Beyond the bucket list

Produced by SilverKris for our partner

If you expect more from your holidays, Trafalgar should already be on your radar. Trafalgar is a travel company that takes you beyond the standard sightseeing, offering guided journeys designed to connect you deeply with people, places and cultures.

According to Trafalgar, travel is not about where you go, but how deeply you connect. That is why its signature ‘Be My Guest’ experiences allow you to interact with locals in a sincere and meaningful way, share meals and learn the traditions at the heart of a destination. For example, the Spanish Wonder tour lets you savour sangria with locals in sun-dappled courtyards. You may also spend time at a family-run olive oil farm, learning how olives are grown, harvested and pressed before enjoying a tasting of their signature oils. “Tasting the oils at the table, surrounded by warmth and hospitality, felt like being welcomed into the heart of Spain,” Trafalgar guest Ripple Sim shares.

Meanwhile, the Scotland’s Highlands, Islands and Cities tour takes you to a 15th-century farm on the shores of Loch Ard, where you join the Wood family for a home-cooked Scottish lunch. Between stories of Rob Roy and the sounds of traditional ceilidh tunes, the experience offers a warm and personal glimpse into Highland life.

‘MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®’ Experiences are another highlight. Curated with care, each destination is chosen based on the positive social or environmental impact it has on local communities and on those who visit.

With the Best of Greece tour, you can visit Axion Esti, a family-run organic beekeeping facility in Stemnitsa. Here, you meet Sophia and Anthony and learn how their passion for bees has grown into an award-winning operation. Suit up to see the hives up close, explore the museum and sample local honey while discovering the importance of pollinators to the wider ecosystem. It is an enriching encounter that connects travellers to both people and place.

Trafalgar also offers ‘Stays With Stories’, unique accommodations that embody the character of a region. These are not simply hotels, but properties with a narrative woven into their walls.

On the Best of France tour, step back in time at Château de Beauvois in the Loire Valley, where you will learn about the château’s history dating from the 15th to 17th centuries. Once favoured by King Louis XIII, its terraces overlook manicured gardens and tranquil countryside. Inside, elegant rooms blend regal décor with modern comforts, allowing guests to experience the refinement of a bygone era without sacrificing ease. Evenings might be spent enjoying regional wines in the grand salon or dining beneath chandeliers, surrounded by centuries of French heritage.

On the Secrets of the Rockies and Glacier National Park tour, stay at the world-famous Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in UNESCO-listed Banff National Park, Alberta. Often referred to as the “Castle in the Rockies”, this landmark property was modelled after a Scottish baronial castle and has welcomed guests for more than 130 years. Over the decades, dignitaries and celebrities, including Marilyn Monroe, have graced its halls. Today, travellers can admire its striking architecture, learn about its storied past and wake to sweeping views of soaring peaks and pine forests. It is a setting that feels both majestic and deeply connected to the natural beauty that surrounds it.