Tourism today is shifting away from five-star resorts and tightly packed itineraries. More people are seeking immersive, personal, and flexible ways to explore the world—journeys where the adventure is the accommodation. One prime example is Kauai Rooftop Campers in Hawaii, where travellers can sleep under the stars, park beside beaches, and roam freely. But there are equally exciting and meaningful alternatives across the UK and beyond. Here are five holidays that offer something different—each one connecting people with place, purpose, and a deeper style of travel.
1. Kauai Rooftop Campers – Hawaii, USA
Website: kauairooftopcampers.com
Kauai Rooftop Campers allows travellers to explore the Hawaiian island with total freedom, using a rooftop campervan as their mobile home. This form of travel isn’t about luxury—it’s about immersion. With fully off-grid setups, travellers are encouraged to step away from busy resorts and instead wake up to the sound of waves or birdsong in remote valleys.
It’s also a budget-conscious choice, offering flexibility in a destination where hotels often come at a premium. By embracing a simpler lifestyle and flowing with the island’s natural rhythm (including the odd rain shower), visitors get closer to nature and further from the noise of modern life. The minimalism is part of the magic.
2. Wild With Consent – Northumberland, UK
Website: wildwithconsent.com
In Northumberland, Wild With Consent has created a new model of wild camping—one that’s legal, low-impact, and deeply respectful of the land. The concept is simple: travellers book private, off-grid locations where they can camp in their van without disturbing others or breaking the law.
This experience appeals to those looking for genuine solitude. There are no shared showers or noisy neighbours, just wide skies, quiet landscapes, and the satisfaction of leaving no trace. It’s a holiday that requires self-sufficiency, but it rewards visitors with complete freedom and a strong sense of connection to the environment. Importantly, it also benefits local landowners, making tourism a collaborative effort between guest and host.
3. Canopy & Stars – UK (Various Locations)
Website: canopyandstars.co.uk
Canopy & Stars is a collection of character-filled glamping spaces dotted across the UK. From treehouses in Welsh woodlands to converted shepherd’s huts in Devon, these stays offer charm, comfort, and something delightfully different. Travellers aren’t just booking accommodation—they’re stepping into curated experiences where design and nature co-exist.
While some might say these stays are expensive or hard to book, their popularity speaks to their uniqueness. Each one is hosted by a small business or individual with a passion for the land, which means your holiday directly supports local communities. Rather than rushing between cities, you’re invited to slow down and soak in one special place.
4. Inlandsbanan Train Journey – Sweden
Website: inlandsbanan.se
For those who prefer trains over roads, Sweden’s Inlandsbanan offers a truly unique rail experience. Travelling from the southern lakes to the edge of the Arctic Circle, this journey introduces passengers to the quiet soul of Sweden—remote towns, vast forests, and a chance to meet Sámi communities in the north.
Although it runs on a fixed schedule and requires advance planning, this kind of structure allows travellers to build their own pace. There’s freedom to hop off and explore, and time to reflect between destinations. It’s slow travel in its purest form—sustainable, spacious, and filled with unexpected encounters that make it more than just a journey.
5. Quirky Campers – New Zealand
Website: quirkycampers.com/nz
Quirky Campers offers handcrafted campervans for hire across New Zealand, each one built by its owner with unique personality and care. These are no ordinary rental vehicles—they’re miniature homes on wheels, with wood-panelled interiors, fairy lights, and artistic flourishes that make every journey special.
Rather than staying in cookie-cutter motels, travellers can explore Aotearoa’s breathtaking scenery at their own pace. The manual transmissions and compact spaces may seem like a challenge, but they’re part of the full “vanlife” experience. It’s a chance to travel light, live simply, and wake up to mountains, beaches, and rivers—all while supporting local makers.
Why These Holidays Matter
What unites these holidays is more than quirk or novelty—it’s the way they challenge conventional tourism. Each one invites travellers to slow down, engage more deeply, and leave behind less waste and more impact. These are not just escapes, but experiences that promote environmental awareness, support local economies, and spark a sense of wonder.
Tourism can too often feel extractive—rushing through places, taking photos and little else. But these holidays show a better way. Whether it’s legal wild camping in Northumberland or driving a handcrafted van through New Zealand, alternative travel is about reciprocity. It offers a way to connect—to nature, to people, and to the parts of ourselves that often go quiet in the chaos of everyday life.
