For many, the draw of extended travel is to discover new cultures that are completely different to our own. Take advantage of a sabbatical to rekindle a childhood passion for ancient empires and colourful kings on their home ground, introduce your own family to breathtaking Old Masters and vibrant street art, and graze your way together through an alluring variety of local dishes from haute-cuisine masterpieces to spectacular street food. Whatever your cultural curiosity, spending longer inevitably allows you to gain a much deeper understanding of what makes the land tick.
LIVING HISTORY
Follow in the footsteps of the great empire builders, step into the past among the ruins of ancient civilisations and discover the palaces of long-vanished rulers. There are countless places which bring history to life in the most unforgettable way – here are just some of some of the most inspiring.
Ancient Egypt
Lose yourself in the splendour of ancient Egypt as you glide along the Nile between imposing temples and richly painted tombs. Find classroom tales of the pharaohs and Tutankhamun come alive as you explore the Valley of the Kings and the Temples of Karnak, and then return to Cairo to take in the exceptionally preserved mummies and the death mask of Tutankhamun at the Grand Egyptian Museum.
The Mayan World
Tales of jaguar gods and human sacrifice come alive in the jungle-shrouded temples and sacred caves of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. The power and reach of the Maya was astonishing in its day, and vestiges of this thriving civilisation are littered across the jungles and grassy plains of Central America. Particularly striking are the towering temple complex of Tikal in Guatemala, the forest smothered temple of Caracol in Belize and the Mexican wonders of Chichén Itzá and Palenque. The presence of the Maya can be equally felt beneath the surface – in the sacred cave temple of Actun Tunichil Muknal in Belize, or in the curious cenote sinkholes of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula – which provide surprisingly good venues for snorkelling.
Greeks and Romans
From the Acropolis of Athens to the Colosseum of Rome, a multitude of traces of the glories of ancient Greece and Rome await discovery across the south of Europe and beyond. How deep you delve is very much down to the time you have to spend and the dynamic of those you are travelling with, but we can design the perfect itinerary peppered with sites that bring these civilisations to life against an exquisite backdrop of European wonders.
The Inca Empire
Though the presence of the Incas was relatively short-lived in empirical terms, this was a civilisation that truly left its mark; during its peak in the late 15th century it was the largest empire in the world. The majestic Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in the heart of the Andes is the best-known site left behind by the Incas following their conquest by the Spaniards in 1533, but a wealth of other intriguing sites – and traditions – have also been left in their wake. In the Sacred Valley of the Incas, remarkably preserved agricultural terraces cling to verdant valley walls while vast salt pans sparkle in the Andean sun. Even in Cusco itself, former capital of the Inca empire, mighty Inca walls line some of the labyrinthine streets of the historic centre, while the unshakeable foundations of the Inca Temple of the Sun – Qorikancha – still make their presence felt beneath the Spanish colonial monastery of Santo Domingo.
Kingdoms and castles in the United Kingdom
If the chequered fortunes of the six wives of King Henry VIII formed part of your childhood history lessons, you can follow in the footsteps of the Tudors through England’s storied palaces and castles which are scattered far and wide from London to the Cotswolds and the rolling English countryside of the South Downs. On the other hand, if the impassioned battles of the Jacobite uprising have always captured your imagination, delve into the Royal Heritage and Castles of Scotland on a breathtakingly scenic journey through the heather-clad hills and inky deep lochs of the Highlands.
Further East
Journey east for an extended exploration of some of the planet’s most celebrated sites, from the rock-hewn city of Petra in Jordan to Cambodia’s magnificent temple complex of Angkor Wat. Alternatively, you may be drawn to discover the Terracotta Army in Xi’An and the Great Wall of China, or delve deep into the multi-layered history of Japan through its ancient temples, imperial palaces and tales of samurai warriors.
CULINARY JOURNEYS
Nothing takes you so delightfully to the heart of a culture than its food and drink, whether you’re feasting on innovative high-end cuisine or rustling up regional specialities in a local family home. On a culinary voyage tailored to your tastes and interests, you could be tasting tea, toddy and fresh-from-the-net seafood as you dive into Sri Lanka’s extraordinary scenery and cultural delights. You might be immersing yourself in Japan’s distinctive culinary scene, discovering everything from the precise beauty of formal kaiseki dinners to the fun of making ramen and sushi. Or maybe you like the idea of tasting aged single malts at a Scottish whisky distillery or finding your perfect fizz in one of Champagne’s celebrated wineries. Soak up the sights, sounds and smells at bustling food markets, take masterclasses from expert chefs and relish everything from beach barbecues to Michelin-starred tasting menus between visits to headlining attractions.
ANTHROPOLOGY
One of the main benefits of a sabbatical is gaining a fresh perspective on life, and spending time in societies that see the world differently can be both enthralling and profound. You could head off-grid in the Himalayas with an extended stay in a rustic lodge where Nepali Sherpa traditions are very much to the fore, or head to India to follow mountain trails between Ladakhi villages where ancient customs still thrive. Perhaps you’re enthralled by the barely developed island of Sulawesi, whose rugged landscapes have helped create a rich patchwork of distinctive tribal cultures where people still follow ‘the way of the ancestors’. Or maybe you’d like to experience the extraordinary diversity of Papua New Guinea, home to more than 830 indigenous languages; spend time with the Berbers in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco; or discover Guatemala through the lens of its indigenous Mayan communities.
ART IMMERSION
Let your love of art be your guide to an in-depth exploration of Europe’s greatest galleries, from the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay in Paris to the Uffizi in Florence and the Vatican Museums in Rome. Private, bespoke (and sometimes after-hours) tours with an expert allow you to deepen your knowledge of the Renaissance or Impressionism, say, or discover a new fascination for the work of Spanish superstars such as Goya, Picasso and Gaudí. For an in-depth insight into more contemporary work, you could walk the pavements of Athens, Lisbon and Latin America’s colourful capitals on the trail of vibrant street art that offers a unique perspective on the destination and what drives the people living there. Alternatively, you might like to use your sabbatical trip to start or expand your personal art collection with the help of on-the-spot advisors who can direct you to some of the best independent galleries.
MUSICAL VOYAGES
As the birthplace of opera, Italy hosts an extraordinary range of venues, each memorable in their own right, from the historic Roman Arena in Verona to the sparkling jewel box that is Milan’s La Scala. In Vienna and Salzburg, Mozart aficionados can listen to his sublime music in gilded rooms and marbled halls where the prodigy used to perform, as well as visit the house where he was born and some of the places he lived. There’s music of an altogether different kind to be enjoyed on the Blues Trail in the USA’s Deep South, and not just the folky blues, but also soul, rock ‘n’ roll, country, Cajun and jazz.
