100 Discoveries: Cultural Connections

The very best holidays are about more than just ticking off tourist attractions. They are about truly engaging with local culture, learning new skills, and making connections with the people who call your destination home. 100 Discoveries celebrates this idea: 100 ways, in 100 properties, to help you step into the lives, landscapes, and traditions that make each place unique. Whether you are a solo traveller looking to discover a hidden talent or a family looking to give back to the local community, there are 100 ways to dig a little deeper.

Discover a few of the experiences in store when you stay with us below. Or explore 100 Discoveries through the spirit of our brands: Banyan Tree, Angsana, Cassia, Dhawa, Folio, Garrya, and Homm. Curated, authentic experiences designed to foster connection await you in each.
 

GETTING CREATIVE

Learning a new skill is a meaningful, hands-on way to engage with a new culture. Book a stay at Banyan Tree Huangshan in China and you will have the opportunity to pick up the basics of Chinese calligraphy in a hands-on session with a local master. After an engaging lesson spent slowly practising brushstrokes, you will leave with a simple scroll crafted in your own hand – and a greater understanding of the culture and heritage behind this ancient art.

In Indonesia, the winding alleys and kampong houses of Kotagede, Yogyakarta, are home to a community of artisans known for their expertise in forging and sculpting silver. Stay at nearby Garrya Bianti Yogyakarta to visit the home and workshop of master craftsman Pak Bandi. Working alongside Pak Bandi, you will be able to create your own personal silver keepsake.

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A stay at Angsana Teluk Bahang Penang in Malaysia means discovering the rich tapestry culture of the Baba Nyonya people, descended from Chinese immigrants and Malay locals. Meet the artisans dedicated to preserving the delicate craft of kasut manek – intricately beaded embroidered slippers – and try your hand at creating something yourself.

Elsewhere, try Japanese umbrella-making at Dhawa Yura Kyoto, papermaking with the Dai people of southwest China at Angsana Xishuangbanna, and mother-of-pearl crafting at Angsana Zhuhai Phoenix Bay near Macau.
 

GIVING BACK

Some of the most meaningful travel experiences involve contributing to the communities that welcome you. At Banyan Tree Lăng Cô in Vietnam, you are invited to step outside the usual tourist bubble and engage with the young people who call this region home. Through our ‘English is Fun’ initiative, you will be welcomed into the classrooms of Phú Lộc District, to help primary and secondary students practice their English. Whether you’re sharing stories, exchanging culture or just playing games, you will leave feeling both inspired and connected.

Similarly, Homm Bliss South Beach Patong in Thailand allows you to enhance your stay with purposeful activities that support both the community and the environment. One experience takes you into the throng of the local fish market, where you get to make friends with a local chef and learn how to choose the freshest, most sustainable fish. Proceeds help champion traditional livelihoods and give support to a community where lives are shaped by the tides.

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At sunrise in Luang Prabang, Laos, barefoot monks collect offerings in the Old Town in a centuries-old ritual. However, this alms-giving tradition is often marred by tourist crowds and wasteful donations. At Homm Souvannaphoum Luang Prabang, our sustainable alms-giving encourages guests to honour Lao traditions while supporting the people of the area. Instead of one-time donations, you can help to fund local initiatives or contribute practical gifts and reusable items with eco-friendly packaging. This approach reduces waste and has lasting benefits, allowing you to responsibly connect with Luang Prabang and its remarkable people.

EXPLORING MORE

Sometimes the best way to get to know a new culture is to simply be in the right place. Stay at the Marrakech Riads, Angsana Heritage Collection in Morocco and you will be perfectly placed for excursions into the labyrinthine medina, a medieval walled city that dates to the 11th century. As well as strolling through the frenetic maze of alleyways and souks – and shopping for spices along the way – you can pause for a moment of calm and connection to meet the Berber women carpet weavers, whose patterns carry generations of meaning.

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In Macau, the thriving neighbourhood of Taipa Village offers a fantastic opportunity to learn about the region’s heritage away from the region’s bright lights and brash casinos – and it’s just a short walk from Banyan Tree Macau. It has a unique fusion of European and Chinese culture, cuisine and architecture, where Portuguese colonial churches sit beside old Chinese temples. Wander the backstreets lined with pastel-coloured houses, take in museums and galleries, and taste local flavours on Rua do Cunha, Macau’s unofficial foodie destination.

Set in the mountains of north-east Vietnam, Garrya Mù Cang Chải’s design honours its host community by combining bamboo and traditional H’Mông textiles. It’s also just a short hop from the famous Mâm Xôi Hill, known for its rounded rice terraces, said to be shaped like a tray of sticky rice. Walk among these terraces to gain insight into the culture of the region – and to fully appreciate the patience and artistry of those farmers who have shaped the land. 

You can learn more about our 100 Journeys through cultural connections – from the art of Kyoto’s Noh theatre to the coconut heritage of Koh Samui – through our stories.