6 Things to Do in Chiang Mai Off the Tourist Trail
A persistent visitor to Thailand’s Rose of the North, Johan Smits spills the beans about his favourite tourist-proof things to do in Chiang Mai; some of them might well surprise…
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A persistent visitor to Thailand’s Rose of the North, Johan Smits spills the beans about his favourite tourist-proof things to do in Chiang Mai; some of them might well surprise…
One of the hallmarks of 137 Pillars Hotels & Resorts is their bespoke guest experiences that are created around the brand pillars of art, fashion, history, music and culture…
In Mexico and Central America the Mayans left great temples as memories of a remarkable civilisation. But what of the ordinary Mayans? Mike East discovers Joya de Ceren, El Salvador…
In a thirsty quest around the world, Travel Begins at 40 helps you answer the question “Is there an Oktoberfest near me?” for when you can’t make it to the…
9 November marks 30 years since the fall of the wall in 1989 – an event which profoundly changed Germany and Europe. The city is commemorating it with a series of cultural events…
Mark Bibby Jackson journeys to the city of Lichfield where he visits the cathedral, Samuel Johnson’s birthplace and the nearby National Memorial…
Mike East travels to Holland’s second city and is pleasantly surprised by the things to do in Rotterdam, including its quirky architecture. I had come here at the request of…
A new transnational Unesco World Heritage puts the spotlight on Saxony’s more than 800-year-old history of mining in the Ore Mountains. Visitors can explore the region’s vibrant…
The annual Feria de Cali or Cali Fair in Colombia has grown into one of South America’s most important salsa festivals with fireworks, colourful parades, free music concerts…
Mark Bibby Jackson visits the university town of Poznan Poland to discover a place full of vitality where things are not always quite as they seem. “Look up there and…
The sensational Barranquilla Carnival held in February in Colombia is the world’s second biggest fiesta with magnificent street parades, traditional dancers, lots of local…
In July 2019, the Unesco World Heritage Committee inscribed the 20th century architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, consisting of eight Frank Lloyd Wright-designed sites in the USA…
Irene Caswell visits war graves in France to pay her respects to those who fell in both World Wars and finds the trip a deeply moving experience. When I mentioned…
Mark Bibby Jackson visits UNESCO World Heritage site Zeche Zollverein, Essen to discover an amazing transformation that would have impressed Fritz Lang. As I ride up the escalator to the…
On an Istanbul city break, Mark Bibby Jackson discovers a vibrant place on the cusp of Europe and Asia that is perpetually re-inventing itself. As a Liverpool fan, memories of…
On 7 July, the latest UNESCO World Heritage sites were unveiled and the Mounded Tombs of Ancient Japan – 49 ancient burial mounds dating from the 3rd to 6th century (the…
Taking a short break from their native Suffolk, Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise discover a plethora of things to do in Harwich, a surprisingly historic town with links to the…
On his trip to Moldova, Mark Bibby Jackson visits the Victory Day parade in Transnistria, meeting a hospitable people at odds with the rest of Europe, yet clinging on to…
Durga Puja, one of the most important festivals for Hindu Bengalis, is the biggest yearly event in Kolkata and known as the Carnival of the East. Usually taking place in…
July marks the 250 year anniversary of San Diego, California. The first European settlers to arrive on the west coast sailed into San Diego Bay in 1542, naming the land…
Mark Bibby Jackson travels to Hampshire where he learns of cricketing tales of yore, seafaring adventures and discovers a most poignant reminder of man’s follies in the D-Day Story. Although…
During the days of the Onam Festival, the biggest and most spectacular festival of Kerala, the entire Indian state goes on a spree of celebrations, music and dance performances, elaborate…
Also called the Olympic Games of nomads, the spectacular Naadam Festival in Mongolia is the country’s biggest event and its national pride. Taking place every July…
Johan Smits takes a deep breath before plunging into the world’s most crowded city, Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka. I’m a fan of Sci-Fi films. And often it’s the atmospheric, non-tech parts…
The older a civilisation, the richer its heritage. Whether you are in the UK, Europe the Far East or the Americas, an appreciation of the local culture will make your holiday the more rewarding.
Local festivals are a wonderful way of appreciating the rich culture that has been crafted over centuries and even millennia upon occasions. At Travel Begins at 40, we have a whole festival and events section so you can easily access information on festivals local to where you are visiting.
The UK is blessed with a long history that is demonstrated in the wonderful castles, cathedrals and ancestral homes dotted around the country. Many of these are maintained by organisations such as English Heritage and the National Trust and open to the public.
Europe has a similar rich tradition, and holidays in the continent can focus on the Grand Tour involving highlights of Roman, Greek and even Morish civilisations.
If all this sounds like a Eurocentric, culturally elitist approach, then fear not, we also have articles focusing on native culture from early civilisations that might have been missed out in some history books. Make your next journey a culturally rewarding one.