Picture this—you’re in the midst of a 1000-year-old village, surrounded by paddy fields and blue skies, interacting with a community of locals who are introducing you to their homegrown produce, teaching you their ways of living and farming. You have no city-hopping to do, no itinerary to stick to. You’re simply diving deep into a place and soaking in its culture, cuisine, art, and nature, on a month-long stay.
This is slow travel… a more sustainable, transformational, and meaningful approach to travel.
THE CORE PRINCIPLES OF SLOW TRAVEL
Slow travel, the antithesis of mass tourism, encourages travellers to seek meaningful and soulful experiences over hectic itineraries. It urges you to do less, which in turn allows for deeper engagement for each activity, and, in the process, creates a means to experience more qualitative recreation time.
Slow travel promotes the idea of rejecting conventional tourism standards by opening oneself to authentic local cultural experiences. Slow tourism gives travellers the opportunity to explore local cuisine and produce that are easier on the environment, and partake in activities that support the local economy leading to a positive outcome all over.
The philosophy behind slow travel is based on four core principles:
- Immersion: Diving deep into a place and exploring its history, culture, cuisine, art, and nature.
- Connection: Building relationships with the locals and sharing stories and perspectives.
- Mindfulness: Being aware of your surroundings and connecting to nature’s beauty, diversity, and complexity.
- Transformation: Giving yourself the time and space to connect with your inner-self and engage in unique experiences that transform you from within.
HOW IS SLOW TRAVEL RELEVANT TODAY?
We’re always on the go. We are all living a fast-paced, busy life. But should our vacations feel that way too? Is our vacation really a break from our fast-paced life?
Today’s tourism ecosystem has reduced vacations to rushed itineraries where one hops from one place to another. It’s a pre-planned laundry list of things and places one must tick-off on their vacation bucket list.
But is it really a break if you’re exhausted the moment you land home?
Enter slow travel — a concept that is increasingly relevant now more than ever. As an idea, it lends perspective and forces you to consciously shift from the mechanical, FOMO-pandering, bucket-list-ticking, busy body style of travel and plunge into the present moment and indulge in a more genuine sense of self care.
ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO SLOW TRAVEL
Some might argue that slow travel is a concept that can be best experienced by seasoned travellers or the older generations, but we’d tend to disagree. It’s for anyone who values self care and wants to unwind without missing out on life’s greatest experiences while on-the-go. Slow tourism should be experienced by not just seasoned travellers but also travel novices, children and solo travellers.
For budget conscious travellers, slow travel can actually be a solace without compromising on experiences of a lifetime and coming home to an empty bank account.
If you’re anything like us, you understand the importance of making every adventure memorable, rejuvenating, and unique, while being as eco-conscious as possible. For which reason, might we suggest that you skip the air travel and instead, for shorter distances, consider opting for a rental recreational vehicle like the JCBL Signature RV. This way you can avoid ICE (internal combustion engine) powered cab rides to the airports, jet fuel emissions from flights and reduce emissions from hotel stays. With the JCBL RV you can set up base in a city or a village and immerse yourself as a local with the comfort of the Signature RV to rely on for all your essentials and travel amenities. Catch yourself stargazing under the night sky and engage in grassroot experiences that connect you to the place and its people. Doesn’t this sound like the perfect way to unwind from your everyday hustle?
We say, give it a try–’slow travel’ as a form of ‘self care’. And, do it all in the comfort and luxury of your JCBL RV. Weave new stories and experiences at your own pace, in your own ‘home away from home’.
Your next ‘Slow Travel’ experience awaits you. Make the most of it with the JCBL Recreational Vehicle.
