5 Fascinating Indigenous Cultural Celebrations Around the World

One of the most wonderful and enriching ways to get to know a place is by seeking out its history – and there’s no one more suited to sharing the heritage of a place, than the people who have lived there for generations, centuries, perhaps even thousands of years. There are indigenous cultural celebrations that welcome visitors to watch, listen, and enjoy the pageantry – while also learning about the traditions and customs unique to that community. Colourful, vibrant, and jam-packed with tradition and storytelling, from Wanderlust Magazine, these Indigenous festivals and events are a wonder to behold.

GREAT TRAVEL LINKS

Table for One September is one of the most popular months for solo travel and dining so KAYAK and OpenTable are teaming up to launch a solo travel and dining guide, a source for solo travel destinations, must-visit restaurants, and expert tips. OpenTable is dishing out the top 5 solo dining spots in a variety of destinations, based on their popularity among solo diners, plus a selection of restaurants beloved by OpenTable staff for solo dining. Here are their suggestions when you're looking for a table for one.

Practice Flights and Calm Spaces: Making Room for Neurodivergent Travelers Travel, by nature, brings with it changes in routine and environment, unpredictable situations, and oftentimes, sensory overload — all of which can be overwhelming to neurodivergent individuals. Airlines, hotels, theme parks, and others are working to ease the challenges of travel for people with autism, A.D.H.D., and other “invisible disabilities.” From The New York Times, here is a sampling of the changes that various sectors of the industry are making to welcome neurodivergent travelers.

Seeing America By Train Christine Mi started in Northern California, and over the course of 80 hours, 12 states and 3,397 miles, meandered alongside deserts, forests, mountains, rivers; through coal plants, suburban backyards, vast cornfields, and the occasional big city, ending in NYC. In this Washington Post article she tells the story in text and illustrations of what it’s really like to travel across the United States by rail.

The most clicked-on link last month:

What Is Tourist Tax and Why Do You Have to Pay It? Although tourist tax isn't a new concept, an increasing number of destinations are starting to impose the charge on travellers. Don't get caught out by these often hidden costs — from National Geographic Traveller, here's everything you need to know about tourist tax in Europe.

On a personal note...

If you're a member of our Facebook community and follow the Solo Travel Society page, you've likely noticed that something is amiss. On Monday, August 26th, our page was hacked and Janice and I were locked out of our own account. (In fact, we currently cannot even view the page.) We are working through Facebook's rigorous process to reclaim ownership. If only they'd been so rigorous when someone was stealing it out from under us! There's no cause for alarm, we will get it back and I will return to my regular posting schedule in a few days. In the meantime, please do not engage with the posts on the Solo Travel Society page, except to alert others of the situation. I will make a large and very visible announcement as soon as I get my hands back on it, and we will continue sharing tips, advice, and solo travel inspiration as we have been doing for the last 15 years. Thanks for your patience and see you there soon! 

Tracey

TOP POSTS ON SOLO TRAVELER 

Here are the newest and most popular articles published on our website.

Solo Travel Destinations

*Updated for 2024: 45+ Solo Travel Destinations for Christmas and New Year’s
Solo travel destinations for Christmas and New Year’s can be difficult to choose. Here are many options from solo travelers who’ve been there.

Solo Getaway Magic: Sunsets and Seafood in Florence, Oregon
Looking for a simple getaway to relax and unwind, this solo traveler found that Florence, Oregon delivered much more than expected.

Would you like to submit a Solo Travel Destination post like the one above? Here's how.

Solo Travel Planning

A Solo Point of View

Why Group Tours Are Great For Solo Travelers: When It’s the Right Choice
Why take a tour as a solo traveler? Here are 10 reasons tours are great for solo travelers. The list will help you decide if a solo group tour is for you.

Separate Vacations: Travel Solo for the Good of Your Relationships
Travel without your partner. Take separate vacations. It can be good for a relationship. Guilt is not necessary. Go!

DO YOU REALLY NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE?

David Chilton, president of Financial Awareness Corporation, a financial consulting firm and author of the bestselling book, The Wealthy Barber: The Common Sense Guide to Successful Financial Planning, answers the question from his perspective.

For more on what solo travelers specifically need to know, see Travel Insurance for Solo Travelers: How to Make Sure You’re Protected or Best Travel Insurance for Seniors: How to Find What’s Right for You.

Resources for Your Future Trips

• Solo Travel Deals Page Updated monthly, to our knowledge this is the only list of tours with no or low single supplements on the Internet.
• A Complete Guide to Travel Insurance for Solo Travelers Where to buy and not buy travel insurance. How to make sure you get the right coverage and a price comparison of two recommended providers.
• How to Plan a Solo Trip 2024: Trends, Checklist, and Budget Spreadsheet From checklists, resources, and tools to how to use ChatGPT for itinerary creation, here’s how to plan a solo trip in 2024. 
• Solo Traveler’s Recommended Trip Planning Resources
• Dreaming of travel? Make it happen with these trip planning resources. Here’s our shortlist of travel planning tools to get you there.
• How to Plan Your Travel Budget: Luxury or Frugal Travel budgeting made easy whether you're splurging on luxury or keeping a sharp eye on expenses. Includes a free interactive spreadsheet. 
• Best VPN for Travel: What, Why, How and New Recommendations Protect your identity when you travel. Here’s what to look for in a VPN, a simple use guide, and new recommendations.
• Carry-on Packing List that Makes Sense: Traveler Tested Carry-on packing lists for women and men with tips for packing light and still having all the travel essentials you need.