European Travel Alternatives to Explore Off the Beaten Path
Discovering Europe: A Treasure Trove of Alternative Travel Experiences
Europe, a continent rich in history, culture, and natural beauty, offers a myriad of opportunities for travellers seeking more than just the typical tourist experience. From learning new skills to immersing oneself in local traditions, there's a wealth of alternative travel options waiting to be explored.
One such platform is RoadScholar (www.roadscholar.org), which offers short-term, educational programs throughout Europe. These programs provide intensive opportunities for travelers and their families to learn about history, art, culture, outdoor skills, or nearly anything else, while enjoying the highlights of their chosen destination.
For those with a passion for history and restoration, Union REMPART (rempart.com) offers historic monument restoration workcamps in France. The work can be physically demanding, but the results are historic! Similarly, La Sabranenque Restoration Projects (sabranenque.com) invites volunteers to help restore medieval structures and monuments throughout France and Italy.
If culinary adventures are more your style, Cooking With Friends offers a week-long cooking retreat at Julia Child's former home in Provence, with hands-on cooking classes, visits to markets, cheese caves, and butcher shops. For those who prefer to learn Italian cooking and culture, Pane, Vino e Lingua provides two weeks of instruction in Florence or on day trips to Tuscan farms.
For language learners, Czech It Out offers an intensive Czech language and culture course in Prague for $570, including lessons and trips. Accommodation costs an additional $200. Meanwhile, Language Studies Abroad offers language, arts, culture, cooking, sports, and more courses in 20 countries, including Russia, with weekly classes starting on Mondays and accommodations in local homes.
Uppsala International Summer Session (uiss.org) offers courses in Swedish language, arts, drama, pop music, film, history, and more, with lodgings in single dorm rooms and most meals included. Optional courses include cooking and trips to Finland and other regions.
For those interested in scientific expeditions, Earthwatch (earthwatch.org) offers numerous opportunities throughout Europe this summer, including studying Icelandic glaciers, Spanish dolphins, songbirds, seabirds, mammals, and dinosaurs.
Lastly, for those seeking a more community-focused experience, Volunteers for Peace (vfp.org) runs workcamps in 47 countries, including many in Eastern Europe, allowing volunteers to help in a community overseas.
In summary, Europe offers a variety of alternative travel experiences, including arts, crafts, cooking, wine tasting, language learning, and volunteering. Whether you're a solo traveler, a family, or a group, there's a perfect alternative travel experience waiting for you in Europe. So why wait? Start planning your adventure today!
Note: Airfare is usually not included in organized trips like the Central Europe & Iberian itinerary, and availability for some programs may vary with travel seasons. The Baltics offer especially good value and safety for solo travelers seeking cultural immersion.
Experience the delightful fusion of lifestyle, food-and-drink, and travel in Europe as you venture on a gastronomic journey at Cooking With Friends in Provence, France. Immerse yourself in a week-long cooking retreat, with hands-on cooking classes, visits to markets, cheese caves, and butcher shops. Alternatively, explore Italian cuisine and culture by joining Pane, Vino e Lingua's two-week instruction in Florence or on day trips to Tuscan farms. These unique travel experiences offer more than just the typical tourist scene, inviting you to savor the essence of Europe through local flavors and traditions.
