4 hotels offering authentic cultural encounters

Tempt travel clients with meaningful pursuits in far-flung destinations, says

Yolanda Zappaterra"zero-kilometre" cuisine is produced using estate-grown ingredients, from free-range eggs, honey and heritage vegetables to cold-pressed olive oil, bread, pasta, cereals and even beer among the produce.
The experiences: Beekeeping is just one of the Borgo's regenerative agriculture practices, and guests can engage in a range of activities centred around it, including making honey and extracting beeswax. In the grounds, they can join the in-house herbalist to gather wild herbs and flowers and learn how they're used in products, spa treatments and cuisine at the hotel. Other activities include learning how to produce organic cosmetics and wellness treatments, and cooking and painting classes. A recently opened art gallery shows work by local artists. staybeyondgreen.com

4. Berber tradition at Kasbah Tamadot
Where: Atlas Mountains, Morocco
The hotel: Sir Richard Branson bought this multi-award-winning resort after flying over the area in a balloon, though the driving force was his mother, Eve. The pair bought it with the idea that it could give something back to the local Berber community, and it does so through a range of education, training, employment and healthcare initiatives. All the staff are from the local area, much of the food is produced on the hotel's grounds (including a whopping 24 varieties of tomatoes) and 30% of the revenue from the gift shop funds projects supported by the Eve Branson Foundation.

Kasbah Tamadot has all the pizzazz and luxury you'd expect of a Virgin Limited Edition property, with 28 rooms and suites filled with antiques and individually decorated to reflect the architecture of the building. An outdoor infinity pool and indoor heated pool, plus spa, gym, tennis courts and rooftop restaurant create the most perfect sense of wellbeing.
The experiences: Sitting under the stars watching a movie – Casablanca, maybe? – during the twice-weekly movie nights is a treat. Other activities include a range of Berber-inspired experiences with a focus on food, such as a rooftop tagine cookery lesson, with Berber bread-baking and Moroccan tea in the courtyard.

Out in the community, a tapestry lesson in the Eve Branson Foundation craft centre is a must. virginlimitededition.com/en/kasbah-tamadot