When traveling, it’s easy to get swept up in the energy of a destination. That’s not always a good thing. Sometimes the energy of a destination doesn’t match the type of vacation you want to have. But great vacation destinations can offer a range of high- or low-key experiences, depending on the time of year and what events might be occurring there.
High-profile, commercialized tourist attractions, while popular for a reason, tend to attract bustling crowds that can make them difficult to enjoy if you’re aiming for a relaxing, slow-paced vacation.
Luckily, there’s a way to slow down and bring more emotional fulfillment to your next getaway. This growing trend is called “slow travel” and it’s meant to add to the immersion and positive intention of any vacation.
Slow travel is more eco-friendly, prioritizing respect for nature and avoiding damage to delicate ecosystems and fragile historical landmarks. Allow current and future generations of travelers to more deeply appreciate your destination’s unique attractions with slow travel. If your travel goals include taking a break and relaxing while being a responsible citizen of the world, slow travel is for you.
Planning a Slow Vacation
While slower travel can be a state of mind as much as it is a specific itinerary, a travel advisor can craft the perfect escape that’s both corporal and cerebral, highlighting the beauty of roads less traveled.
There’s more than one way to go about a slow travel experience. You can start with the destination and plan an itinerary that weaves in aspects of slow travel for a personalized experience. Or start with a set of objectives for your travel and choose a destination that accentuates those goals.
Important Notes on Slow Travel
Here are some perspectives that can help you understand how the slow travel trend is bringing more satisfaction and inspiration to a new generation of travelers.
- Open-ended itineraries
- Eating and shopping locally
- Pursuing personal growth
- Minimizing technology
- Minimizing your carbon footprint
- Engaging with people, places, and things authentically
- Seeking novelty
Slow Travel Destinations
Destinations ideal for slow travel have a mix of natural appeal complemented by man-made attractions that promote intimacy with the location and introspection within.
Indonesia
The archipelago nation of Indonesia has long been regarded as a place of respite and tranquility. Its friendly people, lush rainforest landscapes, and sacred spiritual sites call to travelers seeking low-key adventure. Try an excursion for one kayaking down jungle rivers or bond with your romantic partner snorkeling on a cave-diving expedition.
If a land excursion is more your speed, hike jungle terrain on your way to secluded religious temples made from large blocks of stone partially reclaimed by rainforest flora. Historic religious sites dotting the main island are open to the public, providing a peaceful setting for a self-guided meditation or an intimate conversation.
Panama
The nation of Panama has become a popular option for those seeking pristine landscapes and having the desire to explore a rich indigenous legacy. While Panama is rapidly modernizing, it has also maintained its historical character through a commitment to nature conservation, legally protected indigenous territories, and the celebration of traditional holidays.
Indigenous Panamanians play a central role in the nation’s culture and economy, offering travelers a way of seeking a deep connection with their destination and the means to practice cultural immersion respectfully. Slow-vacationers seeking a path of personal growth can learn from centuries of knowledge and tradition with art forms and customs that have helped define Panamanian culture for generations through dance, food, and textiles.
Malta
It’s easy for travelers to forget about Malta if they have never been; it’s a blip on the map at just 122² miles in size. But just one slow-travel visit to Malta will set a whole new standard in vacationing. What Malta lacks in size it makes up for in beauty–both man-made and natural. Its well-preserved neoclassical and baroque buildings feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
Malta is the backdrop of several Hollywood blockbuster movies and it’s easy to see why. Its mild climate and approachable residents make Malta as hospitable as it is beautiful. Its more populated regions give way to palatial agricultural estates just on the edge of town, in case you’d like to personally familiarize yourself with locally-grown ingredients served by chefs at local restaurants.
