Credit: ThinkStock PhotosWhat is travel if not the opportunity to see where and how other people live? Well, we know not all would subscribe to that—after all, we often holiday to escape quite enough living of our own, and the more hermetically sealed our luxury resort from the dirt and poverty and awkward questions outside, the better. Still, for the more adventurous and curious amongst us, learning about traditional cultures while on holiday, or on a dedicated trip, can be the experience of a lifetime. It’s a cliche to say that they can teach us a whole lot about ourselves—but no less true for that—and the perspective on life that they help introduce us to can have life-changing consequences. While most travellers skim the surface when examining the history and architecture of a place, the experiences in this category seek out cultural differences in communities where traditional cultures are most prevalent. There are a number of great travel companies that can introduce you to traditional cultures in a sensitive way, in more, or less, comfort. We are collecting the best of them to recommend to you.
Matsés people
For the 17 Matsés, also known as the Cat People, communities living by the Rio Yavari and Rio Galvez, many changes have been made since contact was first established by Christian missionaries in 1969. There are still no …more
Batammariba
The Koutammakou landscape in north-eastern Togo, which extends into neighbouring Benin, is home to the Batammariba whose remarkable mud tower-houses (Takienta) have come to be seen as a symbol of Togo. In this landscape,…more
The Wano tribe
The Wano people are situated in the basin of the river Mamberamo, an area of outstanding bio-diversity including amazing animals, such as the tree-kangaroo and cassowaries (huge flightless birds). This area was until rec…more
Huaorani people
Waorani are an indigenous population living in the Ecuadorian Amazon, near the Peruvian border. The Huaorani maintain a largely traditional lifestyle, at home in a jungle, which provides them with food, medicine and shel…more
Namibian bushmen
Think of the Namib Desert and its bushmen, and what springs to mind? Spirituality, wildlife, beautiful landscapes? You would be right, and the romance of the dramatic scenery certainly is unforgettable, but to truly unde…more
Tuareg people
These nomadic people are the Sahara’s main inhabitants and have been travelling the desert in their camel caravans for over 2000 years. Their lands once spread out across most of central north Africa and they protected i…more
Papuan Tribes
Papuan people are reputed to be ferocious cannibals but, during a 3-month long caving expedition I was treated with kindness and generosity. In 2005, the NGS supported Untamed Rivers of New Britain Expedition explored ne…more
San People
Described as the ‘Louvre of the Desert’, the magical Tsodilo Hills in Botswana’s Kalahari are home to one of the largest concentrations of Bushman rock art in the world. The area, visited by few, is respected by the San…more
Longhouse Culture
Loagan Tasan is an Iban longhouse near to Marudi on the Baram River in Sarawak. In June the Ulu (upriver) tribes or Dayaks all over Sarawak celebrate Gawai, equivalent to a harvest festival. During this time family memb…more
Gion and Geisha
Gion is the most famous of Kyoto’s geisha districts, the narrow roads between bamboo fronted teahouses (ochaya), restaurants and traditional residences (machiya) dating from the late Edo period (circa 1800) have been wel..
