Heritage travel, also known as heritage tourism, is the act of traveling and immersing yourself in the culture and heritage of a specific region. The National Trust for Historic Preservation defines heritage tourism as “traveling to experience the places, artifacts and activities that authentically represent the stories of people of the past.”
Many people who travel abroad don’t just go to discover a place—they travel to discover themselves. And what better way to experience self-discovery than through heritage travel, journeying to a place of your cultural identity?
Although you can participate in a heritage tour that has nothing to do with your own family heritage, one life-changing way to approach heritage travel is to visit a ancestral homeland or place tied directly to your own roots and history. (And if you have no idea what your family heritage is, don’t worry—we can help.)
Country Heritage Travel Guides
You may have just discovered your heritage through DNA—or maybe you already know your family tree and roots—and now you are ready to dive a little deeper into your family origin story. Heritage travel is one way to do that. We’ve provided some guides and suggestions uniquely tailored to your ancestral homelands that will help you explore your heritage while traveling.
European City Travel Guides
Unique Heritage Tourism Experiences
You can learn more about your heritage through unique experiences, such as participating in a journey or pilgrimage your ancestors would have gone on, immersing yourself in living history attractions, going on a study abroad, or discovering your culinary heritage.
If you can’t travel abroad right now, you can always learn more about your heritage right at home! Discover the story of your ancestral homeland, or learn more about your unique family story with a free FamilySearch account.
At FamilySearch, we care about connecting you with your family, and we provide fun discovery experiences and family history services for free. Why? Because we cherish families and believe that connecting generations can improve our lives now and forever. We are a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. To learn more about our beliefs, click here.
