A brief guide on slow travel

Over the past year, the world has radically changed in every aspect but none more so than the way we travel. As the economy gradually reopens after a long hiatus induced by the pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns, people are once again beginning to travel, albeit in a completely contrasting manner to how they used to travel during the pre-pandemic time. Even the way we perceive travel has now evolved drastically.

Earlier, a vacation or travel idea for the quintessential traveler would be an exotic location, perhaps booking a tour package for a week to ‘see’ the entire country. But this would often result in simply visiting popular spots thronged by tourists and rushing through the itinerary. However, with the pandemic heavily impacting travel, crowded places and even international travel have largely been ruled out. This is where the concept of slow travel emerges – one that has marked a major shift in demand, expectations, and perception of travel.

What is slow travel?

Picture this. You’re in a quaint cottage situated at a hilltop, surrounded by nature, looking out at the panoramic view, and reveling in the beauty that nature exudes. But there’s no busy itinerary packed with activities, no city-hopping, and no crowded high-end stores to shop at. Although, you do have a community within the place you are staying at, along with locals who introduce you to the true experience of the place. Sounds calming, doesn’t it?

Slow travel, in a nutshell, is a lifestyle and concept that allows you to form a profound, deep connection with the place you are visiting, the local people, food, and culture, and bonding with fellow travelers as a community. It’s an antithesis to mass tourism – an intentional, immersive, and experience-oriented concept. You are no longer focusing primarily on the perfect Instagram photos and documenting every minute of your travel.

Slow travel involves savoring the moment and practically becoming a local of that region for a short period. It’s about indulging in quality experiences rather than quantity. However, there’s often a misconception when it comes to slow travel – it isn’t just the speed of your travel but more of an attitude and perspective rather than a concept of time. Now, certain questions are sure to arise – how we can adopt this, how does it benefit us, etc. Let’s see.

Adopting the slow travel concept

One of the foremost things to do when it comes to adopting slow travel is getting rid of your itinerary. It’s best not to have a timeline for the beginning and the end of the day. Be sure to meet and interact with the locals in the area as they would be truly insightful about the places you can visit, the things to do, and the local cuisine that can try. For a fulfilling experience, homestays would be the ideal option where you can even experience the place as a local by taking up some chores. Experiencing slow travel would require a considerable amount of time set aside to remain at a place and experienced it to your heart’s content rather than following a strict schedule.

Busting myths

As touched upon earlier, there are some misconceptions surrounding slow travel. For instance, many often assume that slow travel means staying put in one place for a minimum of seven days. However, it’s more about changing the way you travel and not the duration. Besides, there’s also the assumption of slow travel meaning no gadgets or technology, which is far from the truth. In today’s remote working world, most digital nomads follow slow travel – continuing to work remotely, staying in a place for as long as they wish to, and experiencing the uniqueness of that place.

How is it beneficial?

Our busy fast-paced lifestyles had undoubtedly impacted the way we traveled – constantly on the move without truly experiencing anything. However, slow travel is now seeing several takers and it’s important to understand how it’s beneficial. Slow travel allows you to make deeper connections with nature as well as the locals and the place while pushing you to step out of your comfort zone for new experiences. It’s also an affordable way of travel as homestays are not as highly-priced as hotels and are more economically viable, especially for those opting for long-term stays. Furthermore, slow travel is a sustainable and meaningful approach for the environment and the local communities.

Final word

Slow travel has been picking up steam from travelers across the world as the pandemic has left a lasting impact on travel in its wake. As more and more people turn to explore local places with international destinations being closed for travelers, slow travel will become an integral aspect and will play a pivotal role in supporting local communities, increasing domestic tourism, and helping the travel industry recover from the pandemic’s impact.