An Introduction To Slow Travel
We live in a cluttered, fast paced world. A world of likes, notifications, beeps and buzzes, screens, to-do lists and hustle culture. All of which crosses over to all aspects of our livelihood. Fast food. Fast cars. Fast paced lifestyles. There seems to be no way to escape it.
The notion of going slow in such a society can seem indulgent. But I believe, truly in my heart, adopting a slower form of life (and travel) has benefited me in innumerable ways.
Today, I’m sharing a brief introduction to slow travel, how it transformed my whole perspective to living and approach to exploration, and how slow living can benefit you as well.
What Is Slow Travel?
Slow travel can be defined in many ways… but here is how I choose to define it:
Slow travel embraces the idea of immersing ourselves in destinations by taking a more intentional approach to how we explore.
Slow travel focuses local culture, flexible in itineraries and simplicity. Slow travel is about the journey, connection and intentionality.
Have you ever felt that you need a vacation after your vacation? The burn out and exhaustion that comes from jam-packed daily activities is real. I believe that vacation fatigue comes from the ever-present need to “do it all” attitude.
Sure, those jam-packed days are exhilarating! But do they actually give us the opportunity to learn and feel connected to the spaces we dwell? Do we leave with real connections and a richer sense of a different culture and way of life? It’s hard to do when we’re bouncing back and forth between sight after sight and city after city.
Slow travel is the antidote to that. Instead of choosing to fill our trips to the brim with every tourist sight and city, slow traveling has a refreshingly calmer stance on travel.
Slow travel adopts a balanced itinerary that gives explorers the time to pace themselves. This intentionality allows travelers to truly immerse themselves in local culture, dig deeper into the subjects and curiosities that mean the most to us individually.
It’s a conscious way to connect with a destination more deeply.
By slowing down, we are able to truly connect with ourselves, locals, the sights around us and the rich culture within it.
(… P.S. I also believe that slow travel is the practice of slow living principles in exploratory form! If this is at all interesting or curious to you, definitely take a look into our slow living resources on the blog coming soon!)
Slow Travel In Practice
Slow traveling does not have a one-size-fits-all attitude towards itineraries or the adoption of its mindset. Each slow traveler has a different practice, different interests and curiosities - and that is a beautiful thing!
That being said, here are some general practices of slow travel:
Opting for “deeper” experiences (versus broader ones)
Investing in local culture
Keeping an open, flexible itinerary
Choosing energizing activities and following personal curiosities
Connecting with locals
Supporting local economies
Opting for simplicity
In turn, practicing slow travel opens us up for rejuvenating, soul fulfilling experiences with ourselves and with local people… often times getting us off of the traditional tourist path and allowing us to get a richer appreciation for culture and people.
Truth be told, I’m barely scratching the surface in terms of explaining slow travel… and I intend to write much more on this subject (as it is extremely close to my heart). In the meantime, be sure to check out this post where I’m explaining my personal relationship to slow travel and how it’s transformed my approach to, well… everything. More to come, friends!