wanting to immerse themselves in luxury without skimping on the cultural activities will find many of Fiji’s resorts great choices, like Wakaya Club & Spa, a private island oasis. Guests can enjoy buyout options for up to 30 individuals, making it a secluded escape for luxury retreats, family vacations and more. They stay in bures, or free-standing Fijian cottages and eat traditionally prepared meals that are cooked over volcanic rocks or long roasted.

Outdoor experiences are paramount here, with ample opportunities to explore the natural abundance of wildlife in the sea by scuba or snorkeling. The resort’s garden also provides a unique experience for guests to learn about the different plants that are native to Fiji. Guests can also take part in cooking classes or even catch their own dinner with a spearfishing quest.

North Queensland, Australia
North Queensland, Australia is most famously home to the Great Barrier Reef and the city of Cairns, but it’s also home to some incredible immersive tourism experiences, including many that center around First Nations cultures and history, as well as the Great Barrier Reef’s wonders.

Travelers can tour Green Island with the Wunyami Cultural Tour, seeing the island through different eyes as they learn about the ceremonies of the GuruGulu Gungganji and Gimuy Yidinji tribes. Or go on a variety of different tours with 100-percent Indigenous owned and operated Mandingalbay Ancient Indigenous Tours, which offers a monthly Full Moon Dinner, eco-walk and more. Another eco-friendly experience is the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, which takes travelers over the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.

Bhutan
The Kingdom of Bhutan recently reopened after two and a half years of closed borders due to the pandemic. Home to some of the world’s happiest people (and indeed, it was the creator of the World Happiness Index to prove it), a spiritual culture and a harsh, rugged landscape that is as visually stunning as it is challenging, Bhutan is a place that travelers cannot visit without being immersed in Bhutanese culture, religion and ways of life.

In fact, its most famous attractions, the Trans-Bhutan Trail, recently reopened after nearly sixty years of being closed, and it’s only available to those traveling via a select few tour operators that have been vetted by the kingdom’s tourism program. These operators, like EF Go Ahead and G Adventures, have sustainability and responsibility at their heart, which align with the kingdom’s own carbon negative and responsible approach to tourism.

Valencia, Spain
Valencia is most often known as a Spanish port city for cruisers, but it offers more immersion experiences than at first meets the eye. This year’s European Capital of Smart Tourism and World Design Capital by the UN, it blends its millennia-old history with an eye towards the future. Travelers can experience seventy-five miles of Mediterranean beaches, three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a medieval district and the modern City of Arts and Sciences, a hyper-modern complex with Europe’s largest aquarium, a planetarium, garden, event venue and more. Plus, it’s home to large annual events like the September 20th’s World Paella Day and the city’s unique Maritime Holy Week festivities culminating at Easter.

New Zealand
New Zealand is home to a wide variety of experiences to enjoy, from immersing yourself in the lore and culture of Middle-Earth at Hobbiton, the official movie set-turned-tourism-attraction that entices travelers from across the world to visit The Shire, to adventuring across New Zealand’s varied and vast landscapes, from glaciers to volcanic black sand beaches, dense forests and more.

It’s also home to a wide variety of experiences that help travelers learn about local Maori culture, an integral part of the country, which often refers to itself as both New Zealand and Aotearoa, its traditional Maori name. Today, travelers can partake in responsible tourism with Maori-led tours and experiences.

Argentina
Experience Argentina like a local by stepping away from tourist-rich cities like Buenos Aires and visiting the countryside, where travelers will find the Pampas plains, vineyards, the high-altitude Andes and Patagonia. In these regions, travelers can stay in estancias, or ranches, and learn about the centuries-old Argentinian traditions of horsemanship and raising cattle. Travelers can also enjoy the best of local cuisine, especially Argentinian asado, or barbecue, which is often freshest at the estancias.

San Luis Potosí, Mexico
Located just two and a half hours away from the popular Cancun coastline is San Luis Potosí, the capital city of the state that shares its name. This storied city was once an economic powerhouse, known for its silver and gold mining, but is now an artistic wonderland, with museums like the National Mask Museum, Casa de la Cultura and the Sala German Gedovius, located right next to the city’s main theater, El Teatro de la Paz. Just outside the city is where travelers can find Huatesca Potosina, a region filled with stunning views of the local mountain range and a large number of waterfalls and swimming holes, all located within a jungle.

Singapore
Singapore, an economic powerhouse, is a multicultural self-governing island city of Asia, and a veritable bucket-list destination in itself. While incredibly popular, its popularity shouldn’t detract from its opportunity to immerse travelers in a truly different blend of cultures. One needs only arrive at a food market to experience this for themselves, with dishes ranging from Indian and Chinese to European-inspired and local dishes. While its ultra-modern design and “garden city” vibe are the popularizes parts of this metropolis, Singapore is also home to several historic districts, along with many different museums, both of art and history.

South Korea
While South Korea has certainly been trending on the popular culture scene for a few years now, it hasn’t yet begun receiving the attention from travelers, making it a great option for people to immerse themselves in local culture and history. South Korea is safe, affordable (more so than neighboring Japan, anyways) and offers a wide mix of experiences to enjoy, both hyper-modern and ancient. The country also offers a unique temple stay program for travelers to experience traditional Korean Buddhist temples for themselves, with accommodations and meals included.