7 Ways To Practice Slow Travel On Your Next Trip Abroad

I believe travel is self-care.

Notes by Thalia

11 min readFeb 8, 2022

It plays a huge part in cultivating our growth and creativity but also teaches us self-awareness.

But travel can also be stressful, exhausting and a bit of a whirlwind.

So if you want to ditch tourist burnout and find calm on your next trip, practice slow travel.

Image of sunrise in Cappadocia with a horizon filled with hot air balloons and a colourful sky. Picture is purely for decorative use to support how to practice slow travel. — Mindful moments in Cappadocia. The picture was taken by me | Feb 2020

What is slow travel?

Travel sparks creativity.

It expands your world and leaves you feeling inspired.

Travel also cultivates more growth, self-discovery and awareness.

But with the fast pace of modern life, the surge in social media and accessibility, travel has now become a popularity contest.

Because of the excessive need for everything to be visually appealing and “Instagrammable”, entire cities and cultures are being reduced to tourist attractions, must-sees and “insta-worthy” hotspots.

Travel can also feel like a whirlwind.

You find yourself going from landmark to landmark, museum to museum, restaurant to restaurant, etc, without fully reflecting and making sense of your experiences.

Stress, overwhelm and exhaustion all add up and as soon as you get home you feel as though you need another vacation.

Slow travel allows you to take your time and explore somewhere new at your own pace.

When you stay longer in a destination, you can have a richer, more meaningful experience.

Choosing to practice slow travel also deepens your connection with a place, its people and culture. It’s not all about getting the perfect “insta” shot or rushing through in a short amount of time.

Slow travel allows you to truly feel something.

It leaves a lasting impression and impacts your soul.

“Slow travel is an approach to travel that emphasises connection: to local people, cultures, food and music. It relies on the idea that a trip is meant to educate and have an emotional impact, in the present moment and for the future, while remaining sustainable for local communities and the environment.”
Remote Year

Why I practice slow travel

In my quest to cultivate more meaning and intention in my life, I’ve chosen to adopt a digital nomad lifestyle.

Because I need to balance building a business with travelling, I’m not jumping from destination to destination.

Instead, I am taking my time.

I’m dedicating a morning to exploring, and working in the afternoon. Taking a whole Saturday to sightsee but spending Sunday in a co-working space or coffee shop.

And because I am splitting up my time, I need to go slow.

Because I don’t want to limit my trip to just seeing the tourist attractions but actually immerse myself in my surroundings. To learn a bit of the language, and get to know some of the locals.

I want to make meaningful memories.

Ones that I can look back on and reminisce over.

So when someone asks me what my favourite destination is, I can give them a meaningful answer and say why.

Travel shouldn’t just be a number or a list of countries you visit.

Travel should evoke an emotion. It should leave an imprint on your soul.

So when someone says, “what was Greece like?” you can remember how you felt while you were there. What the people were like, the food, the smell, the noise.

Yes, some trips I do might be short and quick, but overall I’m looking for travel to impact me in some way.

Whether that is pushing me out of my comfort zone, teaching me patience, showing me how to appreciate the simple things, or getting to know myself more personally.

I don’t just want to rush through a place and say, “been there done that.”

I want to gain a deeper understanding of the culture and communities I am visiting.

And that is why I choose to practice slow travel.

Benefits of slow travel

If you’re new to the concept of slow travel, let me first introduce you to the benefits of choosing to practice slow travel:

Prevents “tourist” exhaustion and burnout
Save money by avoiding chain hotels and big-name restaurants and instead, staying in Airbnb’s, hostels or home-stays and eating in local eateries
Reduces your carbon footprint and is better for the environment
It’s sustainable for local communities and economies
Helps you form more meaningful connections with people you meet along the way and locals
Enriches your travel experience and makes it more rewarding
Creates memories you’re proud of and want to remember
Pushes you out of your comfort zone
Leaves an imprint on your soul

7 ways to practice slow travel on your next trip abroad

Like with mindful productivity, being a slow traveller comes down to how you organise your time.

It’s not overloading your itinerary with only tourist attractions or must-see places so you can get the perfect “insta” shot.

Leave room to wander around.

Walk everywhere.

Get to know your surroundings.

Spend time speaking to the locals.

Learn about the culture.

Travelling in this way is far more sustainable and gives you space to breathe. So when you do get back home, you won’t be needing another holiday but instead, you’ll be craving to do it all over again.

Here are a few simple slow travel tips to help you get started.

1 | Walk and wander everywhere

Whenever I first arrive in a new place, I book myself onto a walking tour.

A walking tour is a great way to explore and get to know your surrounding area.

They are usually hosted by real locals who will show you the must-see spots as well as hidden gems and popular local hangouts.

Walking tours also allow you to get used to seeing everything on foot.

Because I cannot recommend walking everywhere enough.

Not only will you hit over 10,000 steps daily (my personal goal) but you can also experience the nooks and crannies of a place.

If you find yourself in a city or a relatively popular destination, there will be walking tours available. They are usually free but work on a tip-to-tip basis. Book through your hostel or easily find one on Google.

For reference, I usually search “free walking tour in (city).”

My go-to’s are usually Guru Walk or Free Tour.

So pack some sturdy trainers or comfortable hiking boots and head out.

Meet locals, make friends, try some of the street food and feel inspired by your new environment.

2 | Ditch the Lonely Planet and travel guides

Lonely Planet guide books were cool when they first came out. But now that they have been going for years, the majority of their listed top attractions, experiences and restaurants are now packed with tourists.

The places don’t feel authentic anymore.

So if you truly want to discover the destination you find yourself in, ditch the travel guides.

Speak to the locals and find out what they recommend you see and do.

Also, ask them where they eat or hang out.

Because what’s written in a guidebook isn’t always a true representation of where locals eat.

And you might also find, it’s the gritty, dive restaurants that have the best food.

Another point I want to make is to also avoid social media when planning your trip.

I know looking at trending location tags can be a good indication of whether to go somewhere but the pictures can also influence you.

You get it in your head that you want to get a similar shot so you can post it on Instagram and watch the likes come in.

It can become an obsession. And if you’re not careful you can end up spending a precious amount of time trying to get the perfect shot, instead of really appreciating the moment.

So when planning your next trip, go where you want to go and not where is most popular.

Ask family, friends or friends of friends for recommendations if they’ve been.

And if not, book your flight anyway and figure it all out when you’re there.

Remember, always begin your trip with a walking tour and you’ll soon find out where to go and what to do!

(For covid restrictions, entry requirements and safety concerns check on your local government website for up-to-date information.)

3 | Keep a travel journal

If you want to truly slow down and make travel more meaningful, then keep a journal specifically for your travel stories and memories.

A travel journal can capture your experience in real-time, so when you look back you can be reminded of everything.

It can even help you remember a moment more than any photo can.

So when you start travel journaling, make sure you’re sat somewhere quiet with minimal distractions.

Write about your surroundings. Describe the scene in front of you.

Take in all the details. The smell, the sounds, the vibe, what the people are doing.

Reflect on what you did that day. How you felt, what you saw, what you ate.

Make notes on everything and enhance your understanding of the destination you’re in.

4 | Carve out some solo time

If you’re travelling in a group, with a partner or friends, make an extra effort to dedicate time to be alone.

Although I absolutely love travelling with John as we get to make so many memories together, solo travelling shaped me into the person I am today.

I had the space to be truly independent. To do what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it.

Solo-travelling is a lot more freeing as there’s no need to compromise.

You can take as long as you need walking around a museum without feeling rushed.

There are also fewer distractions so you can sit and watch the world go by.

Group trips can sometimes feel limited as everyone has to agree on what to do.

So if you do find yourself in this position, go off by yourself for a day or two.

Go on your own mini solo trip and face a challenge on your own.

I promise you will learn a lot more about yourself when you travel solo than on any group trip!

5 | Book trips on the road using local travel agents and stay flexible

When I first went travelling to South East Asia, I literally booked everything with a UK travel agency.

From my internal and return flights to my accommodation and group trips.

My anxiety was super bad when I lived in London and so I felt the need to plan every single detail of my trip to stop me from getting even more anxious. Basically, organisation was my way of controlling things.

But what happened was I didn’t allow for any flexibility in my trip.

As I became less anxious and less stressed, the need to plan every single detail soon disappeared.

But my plan kept me stuck.

I met people while on the road that I would have loved to have travelled with but I had to stick to a plan and a route.

I look back and say, “oh I wish I could have stayed there longer and had more time to see that.”

So when I travelled through South America, I made sure I had no plan.

I knew roughly where I wanted to go, but all my flights, accommodation and group trips were booked on the road with local travel agents.

So if you want to truly practice slow travel, then don’t pre-plan your trip.

Ignore Condé Nast saying you need to book certain trips a year in advance.

Because you don’t.

Me and John literally booked our trip to Patagonia a week before we went.

There’s always going to be space.

So book trips on the road to stay flexible!

You’ll also find that booking trips with local travel agents are cheaper than ones in your home country.

So it’s a win-win really.

6 | Adopt a traveller mindset, not a tourist mindset

Being able to practice slow travel really comes down to your mentality. You want to adopt a “traveller” mindset rather than travelling with a “tourist” mindset.

Here’s how:

Don’t just visit the tourist hotspots, get out of the guide book and go for a wander
Chat to the locals
Only do one or two must-sees per day rather than packing it all in
Book your trip in the off-season, not during peak-season or summer
Stay in an Airbnb or home-stay rather than a hotel
Eat local or try out the street food
Spend a day in a local coffee shop or hang out in the park
Make friends (outside of your friend group or couple)
Explore different parts of a country, don’t just settle on one place. For example, if you’re visiting Peru don’t just visit Cusco. Head to Arequipa or Puno for a different perspective on Peruvian life.
Stay in a place for at least 10 to 14 days. I personally try and do a month in each place I visit but I know this is not always realistic
Don’t plan for every day of your trip, instead stay flexible in case things change
Keep track of spending and always have a budget in mind

7 | Revisit your favourite places

The key to slow travel is to accept the fact that you won’t be able to see everything.

And that’s ok. Because what do you value more? Seeing all the tourist hotspots and getting the perfect Instagram picture or truly immersing yourself in a new culture?

So instead of rushing around trying to see it all, take your time and go at your own pace.

Because remember, you can always go back.

It’s okay to save some of the sights for another visit.

Plus, as I mentioned earlier, travel isn’t about the number of countries you visit. But the lasting impact that country had on you.

Use your travel journal to remind you of your favourite destinations and start planning when you will go back.

So far, I’m planning on revisiting Istanbul, Patagonia, Colombia and Vietnam.

Where is on your list to revisit?

Final thoughts

This week I said goodbye to Istanbul after 4 weeks of slow travel.

Istanbul is a massive city. It consists of a European side and an Asian side. As of 2020, 15.46 million people live there. It’s the most populous city in Europe and the world’s 15th largest city.

Big cities usually overwhelm me.

But Istanbul was different. I didn’t feel stressed out or hurried.

Instead, I felt calm. A sort of zen that I usually only experience at the beach or in the mountains.

When I reflected on my time there, I realised that the reason why I felt so calm was that I wasn’t rushing to see everything. I mapped out the things I wanted to see and spread them out over 4 weeks. And even though I was in Istanbul for a while, I haven’t even scratched the surface yet.

But I know I can always go back.

I also steered clear of looking at Instagram before I went to the “must-see” spots so I didn’t get sucked into what pictures others were posting and what was getting a good “like” count.

Getting the perfect “insta” shot used to be a priority for me.

Especially when I was (slightly) younger, thinner and tanned in South East Asia. I had a lot of insecurity issues and needed that validation from others on the internet.

But now that I’m in my thirties, more comfortable in my own skin, Instagram worthy pictures aren’t the be-all and end-all.

I’d rather appreciate the moment with my own eyes than stress out trying to get the perfect shot.

So if you also want to adopt this mentality and avoid “tourist burnout” then make sure you practice slow travel.

I invite you to bookmark this page so you can find calm on your next trip abroad.

And if you need any further guidance, my inbox is always open.

Until next week,

♡ Thalia xx

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