Walking along a beach in Thailand, I stumbled along what I took to be a photography class being conducted with a dozen or so very eager students and two models.
And it got me thinking about holidays that involve the opportunity to learn a new skill.
There are plenty of those on offer at beach resorts, mostly focused on fun activities such as sailing, jet-skiing and surfing. Elsewhere, there are cooking and craft classes, spiritual retreats, and tours that combine an element of education.
Cruises, especially those that incorporate a lot of sea days, often include lecture programs that can add to your enjoyment and understanding. If, for example, you are visiting Italy, Greece, Egypt and Jordan, many ships will have speakers who can tell you what to expect and how to appreciate the sites you’ll visit and the artefacts you’ll see.
What all this in mind, I went searching for some resources to point you towards a truly interesting travel experience, Please bear in mind that these are not recommendations, just starting points in your search to find what’s perfect for you:
+ For a quick wrap of what’s available — from yoga lessons to space camp, chocolate making to exploring Roman ruins, have a look at this article by Stephanie Campisi.
+ While many cruise ships host journeys to historical sites, Voyages to Antiquity specialises in it. It uses smaller ships that can get into places the megaships can’t, and it employs guest speakers who give travellers context for the places they visit. The Cunard cruise line is also well known for its Insights program featuring these speakers, on subjects ranging from biology to music, and others.
+ There are cooking classes everywhere in the world. Le Cordon Bleu is possibly the world’s best known culinary academy, and it has a range of food and wine-based tours and activities around the globe, including Paris. In Thailand, Blue Elephant has world-renowned schools in Bangkok and Phuket.
+ For outdoor activities, Google is your friend. Seek out independent advice before signing up. Remember that safety standards are not the same everywhere, and some countries don’t have or enforce laws that can save your life. If surfing is your interest, The Guardian has a rundown of some of the best here.
Here are some other links for cycling tours, hiking holidays, photography classes and spiritual retreats. Once again, these are not recommendations, but suggestions from usually reliable sources.
Finally, The New York Times offers some words of caution from expert John Spence in this article on educational vacations: “If you don’t pick the right skill for you, or go in with unrealistic expectations, your precious time off won’t be enjoyable.”
Also, as with any travel, do ensure that the people you are dealing with are legitimate and that they follow global health and safety standards. Your personal security must be your first priority.
