Where to Travel in Spring 2023

Cherry blossom in full springtime bloom in beautiful Sankeien Garden, Yokohama
Cherry blossom in full springtime bloom in beautiful Sankeien Garden, Yokohama | Jonathan Kim / Unsplash
Gethin Morgan

Content and CRM Executive

Spring is one of our favourite times of year to travel. Shoulder seasons often offer better value, fewer crowds and sometimes even ideal weather conditions. So, why not book a trip with Culture Trip this spring? Here’s a taste of what we can offer.

Turkey

Spring might just be the best time to visit Turkey. The weather is balmy, but not quite as restrictive as the sweltering hot summers. Avoiding the peak tourist season means quieter beaches on the Turkish Riviera and calmer streets in hectic-enough-already Istanbul. Plus, Turkey is one of our most anticipated destinations this year, thanks to the timeless wonder of its most famous city, the otherworldly rock formations of Cappadocia and Antalya’s pristine coastline. You’ll take in all three, as well as Ankara, Koprulu Canyon National Park and the underground city of Kaymakli, on our popular Majestic Turkey Epic Trip. Join us in April and May, when we have two guaranteed departures, for a 12-day odyssey through Turkey. Alternatively you can book a springtime city break with our five-day International Istanbul trip – also departing in April and May – for a mouth-watering taste of the city that spans continents.

The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul isn’t quite so hectic in spring

Bali

Bali is lovely and peaceful during the shoulder season

South America

Okay, we’re going a bit broad with this one – so we’ll narrow it down to Andean South America, particularly the northwestern trio of Ecuador, Colombia and Peru. All three combine almost obscene levels of natural beauty with ancient history, a warm and joyful culture, plus incredible chocolate and coffee. Join us in Caribbean Colombia this April for a scenic eight-day jolly along the country’s gorgeous coastline, featuring idyllic islands, mangrove forests and street food galore. We also have a nine-day Epic Trip in Peru running throughout spring, where we’ll take in the ancient majesty of Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and Piuray Lagoon. Or how about Ecuador in April? It’s the smallest of the three by a distance, but packs just as much punch. See the Amazon rainforest, waterfalls, volcanic craters and much more on eight glorious spring days.

Enjoy the majestic beauty of South America with Culture Trip

East Asia

It took a little longer for East Asia to fully open post-Covid, so we’re anticipating a big year for Japan and South Korea. Spring is arguably the best time of year to visit this part of the world for one reason – cherry blossom season. As we enter March and April, these two countries become adorned with a beautifully delicate pink dress, giving its big city parks and quaint old towns an extra shot of colour and charm. Our Rail Trip in Japan covers a lot of ground in 12 days, so you can see Osaka, Kyoto, Hakone and Tokyo at their very best. Join us on one of our guaranteed departures in March or May. Alternatively, its equally beautiful and much smaller neighbour nation is just as worthy, and just as pink this time of year. Our 10-day South Korea trip takes in the neon pulse of Seoul before exploring Buddhist mountain temples, stunning national parks and the foodie hubs of Busan and Jeonju. Join us this April or May.

Book your spot on our Rail Trip for the ultimate Japan experience

Southern Italy

One of our most popular trips is back this April with two guaranteed departure dates, plus another in May. We’ll take in the many bounties of Naples and the Amalfi Coast in the west – before hopping across to the heel of Italy’s boot, Puglia. Here, we’ll visit the ancient hillside town of Matera, the glorious beachtown of Polignano a Mare, and Lecce (known as the Florence of the South). Will you book your place on our Seductive Southern Italy trip?

Discover the true meaning of la dolce vita this spring

Thailand

Catch the backend of Thailand’s dry season, which can run into April and May, and coincides with a range of our trips. Join us for jungle adventures in Tropical Northern Thailand, running throughout spring and taking in Chiang Mai, Pai Canyon and Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s highest mountain. Alternatively you can embrace the coast with Sublime Southern Thailand, which has a guaranteed departure in April – expect longtail boat rides, swimming sessions with tropical fish and a stunning sunset cruise. Or maybe you can embrace train travel with our brand new Thailand and Laos Rail Trip? This trip’s maiden voyage is in April, so you can be among the first Culture Trippers to cruise along the Mekong, meet rescued elephants and see the atmospheric ruins of the Khmer city of Sukhothai.

Join us for longtail boating in sublime Southern Thailand

Greece

Springtime in Greece is joyous, as temperatures begin to rise but quaint seaside towns and pristine sandy beaches remain fairly quiet. That’s why we run our Greek trips from April right the way through to summer and beyond. Get the full island-hopping experience on our Greek Island Odyssey – eight days in the Cyclades, from Athens to Santorini – which has a guaranteed departure in May. If you’re looking for a more condensed experience, then our Speedy Greece Mini Trip does the job perfectly, blending the vibrancy of Athens with the laid-back qualities of sleepy Serifos. Or you can really experience Greece in style with our Greek Sailing Trip, which sets sail in Paros and calls at a range of ports, from Mykonos to Kythnos, via deserted beaches, ancient ruins and charming fishing villages.

The serenity of Santorini is blissful in the months leading up to summer

Morocco

Spring in Morocco is beautiful. Dry and sunny weather, with temperatures that hover in the low 20s (Celsius, of course), makes the gateway to North Africa particularly inviting at this time of year. There’s so much to see in this beautiful country, from the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert to its eclectic range of cities – such as pulsating Marrakech, coastal Casablanca and ancient Fes. Our Epic Morocco trip offers the fullest experience, taking in the desert, mountains and main cities, as well as the surreal blue town of Chefchaouen. We have guaranteed departures for this 11-day adventure in March, April and May. For a shorter adventure you can join our Myriad Morocco Mini Trip – centred around Marrakech, you’ll go on excursions to the Atlas Mountains and Agafay Desert – departing in April and May. Or, finally, you can hop onboard our stunning Madrid to Marrakech Rail Trip, which also leaves the station in April and May. Start in the Spanish capital and journey south, across the Med and into Africa, stopping off at Tangier, Casablanca, Fes and Marrakech.

The blue streets of Chefchaouen alone make Morocco worth visiting

We also have trips in Vietnam, Belize, Georgia and more throughout spring. Browse the trips we have departing in March, April and May, to find your springtime escape.

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.

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