Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. Ah yes, the mantra of jaded travellers everywhere — those lucky beings who posses a passport chock-a-bloc full of colourful stamps and a bookshelf of dog-eared annotated travel books.

No longer content with the aahing over the Eiffel Tower or the Great Wall of China, these intrepid travellers are turning to more… well… experimental methods of exploring foreign lands.

Among these unorthodox trends are the more well-known 'dark' and 'disaster' tourisms, which involve visiting places of death and natural disasters respectively. However, experimental tourism is actually more about the method than the destination. Paradoxically both random and highly structured, it is the 'how' and not the 'where' of travel.

French travel writer Joel Henry — founder of the Laboratory of Experimental Travel (Latourex) — has come up with numerous novel and outlandish ways to travel the earth since starting the movement in the early nineties. According to the travel guru:

"Experimental Travel is travel with constraints, that at the same time liberates you from the limitations and expectations of classic tourism. By travelling with the constraints of Experimental Travel, you conversely have more freedom."

So, next time you travel to Paris or Kazakhstan, ditch the travel guide and try out one of these weird and wonderful travel techniques.

Aesthetic travel: Become a travel artist by creating an aesthetic record of your trip in a systematic but novel way. Take a photo of the graffiti in every public toilet; sketch the view from each of your hotel rooms; or make a visual diary using all your ticket stubs.

Alphatourism: In this travel by letters technique, you plot your route on the map by drawing a straight line (or any other figure that takes your fancy) between the streets which fall first and last alphabetically. Follow the route and don’t allow any deviations — no, not even to check out that famous rock formation or to avoid that dodgy area near the station.

Anachronotourism: Go back in time and only take old-fashioned means of transport — take a slow boat trip, sit back and enjoy the luxuries of a long distance train-trip, drive a vintage vehicle, pedal your way through the countryside or let others do the work for you in a sedan chair. Alternatively, explore an 'older' city by getting your hands on an outdated travel guide.

Babymoon: Before you hear the pitter-patter of little feet, head out on a babymoon. Following (perhaps a little too quickly) on from the honeymoon, a babymoon is an excuse for mothers-to-be and their hubbies to get some rest and relaxation before the birth of their little one.

Barman’s knock: Admittedly, this method will give you a somewhat limited experience of a foreign culture and could just as easily be tried at home. Visit a bar, and when you get there, ask the barman what his or her favourite drink and bar is. Order the drink and then move on to the suggested bar. Repeat the process, bearing in mind the high probability of eventual inebriation and disorientation.

Cuneitourism: Locals know their city best, so take their advice and only their advice. Travel through a country or city visiting only those places suggested by the local population.

Erotourism: Spice up your tired relationship with a chance meeting in a foreign city. Travel separately (and by different means) to the same holiday destination. Don’t tell each other where you are planning to go or stay; don't make any contact and then try to find each other based on what you know about your partner's habits, interests and dislikes. And because cities are generally big places and not all relationships can withstand the pressure of a failed-chance-meeting, it is probably a good idea to set up a contact deadline or rendezvous spot.

Monopolytousim: Get hold of a local monopoly board and explore the city according to the roll of a dice. Bear in mind that this may result in numerous trips to the same street and a stint in jail. Unfortunately, buying property will probably prove tricky and you are not likely to get a wad of cash every time you pass begin.

Opustourism: Catch a bus. Then get off and catch the next one. Explore the city systematically by taking one bus route after the next.

Voluntourism: Take responsible travel to the next level by enrolling in a volunteer programme. Help build houses, provide safe drinking water or educate the locals and in your spare time explore the beauty of the surrounding region.