There's a big wide world out there (we would know), so if you've decided to see a solid chunk of it at once, deciding where to visit during your precious (and well deserved) sabbatical can be daunting. Our advice: decide what you want to achieve and let that drive the destination choices. Would you like to reconnect with family? Immerse yourself in nature? Discover more about yourself? Or are you not quite sure yet? Read on to find out about some of our best sabbatical destinations and what you can gain from visiting each place.
- Malaysian Borneo or Costa Rica for a Nature Sabbatical
- Ethiopia or India for a Culturally Immersive Sabbatical
- Thailand or Botswana for a Skills Sabbatical
- Bhutan for a Wellness Sabbatical
- California or Greece for a Family Sabbatical
Malaysian Borneo or Costa Rica for a Nature Sabbatical
Spending time in nature, particularly green spaces, is scientifically proven to be beneficial for mental health and well-being. And these mood-boosting and stress-relieving benefits are just a few of the reasons why we’d recommend a nature-focused sabbatical. Swap high rise buildings for towering trees, the Underground for some time under the canopy of the rainforest, and city slickers in Canary Wharf for sloths in Costa Rica. Spend time among the greenery of Costa Rica and get acquainted with a slower pace of life (much like our sloth friends) that favours immersion in nature, daily yoga lessons and detox retreats.
Another of the best sabbatical destinations for a nature-focused excursion is Malaysian Borneo, where you can explore the 130-million-year-old Danum Valley Conservation Area. See everything from orangutans to slow lorises (with not a morning tube commuter or computer screen in sight). There's also the bonus of being somewhere with minimal phone signal, so you can fully switch off and immerse yourself in the wondrous nature around you.
Ethiopia or India for a Culturally Immersive Sabbatical
Sure, you can get a feel for a country's culture on a week-long holiday, but nothing quite beats really getting under the skin of a place and experiencing life as a local. Get unparalleled insight into the lifestyles, traditions and practices of other cultures by spending an extended period of time with people native to the region. Our clued-up Concierges will introduce you to local communities and organise once-in-a-lifetime experiences, for a truly immersive and authentic sabbatical.
Opt to visit Ethiopia's Omo Valley, where you can meet the local tribespeople, or head for the Indian Himalayas and hike between the traditional rural communities that are dotted across the stunning landscapes.
Thailand or Botswana for a Skills Sabbatical
If there’s a particular skill or talent that you’ve always dreamed of mastering, a sabbatical could give you the time and freedom to really commit. And there’s no skill too obscure or unusual for us at Original Travel. Inspired by Strictly? We can arrange dance lessons to teach you tango in Argentina, salsa in Cuba or samba in Brazil. Get to grips with Muay Thai boxing, taught by a famed boxer in Thailand, or (a personal favourite of ours) learn photography in Botswana, where a professional photographer will teach you how to capture National Geographic-worthy wildlife shots.
Bhutan for a Wellness Sabbatical
An increasing focus on personal wellbeing and mental health in recent years has led to a surge in 'wellness' experiences. Taking a sabbatical and some well-deserved time away from your nine-to-five will allow you to return feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to commit to your next chapter. A long weekend spa trip might go some way to satisfying this urge, but nothing really compares to taking a prolonged period off to reflect and de-stress. Pining for some time to yourself? Head to Bhutan for a healing dose of mountains and meditation, where we can arrange for you to spend time with a group of Vajrayana Buddhists. Alternatively, go all out with an indulgent wellness sabbatical across Asia, where we can recommend some of the other best sabbatical destinations for pure relaxation.
California or Greece for a Family Sabbatical
Upping sticks and going travelling can seem like a selfish thing to do with family and friends to consider back home. Being away from your loved ones for a long period of time is another factor to consider when booking a sabbatical, but what if we told you that you could have the best of both worlds and travel with your family in tow? A family sabbatical will give you, your partner and your youngsters the experiences of a lifetime, along with oodles of quality time together. As experts in family travel, we can advise on the best ways to handle the practicalities of a family sabbatical. When it comes to family fun, there's nothing more classic than a California road trip, with pitstops at a number of national parks and cosmopolitan cities. For an option that’s closer to home, a few weeks spent sailing around the Ionian Islands of Greece and teaching the little ones how to master their ports and starboards should do the trick.
Curious to learn more about the best sabbatical destinations? Our travel specialists are on hand to help you decide which sabbatical might best suit you and what you wish to achieve.
Written by Luisa Watts
