From this kernel of an idea to travel slowly, it can birth new ways to explore the world.

If it wasn’t for travelling slowly, I would not have seen a family of 5 on a bicycle tour around Europe. If it wasn’t for travelling slowly, I wouldn’t have discover the Osh region of Krygyrzstan in Fergana Valley which lies the crest to the Alay mountains. If it wasn’t for travelling slowly, I wouldn’t have met a German woman in India who was staying in the mountains for 25 years.

These trips were anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months and here are some tips which I think may be useful for those who want to travel slowly.

Mục Lục

#1 Saving Money

Most people assume that living longer in a place would be equivalent to spending a whole lot of money, which isn’t true. Slow travel helps you save a lot on transportation costs, which are often bulk of the travel costs. When you’re staying in places far away from the tourist trail, and travelling off season, you avoid staying in big hotels.

Living the local life at cheaper prices and using local means of transportation saves you so much more!

#2 Pause and experience like a local

The first thing I like to do when I am at a new place is probably to walk around, get lost for a bit and also reconnect with local groups through Meet-Up.com or Facebook and see what nearby events are around. Find hole in the wall cafes, go off trail, make friends while hiking — it is almost the same concept as moving to a new place.

#3 Avoid flying, and take the longer route

I am a big fan of taking the overland route to experience missed cultures and destinations along the way, whether it’s true train, busses, own car or even cycling, these are some of the best ways to slow down time.

#4 The purpose-driven trip

I remember reading the Silk Roads: A New History of The World and was so intrigued by the countries in the stans that I vowed to cycle tour through these areas for 45 days. We were so removed from the environment and their daily struggles of locals living the yurt life. It was important to go there, visit, and learn about how life was in tough pastures.

#5 Don’t see everything, leave room for the next time

The planner in you may be excited and want to see everything but for once don’t plan every minute or day, leave things to how you feel, surprise or serendipity. You make wake up and decide you want to head to the bookstore or read by the beach today, or you may want to hike a new spot you found. The best things happened to me when they were unplanned.