Having a good guide or local contact can make a crucial difference to your enjoyment of a destination, but how often do we specifically seek someone out?
Many travellers like to experience a place on their own, and to an extent — with a well-planned itinerary — that’s possible. However, especially when you’re exploring a culture, a local tour guide is beneficial to have to understand it better, and will be proud to show you what their homeland has to offer.
This spectacular region of Italy boasts dynamic city life, ancient history and breathtaking views of the Mediterranean from charming hilltop towns. Take a Naples tour with a friendly, knowledgeable guide and discover this beautiful region with a local. Local guides will take you to the parts of Naples the locals love best — like the shopping streets around Piazza Trieste e Trento. Catch a performance at the Teatro San Carlo, one of the world’s great opera houses, or discover the remains of one of the most popular archeological sites in Italy — Pompeii.
Enchant your senses in a tour of India with a friendly personal guide to take you on your journey. It’s a land of incredible contrast. Take a rejuvenating trek in Himachal Pradesh or meditate in a secluded forest. Embark on a spiritual quest, marvel at glorious architecture, immerse yourself in history or see how its billion people are entering the modern world. Your local guide will be able to introduce you to the best-kept secrets behind the must-see sights. Indian people are known to be quite hospitable to their guests, and that, combined with their infinite knowledge and passion for their homeland, will ensure you’ll have a trip of your lifetime.
Tokyo is an exceptionally vast city, with a culture that is embedded with etiquette and rich in history and experiences. On occasion, the local tour guides are volunteers who wish to help you understand their culture better, and to enhance cross-cultural understanding. These volunteers do no accept payment, with the exception that you pay for their lunch and entry fees to any of the places visited. You can choose to do a trip to the museums, temples and palaces, or you can ask your guide to show you the place like only the locals would know it.
The riverside town of Siem Reap is a true hotspot for travellers from around the globe. With its proximity to the stunning temples of Angkor and its own charming attractions, this Cambodian traveller’s ultimate destination is not to be missed. Take a private Siem Reap tour with a local guide and discover the land of the Khmers. Get a jump on the large groups heading to Angkor with an early morning start. The staggering Angkor Wat is believed to be the largest religious building ever built, and is recognised as one of the wonders of the world. Back in Siem Reap, your guide can suggest the best spots for you to enjoy local cuisine and take you on a culinary journey.
Beijing — an intoxicating mix of ancient and modern China. Visit Beijing’s Forbidden City to explore the best preserved cluster of ancient buildings in China. Wander the lush grounds and pavilions of the Summer Palace and imagine the imperial court of years gone by escaping the summer heat in its cool green spaces. See the dignified 15th century buildings that make up the Temple of Heaven, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For more recent history, don’t miss Chairman Mao Memorial Hall or Tiananmen Square — a reminder of the sweeping powers of China’s Communist Party. Make sure you take a trip north of the city to gaze at the Badaling section of the Great Wall, as it winds its way like a lithe dragon along the mountain ranges.
If you’re looking not just for a holiday, but for an adventure, Vietnam is the place to go. Miles of palm-fringed, white sand beaches, slow-moving rivers flanked by rice paddies of startling green, and vibrant cities rich with history and culture; a locally guided Vietnam tour will take you to the heart of this exotic land. Ask your guide to arrange an overnight boat cruise around World Heritage-listed Halong Bay — the island-studded, emerald green waters defy description, but will leave you in a state of awe. Imperial-flavoured Hue is the place to go for historical, cultural and culinary stimulation. Traipse through ancient temples and palaces with your knowledgeable guide, then let them recommend a local restaurant for dinner. You can explore Hanoi’s atmospheric Old Quarter before escaping down the river to visit the timeless villages of the Mekong Delta – or simply relax at Nha Trang Beach.
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