Slow Travel

What is slow travel?

Slow travel is part of the ‘Slow Movement’ which focuses on the importance of connection to people, place and culture. 

Slow travel is not so much a particular mode of transportation as it is a mindset. It is being mindful while travelling, not rushing through destinations without exploring and experiencing them. Slow travel is about considering travel routes and experiencing the journey as well as the destination.

How can I undertake slow travel on a yoga retreat?

We are reducing the number of our yoga retreats you need to fly to and increasing our slow travel (flight-free) options. By 2021 we will have slow travel options for all of our retreats. We are also reviewing how we travel in-country, looking for electric vehicles, making more use of alternative modes of transport and reducing long road trips.

Our Lapland retreat for example, includes a slow travel option of a train from London to Stockholm. It it is a wonderful 2 day journey with a lot to see on the way.  You can travel by Eurostar from London to Brussels and then take connecting trains to Hamburg. After an overnight stay in Hamburg you travel to Copenhagen and then onto Stockholm. From there take the night train to Lapland. 

You can reach our Mongolia retreat on the Trans Siberian Train and experience our environmentally friendly yurt camps once you are there. Our camps are temporary, leaving no more of an imprint on the land than a herdsman’s family would. Solar panels and windmills provide electricity, while heating comes from a traditional stove and local fuel, such as animal dung or wood. 

Alternatively, check out our UK yoga and digital detox retreat and Scotland yoga and wilderness weekend for two transformational yoga retreats that don’t require any flights. 

Getting started with slow travel

We lead busy, fast-paced lives and the concept of travelling slowly, using new methods of transport can seem daunting. Start small. Build slow travel into your everyday life by taking the time to appreciate your surroundings and making a concerted effort to notice what is going on around you. Walk instead of taking a few stops on the bus, or just get off a stop early. Try cycling to work. Give yourself a few more minutes to get somewhere and instead of rushing there, enjoy the journey.

If you are booking a holiday look into locally owned accommodation, restaurants and local tour guides and activities. By connecting with local people and cultures you will begin to make the shift into a slow tourist. 

It may not feel like small steps, but by making an intentional effort to slow down and connect with places and people, you will be making a positive impact that will last long past your trip. Read more about slow travel and how to embrace it in 2020 and beyond via The Independent.