For some people, lying on a sandy beach all day doesn’t cut it. Enter educational travel, a rapidly growing industry that serves an audience hungry for first-hand experience and knowledge. Educational tourism targets travelers who like to learn while on the road and is all about interaction: encountering falcons in an Irish castle, tilling the land with Argentinian farmers, spending time in the kitchen with an Italian chef. From nature-based excursions to cultural immersion programs, educational travel provides a unique way to pursue specialized interests while also gaining a unique perspective of the world.
Connect with local experts
The perfect educational guide offers deep knowledge of the local culture, often through years of experience either living or studying their respective field, and uses their deep connections to fuel meaningful exchanges. Through educational tourism, travelers find new ways to access–and connect with—destinations in every corner of the globe. Whether investigating Colorado’s marijuana tourism market or being led through artist studios in Rio de Janeiro, an educational trip unveils authentic, lesser-known aspects of a culture while simultaneously creating lasting memories for travelers.
Why take an educational trip?
Dynamic, stimulating, and deeply rewarding, educational travel is the ultimate way to immerse oneself in a destination. Through a guided hike in Maui, a tea ceremony in Kyoto, or a Parisian culinary tour, educational travel puts your trip in a wider context and helps you connect with the individuals that have a deep understanding of their homeland.
In educational tourism, curiosity is encouraged. Through meaningful interactions with local musicians and artists, teachers and community leaders, farmers and fishermen, a traveler’s quest for understanding different peoples and ways of life can finally be satisfied. Afterwards, you’ll return home enriched, better informed, and ready to share your new experiences with family and friends.
With new educational itineraries continually emerging, Travel + Leisure seeks out only the most cutting-edge trips focused around cultures, regions, and stories that can only be experienced first-hand. Through our vast network of qualified travel agents and correspondents, you no longer have to spend hours hunting for the right educational trip—we’ve already narrowed the field for you.
