What is Slow Travel? The Less is More Approach to Explore Yourself and the World.
“Slow down in your pursuit of happiness and it’s more likely to catch up with you.”
Ernie J Zelinski
When I first stumbled across the concept of Slow Travel, it was one of those heartwarming, light bulb moments as I resonated with the words detailed on RemoteYear.com. For a long time, I’d had various ideas about my life on the road, yet had never come across a concept that truly matched my vision and values so perfectly.
Slow travel is part of the Slow Movement, a mindful and conscious shift to reclaim our time on our own terms. As beautifully put by Carl Honore, “The great benefit of slowing down is reclaiming the time and tranquillity to make meaningful connections–with people, with culture, with work, with nature, with our own bodies and minds”. In his wonderful book: In Praise of Slowness: Challenging the Cult of Speed.
Explore slower, connect deeper
Simultaneously, the slow living concept drove me to stop thinking about travel as a temporary escape, and more as a way of life. Understanding that we are born as free beings, I’ve discovered that the world is our home and as humans, we should make time to explore it.
Why Travel slower?
In 52 weeks of a year, we long for those short breaks or 2 week holidays. Counting down the days leading up to our holidays and then dreading the return to work, desperately clinging on to those last few moments of bliss.
We return home feeling unfulfilled and helplessly singing “back to life, back to reality!” by Soul 2 Soul. Then the holiday blues kick in and we anxiously look towards our next trip, whilst sharing #TakeMeBack posts on Instagram.
It reminds me of a family holiday in 2012 to the paradise island of Jamaica. On my return, I was inundated with questions about where to visit, so others could checklist off the typical hotspots of Ocho Rios, Negril, and Bob Marley’s museum. Yes, the holiday was incredible, but I returned with a feeling of emptiness. Had I really seen Jamaica? My father’s homelands? Or had I spent the majority of my 3 weeks in places that looked like this?
Fortunately in my final week, while jamming at a reggae bar on Negril beach, I made friends with a resident Jamaican. Together, we ventured off the beaten track and spent time with his family and other locals. I reveled in the simplicity of sipping rum, picking ackee fruits, and enjoying curry goat or jerk pork at local food joints. Which changed my attitude on travel for life.
How can you embrace slow travel?
1. Slow travel is a mindset.
Read my post: The Beauty of Slow Travel: 10 ways you can embrace more of life by slowing down.
There is no length of time that defines travelling slow. Rather, it is about appreciating the present moment and the cultural, historical, and local characteristics of a destination. For me, slow travel means gifting yourself the time to really explore the countries you visit. Allowing the time for open-hearted exploration to truly immerse in the local culture as you discover a destination.
Slow travel discounts the focus on the pace of travel and instead serves as liberty to travel mindfully and engage in local lifestyles. From the food, transport, and quirky cultural antics, embracing slow travel fosters opportunities to develop unique and life-defining connections.
Slowing down is a conscious choice, and in a world that loves speed and ‘efficiency’, it’s true that it’s not always an easy one. But the benefits far outweigh the costs…
What are the benefits of slow travel?
Slow travel is a protest to the fast life. Born out of Italy as a defiance to the fast-food boom in the country. Consequently, a slow food movement began, with local Italians taking authentic flavours back to their roots. In a world where everything is sped up, we sacrifice the health of our minds, physicality, and environment.
By embracing a slower lifestyle, you are taking an active decision to enjoy life before it passes you by.
2. Slow travel is mindful travel
In general, I think all good things come from taking life slower. Whether that be slow travel, slow cooking, slow sex (debatable) or driving slower! In this life where we spend so much time feeling rushed or short on time, our quality of life decreases.
By taking my time on my adventures, I am able to breathe, pause and appreciate the present moment. It was in coming to this realisation, that I acknowledged how I can maximise my travel and overall, the quality of my life.
3. Slow travel is cultural travel
As per my trip to Jamaica, we are often fixated on ticking as many boxes as possible. Whether it be catching a selfie with a tiger, skipping through landmarks cities, or trying TripAdvisor’s top 10 recommended restaurants. By travelling slow, we are given the opportunity to venture out into the unexpected, and truly embrace the culture that each destination has to offer.
4. Slow travel is conscious travel
Another practical benefit of slow travel is the freedom it allows us to travel sustainably. By travelling slower, you are given the time back to make the conscious decisions of HOW you travel. By trains, other public transport, shared cars, boat or even met people cycling large parts of their journeys! Around 2.4% of global CO2 emissions come from aviation, by committing to a slower lifestyle you are taking a step back from the wagon wheel of mindless flying.
By taking these small steps to a slower and more fulfilling life you are making a conscious choice meaning a better world for you and for the planet.
So I leave you with this question to consider: If all we have is time, why not take the time to enjoy it?
See more about me and my travels below!