Paddle Boat With Corgis and Observe Arctic Foxes Through Airbnb’s New Animal Experiences
Have you ever wanted to go for a stroll with alpacas, paddle boat with corgi, groom miniature ponies, visit with elephants, or just borrow a friendly dog for a quick hike? With Airbnb, you can do all this and arrange it easily. Airbnb Experiences, the part of the site dedicated to booking activities, has a whole new section for animal experiences, ranging from up-close encounters with rescue dogs to safe, from-a-distance viewings of wild animals.
Browse available experiences by landscape (Farm, Urban, Air, Water) or by type of interaction (Observe, Play, Care). The best part — whether you choose to have tea with sheep, stroll the L.A. river with corgis, cuddle baby goats, or walk a fairy pig on a leash — is that all animal experiences listed on Airbnb follow World Animal Protection Guidelines, a list of standards to make sure animals are properly cared for and protected.
These guidelines mean Airbnb doesn’t list any experiences with big cats, for example, or experiences where people ride, bathe, or feed elephants. Wild animals can’t perform for entertainment purposes or be restrained for photos, and in any encounters with wild animals, guests must keep “a safe and respectful distance.”
Here are just a few highlights of Airbnb’s animal experiences:
Hosted in English and French, this trek leads hikers through polar fox territory in Isafjorour, Iceland.
In Cape Town, South Africa, this kayak expedition starts with a presentation at the Shark Warrior Adventure Centre, then winds through African penguin and cape fur seal hangouts.
Enjoy a cup of tea in Loch Lomond, Scotland. “Our two naughty pet sheep will come and join you for cuddles and a bit of naughtiness and trying to eat all the wrong things,” says the experience listing. “When you have finished your home-made cakes, you will take the sheep to their barn and give them their tea and a goodbye stroke. A special feeling.. If we have new lambs there might be the chance to give them a bottle of milk too.”