5 Places for Cultural Immersion

From creative workshops and Jamaican music tours to exploring UNESCO wonders and art-filed hotels (pictured above: The Fife Arms), these properties offer rich, hands-on experiences that dive deep into local culture. 

Lying 2,182 miles off the coast of Chile, Easter Island is one of the most isolated and culturally significant places on the planet, known for its ancient stone Moai statues, rocky volcanic scenery, and land-before-time beauty. At the center of it all is the eco-retreat Nayara Hangaroa, where the majority of the staff hail from local communities. Guests can embark on curated cultural experiences, such as visiting the ancient ceremonial village of Orongo, marveling at the Moai at Ahu Akivi, and exploring the volcanic quarry of Rano Raraku, where the statues were carved during the 12th-15th centuries. The nearby village of Hangaroa offers an authentic glimpse into the vibrant local life and Rapa Nui traditions.

In February 2024, the Eastern & Oriental Express, a Belmond Train, returned to the rails with two new seasonal journeys through Malaysia’s tropical landscapes and vibrant cities: Essence of Malaysia (November to February) and Wild Malaysia (March to October). Featuring 15 restyled carriages with intricate cherry wood marquetry, Malaysian embroidery, and oriental silks, the train is a testament to local craftsmanship. Excursions include visits to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Penang, home to street art, galleries, and temples, and a photography masterclass in Taman Negara National Park, where travelers might spot tigers and leopards.

Founded by art world heavyweights Iwan and Manuela Wirth, Scotland’s Fife Arms takes the “art hotel” concept to another level. Not only are there 16,000 museum-quality artworks on display (where else can you see a Louise Bourgeois spider sculpture alongside a watercolor by Queen Victoria and a chandelier made from stainless steel utensils, not to mention pieces by Picasso, Man Ray, and Lucien Freud?!). Guests can also tap into local cultural traditions by participating in hands-on workshops, such as a two-hour creative writing session with award-winning writer and poet Gillian Shearer, a tartan design masterclass with a local textile designer, or an outdoor live sketching session. The Fife Arms also collaborates with a selection of artisans whose work appears on the Red List of Endangered Crafts drawn up by Heritage Crafts – of which King Charles is the President. Last year’s selection featured wooden fishing net making, sporran making, and hand paper making, combining Scottish tradition with contemporary design and sustainability.

A 2,500-acre cattle farm in the sleepy parish of Trelawny, 30 miles inland from Montego Bay, Pantrepant is the former home and private retreat of Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, who bought it in 1980. The 18th century estate lies on the banks of the Martha Brae River amid 800 acres of rolling pastures and organic fruit and vegetable crops. At the center of the rambling property is a two-bedroom, two-bathroom cottage accommodating four guests, which has been artfully refitted with custom-designed, locally crafted teak furniture and wicker chairs. The serene natural beauty and meticulously designed interiors make Pantrepant a haven for creativity. For culturally curious travelers, the property offers exclusive access to unique experiences, from a deep dive into the evolution of Jamaican music—spanning Ska, Mento, Rocksteady, and Reggae—to a private session with renowned Jamaican sculptor Laura Facey.

On April 15, 2024, Casablanca’s first luxury hotel reopened as the long-awaited Royal Mansour Casablanca. Occupying the site of the former Art Deco landmark, which was faithfully rebuilt over 8 years to capture the original building’s modernist splendor, the boutique property now has 149 rooms, suites, and private apartments that hark back to Casblanca’s mid-century glamor (think: Carrerra marble surfaces, inlaid wood paneling, rich fabrics, and views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Mosque. It’s the ideal base for exploring Morocco’s largest city, which is known not only for its distinctive “Frarabic” or French-Arabic architecture, but its edgy art galleries, vibrant nightlife scene, and lively medinas. Guests of the Royal Mansour Casablanca can pull back the curtain on the alluring destination by going on a tour led by a local artist or creative, who will point out some of their favorite local haunts, or embarking on a three-hour-long journey to discover the 30+ street art works and murals scattered throughout the city