When it comes to eco-tourism, agritourism is one of the fastest growing sectors, appealing to travellers who want to enjoy the simpler things in life. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the term, agritourism refers to spending your vacation at an agriculture-oriented property, such as a farm, and often participating in their day-to-day activities, giving you a unique experience and a deeper understanding of nature. OROGOLD take a look at some of the best agritourism destinations around the world.

California, USA 
With such a large diversity of farms and crops, California is another US state that is great for a farm stay, with many family run farms relying on the agritourism industry to keep them going. Although there are many vineyards in Sonoma and on the Central Coast that people can stay at, learning more about the grapes and the wine making process, there are also a large number of smaller family farms, as well as medium-sized ranches, that offer a more hands-on experience. From learning about organic farming techniques to working with a variety of different animals to offering your own input on an outsider’s view of the farm, a Californian farm stay is always an enriching experience.

Hawaii, USA
Hawaii’s farm tourism industry is well-developed, and a great choice for those who want a more tropical agritourism vacation. Choices are extremely varied, catering to the different wants of visitors, from exploring Kona’s coffee plantations to staying on organic farms on Oahu. Since there are so many different options, this means that visitors don’t have to devote their whole vacation to agritourism, and can instead just include specific activities on their itinerary. However, those who want a more immersive experience will enjoy participating in daily farm activities, as well as sampling some of the best ingredients that Hawaii’s farms produce.

Tuscany, Italy
Tuscany was one of the first regions to become a popular agritourism destination, mostly due to its many traditional farmhouses that have been converted into quaint inns. With acres of farmland sprawled out amongst the Italian countryside, Tuscany has become one of the greatest food and wine regions in the world, and is home to Chianti wine along with many other regional specialties. Fresh food is one of Tuscany’s big traditions, so many of the converted farmhouses have attached restaurants that serve up delicious, local fare. Although there are a few Tuscan estates with an educational focus, many people that visit simply want to soak up the local atmosphere and enjoy the regional produce.

Those of you who are nature and animal lovers are likely to instantly fall in love with the concept of agritourism. However, there will also be many of you who are intrigued, but not yet willing to sacrifice your rare vacation time to work on a farm. If this is the case, OROGOLD highly recommends incorporating some agritourism activities into your next vacation, wherever in the world it may be, giving you the opportunity to try it out without having to fully commit.