It’s often said that travel broadens your horizons. But is that always true?

If your trip is spent on board a cruise ship or sequestered in an all-inclusive resort, you’ll probably return home exactly as you left. If you want to grow, venture outside your comfort zone and try living like local people do. You’ll gain a new appreciation for the places and people you’re visiting.

That’s the basic concept behind cultural immersion travel.

What is an immersion trip?

Immersion travel involves experiencing another culture not as a spectator or consumer, but as a participant. You may join a community’s celebrations, or spiritual practices, or everyday routines. You’re seeking to make a genuine connection with local people, so you can truly understand who they are and what’s important to them.

• Is cultural immersion travel the same thing as voluntourism? Not really. A voluntourism trip (where you’re combining service with sightseeing) often provides opportunities for cultural But an immersion trip doesn’t require you to work.

• Does an immersion trip mean spending weeks or months overseas? There’s no rule about how long you have to stay. You can have a meaningful immersion experience in just a few days.

• Do I need to learn a new language? Language-learning trips may be the best-known type of immersion travel, but they’re not the only option. It’s OK not to speak the local language; you can experience a culture even if your communication is limited, or if you rely on an interpreter. Read more: 9 Tips for Overcoming the Language Barrier

• Should I book a cultural immersion trip through a tour operator? That’s up to you. Just be aware that some tours are marketed as “immersive” when that’s not really the case. Maybe your Mekong River cruise includes a visit to a Vietnamese school and a ride in an ox cart to visit a Cambodian farmer’s fields. These might be wonderful experiences… but they aren’t really cultural immersion. You’re still playing the role of a tourist.

Cultural immersion doesn’t have to be arranged by a company. Your experience could be as simple as saying “yes” when someone invites you to their home for dinner. We have a few trip planning suggestions below.

Cultural immersion experiences to try

Join a pickup soccer game.

If you’re naturally athletic (or hey, even if you aren’t), find a local game and jump right in. Soccer—or as most of the world calls it, football—is a sport that crosses all cultural boundaries. Try the Plei app or the Fubles app, or search local Facebook and Meetup groups for a match near you. Win or lose, you’ll have a good time and you might make new friends. (The next best thing? Head to a local bar and watch a futbol match.) Where might you find a few good games? Try Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Tokyo, Japan; or Milan, Italy.

Vacation with an artist.

Want to make leather shadow puppets in Penang, Malaysia? Or study the art of red clay ceramics in Oaxaca, Mexico? Or learn Umbrian jacquard weaving in Perugia, Italy? You can do all this and more through Vacation With an Artist (VAWAA). Browse multi-day apprenticeships with accomplished artists all over the world. “Many of our artists are award-winning, widely recognized, and well known in their local communities. They’re also interested in opening their doors to travelers and sharing their stories,” the organization says. Some artists even invite you to stay in their home.

Sign up for a spiritual retreat.

At a monastery or meditation center, there is no such thing as a tourist. Everyone is there for the same reason. While you may not be chatting much with locals (and you’re certainly not going out to the bar together), you’re fully immersed in a new and transformative experience.

You could study Satipatthana Vipassana meditation at the International Buddhist Center at Prathat Doi Suthep, Thailand. There’s a 3-week course for beginners, with private and public instruction in English and Thai.

Or try a Zen retreat and homestay in the Japanese village of Hiji. Mornings begin with Zen meditation (zazen) in the temple, followed by simple work such as cleaning or gardening. Afternoons offer the chance to experience calligraphy, a tea ceremony, hot springs visits, hiking, and more.

Study another culture’s songs.

Are you a musician? Look at the music immersion trips for adults offered by Performing Arts Abroad. For instance, a three-week trip to Ghana teaches you to play the gyil (a Ghanaian xylophone). You also get to join instrument-making workshops, teach at local schools, and work with local women’s groups. You’ll live at a music center with other participants and a Ghanaian family.

You could study steelpan and calypso music in Antigua (experienced players only) and get the chance to perform in the famous Carnival Parade. Or, you could take master classes with noted Irish musicians in the city of Limerick.

Plan a dancing vacation.

Dance erases cultural barriers. You don’t have to speak the language; you just need to learn the steps. Immersive dance travel experiences usually include a mix of private or group instruction with social dancing at local nightspots. You could learn salsa in Medellin, Colombia, or tango in Granada, Spain.

Another delightfully immersive dance experience is visiting Vienna, Austria during the ball season. Beginning on November 11 and continuing through February, the city hosts hundreds of public and private balls. In one beloved tradition, the orchestra plays the Fledermaus Quadrille by Johann Strauss as dance teachers call out instructions, which almost always ends with some chaos and laughter.¹ Make sure you bring formal attire, as the Viennese balls are not casual affairs.

Just stay in a town.

Some travelers advocate a simple approach to cultural immersion travel: Book a vacation rental in a small town or rural area, far from tourist destinations. Talk to people. See what happens. This works best for people who are naturally extroverted, however. If you keep to yourself, chances are other people will too. And if you get bored easily, this kind of immersion trip is not for you.

You could try this in the German town of Glückstadt, on the Elbe River, which has a charming old town square and harbor. Or Areopoli, Greece, a picturesque village of stone buildings that serves as a good base for exploring the Mani Peninsula.

Whether you’re traveling to dance, make artwork, meditate, or just hang out, travel protection is always a must. Discover why more than 55 million American travelers each year choose Allianz Travel Insurance: Get a quote.

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