Spend a day in the life of a shepherd in the Basque countryside, go fishing with locals in Portofino or join a painting class with an Irish artist in Waterford – these are just a few of the dozens of fascinating and enriching experiences available with our groundbreaking new Go Local series of immersive destination tours.

These exclusive small-batch tours explore well beyond the typical tourist sights and instead, invite you to embed yourself into the fabric of the local communities. On more than 120 tours across Europe, Alaska and South America, you will be welcomed into homes and businesses and immersed in the local way of life. You’ll have the chance to engage with local artisans, craftsmen, religious figures and others. You’ll learn generations-old traditions, become part of a local family and bond with the surrounding community. You’ll experience the destination on an entirely new level and leave feeling connected to the place – and changed.

Go Local Tours: A Featured Sample
The tours are completely distinctive and one-of-a-kind, ranging from dining with a local family in Bordeaux to tango dancing at one of Buenos Aires famed milongas to a Matryoshka painting master class in St. Petersburg. Here’s a quick look at a few of these exclusive new tours – be sure to visit our website to explore them all.

Shepherd for a Day in Basque Country | Biarritz, France

Accompany a Basque Country shepherd and participate in his daily tasks and routines for a candid and fascinating experience. Here in Basque Country, much of life revolves around shepherding and cheese making, as you will discover. Learn how to care for the indigenous Laxta sheep, discover how to milk them most efficiently and learn how the milk is used to produce varieties of Idiazabal, a designation of cheese that can officially only be produced in this region. Afterward, enjoy a picnic of homemade products, including some of the farm’s tasty cheese. 

Shop for Dinner and Set the Table | Buenos Aires, Argentina
Enjoy a fun and engaging afternoon of shopping local markets with a guide and later savor a traditional dinner at a local residence. Navigating through a market bustling with locals, there will be opportunities to ask the butchers for the best cuts, the fish monger for today’s catch or to haggle with the grocer for the best price on vegetables. One need not be a foodie to appreciate the richness of this experience. After the shopping is finished, it’s time to enjoy a traditional Argentine dinner “at home.”

Recipes with 1,001 Stories | Cartagena Spain
Tour a family-owned country estate with one of the owners, who will regale you with entertaining stories of the history and share recipes from a family cookbook. Generations of the family have lived here, and there are countless stories about their lives, the founding of the estate and how the Murcian region has changed over the decades. Afterwards, picnic in the countryside and taste just how spectacular Murcian cuisine can be. 

Fishing with The Natives | Portofino, Italy
On this lively excursion, spend the day at sea with a local fishing crew, watching them haul in the day’s catch. The Captain and crew will describe their typical day on the stunningly beautiful Ligurian Sea and explain the different methods they use. Of course, no day at sea would be complete without a meal of traditionally prepared, just-caught fish followed by a refreshing dip in the sea off the coast of Portofino. 

Ardmore Village & Inspiration of a Local Artist | Waterford, Ireland 
At the Brigid Shelly Gallery in Ardmore, the local artist known affectionately as “The Cow Lady” will guide you during a hands-on painting class in her studio. Shelly loves to capture landscapes and people on canvas but admits that she is a bit fascinated with painting the local cows. She’ll begin with a tour of her gallery and a look through some of her recent works and then will turn everyone loose to release their inner Picasso. During the session, she will regale you with tales of local life, history and lore. Of course, everyone returns home not just with fond memories, but their own personal masterpiece. 

Where are you dreaming of experiencing the local culture next? Explore our complete series of Go Local tours now and start planning!