Table of Content

• Overview
• The Basics: Everything You Need To Know About Slow Travel
• Advantages of Slow Travel
• Conclusion
• FAQ’s

Overview

• Modern travel has become like a race. We reach a destination and rush from one attraction to another, take some pictures and get back without exploring much.
• Slow travel is a contrast to modern travel. It lets you to be at one place for an extended period and you can enjoy your coffee without worrying about anything. 
• You can move around freely, have a word with locals and explore the area. 
• Slow travel is all about travelling mindfully. You can discover more about the place. Explore everything you need to know about slow travel.   

Image source- Not in the guidebooks

The Basics: Everything You Need To Know About Slow Travel

Spend More Time in One Place

•  Slow travel is all about putting up at one destination and enjoying the most. It lets you settle and experience everyday life in the place. 
• The slow pace lets you relax and take back meaningful memories. 

Focus on Experiences, Not Checklists

•  Many of us carry a list of must visit places wherever we go. 
• The trip becomes more of a race rather than enjoyment.
• Slow travel has no pressure and you can enjoy what is in front of you. 

Travel at a Comfortable Pace

• You don’t have stress of getting up early with time pressure and relentless activities. 
• Slow travel sets you free to go at a pace you want. 
• It allows you to spend more time at the place of your liking or take a pause if you want. 
• The travel becomes more fun and less stressful.  

Use Local Transport

• Utilizing local transport will make your trip real.
• Moving by train, bus or ferry lets you socialize with townsfolk.
• Even taking a stroll through a neighbourhood lets you explore the living conditions.
• You can explore many places that you could have missed otherwise.

Choose Local Accommodation

• The place you stay can shape up your entire journey. 
• Putting up at a homestay, a family run property or even a guest house can lead to a warm and welcoming experience. 
• The host of the homestay or the property can guide you to a quite beach, a hidden cafe or share stories that are not included in local guides. 

Support Small Businesses

• The best part of slow travel is discovering places loved by locals.
• You can eat at a family run cafe or a local restaurant instead of a famous chain restaurant.  
• You can be fortunate to get hands on the dish that has been a favourite of the locals.
• Purchase gifts and stuff from the town market to provide business to locals.

Connect With Local People

• It is the most important aspect of slow travel to connect with locals and fellow travellers.
• You can come back from the trip with great memories when you interact with people.
• Locals can share stories and traditions that no guidebook can share.
• Slow travel is about understanding people more than visit beautiful places. 

Leaves Room for Spontaneity.

• Its natural to have a travel plan but everything should not be scheduled.
• You might get a new experience if you take a different street, accept a local’s recommendation or change your plans at the last minute.
• Leaving some space for something unexpected make the travel exciting and relaxed.

Travel More Mindfully

• Mindful travel is about making sure that we are at someone else’s place.
• Appreciating local culture, knowledge of few local phrases and keeping the place clean can make a big difference.
• Slow travel means appreciating the things offered by destination and not taking it for granted. 
• Be good to people and places on your slow travel.  

Enjoy the Little Moments

• Not every travel rememberance comes from famous points.
• Sometimes the simple moments stay with you for long.
• The best moments can come from sipping coffee and watching a sleepy town getting up in the morning.
• Watching kids near you or strolling in the evening and witnessing the streets light up slowly.
• All these things cannot be experienced when you are in a hurry to go from one place to another.

Image source- balcanicaucaso

Advantages of Slow Travel

 Opportunities For Personal Growth

• Slow travel transforms you without letting you know.
• You learn to be patient when plans change and you are more relaxed.
• Spending more time at an unknown spot aids you to see the world differently. 
• You feel really rested after a slow trip and you are calm and relaxed. 

Better Mental Well-Being

• Daily life is filled with deadlines and responsibilities.
• Slow travel allows you to be at ease and makes you relax.
• The trip lets you sleep better and you mind is also at rest.
•  Sitting at a beach, reading a book at a cafe or taking a quite walk makes you feel relaxed on your return. 

A Greater Sense of Gratitude

• You began to notice and even appreciate things that you did not even notice before.
• A peaceful morning without hurry, a stanerger giving you a smile and even a home cooked meal makes you happy.
• Slow travel reminds you that happiness is found in simple things and not in magnificent adventure. 

Conclusion

Slow travel means that the joy is not in how many spots you visit but the way you enjoy them. Slow travel is about relaxing. You don’t have to visit all the places on your tour. Just take a quiet walk or chill at a cafe or local resturant. Everything you need to know about slow travel is discovering yourself and becoming a better person.

FAQs

Which are the best destinations for slow travel?

Best places for slow travel include Kerala in India, Kyoto in Japan, Bali in Indonesia, Sicily in Italy and Andalusia in Southern Spain. 

Is slow travel more expensive than regular travel?

Staying in one place can actually save a lot of money. You may even get discounts for a longer stay and save a lot on travelling.