Sample The Best Tea In The World With Culture Trip

Who doesn’t love a spot of tea? Whether it’s a fancy high tea or a soul-warming morning brew, a good cup (or glass) of tea always makes things better. From luscious plantations and sacred ceremonies in Asia, to the rich tea culture of the Middle East, here’s how you can taste some of the best tea on Earth with Culture Trip.

Winter Sale

Tasting session at Ho Ho Cha Tea Factory near Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan

Sample black tea at a local factory – A Taste of Taiwan by Train

While black tea is often associated with China and India, it’s actually the East Asian island of Taiwan that arguably produces the finest dark varieties on the planet. You’ll get to decide that for yourself on our nine-day Rail Trip, which goes to Sun Moon Lake on day three. You’ll cycle around and boat on the lake, but if you’re reading this we suspect the highlight of your day will be our visit to Ho Ho Cha Tea Factory, where you’ll get to try your hand at tea rolling and learn about the region’s rich tea plantations before sitting down for a soul-soothing tasting session.

From US$2199

Next available from 27th Jan 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Taipei, Taiwan

ENDS AT

Taipei, Taiwan

DURATION

9

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Winter Sale

Woman hand pouring traditional Moroccan mint tea with a vintage silver tray and teapot.

Maghrebi mint tea in the desert – Epic Morocco

Sipping on a refreshing mint tea has been a classic part of Moroccan culture for centuries, so any trip to this North African nation is sure to include a fair few cups of the green stuff. Our Epic Morocco trip takes in Casablanca, Fes, the Atlas Mountains, Sahara desert and Marrakech and, chances are, you’ll be drinking tea all over. Your highlight might involve staring into the fresh mint leaves in your cup while sitting around a campfire in the Sahara, or perhaps it’ll be our stop-off in a traditional tea house en route to Marrakech. Either way, expect your thirst to remain thoroughly quenched in Morocco.

From US$2369

Next available from 10th Feb 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Casablanca, Morocco

ENDS AT

Marrakech, Morocco

DURATION

11

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Enjoying a cup of Turkish tea at the Grand Bazaar in the walled city of Istanbul (Turkey)

Sip çay in the Grand Bazaar – Majestic Turkey

Many people associate Turkey with coffee first and foremost, but spend some time in Istanbul and you’ll quickly realise that tea, or çay, is the most commonly sipped beverage in town. Most establishments offer a variety of flavours but classic çay is a smooth black tea grown on the eastern Black Sea coast. Tea here is brewed in a dual teapot, creating a stronger flavour, which is why it’s always served in aesthetically pleasing ‘thin-waist’ glasses. Our 12-day Turkish odyssey starts in Istanbul and, on the very first day, we’ll stop for a glass of çay in the Grand Bazaar itself during an extensive tour of the city. From there, you’ll no doubt be ordering tea with breakfast, lunch and even dinner for the remainder of your time in Turkey.

From US$2699

Next available from 12th Apr 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Istanbul, Turkey

ENDS AT

Antalya, Turkey

DURATION

12

GROUP SIZE

18

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Experience a royal tea ceremony – Vibrant Vietnam

Like many Asian countries, the whole ritual of making, pouring and drinking tea is a rather sacred experience in Vietnam. A tea ceremony is even a crucial part of a wedding here, with tradition declaring that the groom uses the occasion to ask the bride’s family for her hand in marriage. The Nguyễn dynasty placed great importance on tea ceremonies, and our 12-day Vietnam trip includes a visit to the city of Hue, the capital throughout the Nguyễn reign. Where better to experience an authentic royal tea ceremony? Drink in the pomp of it all as you sip on a delicious cup of locally grown green tea.

From US$1689

Next available from 18th Apr 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Hanoi, Vietnam

ENDS AT

Hoi An, Vietnam

DURATION

12

GROUP SIZE

18

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

STYLE

Discovery

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Top view of golden tea tray with teapots and cups with mint leaves and female hands preparing tea at El Fishawi in Khan el Khalili bazaar in Cairo, Egypt

Tea break at an iconic Cairo cafe – Ultimate Egypt

Tea, or shai, is the national drink of Egypt despite the fact that the country doesn’t actually produce any leaves itself. This is because its geographic position, on the cusp of Africa and Asia, does place it perfectly to import countless varieties from a wide range of producers, including Kenya and Sri Lanka. Drinking tea is inseparable from Egyptian culture, as locals drink it morning, noon and night, with every meal and in every social situation. Whether it’s how to start the day or how to wind down while smoking hookah, shai is ever-present here. Sugar and fresh mint is often added to elevate the flavour, but generally the import culture here means a wide variety of options on most menus. You’ll no doubt sink many a glass of shai throughout our nine-day trip from Cairo to Aswan, but we’ll be surprised if your enduring memory of tea in Egypt isn’t the glass you’ll enjoy at the famous Feshawi cafe in the heart of Cairo.

From US$2239

Next available from 23rd May 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Cairo, Egypt

ENDS AT

Aswan, Egypt

DURATION

9

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

STYLE

Discovery

View Trip

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.