IMAGES: CHARLES REAGAN; ALAMY
TRENDING EXPERIENCES
culture 17.
TRY CONCERT HOPPING IN CHICAGO
If you’ve stood in line for a festival and heard a milieu of languages chatting in shared enthusiasm about an artist, you’ll know that ‘gig-tripping’ is a hot topic: American Express’s 2025 Global Travel Trends Report found that 60% of participants were planning to travel for live entertainment. And it’s not just the stadium shows that get all the attention: an increasing number of travellers are taking off for more niche events, from futurist raves in South Africa and underground electronic events in Germany to desert DJ sets in Morocco. Visit Chicago in July and August to combine the
best of both worlds. Sing your heart out to big-name acts at Lollapalooza, then stick around for the Chicago Jazz Festival, or discover DJs putting the dancefloor into a trance at the Chicago House Music Festival. For food-lovers, the Taste of Greektown and Sangria Festival are also not to be missed.
HOW TO DO IT: Choose Chicago has an up-to-date calendar of events in the city, from music to sports. Admission tickets for Lollapalooza cost from ($365) £285 per person for a four-day pass.
choosechicago.com
lollapalooza.com
19.
LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE IN OKINAWA
Language-immersion lodges are on the rise, with the market set to more than double by 2033, according to a DataIntelo report. Japan, in particular, is seeing a spike in these stays, helping travellers demystify the Japanese alphabet and helping them connect with local people in a way few others can. Set in a residential neighbourhood in the tropical Okinawan capital Naha, the Genki Japanese Language and Culture School plunges you into the proverbial deep end, both via daily language classes and chats over coffee in the student lounge. Select the homestay accommodation option and you’ll be bunking in with an Okinawan family, tasting traditional soba-based dinners and learning about the island’s unique Sino-Japanese fusion culture via time-honoured local tales. Away from the capital, the school can also arrange surf lessons and snorkelling trips to see Okinawa’s coral reefs.
HOW TO DO IT: Language courses at Genki cost from ¥36,000 (£180) per week, plus a ¥36,000 (£180) admin and accommodation placement fee. Homestay accommodation in Okinawa from ¥32,000 (£160) per week.
genkijacs.com
18.
CELEBRATE CRAFT HERITAGE IN MEXICO
Across the globe, travellers are increasingly seeking out hands-on ways to connect with culture, swapping passive sightseeing for immersive craft experiences that preserve traditional skills and support local artisans. From weaving workshops in the Andes to pottery studios in Japan, these creative exchanges are becoming a key part of culturally conscious travel. In Mexico, a country famed for its artistry, visitors can dive deep into this heritage on guided tours that champion local craftspeople. Spend mornings shaping clay in a Zapotec pottery studio, afternoons learning natural dyeing techniques with cochineal and indigo, and evenings sampling mezcal among the mountains that inspire so much of the region’s artistry. It’s a hands-on, sensory journey into colour, culture and community, one that celebrates the makers keeping Mexico’s creative heart beating.
HOW TO DO IT: Journey Latin America’s eight-day Artisans of Oaxaca tour costs from £2,680 per person, including guided workshops, accommodation and most meals.
journeylatinamerica.co.uk
20.
GO BACK TO YOUR ROOTS IN GHANA
Countries with long histories of emigration are seeing a spike in ancestry-inspired travel, fuelled by advances in DNA testing that now let you uncover your ancestral story with a simple saliva swab. Places such as Ireland, Scotland, Poland, Italy and India have all introduced dedicated genealogy resources, family history tours and even heritage train rides, like the Pravasi Bharatiya Express. In West Africa, Ghana has become a focal point
for travellers tracing family roots. Trips often combine welcoming ceremonies and cultural immersion with reflective visits to historical sites, including the UNESCO-listed Elmina Castle — a 15th-century fort once central to the transatlantic slave trade — alongside artisanal villages renowned for beading and brass-casting traditions. These journeys offer both connection and contemplation, allowing visitors to engage with history while celebrating local culture.
HOW TO DO IT: Responsible Travel’s Ghana Ancestral Tour is priced from £3,895 per person, including breakfasts and plenty of excursions — to Kakum National Park, Manhyia Palace and more.
responsibletravel.co.uk
Clockwise from top: Lollapalooza features an eclectic lineup, including rock, pop, hip-hop, EDM and alternative artists; Kakum National Park in Ghana is home to the only canopy walkway in Africa, which is a 1,150ft- long suspension bridge connecting seven treetops; Shuri Castle, located in Okinawa Prefecture is a historical masterpiece that’s been designated as a World Heritage Site
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NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.COM/TRAVEL
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