Become a part of something you love or something you’ve always been curious about. Immersive travel is not only one of the year’s hottest travel trends, it’s a perfect way to reinvent vacation. Combining the novelty of new experiences and actual skill building, it offers travelers the chance to really get to know a destination and a way of life.
Immersive travel isn’t for everyone, though. It can be demanding and intense—the opposite of a cocktail-and-beach-read vacation. Here are seven ways to tell if you should dive into an immersive vacation or hang back at the water’s edge.
You’ll Be Surrounded by People with the Same Passions
Whether it’s spending a week cooking alongside a French chef or building your own boat with master craftspeople, your fellow travelers are likely to care as deeply about the task at hand as you do. This is one place where geeking out on your passion isn’t going to cause your conversation partners to roll their eyes and change the subject.
You’ll Come Back Talking the Talk
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Closed voicing, lapstrake, and batonage may not be terms you can use at the average dinner party. But after a stint in an immersive environment, you’ll be able to throw around terms like these like a pro. Whatever world you dive into on an experiential trip, you’ll emerge with a newfound knowledge that adds depth to your passion, be it guitar playing, boat building, or wine making.
You’ll Sweat
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Many immersive vacations are fairly physical, and even those that aren’t particularly athletic tend to be rigorous. To make the most of a limited time period, days tend to be long and full. So you need to be ready to immerse yourself mind, body, and spirit in your pursuit.
You’ll Get to Know a Place (Even If Place Isn’t the Focus)
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On an experiential vacation, you’re not simply learning a new skill or way of life, you’re also immersing yourself in a place. Track elusive snow leopards for scientific purposes and stay with locals on I Like Local’s Trek the Himalayas trip. Unlock the secrets of the Sonoma Valley at its annual Grape Camp , which takes visitors into the fields and behind the scenes. Or discover abandoned settlements in Newfoundland and Labrador while sailing the coast with a local fisherman.
You Get Incredible Access
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Working alongside masters of their craft is a rare experience, but it’s also one that is built into many immersive experiences. The chance to go behind the scenes is one usually reserved for VIPs, but it’s all in a day’s work when you’re on an experiential vacation. There’s simply no beating the access you can get in an immersive learning environment.
You’ll Feel Like You’re Back at Camp (Sort Of)
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Camaraderie, structured mealtimes, and a common goal all contribute to a feeling you might not have experienced since … camp. You’ll likely be spared the bad food and the run-ins with poison oak, but the fun atmosphere and sense of excitement that comes with each new day can make you feel like a giddy kid at the height of a glorious summer adventure.
It Might Inspire You To Give Up Your Day Job
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Even though the experiences tend to be authentic rather than romanticized, and although the work may be challenging, it’s hard not to come away inspired after learning from people who are living their dreams. Already inspired? Immersive experiences are the perfect ways to test new waters and kick around the idea that it might be time for a career change.
by Christine Sarkis , SmarterTravel Staff
This content was originally published at Smarter Travel, a TripAdvisor Media Group company. SmarterTravel.com is the largest online travel resource for unbiased travel news, deals, and timely expert advice.
