One of the reasons why you travel is to immerse yourself with the people and culture in the destination you are visiting. Explore local markets, maybe hidden corners of the a city or village and meet the locals, all of whom have a story to tell. We are social animals, and in many ways the most refreshing travelling experiences are when you talk to the people who live there. A simple story about their lives can transform your perceptions, and just intrigue you a little more. As much as visiting a UNESCO World Heritage Site is impressive, unless to delve a little deeper, you don’t quite ‘get’ the country you are visiting. It’s all about getting the balance right between seeing the sights and then having a truly immersive experience. Walk through local markets, breathing in the aromas and meeting the locals, all of whom have a story to tell. Meet local monks in the a Himalayan Monastery and what life is like day in day out. Pop into the home of a former Gurkha soldier on a trek through Nepal. Talk to a Sadhu about how they have given up everything to move to Varanasi. Stories and people make the travelling experience so much more vivid, dynamic and enthralling. In many ways, all of our private tours do this, but here are some that are specially immersive.