Seeking a perfect gift for a traveler? Consider experiences over material items; outdoor adventures and unique tastings may be preferred. According to a San Francisco State University study, life experiences bring greater happiness and value. Memories from these activities endure longer. They might enjoy much more exploring outdoors or olive-oil tasting rather than new thermal clothes. Allow me to present creative experiential gift ideas for travelers.
Personalised private city tour
You might organize a private guided sightseeing tour for your good friend in your city’s lesser-known district. Perhaps your friend hasn’t had time to explore these hidden gems. Determine the tour type based on your friend’s preferences, like historical, architectural, or food tours. Options may include art and culture tours or a blend of these experiences.
You can hire a professional guide or accompany him yourself. The surprise element adds excitement. Enhance the activity with a printed itinerary. Inject humor to make it enjoyable. It’s a worthwhile experience!
Foodie experience gifts
Transitioning from savoring culinary delights to hands-on experiences, culinary classes or tasting tours can charm. I once introduced a couple of pastry enthusiasts to a gourmet baking class, igniting a newfound passion for baking macarons.
Cooking workshops, which focus on skills like artisanal bread baking or chocolate truffle crafting, are popular. Consider providing high-quality ingredients like spices or olive oil for lasting enjoyment to your cooking enthusiast friend.
You can pair such gifts with a specialised kitchen accessories such as knifes or spoons. The other idea is to pair it with a cookbook which often is an invitation to the new culture. You could additionally mark the recipes in the book to prepare together.
Attending the South American festival was a recent favorite experience, filled with local food, drinks, dances, and stories shared by locals. Passionate artists taught me about national dances, inspiring future travels to Colombia or Uruguay.
Does your city offer a personalized gourmet food box subscription service? It’s ideal for busy travelers who enjoy cooking but lack time.
If a slightly bigger budget is involved you might think about a visit to a local farm, followed by a meal experience featuring locally sourced ingredients.
Interactive exhibition
An interactive experience, whether in art, history, or technology, engages explorers. Focus on the theme of the exhibition, art lovers encounter interactive digital galleries. These museums feature exhibitions responsive to visitors’ movements or touch, allowing them to design art.
Many local history or city museums offer such exhibitions especially to younger visitors which does not exclude the presence of the adults! I have recently visited the City Museum in Helsinki which encouraged me a lot to discover the design perspective of the capital of Finland.
The best thing about such presents is that you can be a part of it and join the experience which truly bonds people together.
Concert or show tickets
It’s my tradition to combine music concerts with a short weekend getaway. It can be an outdoor music festival or a concert in a beautiful venue, such as old theatres or ballrooms. You will have to align the choice with your friends favourite music genre. This sort of trips allows to contemplate a bit after the performance and share the moments together weather it is a dance performance, rock music show or a cultural street festival.
Scenic train journey
I am train enthusiast and I have to say it’s one of my dreams to experience the beautiful train journey through the mountains. The most beautiful trail in Europe offering panoramic views is Glacier Express in Switzerland connecting Zermatt and St. Moritz.
Another one, the luxury The Royal Scotsman passes by lochs and castles, taking passengers on a scenic trip through the Scottish Highlands.
The third on my list with mountainous landscapes is The Flam Railway in Norway famous for its steep ascent and descent, offering spectacular views of fjords and waterfalls.Photography workshop
Travel photography enthusiasts
Offering a photography workshop as a gift to a travel passionate does not mean that they don’t have any skills. It might uncover new perspectives, new photography techniques. Consider workshops in smaller group sizes. Every hobbyist loves to share their passion with others and a wider audience might make it complicated.
Seek for courses with renowned photography instructors that are often organised in both, offline and online mode. They can provide valuable insights and guidance that your friend will surely appreciate.
How to wrap an experience gift
Consider the recipient’s taste, personality and the type of the experience when choosing the wrapping method. Try to personalise the gift box as much as you can. The goal is to build the anticipation for the exciting experience. These are the steps on how to do it:
- Personalise the wrapping. If you bought a voucher or a ticket it can be wrapped with an eco-friendly paper decorated with natural elements such as painted leaves, cones or dried flowers. You could also hide it in a small glass jar covered with stickers. How about wrapping the ticket in an envelope and attach it to a ballon when you offer an hot-air ballon trip experience? It’s a good idea to decorate the wrapping with stickers, photos or decorations representing the whole gift idea.
- The art of wrapping showcases your thoughtfulness and creativity. Have you heard about Furoshiki? It is a traditional Japanese folding cloth that allows you to use different wrapping techniques. Or try to fold yourself an Origami gift box.
- Find the right moment for the gift-giving. You might gift it during a dinning experience or organise a scavenger hunt to find the gift. You can also ask someone else to deliver the present with a special message.
