Webster defines “exotic” as “excitingly or mysteriously different or unusual”—in other words, the rum raisin or tiramisu of flavors to your otherwise basic chocolate or vanilla. As we all know, sometimes we crave a week at the beach with a good book, period. But other times, our travel hunger can only be satisfied by immersing ourselves in the culture of some exotic, faraway land, where the locals speak a totally unidentifiable language and eat equally unidentifiable foods. We long for the chance to enter their mysterious way of life and peer into the secrets of their history, their landscapes, and the flora and fauna that surround them—all of which expand our horizons and make us more educated travelers.

For decades, Hideaways has been helping members like you explore the eccentricities of exotic travel to far-flung destinations. Here’s just a taste of what a few of those members have reported back to us of their vivid memories.

“Diane and I loved Varanasi (India). It’s located along the west bank of the holy Ganges River, and is one of India’s oldest sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites. Faithful worshipers come to bathe in the Ganges, and families that can afford the journey bring their dead to be cremated on large wooden funeral pyres that can be seen burning on the banks of the river. In the evening, we took a rowboat along the river’s edge to view the festivities. We lit candles to remember the dead and watched as the candles floated downstream and joined those of other pilgrims and tourists, creating a slow-moving stream of light. It was a mystical journey.” —Hunt Harris, Moline, IL