People & Culture

Nat Geo Day Tour: Dubai’s Pearl Diving Legacy

Explore the fascinating culture and tradition of pearl diving in Dubai and understand its historical and cultural significance for the UAE.

Nat Geo Day Tour: Paris, the City of Book Lovers

Explore Paris's literary history with guided visits to the Bibliotheque Nationale, time to meet one of the Seine's historic ‘Bouquinistes' - booksellers - and a trip to the Shakespeare and Co bookstore.

Nat Geo Day Tour: The Heritage of Emirati Perfumery

Set off on an aromatic adventure into Emirati Perfumery. Learn about the significance of fragrances like oud, and create your own perfume with skilled guidance.

Nat Geo Day Tour: Handmade in Milan

Explore Isola district's heritage and get behind-the-scenes access to artisan workshops, from furniture restoration and violin making to handmade clothing and ethical jewelry – plus a trattoria lunch.

Nat Geo Day Tour: Street Art - The Passion of Marseille's Artists

Discover Marseille's vibrant street art on a guided tour of Le Panier. Follow an artist, enjoy a pastry at an art café, and create your masterpiece in a workshop with a personalized print.

Nat Geo Day Tour: Private Early-Access Guided Tour of Madrid's Thyssen Museum

Experience the Thyssen Museum like never before with private early access, before it opens to the general public. Explore the galleries with an art-historian guide, followed by a Madrilenian breakfast.

Nat Geo Day Tour: Tastes and Tales from Brooklyn's Little Caribbean

Discover Brooklyn's "Little Caribbean," a vibrant hub of West Indian culture in the heart of NYC. Join a local guide, savor island flavors, meet the community, and experience a hidden gem of New York.

Nat Geo Day Tour: Women of Antalya, Past to Present

Nearly two millennia ago, Plancia Magna blazed a trail by making an impressive impact on the city of Perge despite the usual passive role of women at that time. She was born into a wealthy, powerful family, but instead of an easy life, she used her privilege to benefit her city. Her courage, independence and character was celebrated long after her time, and inspired women through the ages to seek influential roles in society. Your National Geographic-trained guide will reveal the ancient city of Perge with a focus on the life and legacy of Plancia Magna, an inspirational figure even today. Perhaps Plancia was a source of inspiration for Hatice Adıgüzel, whose workshop you will visit next. Discover the skills and artistry involved in creating lamps and garden ornaments from gourds, and learn from Hatice herself what sets her business apart - her leadership in a male-dominated workforce, her commitment to empowering local women and her choice of sustainable materials. During a hands-on workshop, you will have the opportunity to create your own decorative gourd and learn more about Hatice's work with the local women's community. She pays her success forward by employing women to grow and decorate the gourds from their own homes for the business. They also make the snacks you'll enjoy during the workshop. Hatice's aim is to help women who are unable to work in regular employment due to childcare commitments or similar restrictions by giving them a convenient way to earn.

Nat Geo Day Tour: In Verdi's Footsteps

Giuseppe Verdi is celebrated as one of the most influential opera composers of the 19th century, and his work still enjoys great popularity today. Among his best-known operas are La Traviata, Rigoletto and Aida, each telling a very different story but all offering dramatic music and emotional intensity. Taking a tour of Verdi's Milan spotlights his musical genius and reveals his fierce dedication to becoming a maestro of Italian Opera. Discover the legacy he left in Milan, a city he both loved and loathed, with a visit to the Fondazione Giuseppe Verdi, the house that the Opera maestro built to host retired artists and musicians. Here, you'll get a close up look at the life of Verdi and his wife, including their personal belongings, furnishings, art collections, and their final resting places. Next on the itinerary is an opportunity to meet the current residents of Casa Verdi, many of whom are internationally acclaimed artists, and listen to their extraordinary life stories. You are also invited to attend an exclusive performance for National Geographic travellers by one of the residents. Your penultimate stop is La Scala Theatre. Visit the museum and find out the behind-the-scenes anecdotes about Verdi's relationship with the theatre. At the end of the tour, you'll follow in Verdi's footsteps and take a break at Grand Hotel et de Milan, where Verdi lived for 27 years and in fact, where he took his last breath.

Nat Geo Day Tour: Exploring Antalya's Nomadic Culture

The foothills of the Taurus mountains have been a region of travel and trade for millennia. On this National Geographic tour, you'll embrace the region's ancient traditions that are still thriving today and immerse yourself in the nomadic lifestyle by visiting a Yörük family. Head over to the Seljuk bridge at Aspendos with your guide who will reveal alluring facts about the site. Built around the 4th century on the banks of Köprüçay, this architectural marvel is renowned for its distinctive zigzag design, a testament to its intriguing history. Continue your voyage and head over to an ancient caravanserai, where much of the original layout remains remarkably intact. Step back in time as you wander through the inn's chambers, guardian's quarters, bathhouse, and prayer hall alongside your guide. This is a place that radiates history, where countless travelers sought refuge and replenishment. The Yörük people have perfected their nomadic lifestyle for centuries. Every spring, communities migrate with their herds from the gentle coastal plains to the mountainous summer pastures. Spend time with a Yörük family and learn about their sustainable ways of life. Tuck into a tasty meal with eye-catching views of the Taurus mountains. Nearby, you'll find a spot to purchase locally-made goods like soaps, teas, oils, and more. Proceeds support communities affected by recent earthquakes or forest fires. Finally, Explore Ormana, an Ottoman village famous for its ingeniously crafted 'button houses'.

Nat Geo Day Tour: Discover Cretan Farm Life

Small-scale, family-run farms are integral to the Mediterranean diet that Crete is so famous for. A local family will welcome you to their Mitato, a small farmhouse, where you'll be greeted with the genuine warmth of Cretan hospitality. Listen to the local farmer tell the intriguing tale of King Minoas who watched from his observatory, and alerted locals to incoming pirates. Greetings over, it's time for a hands-on bread-making lesson, learning the techniques for typical Cretan bread, made with wheat and barley flour. Then, witness their cheese-making skills using goat's milk from the farm. Next, it's time to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in, helping out with daily farm tasks like feeding the goats, pigs, chickens, and rabbits, and tending to the gardens. The adventure continues with a snail hunt over the mountainside, exclusive to National Geographic travellers, peeking under rocks, and among shrubs and flowers. As the day unfolds, your collected treasures, including snails, eggs, fruit, and vegetables, become the ingredients for lunch. Alongside the family, you'll prepare a feast of local delicacies, all made from the products of your day's work. Finish off the experience with a taste of Crete's spirit, Raki, and why not sing along to their traditional Cretan ‘Mantinades,' - traditional Cretan couplets that express sentiments about Cretan daily life.