Understanding Skillcations

India is leaning on purpose- driven travel in 2026, turning vacations into immersive learning experiences

- Chandreyi Bandyopadhyay

Mumbai resident Anjali Pednekar (26) travelled on her first solo trip somewhat differently than her friends had imagined. She signed up for a surfing lesson on the western coasts of India for a 10 day course, for a vacation between two jobs.

“I was always afraid of the sea so I knew I had to do something that deals with my fear in a structured way. Surfing was the best thing I could have chosen and being alone helped me not be coddled but push on to actually learn the balance,” Anjali said. For her, scuba courses were too expensive but surfing on the coast of Udupi was doable by staying in budget-friendly homestays. From surfing to seaweed farming, pottery to linguistics—travel is increasingly being propelled by the hunger to learn as young Indians open up to the concept of a ‘skillcation’.