Visit Tuscany from late October through to November and you’ll see nets surrounding trees as the ripe olives are harvested by hand to be made into oil. You can join in the harvest, visit olive presses and stay on a working olive farm to experience the many facets of this enduring tradition. You're spoiled for choice when it comes to charming agriturismo (farmhouses) in Tuscany with places such as Villa Montecastello. Learn about the local wines too and join cooking classes that put the prized oil to good use.
The ancient temples of Bagan, rising out of the plains of the Irrawaddy River, can’t fail to captivate with their architecture and art. It’s thought that more than 10,000 Buddhist temples and pagodas were constructed in what was the capital of the kingdom between the 11th and 13th centuries – more than 2,200 still survive. You can take a hot air balloon tour above the site, but the best way to discover the age-old city's rich history is by stepping inside to see the magnificent murals and statues.
Mexico City is a must-visit world capital and its thriving art scene is one of the big reasons to go. There are galleries and creative spaces everywhere with some of its districts famed for their vibrant street murals – head to Colonia Roma to see some of the best. Be sure to also make a pilgrimage to the home of Frida Kahlo, the Casa Azul in the Coyoacán district in Mexico City’s south, as well as the Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo.
Learn about the history and fine art of pizza-making from a certified pizzaiolo (pizza maker) in Naples and you’ll never order takeaway again. The Naples staple has even been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. You will find plenty of trattorias amid the city’s tangle of streets where you can sink your teeth into the simple yet exquisite combination of bread, tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and olive oil, or sign up for a masterclass to get your hands on the dough.
Learn about a totally different way of life by going to stay with remote communities in Papua New Guinea, a ravishing country that is home to hundreds of distinct tribes. It’s possible to stay within remote villages to immerse yourself in a tribe's culture and customs, and observe their ancient rituals. As with any trip to visit indigenous communities, always ensure you travel with a responsible guide and that your presence is welcomed and unobtrusive.
While it has plenty of dreamy beaches and lush mountains, the Caribbean’s third-largest island is rich in culture too, from art and food to music. Reggae is ingrained in Jamaica's national identity, so much so that the genre has been inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Head to Bob Marley’s house and museum to immerse yourself in the history of reggae, then explore the record stores and music venues of Kingston to hear some. Don’t miss week-long reggae festival, Sumfest, in July, either.
Ever wanted to take a step back from the bustle of modern-day life? Well, a visit to Holmes County, Ohio, could be the answer. It's home to one of the world’s largest Amish communities, and you can stay here to experience and understand the Amish way of life. Take a buggy ride, join family meals, visit farms to see how the Amish work the land, watch livestock auctions and learn about their homemade crafts.
Alternative America: 101 lesser-known places that everyone should see
There are many places where you can learn about the culture of the Māori, New Zealand's indigenous people. Check out the excellent Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington and the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in the Bay of Islands. Here you can visit historical sights, watch performances and join wood carving, flax weaving, kapa haka (performance) or waka paddling drill workshops.
Witness horsemanship at its highest level within a stunning 18th-century riding hall in Vienna. The Spanish Riding School in the Austrian capital is the only institution in the world where classic equestrian skills (haute école) have been preserved and are still practised. So much so that the 450-year-old art has been classified as a piece of intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. Watching the famous white stallions – the Lipizzan – perform in perfect harmony with the music is an incredible sight.
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Head to the spectacular La Araucanía region of Chile – all snow-capped volcanoes, glacial lakes and dense forests – to learn about the ancient ways of the Mapuche. The region is the traditional home of these indigenous people of south-central Chile and you can find out all about their customs by staying the night in a ruka hut. You'll get involved with ceremonial activities, hear stories and learn about the region's ingredients as you taste the Mapuche’s famously delicious food.
The ancient practice of falconry is far-reaching and part of the culture in many areas of the world, especially central Asia and the Middle East. You can witness Kazakh eagle hunters as they practise their ancient hunting ritual with birds of prey in the Altai Mountains in western Mongolia. The Golden Eagle Festivals take place each spring and autumn, where you can watch falconry displays and traditional horseback Kazakh games. But to see eagle hunting expeditions, you’ll need to brave the Mongolian winter.
With France’s gastronomic traditions also enshrined on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural treasures, it would be remiss not to include an eat-a-thon around the food-loving country on this list. You could head to Paris but top of most gourmands' list is Lyon. The culinary mecca is renowned for its rustic, simple fare and highly prized regional produce – start your culinary adventure in a bouchon (traditional restaurant) in the city’s quaint UNESCO-listed Old Town (Vieux Lyon), where it’s hard to go wrong.
Wine is soaked into the cultural identity of Georgia, which is the world’s oldest wine-producing region. It's home to many distinctive and esteemed wines, native grape varieties and ancient customs. Discover the nation’s most intriguing wine-making tradition, qvevri, for yourself on a tour of vineyards in the Kakheti region. The process, which dates back 8,000 years, involves fermenting grapes in large earthenware vessels (qvevri) which are buried in the ground.
The national music of Mauritius originated with enslaved peoples, who sang and danced to remember their homeland. A plaque near the beautiful but brooding Morne Mountain, in the south of the island, marks it as the birthplace of sega. Now UNESCO-listed, Le Morne Cultural Landscape was once used as a shelter by runaway slaves in the 18th century and early 19th century. You can climb the mountain with a guide.
Visit a part of Australia so remote that few Australians have stepped foot in it, but one that is rich in ancient rock art and sacred landscapes. Discover the culture of the traditional landowners as they show you the region's extraordinary art, share Dreamtime stories and teach you crafts and customs as you travel around the vast and rugged Arnhem Land. The Yolngu people have occupied this part of the Northern Territory for a staggering 60,000 years, at least.
When it comes to cultural experiences, they don’t get more unique than having a traditional smoke sauna with the Võro communities of southern Estonia. The 800-year-old healing ritual – inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity – involves stepping into a small log cabin in the woods and being beaten with birch twigs to scrub off dead skin. These traditional saunas are layered with moss and, in order to retain the smoke, there is no chimney. The communal sessions last for 3-5 hours. Feeling peckish? The saunas are used to smoke meat too.
Watching a country’s performing arts is a great way to tap into the essence of its culture. This is very true of China’s traditional art form, Peking opera (or Jīngjù), which has dramatised Chinese folk tales and historic events for centuries. Located in Beijing, Huguang Huiguan is one of the oldest Peking Opera theatres and has a museum about the elaborate tradition. The gorgeous interior of the Zhengyici Peking Opera Theatre, one of the oldest wooden theatres in China, makes it a wonderful place to catch a show too.
Following ancient pilgrimage routes is both culturally and spiritually enlightening. Absorb incredible views and insights into the Cornish culture on a 125-mile (201km) route that runs from St. German’s to St. Michael’s Mount. It covers 60 miles (97km) of coastal path, as well as two established routes (the Saints’ Way and St. Michael’s Way), and you can tackle all 16 walks over two weeks or in sections. You’ll go through off-the-beaten-track parts of Cornwall and pass sites where Celtic saints first introduced Christianity between AD 500 and 600.
Explore Canada's stunning waterways on a traditional ocean-going canoe replica as you learn about the culture, legends and history of the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation. As you glide around the protected waters of the beautiful Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm, near Vancouver, guides from the Coast Salish nation will sing songs, share legends and point out ancient village sites. Part of Say Nuth Khaw Yum Provincial Park, it’s an important hunting and fishing area for the Coast Salish.
Master the moves of UNESCO-listed Brazilian martial art form capoeira at a class in Salvador, capital of Bahia in Brazil's northeast. The heartland of Afro-Brazilian culture, it's also the birthplace of the non-contact martial art, which was developed by enslaved peoples as a way of disguising that they were practising fight moves. A mesmerising mix of self-defence, acrobatics, dance, music and song, the 'game' is traditionally played in a circle called a 'roda'.
Icelandic culture is endlessly intriguing with its distinct and enduring traditions, such as the annual réttir: stay on a farm and join in this custom of rounding up sheep from summer grazing grounds (if you’re an able rider) or simply observe. It’s a fascinating insight into the rural way of life in the island’s beautiful but harsh landscapes. You can also discover how they make the most of the environment – try a slice of rúgbrauð, traditional bread that's buried in a bubbling geothermal pit to bake.
Immerse yourself in the musical heritage of the Deep South and discover the origins of blues, jazz, soul, country and rock 'n' roll in hot spots such as Memphis, New Orleans and Nashville. Watch up-and-coming country acts in the honky-tonk bars of Nashville and traditional jazz performances in NOLA's French Quarter, before visiting the region's music museums and landmarks.
From tea ceremonies and washoku (Japanese cuisine) to shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) and religious rituals, Japan has many fascinating customs. Visiting an onsen (public baths fed by hot springs) is a must. You can find them all over Japan, but we love pretty resort town of Kinosaki in the Hyōgo Prefecture, which has seven hot springs. Note: you’ll need to get into your birthday suit (there are often separate pools for men and women) and wash thoroughly before entering the soothing hot water.
Sup some of the world’s finest artisan beers in Belgium. The diminutive country’s brewing history dates back to the 1100s when Flemish and French abbeys first began producing beverages. Beer culture is so important here that it has protected UNESCO Intangible Culture Heritage status. Get to know your Trappists from your Lambics by following one of the country’s beer routes and visiting both historic and modern breweries.
Take a journey of discovery to Benin to delve into the enigmatic of religion vodun, or voodoo, which originated in the west African country. Go in January and you can witness the annual Vodoun Festival which takes place in Ouidah, the country’s spiritual centre. More voodoo sights include the Python Temple, home to sacred snakes, and the Kpasse Sacred Forest, which is filled with statues of voodoo gods.
You can pick up exquisite textiles, hand-painted pottery and lanterns in Morocco, a country stuffed with bustling souks. But you’ll have to perfect your haggling skills first – watch and learn from the locals before launching in yourself. Fes, Marrakech, Meknes and Rabat all have excellent souks – be sure to go early to beat the crowds. The markets are also a great place to sample Morocco’s delicious cuisine.
With its roots in ancient India, yoga is integral to the country's multi-faceted culture. So where better to find your path to inner peace and spiritual enlightenment? There are yoga retreats, ashrams and meditation centres all over the country, but some of the best can be found around the Ganges. Set on the banks of the sacred river, the city of Rishikesh has long drawn pilgrims and curious tourists keen to learn the nuances of the practice, especially after The Beatles famously visited in the late 1960s.
New York City's Harlem neighbourhood, in the north of Manhattan, is practically synonymous with jazz. It was here in Harlem, and specifically at Minton's Playhouse (pictured), that the distinctive bebop form – notable for its quick tempo and chord changes – was born in the 1940s. Swing by the veteran club for dinner and a show and be sure to check out the National Jazz Museum too.
Kimchi – a punchy side dish of fermented vegetables – is serious business in Korea. So much so that 'kimjang', the process of making and sharing this traditional dish in the community, is inscribed into UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. You can get involved on your travels with a kimchi-making class. The offering from Cookorean, based out of the cool Mapo-gu district in Seoul, includes a trip to Mangwon market and you'll make four different types of kimchi at the home of a local cook.
The sprawling Blackfeet Reservation covers about 1.5 million acres and you can visit to learn more about the indigenous Blackfeet peoples. The Blackfeet Culture Camp spreads out over the high plains of the reservation, offering travellers the chance to fish with a Blackfoot guide, peruse a gallery filled with indigenous artworks and hike centuries-old trails. The four-day Heart Butte Indian Days festival, filled with traditional dancing and dress, is also held here in August.
You're guaranteed a good night at a Scottish ceilidh, a traditional gathering involving folk music and dancing. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, you'll hit the dance floor with the help of a "caller", whose responsibility it is to guide participants through the routine. Ceilidh dancing is common at Scottish weddings and other social events, but tourists can also book experiences, often involving a multi-course dinner and drinks too.
Awarded UNESCO status, the tradition of Cambodia's Royal Ballet is thought to date back more than a millennia, and has long been bound up with the Khmer Royal Court. It's a striking show, with elaborate costumes, exacting poses and a live orchestra, and dancers go through many years of training to master the fine art. Performances are sporadic, but check for events at locations including the Apsara Theatre in Siem Reap.
Dreaming of a foray into America's Wild West? A stay on a working cattle ranch is an essential experience. Be prepared for hard work – on trips like this one from Pettitts, visitors are expected to get stuck into daily ranch life, with tasks ranging from rounding up cattle to DIY. You'll need to be comfortable on horseback too. If that doesn't sound like your bag, ranch-style accommodations across the region offer travellers a little more luxury. We love The Ranch at Rock Creek in Philipsburg, Montana.
Those who venture beyond Venice proper will find plenty of cultural treasures in the Venetian Lagoon – islands including Murano and colourful Burano are well known for their traditional handicrafts. Head to the former to discover beautiful glasswork, and especially kaleidoscopic glass beads. Burano, meanwhile, is a centre for lacemaking with shops hung with lace garments and many intricate pieces on display at the Lace Museum.
Peru's Sacred Valley is best known for Machu Picchu, the centuries-old Inca citadel that draws tourists from across the world. But the region has other, lesser-known jewels too. Several weaving communities exist in the region, including the picturesque village of Ollantaytambo, which is perpetually backdropped by colourful textiles. Tours visit the small town, offering travellers the possibility to learn about the historic weaving practises and have a go themselves. Always book with a reputable operator.