Whether it’s hiking the Inca Trail up to Machu Picchu, retracing the steps of legendary gladiators in the Roman Colosseum, or taking a scenic cruise through Vietnam’s UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay, we’re always looking to get our minds blown on vacation.
Cultural experiences continue to lead travel trends worldwide, especially among U.S. travelers, who don’t come across fairytale towns or majestic castles as often as their European or Asian counterparts––well, lucky for the culture-hungry American, TripAdvisor’s got their back.
As customary every year, the popular travel agency has unveiled its latest list of Best of the Best Things to Do on a vacation, including five unique and incredible traveler experiences:
Chichen Itza, Cenote and Valladolid All-Inclusive Tour
- Departs from: Cancun, Mexico
- Duration: 12 hours
- Price: from $58.65 on Viator
- Group size: maximum 40 people
- Approval rate: recommended by 96% of travelers
Coming in at number five, we have the ‘Best of the Best’ certified tour of Yucatan’s highlights, departing from the Hotel Zone in Cancun and other select spots in the wider Riviera Maya, the leading resort destination for Americans traveling to Mexico.
When booking this experience, you will stop at Chichen Itza, one of the 7 New Wonders of the World, an ancient archeological site dating back to the period of Mayan rule, a cenote sinkhole where you can swim in crystal-clear waters, and the storybook-like colonial city of Valladolid.
As it includes hotel pick-up, a bilingual guide, a buffet meal, as well as admission tickets to the attractions for all-inclusive guests, this tour is one of the easiest ways to explore the Mayan World stress-free: from transportation to food, pretty much everything’s taken care of.
Small-Group Explore Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour with Guide from Siem Reap
- Departs from: Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Duration: 8 hours
- Price: from $19 on Viator
- Group size: maximum 13 people
- Approval rate: recommended by 99% of travelers
This one’s for the off-path adventurers: located in Cambodia, a fascinating Southeast Asian country with a long history spanning thousands of years, Angkor Wat is an archeological site comprising the ruins of the bygone Khmer kingdom, which existed from the 9th to 15th centuries.
A vast complex of UNESCO-protected stone temples known for their ornately-sculpted exteriors, some as old as 1,200 years, Angkor Wat and its spearing chedi, the tower-like structures that dot the park, are so iconic they feature on the Cambodian flag.
The tour itself has a maximum of 13 guests per group, keeping crowding at a minimum.
It starts at sunrise, which means you get to soak up the site’s ancientness and mystique while the blood-orange sun rises, and most importantly, without the usual hordes of tourists.
All-Inclusive Amsterdam Canal Cruise by Captain Jack
- Departs from: Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Duration: 1h30
- Price: from $43.69 on Viator
- Group size: maximum 20 people
- Approval rate: recommended by 98% of travelers
Famous for its complex system of navigable canals, lined by skinny buildings in every muted color known to man, and stately Northern Mannerist palaces, Amsterdam itself is a bucket list item for nearly every American traveler crossing the pond.
There’s many a way to have a memorable trip to the capital of the Netherlands, be it pub-crawling in the Red Light District or getting lost in the art-filled galleries of Rijksmuseum, but nothing’s more representative of Amsterdam than going on a canal cruise.
If you’re short on time, it is by far the easiest way to spot all of the major points of interest, including the Anne Frank House and the postcard-style houses on the Prinsengracht canal, while sipping a hot drink, munching on Dutch snack baskets, and hearing fun facts only a local guide would know.
All-Inclusive Ubud Private Tour
- Departs from: Ubud (Bali), Indonesia
- Duration: 8-10 hours
- Price: from $90 on Viator (per adult)
- Group size: intimate groups
- Approval rate: recommended by 99% of travelers
The most popular island in Indonesia, Bali is a sanctuary for wellness seekers and beachgoers alike, and between the hundreds of ancient temples it houses and the scenic coastline, there’s certainly no shortage of amazing activities to absorb yourself in.
Departing from Ubud, the top-rated tour on TripAdvisor takes you up to some of the main highlights in the trendiest province of Bali, including the Instagrammable Tegalalang Rice Terrace, the beautiful Tegenungan Waterfall, and even the Sacred Monkey Forest.
A private excursion that includes pickup and drop-off at your location of preference and that can be customized based on your travel preferences, it has a near-perfect 99% approval rate on the platform, with up to 9,529 reviews, most of which are positive.
The Unvanquished Tour in Porto City Center
- Departs from: Porto, Portugal
- Duration: 2h30
- Price: from $3.31 on Viator
- Group size: maximum 25 people
- Approval rate: recommended by 99% of travelers
Taking the number one spot, the Unvanquished Tour of Porto’s historic center is a guided walk around Northern Portugal’s most important river port, as well as the most budget-friendly tour on this list, costing from only $3.31 to book.
You should expect big groups due to the low prices, but also a ‘passionate and informative‘ guide, beautiful sights, including the richly-decorated Carmo Church, the Baroque Clerigos Tower, and Lello Bookshop, and ‘great stories’ about Porto, as told by a local.
There are no admissions included, and for this one, you’ll want to get your comfy shoes on, as Porto is quite hilly, and you’ll be doing a lot of walking; on the bright side, this is your best bet for discovering the city in under 3 hours if you’re only there on a short stopover.
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