Breaking news: another boring “team meeting” with awkward icebreakers isn’t going to engage and inspire your employees. If your team is low on energy or connection, it might be time for something different, like a proper team away day.
When you take your team out of the confined office space, albeit for a day, you help them rejuvenate, reconnect, and reignite that team spirit. But not all ideas will work equally.
You need the best corporate away day ideas your people will actually enjoy. That’s precisely what we’ve done in the blog. We’ve rounded up the 10 best ideas from adrenaline-packed adventures to laid-back creative sessions that your teams will love, including some virtual team-building activities for your remote teams.
So, ready to shake things up and bring your team closer together than ever ? Let’s dive right in!
Why organize a team away day?
Your teams need more than just Zoom meetings and office catch-ups to truly connect.
A team away day is a great way to add that extra spice to your team-building efforts. It’s a fun day out for your employees and an opportunity to leave the rut behind and engage in activities that bring them together as a team outside of work. It’s your chance to strengthen relationships, improve communication, and hit the reset button together.
If you organize a team away day wisely, you can increase your team’s motivation, creativity, and teamwork. Your team will become more open to one another when they work outside the confines of their cubicles. It will open up opportunities for your employees to see their colleagues as real people, not just coworkers.
But it’s not just about having fun, either. Research published in the National Library of Medicine shows that when teammates form a strong bond, it leads to increased productivity, higher employee satisfaction, and lower turnover rates. It also improves trust, which is crucial to effective teamwork, particularly in today’s hybrid work environment.
Plus, team away days show your employees that you value their well-being and development. It’s an investment not just in people, but in performance.
And the best part? You don’t need a lot of resources to make your team away day session ideas impactful. Even a simple activity can leave a lasting impression if you plan it properly.
The 10 best corporate away-day ideas
Most of us have attended a team day that felt more like a box-ticking exercise than something genuinely fun or energizing.
So, if you don’t want your next event to be a boring chore, here are 15 genuinely enjoyable, energizing, and bonding away-day ideas your team will actually want to do.
Don’t worry, we’ve got something for everyone, whether you’re sporty, artsy, or somewhere in between!
Sporty team away day ideas
If your team loves getting outdoors, it opens up a lot of possibilities. Here are some of the fun and engaging away-day team-building ideas that your outdoorsy teammates will enjoy :
1. Start a one-day step challenge (or stretch it to a month)
- Average Cost: $
- Organization Level: Easy
Use an app to set up a competitive, yet inclusive, walking challenge like a fun run outside the office. Do it for just one day or let it run over a few weeks to keep the motivation high. It is incredibly easy to organize and track such an event from the Teamupp dashboard.
You can also incorporate gamification elements and create leaderboards directly within the app. Don’t forget to recognize top performers and participants for improved participation and engagement.
Why it works?
- Great for hybrid or remote teams
- Low barrier to entry, and there’s no special equipment or facilities needed
- Keeps wellness front and centre
2. Organise a classic sports day (and follow it up with a digital challenge)
- Average Cost: $
- Organisation Level: Medium
You can organize many activities to get the blood pumping. Think sack races, three-legged sprints, and tug of war – yes, the nostalgic stuff works really well!
It’s hilarious, physical, and way more bonding than awkward icebreakers. After the outdoor team-building day? Kick off a two-week step or activity challenge on Teamupp to keep the energy going.
Why it works?
- Gets everyone moving and laughing together
- Builds long-term engagement when paired with ongoing challenges
- Totally customizable for all fitness levels
3. Try a company-wide scavenger hunt
- Average Cost: $$
- Organization level: Medium
Split into teams and race around your city (or office complex) solving riddles and challenges. You can use an app like GooseChase or create your own. It’s a great way to promote teamwork and a great stressbuster as well.
You can even organize such events for your teams in remote locations with a bit of creativity.
Why it works?
- Encourages teamwork and friendly competition
- Gets people outdoors and exploring
- Easy to customize to your needs
4. Take on an obstacle course- Average cost: $$$
- Organisation level: Difficult
Perfect for adventurous teams, this one is physical and messy, but memorable. Book a day with local outdoor activity centres or obstacle parks. It’s a fun activity where your team can get the much-needed physical activity and get to know each other in the process.Just remember that not all teams might prefer such an intense physical activity. Ensure you solicit opinions from your team before making a decision. Why it works?
- Builds resilience and mutual support
- Offers a big adrenaline kick
- Great for goal-oriented teams
5. Host a wellness Olympics
- Average cost: $$
- Organization level: Medium
Instead of traditional sports, mix in yoga, breathing competitions (yes, it’s a thing), meditation relays, and stretching rounds. You can schedule this event to span a few days and include activities that range from simple to challenging.
End the day with a wellness-themed lunch.
Why it works?
- Appeals to non-sporty team members
- Promotes mental and physical well-being
- Easy to run with a bit of creativity
Away-day team-building ideas
Away days provide you with an excellent opportunity to improve team-building. When your team is away having fun, small activities can boost camaraderie and team spirit. Here are a few away-day ideas for team building that you’ll love:
6. Escape room showdown
- Average cost: $$
- Organization level: Easy
If your team thrives on solving puzzles and working under pressure, book an escape room experience. These immersive games force everyone to collaborate, communicate clearly, and think fast, making them excellent for testing and improving teamwork.
Divide into smaller groups and try different rooms at the same time. Then reunite for food and share how each team fared. You’ll likely hear stories of hilarious mix-ups and unexpected leadership moments.
Why it works?
- Sharpens problem-solving skills under pressure
- Encourages clear communication
- Super fun and stress-free
7. Murder mystery dinner
- Average cost: $$$
- Organization level: Moderate to Difficult
Channel the inner Sherlock Holmes of your teammates with this activity! Book a murder mystery experience at a restaurant or bring in an acting troupe to your office or rented space. Everyone plays a role, some innocent, some suspicious, and the goal is to solve the crime over dinner.
Assign roles in advance to give people time to get into character. Encourage costumes and accents for extra fun. It’s a fantastic way to get even your shyest teammates involved.
Why it works:
- Boosts problem-solving skills
- Improves teamwork
- Allows your team members to interact freely and break silos
8. The Amazing Race – office edition
- Average cost: $
- Organization level: Moderate
Turn a park or local area into an Amazing Race-style challenge. Create checkpoints, quirky tasks, and trivia related to your company or industry. You can have teams compete to reach each location and complete the mission before moving on.
Include physical tasks, creative challenges, and maybe a few office in-jokes. It’s great for camaraderie and brings a fun buzz to your usual surroundings. You can also do this outdoors in an enclosed space if the weather is bad.
Why it works:
- Boosts confidence and adaptability
- Helps people feel more relaxed
- Ends in engaged employees every tim
9. Cooking or bake-off challenge
- Average cost: $$
- Organization level: Easy
Food brings people together. Split into teams and give each group a cooking or baking challenge, like making the best dish with surprise ingredients. Whether you’re in a rented kitchen or just using a communal breakroom, it’s about bonding over laughs, spills, and maybe a few burnt edges.
Have impartial “judges” taste and rate the dishes. Consider allergy-friendly ingredients and provide all the tools needed to avoid stress.
Why it works:
- Everyone gets involved regardless of skill set
- Sparks creativity and teamwork
- Surprisingly therapeutic
10. Build something together (literally)
- Average cost: $$
- Organization level: Moderate
Combine team-building with giving back. In this activity, teams work together to assemble things like Lego models or even bicycles, which are then donated to local children or charities. It involves problem-solving, cooperation, and shared purpose.
Partner with a local nonprofit to handle the donation. Add some friendly competition by rewarding the fastest (and safest!) build. It’s meaningful and memorable.
Why it works:
- The entry barrier is very low
- Encourages creative and out-of-the-box thinking
- Surprisingly relaxing activity for highly stressed employees
Team away day session ideas for art lovers
If your team loves arts and crafts, then you must check out these corporate event ideas that are creative, relaxing, and most of all, fun and inclusive:
11. Street art tour + graffiti workshop
- Average cost: $$
- Organization level: Moderate
Turn your team into urban artists for the team-building day! Start with a guided walking tour to explore local street art, then head to a graffiti workshop where everyone can try spray painting on canvas or a legal wall.
Why it works?
- Unique and out-of-the-box
- Encourages collaboration in a playful way
- Culturally engaging and visually inspiring
12. Pottery or ceramics workshop
- Average cost: $$$
- Organization level: Medium
Get your hands dirty and make something tangible. Whether it’s a mug or a wobbly bowl, it’s a fun, tactile experience.
Choose a studio that handles the firing process and delivers the finished items later, perfect as team desk decor!
Why it works?
- Slows things down and fosters mindfulness
- Great way to bond over imperfections
- You get to take something home!
13. Wine and paint night (or coffee and canvas)
- Average cost: $$
- Organization level: Easy
Hire an artist to guide everyone through a light-hearted painting session. Add wine, mocktails, or snacks to keep things fun. Host it at a local art café or rent a studio. Display the finished paintings in your office or create a digital gallery to remember the day.
Why it works?
- No pressure—just pure enjoyment
- Easy to organize in-office or off-site
- Combines creativity with relaxation
14. Music jamming session
- Average cost: $$
- Organization level: Medium
Bring in a music facilitator and let your team try out drums, ukuleles, or even write a group song.
Why it works?
- Unleashes unexpected talents
- Builds rhythm and unity (literally)
- Fun for musical newbies and pros alike
15. Team film or short video challenge
- Average cost: $$$
- Organization level: Difficult
Split into groups, write short scripts, act, film, and edit mini-movies. Screen them together with popcorn!
Why it works?
- Blends creativity, collaboration, and humor
- Great for building storytelling skills
- High-energy and totally different
Are you interested in contributing to employees’ daily wellness?
How to organize a great team away day
You don’t have to throw money at the first flashy venue you find.
The goal is to make an event your team will enjoy and remember for a long time. Here’s how to do it right:
1. Ask your team what they want
You can begin by sending a quick survey or holding a brief team discussion to know what your team wants. Do they want to do something energetic, artistic, relaxed, or a bit of everything? Once you know what everyone wants, you can plan a day that’ll get everyone excited.
2. Set a budget and date
Once you have decided on your goals, determine how much you can afford to spend. After that, decide on a date that most people are comfortable with. Midweek is usually the best day because it does not take up too much of your employees’ personal time.
3. Choose a location
Select a location that matches your activity. It could be a park, a studio, or somewhere else. Check the accessibility of the location, the weather conditions, and if it has good space for your entire team.
4. Add a mix of activities
Blend fun with purpose. Include icebreakers, team-building games, or reflective sessions to make the day meaningful, not just fun.
5. Plan the logistics
Consider factors such as food, transportation, materials, timing, and contingency plans. Assign someone to manage the day-of flow so you’re not scrambling mid-event.
6. Follow up
After the event, gather feedback and share highlights. A follow-up email with photos, takeaways, or a quick thank-you can really boost the impact of the day.
A well-planned away day shows your team they’re valued and sets the tone for stronger collaboration ahead.
What to include in a team away day?
A great team away day should strike the right balance between fun, connection, and purpose. To make the most of it, there are a few essentials you should always include.
Icebreakers
Begin with a warm welcome and some light icebreakers, even if your team already knows each other well. It helps ease everyone into the day and creates a relaxed vibe.
A good mix of activities
Next, include a mix of activities that cater to different personalities. Something active for the energetic folks, something creative for the quiet thinkers, and time to just hang out for the social butterflies.
Food and drinks
Don’t forget food and drinks! A shared meal, even if it’s simple, brings people together. If possible, include team-building exercises that are low-pressure yet meaningful, such as problem-solving challenges or communication games.
You can also add a reflective moment or quick check-in to gather ideas, share wins, or reinforce your company’s goals.
Awards ceremony
Wrap things up with something positive. A toast, a takeaway gift, or even a light-hearted awards ceremony. And finally, ensure your day is inclusive. It should be accessible to everyone, taking into account their dietary, physical, or cultural needs.
The goal is to leave your team feeling valued, refreshed, and more connected than when they arrived.
How to foster teambuilding all year long?
A single away day is great, but real team cohesion comes from what you do between the big events. Building a connected, engaged team is a year-round effort, and it doesn’t have to be complicated.
Start by checking in regularly
Ask your team how they’re doing, not just during reviews, but through anonymous surveys or even casual coffee chats. Use tools like pulse surveys or Teamupp’s wellness challenges to keep engagement high and show you care.
Support your team’s health
Consider starting a wellness corporate program that supports your team’s mental, physical, and emotional well-being. This could be a monthly mental health session or a step challenge. When people feel good, they work better!
Show appreciation
Encourage shout-outs and appreciation rituals. A Slack channel for daily wins or a five-minute gratitude circle in meetings can go a long way. And finally, keep communication open. Teams thrive when feedback flows freely and people feel heard.
The key is consistency. A culture of team building isn’t about grand gestures—it’s about the little things you do, week after week, that build trust, respect, and real connection.
What about if your team is remote?
If your team works remotely, it doesn’t mean they have to miss out on the connection, energy, and fun of a traditional team away day. In fact, with a little creativity, you can create hybrid events or fully virtual experiences that are just as engaging, maybe even more so.
Here’s how to make it happen.
1. Embrace the hybrid event model
If some of your team is in the office while others are remote, go hybrid. This means designing an event that works for both groups. For example, you could host a team trivia game or workshop with a live host that’s streamed over Zoom, so remote employees can participate in real.
Tips:
- Make sure every activity includes both in-person and remote components.
- Assign a virtual “host” to ensure online team members feel seen and included.
- Send out care packages beforehand, like snacks, materials, or swag, to help remote workers feel part of the fun.
2. Plan engaging virtual team-building activities
Virtual team building doesn’t have to be awkward or boring. Skip the forced icebreakers and try creative experiences like:
- Online escape rooms
- Cooking or cocktail-making classes
- Murder mystery games
- Wellness sessions (yoga, breathwork, meditation)
- Teamupp’s virtual wellness challenges
With a bit of variety, you can cater to different personalities and keep everyone excited to participate. Just like a real away day, give it structure, breaks, and a clear schedule.
3. Get social!
Don’t underestimate a casual connection. Use tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams to create a “watercooler” channel where teammates can share weekend photos, book recommendations, or memes. You could even host short “virtual coffee breaks” each month where people can chat with coworkers outside their usual team.
For something more structured, consider virtual “lunch roulette” sessions where employees are randomly paired to eat and chat for 30 minutes.
4. Celebrate milestones and recognize wins
Remote teams often miss out on those in-office celebration moments. Fix that by making birthdays, anniversaries, and big wins a big deal. Host a monthly virtual celebration where you highlight team wins, give shoutouts, and maybe even run a mini game or quiz.
You could also use tools like Teamupp to gamify engagement and make recognition feel fun and rewarding.
5. Keep it consistent
The biggest mistake companies make with remote team building day? Only doing it once. Instead, make connection a part of your culture with monthly mini-events, quarterly virtual away days, and frequent check-ins.
Try rotating team members into different event planning groups, so everyone gets a chance to shape the culture and bring new ideas to the table.
Remote doesn’t mean disconnected. With the right mix of hybrid event planning, digital tools, and regular team check-ins, your distributed team can feel just as bonded as any in-person crew. All it takes is intention, creativity, and consistency.
Are you interested in contributing to employees’ daily wellness?
