Dex QuekIn an age where everyone scrolls through Instagram feeds filled with perfectly filtered holiday snaps, a refreshing latest travel trend has emerged amongst the younger generation. Rather than relying solely on digital devices, young travellers exploring new destinations are rediscovering the profound joy of analog documentation. This pivot towards tangible, handmade records isn’t merely nostalgic: it’s transforming how we experience and remember our journeys.
Also read: Six Travel Trends That Will Make 2026 Your Most Memorable Year Yet
Latest Travel Trends Show People Craving Authentic Connection
The latest travel trends clearly demonstrate that modern travellers now seek deeper connections with their destinations. Consequently, many are abandoning their smartphones in favour of pencils, paints, and film cameras. This intentional slowdown creates space for genuine observation and meaningful engagement with unfamiliar places.
Watercolour Painting
Image credit: @lisamariegutcherart/@tobioskits Instagram
Watercolour painting offers an accessible entry point into analog travel documentation. You’ll need minimal equipment (a small palette, brushes, and watercolour paper), making it perfect for backpacking through Vietnam’s Mekong Delta or exploring Thailand’s bustling markets. As you paint, you’re forced to slow down and truly observe your surroundings to figure out the particular shade of sunset over the Irrawaddy River, the texture of ancient temple stones, the vibrant chaos of a buzzing marketplace.
Furthermore, watercolour’s unpredictable nature mirrors travel itself. Colours blend unexpectedly, creating happy accidents that photographs simply cannot capture. This spontaneity makes each painting uniquely yours.
Sketching with Pen and Pencil
Image credit: Изображения пользователя Margarita via Canva Pro/Nur Demirbaş
Similarly, quick pen and pencil sketches require nothing more than a notebook and writing tool of choice. Whether you’re documenting street scenes in Jakarta’s Kota Tua or architectural details in Cambodia’s temples, sketching sharpens your observational skills dramatically. You’ll notice intricate details you’d otherwise miss. Think of the ornamental patterns on a wooden door, the expressions of locals at a morning market, the interplay of light and shadow.
Moreover, sketching takes considerably less time to set up than painting, allowing you to capture fleeting moments throughout your itinerary.
Film Photography
Image credit: Loc Dang/Soulful Pizza
Then there’s film photography, which is undeniably one of the latest travel trends amongst younger travellers seeking authentic documentation methods. Unlike digital cameras, film demands intentionality. Limited exposures require you to compose shots carefully. This deliberate approach transforms photography from mindless snapping into purposeful artistry.
Additionally, the unpredictable qualities of film produce aesthetically distinctive images. A 35mm camera exploring Penang’s street food scene or Laos’s misty mountains yields results no smartphone filter can replicate.
Pressing Flowers
Image credit: Edward Smith via Canva Pro
Beyond visual aesthetics, pressing flowers offers a tactile, botanical approach to documentation. Collect blooms from a Balinese garden, wildflowers from Philippine highlands, or orchids from Malaysian rainforests. Once pressed between notebook pages, these specimens become three-dimensional memories. You can touch them, smell faint traces of their fragrance, and recall the exact moment you discovered them.
Handmade Souvenirs (Self-made or locally produced)
Image credit: Alexey Demidov/Alinson Torres/ simonapilollatnf via Canva Pro
Finally, consider creating handmade souvenirs whilst travelling. Rather than purchasing mass-produced trinkets, why not craft your own small keepsakes of each place? Better, kill two birds with one stone by scheduling a craft workshop as part of your itinerary. These creations become far more meaningful gifts than shop-bought alternatives, especially when you’ve documented the favourite parts of your journey through them. Also consider supporting local artists at craft markets for one-of-a-kind pieces you can’t find back home.
Why These Latest Travel Trends Matter
Ultimately, these latest travel trends reflect a broader cultural shift towards mindfulness and authenticity in travel experiences. By choosing analog documentation methods, you’ll return home with something priceless: tangible records of genuine experiences, not just digital files taking up valuable storage space.
After all, the most meaningful souvenirs tend not to be those you’ve purchased: they’re created through presence and passion. Your future self will treasure the memories you’ve captured with intention, creativity, and care. Whether you’re heading to Bali, Bangkok, or beyond, consider packing a sketchbook, watercolour set, or film camera.
