What if slow travel isn’t something rare or extraordinary, but the most natural way to experience the world?
The beauty of travelling rather than simply going on holiday is that you truly get to know a place. You settle in as if you actually live there — because, in a way, you do. With time on your side, there’s no pressure to rush around, ticking off sights in a single day. Instead, you can slow down, unwind, and seek out experiences that are easily overlooked.
You could hike to the mountain top, but what about wandering through the quiet hills below? What about simply sitting by a riverbank, listening to the water flowing past? When there’s no urgency, you start to notice the little things — subtle shifts in the landscape, the rhythm of daily life, the way light falls differently at different times of day.
One of the greatest gifts of slow travel is getting to know the people who call a place home. It’s fascinating to catch a glimpse of their everyday lives. What’s new and exciting to you is simply normal to them. Perhaps they dream of setting off on an adventure elsewhere, while their home (their normal) is your dream destination.
The question I get asked most is, "Are you on holiday?" And I always feel like answering, "No, I live here." Because that’s how it feels! I live wherever I am. I love settling into places, living like a local, even if just for a short while. My actual response usually falls somewhere in between: I tell people I’m staying for a month or two, and their reaction is always the same: surprise, followed by a shift in energy. They relax. They open up. I think there’s an unspoken appreciation for the fact that I’m not just passing through, chasing highlights. I’m taking time to see life through their eyes.
Great action shot!
Slow living travels bring so much richness. They allow me to:
And at some point, without realising it, you start to feel like you belong. You no longer need a satnav to get around. You start giving others recommendations. That’s when you truly begin to feel like a local.
So here’s something to think about: Why do we see slow living travels as unusual? For most of human history, people didn’t take ‘holidays’. They simply lived in different places, moved with the seasons, followed what felt right. What if slow travel isn’t something rare or extraordinary, but actually the most natural way to experience the world?
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