Indoor Team Building vs Outdoor Team Building: Which Is Best for Your Team?

When it comes to choosing the right type of team building activity for spicing up a team meeting, conference or off-site, one common question arises: should it be held indoors or outdoors?

Both indoor and outdoor team building settings may offer distinct advantages—and potential drawbacks—depending on your goals, team dynamics, logistical considerations and how much you’d like to ‘roll the dice’ on the impacts of the weather.

Indoor Team Building: More Controlled and Convenient

The Advantages:

Indoor activities will offer consistency and predictability.

Weather conditions, accessibility to locations and costs, and technical setup are all under control to a greater degree, reducing the risk of disruptions. They are especially well-suited for workshops that involve structured learning, presentations, or facilitated discussions like our Team DNA styles. Venues such as conference centres or dedicated training rooms can be ideal, if large enough, for incorporating some of our best team building exercises.

Indoor sessions also tend to be a little more inclusive, especially for team members that may have any mobility challenges or just personal preferences for less physically demanding activities and environments.

Disadvantages:

Indoor settings can of course feel a little static or overly formal. If not well-facilitated, or activities themselves are not novel enough, they may struggle to fully engage participants or encourage creative thinking.

The artificial environment may also limit opportunities for physical activity or spontaneous interaction.  People may also feel that for a long meeting or conference that they have just been ‘stuck within the 4 walls’ too much.

Outdoor Team Building: Energising, Out and About

Advantages:

Outdoor formats for activities may naturally promote greater physical movement, engagement with more places in a destination / location, and collaboration in a more relaxed atmosphere if a room is associated with too much ‘chalk and talk’.

The change of scenery from a meeting room can invigorate participants, possibly fostering more accessible stimulation and creativity and stronger interpersonal connections. Outdoor settings are particularly effective for some of our classic experiential learning—where challenges like The Quest, Mission Possible, Strike Force or other simpler problem-solving games, or group navigation exercises translate into real-world team insights.

For teams needing a morale boost or deeper bonding, collocating team building with nature-based experiences can often leave a more lasting impression.

Disadvantages:

The biggest drawback is unpredictability. And lack of control Weather, access, safety, and logistical complexity can all introduce complications. Outdoor activities may not suit all participants, particularly if physical limitations or accessibility concerns are present.

They may also require permits, insurance, and contingency plans, adding to the planning workload.  You also can’t control who may approach or choose to interact with your people in public spaces.

Choosing the Right Fit

The decision comes down to your specific aims and objectives, your team’s demographic and needs, and practical factors like your available time, budget, and location.

For more skill-based workshops or strategic planning and L&D, an indoor setting is usually preferable. For pure fun, energy, engagement, and team bonding, outdoor experiences can be powerful if you have access to safe and legally usable areas.

A hybrid approach—where indoor sessions are paired with brief outdoor elements—can also offer the best of both worlds. Thoughtful planning, clear goals, and skilled facilitation are key to making either setting work.

Luckily we at Sabre have all based covered with many great indoor, outdoor and hybrid options.

To see more check out some of our best sellers broken down into indoor, outdoor and hybrid columns.