Charm on the Farm: Why You’ll Be Getting Your Hands Dirty On Vacation in 2026
Intentional travel is showing up in many forms these days, from the rise of slow travel and experience-led trips to more niche expressions, like literary travel and set-jetting. Now there’s a new trend on the rise for 2026: “farm charm”.
Ready to get your hands dirty on your next vacation? Discover why farm charm is the perfect antidote for the bustle of modern life, helping you reconnect with nature – and yourself.
What is farm charm?
The idea of getting closer to nature is a trend that has been growing in all parts of our lives; people are feeling tech-fatigue and are looking for ways to get a digital detox, even if just for a short time. Now it’s showing up in travel – instead of heading to the latest hotspot trending on social media, travelers are searching for a way to reconnect with the earth and literally ‘touch grass’. That’s where farm charm comes in.
Expedia’s Unpack ‘26 travel report has the data to back it up, stating: “Travelers plan to trade city lights for starlit skies as farm stays surge in popularity. 84% of travelers are interested in staying on or near a farm as the slow travel movement gains momentum.”
While it might not sound initially as glamorous as a city getaway to the glitzy lights of New York or the cobbled streets of Paris, farm charm certainly doesn’t mean lowering your standards (especially when you travel with Insight Vacations). The trend involves escaping to rural retreats and visiting working farms and farmsteads, learning traditional skills like caring for animals, harvesting and foraging.
Where to experience farm charm?
While travelers are still after novel experiences, there’s an element of restoration appearing in the farm charm trend.
Expedia’s report revealed that “the most desired farmstay features include nature walks or hiking (73%), the chance to interact with farm animals (62%), and harvesting produce or picking fresh fruit (42%).” It seems like we were ahead of the curve at Insight Vacations, because we already have experiences featuring all of those on a range of our itineraries.
Your chances to experience farm charm with us are far from ordinary. Each option is unique, whether that means focusing on locations using regenerative and sustainable practices or visiting farms in unsuspecting places, like an oyster farm in sunny Croatia or harvesting seaweed along the Atlantic coast of Ireland.
Discover 7 experiences with Insight Vacations that bring farm charm to you, in style.
1. Go Truffle Hunting in Umbria
Umbria is one of Italy’s top truffle-producing regions, and the region with the most black truffles. Truffle hunting is an age-old tradition in Umbria, and one you’ll get to experience for yourself in the village of Baschi, a prime location for finding white truffles.
You’ll meet Giovanni and his trusty dog Chris, who will take you truffle hunting. Learn the difference between the highly prized black truffle and the even rarer white truffle, and the different ways and seasons of harvesting.
Immerse yourself in the flavors and culture of the region and learn about the secrets of Italian food culture. We wouldn’t leave you hungry after all that – you’re rewarded with an audience with Chef Lorenzo, who will show you an entertaining pasta demonstration followed by a delicious lunch.
Experience it on: Country Roads of Tuscany & Central Italy
2. Forage edible plants & flowers in the Brecon Beacons
There’s no better way to see the awe-inspiring Brecon Beacons (now officially known as Bannau Brycheiniog National Park) than with a local. When you travel to Wales with us, your Local Expert Adele will accompany you across this grand landscape. You’ll meet in her medieval village, and she’ll take you across the Welsh moorland to learn the art of foraging.
Foraging is one of the easiest ways to reconnect with nature, as you rediscover plants you’ve seen before, and learn new ones – and understand their uses. On the walk Adele will show you plants and flowers that you can eat and use, encouraging you to see, smell, feel and taste what you find. You’ll leave with newfound knowledge and an appreciation for the abundance of nature.
Experience it on: Country Roads of Wales, Devon & Cornwall
3. Taste tomatoes on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius
Prepare to try some of the best – and rarest – tomatoes you’ve ever tasted when you visit Casa Barone. This small but mighty family-run farm on the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius is one of the world’s only producers of Piennolo cherry tomatoes.
This delicious, endangered fruit only thrives in the fertile volcanic soil, and so the Barone family go to great lengths to ensure they do it justice. Each harvest is sustainably farmed with minimal environmental impact and picked at the peak ripeness of summer, and either enjoyed fresh or canned for use throughout the winter – so whatever time of year you visit, you’ll be able to try this local delicacy during your Farm-to-Table lunch.
Experience it on: Best of Italy
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Plus receive latest offers, travel inspiration, and discover how your travels will make a positive impact. Together, WE MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®. Subscribe Now4. Harvest seaweed on the Atlantic Irish coast
Gain an appreciation for humble seaweed along the Atlantic Coast in Ireland with John, a passionate seaweed advocate and educator. This can’t be learned inside – John will take you out for a stroll along the shore, with the chance to graze on fresh seaweed as you discover how John and his team are working to protect the fragile ecosystems where seaweed thrives. You’ll learn how to sustainably harvest these sea plants, and their many uses throughout history from gunpowder to medicine.
Experience it on: Romantic Britain & Ireland
5. Meet an Oyster Farmer in Croatia
Not all farms are found in fields – in the southerly Croatian village of Mali Ston, you’ll board a boat so visit the oyster farms that grow in the bay.
See for yourself how oysters grow, and how they’re farmed by giving them something to latch onto, and what makes Croatian oysters particularly special (it’s to do with the meeting of freshwater and seawater). Learn about this historic cultivation that dates back to the Roman Empire, and how oysters have become one of Croatia’s most treasured exports.
You’ll take a boat out onto the water, before returning to your pontoon where your hosts will pull up ropes and strings laden with oysters and mussels. Oysters are shucked and cooked in front of you fresh from the sea, served with a glass of Dalmatian wine. These delicious pearls aren’t exported outside of Croatia, so this might be your only chance to taste them.
Experience it on: Country Roads of Croatia
6. Gather ingredients for lunch in Vermont
Connect with Vermont’s agricultural heritage at Bread & Butter Farm, where you’ll meet the owners and explore how regenerative practices are restoring the land and honouring local traditions. Stroll the fields with Chef Tessa, a seventh-generation Vermonter, as she shares stories of seasonal living and sustainable sourcing. Then, gather fresh herbs and blooms before enjoying a wholesome Farm-to-Table lunch, thoughtfully prepared by Tessa and her team at Blossom Whole Food Kitchen.
Experience it on: New England’s Fall Foliage
7. Sample Irish honey at Brookfield Farm
Discover Irish farm charm on this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Brookfield Farm in County Tipperary. Meet Ailbhe, a passionate farmer and beekeeper to hear about her passion for sustainable farming.
The land Ailbhe works on boasts a stunning mix of wildflower meadows, beehives, sheep, orchards, native trees and a truffle orchard. Learn about biodiversity, regenerative agriculture and Ailbhe’s secret to crafting the most delicious honey on the island over a delicious Farm-to-Table lunch.
Experience it on: Britain & Ireland Explorer
Get stuck into farm charm in 2026 – book your next trip with Insight Vacations.
About Jess Williamson
Jess is an experienced writer and editor, with 6 years' experience working within the whisky industry. Her work has taken her to Scotland and beyond, while her personal travel highlights include backpacking around Vietnam with her sister, trips to California, Madrid, and the Greek islands.
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