The ‘hippy’ movement in the 60s and early 70s is often credited for this traveling concept. The hippies usually travelled in groups on their camper vans and pitched their tents in off-beat places wherever they felt at home. They brought with them their favourite food, music, and shared their wisdom.
These early slow travellers were highly underrated and what we see today is an offshoot of this movement.
What Is Slow Travel In Today’s Context?
Slow Travel (Slow Tourism) is a relatively new concept in India. The emphasis is often placed on exploring your destination, unlike traditional package tours where you move around the entire day.
The following best describes slow travel:
- Choosing an off-beat destination during off-season.
- Staying at your destination for at-least a week.
- Experience local homestays and boutique retreats.
- Indulge in cultural and local adventure hotspots.
- Adopt sustainable travel to reduce your carbon footprint.
Until recently, people were used to traveling to mainstream hotspots, often filled with the brim. Add to that the lack of hotel availability, the peak season rush at every spots on popular destinations, and the fast pace of traveling from one pin to another. But the year 2020 changed the way we travel now.
With workcations in vogue and the newfound love for living life through experience and discovery, we are living in the times where we ditch the traditional travel book, and head to our favourite destinations donning the explorer’s hat!
How Do I Plan My First Slow Travel?
Choose Your Destination:
Explore Beyond The Destination:
Skip the part where you visit an overrated tourist attraction and choose the path less travelled by. If you’re a spiritual person, why not get spirited away with local cultures and tradition. If you like adventures, find out what your destination’s local operators are providing you with. There are a lot of things you can do on your vacation. Browsing through the internet can give you a lot of information but if you want to avoid information burnout, check out Happetive’s Wellness Travel, a true guide to your favourite destination.
Stay Like A Local:
Nothing feels more immersive than living like a local. Embrace your destination and interact with the locals. They can often guide you to the most beautiful and happening places outside the traditional tourist go-to destination. Stay at a homestay and experience the warm welcome of your hosts.
Did you know?
We, at Happetive are heading to the mountains of Himachal and we have planned an extensive wellness travel trips package for slow travelling enthusiasts. You can stay at Himachal like a true Pahadi (local living in hills) and experience best local pahadi cuisines like Siddhu, Kullu Fish Trout, Madra, Aktori, Bhey, and Chha Ghost among so many others. Just the mere thought of it makes us drool and our minds are grazing the snow-clad mountains. So, back to the subject at hand. have opened registrations for our next trip to Himachal. So, if you’re interested you can explore travel trip to Jibhi & Tirthan Valley to know more.
Take A Detour:
Oftentimes in life, we strictly follow the straightforward path. Take a detour and explore a place where no one except the locals set foot. Find that remote ‘chai ki tapri’, chat with someone random, and build a connection that you will cherish forever.
Plan For A Week, Not A Couple Of Days
The beauty of slow tourism is heading out for long periods of time away from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoying the soul of your destination. Make your plans for every single day rather than for hours. You will not only avoid travel burnout (We don’t want you to feel exhausted after the trip) but also help in the self-discovery of both mind and body.
Finally, Practice Sustainability:
Slow tourism is meant to reduce the carbon footprint of travel. If you’re traveling solo, look out for local means of transport to get you around. And if you traveling in a group with an wellness travel expert like Happetive, we will be having a team of guides to help make your travel mindful by ensuring sustainable way of living on your tour.
Summing up, slow travel is the best way to travel. Getting away from the cacophony of daily life will not only heal your body but your soul too. Plan ahead, get in touch with our wellness experts to plan your wellness travel. Live like a local, and immerse yourself in the destination.