Slow Tourism: A Mindful Approach to Travel

Oct 30, 2024

4 min read

What did the tree learn from the earth to be able to talk with the sky? (by Pablo Neruda)

As I look at this quote, I wonder why I chose this particular one when I sat down to write about slow tourism. It could be because I am fascinated by trees. They are always rooted to one spot and yet caressing the sky. If you touch the bark of a thick tree and close your eyes, you can feel the stillness it holds within.

As I sit at my desk writing this, I can see the Gul mohar tree outside my window. I read the quote again and try to imagine the knowledge this majestic tree has gained from the depths of the earth that now allows it to know the language of the sky……

I can begin to understand why this quote spoke to me when I wanted to talk about slow tourism. It seems like the trend nowadays is to go on whirlwind tours. Breakfast in one country in Europe, lunch in another, and dinner in yet another. But while doing this, did one pause to look at the tree that was standing on the sidewalk next to the coach they rushed into? Did anyone look up to see if the tree was flowering or were the branches bare? Were birds nesting in it or were the leaves gently swaying as they enjoyed the breeze?

I realize that this may not be something you want to do. But I for one absolutely believe in the concept of slow tourism. What does this mean exactly?

For me, slow tourism is all about having a relaxing, immersive, and mindful experience whenever and wherever I travel. Here are a few things you can try when you travel next:

1 . Book a Walking Tour

Taking a guided walking tour is something we always opt for. There is nothing that helps you ‘get’ the vibe of a place more than walking along the small lanes learning about the local history and culture.

Pro Tip: Try to look for a walking food tour. This way you can try out local delicacies while exploring the streets.

We had a fantastic time when we booked the Europe and Asia food tour in Istanbul. We began with a snack at the European side, took a ferry to the Asian side to try out the local cuisine there, and then ended the day sitting down to sample the legendary Turkish coffee while chatting away with our guide and other guests.

2 . Attend a Local Food Workshop

What better way to understand a culture than trying to cook their food? Cooking workshops not only introduce you to the small nitty-gritties of local cooking styles, but is also a catalyst for people to open up and enjoy each other’s company. Time it such that you schedule it at the end of a day that is packed with sight-seeing visits. This gives you space to unwind and relax at the end of a busy day.

We had scheduled a pasta making workshop on the evening before the day our entire Italian tour was coming to a close. So, this being the last dinner of a 15-day tour made it all the more special and something all of us will remember for years.

Pro Tip: Book the workshop in advance as these are typically small groups and fill-up quickly.

3 . Rent a Car and Self-Drive

This gives you so much freedom to go wherever your mood takes you while allowing you to spend as much time as you want at any place that takes your fancy. We booked a car at Florence to drive down to this amazing medieval town, San Gimignano. We had not planned where we would stop for lunch. When we began to feel hungry, we checked which town was near us and took an impromptu exit from the highway and drove in. We then stopped for lunch at this quaint family-owned restaurant. While speaking to one of the owners, he mentioned that they owned the land all around and had their own vineyard which was in their family for four generations. What a find! And this was possible only because we went off the regular path.

Pro Tip: Check the driver’s licence requirements of the country you will be visiting and ensure you have everything needed. You will need to apply for an international driver’s licence at your home country.

When embracing slow tourism, keep a few things in mind:

Research thoroughly about the place you want to visit.

If you do not have the time for that, get in touch with a travel company that can help you design a trip that gives you the time and space to follow your heart. You don’t want to miss out on some hidden gems now do you?

Plan ahead, but remain flexible.

This one is a no-brainer as that is what slow tourism is all about. Having the option to just stop whenever and wherever one wants and not worry about the next activity to tick-off. To accommodate this, ask your travel agent to leave some ‘empty spaces’ in the travel calendar.

Take time to reflect and journal

Set aside some time each day when you can reflect on the things you loved the most about the day. Journaling need not necessarily mean you pen down your thoughts. It could also mean clicking pictures of that bee hovering over the flower; or recording a video of the church bells tolling at the end of the day.