My body goes limp as water gushes around me. When I finally emerge, taking in a sharp breath while smiling at my instructor through salt-stung eyes, I can’t help but think, “This is way better than a spa day.” I’ve just caught my first wave in Bali after a multi-day surf workshop at Uluwatu Surf Villas. Even though it was just a five-second ride, the thrill of being bad at something, then getting slightly better, has me chasing the next one.
And it’s not just surfing. Over the years, I’ve increasingly dedicated trips to learning something new. I’ve clumsily thrown myself into swing dancing lessons in Italy, freediving sessions in French Polynesia, and Spanish intensives in Ecuador. I came home from each one feeling a little more capable than when I arrived.
Apparently, I’m not alone. “Skillcations,” as the travel industry has dubbed them, are gaining traction. Mastercard Inc. research published in July found that nearly half of people surveyed were planning a trip to learn a skill. Meanwhile, a 2026 trends report by Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. found that 72% of travelers wanted to take time off to pursue a personal passion or hobby.
For many, a skill-based trip is not only about immersing yourself in a new interest, but also connecting with others while doing it—an element that’s especially appealing to solo travelers. According to adventure travel company Much Better Adventures, bookings for skill-based trips like winter mountaineering have risen by more than two-thirds in the past three years, with solo travelers accounting for 87% of outdoor skillcation bookings.
“We often hear that there’s something about struggling through that first day together that tends to produce pretty good friendships. It’s a double win, really,” says Sam Bruce, co-founder of Much Better Adventures.
Beyond the social benefits, skillcations may offer a continued wellbeing boost after your suitcase is unpacked. Research suggests vacations involving mastery experiences, such as learning a new skill or taking on a challenge, can have lasting benefits, with one study linking them to greater wellbeing one month later.
So why does challenging ourselves feel so good? According to Susan Houge Mackenzie, an associate professor at the University of Otago’s department of tourism in New Zealand, we can experience optimal engagement (think the excitement of successfully popping up on your board and riding a wave) when we safely push ourselves just beyond what feels comfortable. It also satisfies one of our basic psychological needs: feeling competent. “If we successfully do something that seemed quite challenging for us,” says Houge Mackenzie, “then yes, of course that can have those flourishing benefits.”
Pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zone can be beneficial, but only when we have enough support to meet it, she says. If we feel overwhelmed, pressured, or judged, the experience can have the opposite effect. Our comfort zones are also relative, so what feels thrilling to one person might be overwhelming to another.
While sprawling resorts have long offered a menu of diversions, hotels are now catering to travelers’ desire for hands-on learning with immersive experiences led by local artisans. Often, these experiences offer a deeper connection to the destination or surroundings. At Luura – Cliff, a new art-driven hotel on the Greek island of Paros, guests can take a clay workshop with Athens-based artist Maria Economides, who created most of the ceramics in the guestrooms and public spaces. Alila Ventana Big Sur invites guests to learn plant distillation with locally foraged herbs or craft knife handles from sustainable woods. Meanwhile, Casa Angelina, a white-washed boutique hotel in Praiano, helps travelers eschew the typical Amalfi Coast itinerary through classes in centuries-old Amalfi traditions like bobbin lacemaking, papermaking, or perfecting pasta al pomodoro with tomatoes from the hotel’s cliffside garden. A new experience takes guests out after dark on a traditional fishing boat with a local family to learn the art of lantern fishing for totani, the squid caught along the coast. “For a little while, people stop being spectators and become students again,” says Annarita Aprea, Casa Angelina’s director of sales and marketing.
Embracing the student mindset becomes especially important as we age. In one study, older adults took three courses, such as Spanish or painting, in a setting designed to mimic the rich educational environment of younger adults. After three months, their cognitive abilities improved to levels comparable to those of middle-aged adults. A year later, their scores were similar to those of undergraduates and continued to improve over time.
“As adults, we’re not in school full time, usually,” says Rachel Wu, an associate professor of psychology at the University of California who worked on the study. Work and other responsibilities often leave us with less time and fewer opportunities to develop new skills. Her research suggests that when adults learn multiple subjects in an encouraging environment with supportive teachers and peers, the results can be striking.
A skillcation may not replicate the intensity of that kind of learning environment, but it can offer a useful starting point. Each time we put ourselves in the position of being a beginner, we have an opportunity to become more comfortable with tackling future challenges, says Wu. “If you have not learned a lot of things in the last 20 years, you might be more likely to adopt a fixed mindset because you have no other evidence to suggest you can learn something new,” she says.
While traditional spa retreats still have their place, there’s a case for dedicating an entire trip to being a beginner, then continuing to build those skills at home. Even if it means falling off your board more times than you’d care to admit, you’ll likely emerge with more confidence, a few new friends—and, perhaps, a greater willingness to dive into the unknown.