Experiential travel is one of this year’s biggest travel trends, and if you are tired of the same old beach holidays, bored of city breaks, and fed up with family camping trips, it might be time to spice up your life with a trip to the best place in the world for a unique travel experience.

When it comes to experiential travel, it’s all about breaking away from the traditional tourist routes and immersing yourself in a particular country or destination. By learning local history, mixing with native people, and understanding foreign cultures, you really get to experience what each country has to offer. Something that many of us never get to feel.

So where do you go to find the perfect Experiential Holiday? Well, TripAdvisor has recently complied a list of the best destinations in the world for local tours, local activities, and local experiences, and if you are ready to make a change and find out what experiential travel is really about, here’s where you should be heading on your next overseas adventure:

Best Destinations in the World for Experiential Travel

1. La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica
2. Kauai, Hawaii, USA
3. Tromso, Norway
4. Rotorua, New Zealand
5. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
6. Sedona, Arizona, USA
7. Queenstown, New Zealand
8. Petersburg, Russia
9. Santorini, Greece
10. Key West, Florida, USA

Best Countries in the World for Experiential Travel

1. Costa Rica
2. New Zealand
3. Vietnam
4. Ireland
5. Scotland
6. Australia
7. Portugal
8. Mexico
9. United States
10. Iceland

As you can see, Costa Rica tops both of these lists, so if you are looking for the ultimate destination for experiential travel, this Central American gem should be your number #1 choice.

If you love the great outdoors, New Zealand will not disappoint, and with two magnificent islands to choose from, there really is something for everyone in Aotearoa! New Zealand features three times on these two lists… the figures speak for themselves.

Surprisingly, no African countries made it on to this list, which makes me somewhat suspicious! Gorilla trekking in Uganda adds a whole new dimension to the world of experiential travel, as does sailing down the Zambezi River, but I guess they only have 10 spots available. What destinations would you nominate for your Top 10?