Holidays may be on a hiatus at the moment, but many of us are perpetually dreaming about where we’ll escape to once borders open and travel restrictions lift. Will we go to a luxurious Caribbean beach? Take a glamorous city break to Europe? Or would we prefer herding cows while knee-deep in mud in a field in Indonesia? Well, it may just be the latter. According to experts, agritourism – where farming and tourism collide – will be at the top of our post-pandemic travel list, with a need for escaping crowds and avoiding urbanisation at the forefront of our minds. Nico Heath, co-founder and director of Lightfoot Travel, says, “rural destinations surrounded by peace and nature will become increasingly popular as guests seek out wide open spaces and eco and community-driven projects that come with a purpose.” Covid-19 crippled aviation, but private jet sales are soaring Agritourism encompasses farm stays and countryside experiences such as working the land, cookery classes, herding livestock and immersing yourself in the vibrant local communities, many of which need tourism more than ever right now. Indeed, says Heath, “agritourism is a great way to contribute to communities who rely mainly on farming for their income, and it offers a great education for both tourists and locals. Sadly, the coronavirus has impacted us all, but it has also made us more aware of the planet, the importance of community, and the need to work together.” Here, Lightfoot Travel reveal five escapes where high-heels are pointless and mucking in is a must. Avani +, Laos Get your hands dirty and become an integral part of the community in Laos. The Living Land is a cooperative of seven local families who produce organically-grown vegetables for Luang Prabang’s finest restaurants. To keep business running, they take on volunteers who they teach to work on the rice fields. It might be slightly harder work than spritzing your succulents at home, but profit from your efforts will go towards educating locals about farming methods and building better schools in the area. Combine your efforts with a stay at Avani+ where their new organic garden welcomes green-fingered types and provides a place for you to hand-pick ingredients for your cooking classes. Six Senses Krabey Island, Cambodia Just a few zippy minutes by boat from Cambodia’s south west coast, Krabey Island is 12 hectares (30 acres) of tropical idyll. While Six Senses’ glamorous villas are all about space, privacy and modern minimalist luxury chic, outside there’s a back-to-basics vibe. Guests are invited to visit the resort’s mainland farm where chickens peck at grain, and goats graze between fruit and vegetables grown for the hotel kitchen and local markets. Khmer cookery classes with a chef are held at the adjoining farmhouse. Back on site, sustainable living continues with a large organic garden, lovingly tended to with treated waste water; speaking of which, the island’s bottling plant fills glass bottles to reduce plastic waste, too. How to have a safe, Covid-19-free road trip holiday this summer Annandale, New Zealand An hour away from Christchurch, Annandale is rural New Zealand at its best. Sitting on a 1,600-hectare (4,000-acre) farm, guests can stay in one of four multi award-winning luxury villas with the distinct feeling of being the only people around for miles. But fear not: here, nature is your friend and an array of authentic experiences await. Head out with a guide to learn about the workings of Annandale's sheep farm, help out with cattle mustering, join the farm dogs at work and visit the woolshed to see the livestock. If you’re lucky, you could arrive for sheep shearing season. Cooking classes with the local chef are also available for a true farm-to-table education. Four Seasons Bali at Sayan You can do yoga, enjoy a spa treatment and raft along the Ayung River at Four Seasons Bali at Sayan, but the most satisfying activity might be joining local farmers to plant rice. Guests here are invited to roll up their sleeves and experience a muddy day in the life of a rice farmer. You’ll learn how to flip the soil with a hoe and patiently insert the rice seeds in a meticulous fashion for maximum growth – a process that can often take months to complete without help from the community. It’s not all hard graft though: you’ll be rewarded with relaxing walks through the rice fields, villages and jungle paths, and perhaps a massage to keep any aches and pains from the day away. Babylonstoren, South Africa The first and only RHS-partnered garden in Africa, Babylonstoren dates back to 1692 and is one of the oldest in the heart of the Cape Winelands. Covering 200-hectares, this working farm offers a lot to explore. There are gardens galore: from the exotic spice garden full of aromatic spices, to the three-hectare kitchen garden with more than 300 varieties of edible plant. The Garden of Diversity boasts endless paths for walking and working. Guests can enjoy workshops on the land, feed the donkeys, collect eggs, and pick, plant and prune the fruits and vegetables. Elsewhere on the property you can brew your own herbal tea, make olive oil, and try wine tasting at the vintage cellar to the backdrop of the Banghoek Mountains. Want more stories like this? Sign up here . Follow STYLE on Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and Twitter .