Best Slow Travel Tours Around the World
The “slow movement” encourages individuals to adopt a quantity over quality mindset. From slow food to slow lifestyle, the slow movement is all about slowing down to be more conscious and present in our everyday lives.
So, what is slow travel then? Slow travel encourages us to spend more time in a single place. This is in contrast to visiting several destinations in a short span of time. Here at Traverse Journeys, we believe that slow traveling helps foster a deeper connection with people and culture.
Here are our favorite slow travel tours that we lead around the world:
Slow travel tours in Costa Rica
Translating to “Rich Coast,” Costa Rica is located in Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Although it is one of the most visited countries in the region, Costa Rica is a great destination to practice slow travel and absorb the “pura vida” mindset. This mentality promotes embracing the simple life and making the most out of life.
Costa Rica is a destination infused with sustainable and eco-friendly activities, such as snorkeling in the rejuvenating waters, surfing, and zip-lining through the jungle. You will also find that Costa Rica is full of fresh, local foods. You have to try the fruits such as tamarindo, maracuyá (passion fruit), granadilla and guanabana.
Check out our tours in Costa Rica:
Yoga & Cooking in Mexico
Boasting delicious cuisine, ancient civilizations, and breathtaking landscapes, Mexico is home to a rich and vibrant culture. Though you might think of all-inclusive beach resorts when it comes to Mexico, the country is also a great place to practice slow travel and cooking.
For instance, you can head to the mountainous state of Guanajuato for a yoga and cooking retreat. Here is where you’ll find the famous city of San Miguel de Allende and nearby Guanajuato city, which is the birthplace of Diego Rivera, one of the most iconic artists of the 20th century.
On this slow travel tour, you’ll experience slow living through daily yoga on a beautiful outdoor terrace. You will also be able to indulge in slow cooking with ingredients from the local markets. This is the opportunity to take your taste buds to new places through the regional cuisine. You will be able to experience a deeper connection with Mexican culture and immerse yourself into what “Mexico lindo y querido!” is all about.
Nature escape across Croatia
Located on the Adriatic Sea in Southeastern Europe, Croatia is home to 1,246 islands, beautiful mountains, and rich cultural heritage. With the “pomalo” (slowly, take it easy) mentality, Croatia is an ideal destination for slow travel. You can explore the Romain ruins, indulge in the fresh local cuisine, and sit for coffee for hours on end.
Start your escape to Croatia in Zagreb to learn about the country’s complex history. Then, venture to the renown Plitvice Lakes National Park, where you’ll take a hike through cascading waterfalls and experience the fall or spring foliage.
Although locals appreciate the visit of foreigners, they do aim to protect and preserve the beauty of their country by implementing sustainable tourism practices like Eco-Walks that look to educate tourists about the importance of ocean conservation and ecotourism, which you’ll experience in Split. Finally, cross to the other side of the country in Dubrovnik, where the impressive Old Town awaits alongside regional seafood specialties.
Slow travel along India’s Golden Triangle
Just as Mark Twain once said: “India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend and the great-grandmother of tradition.” As mentioned, Slow Travel invokes the idea of exploring places in the most mindful way possible, which goes in hand with India’s culture around practicing meditation and yoga. This is meant to help people be more present in a state of mindfulness.
India is a country you could visit every year in your life and never see it all. On this slow tour of northern India, you will embark on a culturally immersive, outdoorsy and eco-friendly route through the Golden Triangle. You’ll visit one of the world’s oldest living cities, Varanasi, and enjoy delicious and unique street foods. Instead of just visiting palace after palace, you’ll hike along the Rajasthan hills for a nature experience and breathtaking view of the Kaurali Palace.
A visit to northern India wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the majestic Taj Mahal. However, did you know that there are also many important, but overlooked, monuments in the area? That’s the advantage of slow travel - taking the time to see not just the big sites, but the hidden gems as well. Besides learning about all the beauty and magic this country has to offer, this tour engages in social enterprises throughout that supports locals economically and through sustainable farming practices.
Trek through the wonders of New Zealand
Made from two main islands, New Zealand is home to black sand beaches, hot springs, volcanoes, glaciers, lakes, snow-covered mountains, and subtropical forests. For this reason, New Zealand is one of the best countries to practice slow travel in the outdoors.
Local “Kiwis” are very conscious about the importance of conservation through eco-tourism. This is why there are so many protected national parks, such as Abel Tasman, the Paparoa, the Arthur’s Pass, and the Mt Aspiring National Parks.
What better way to experience a location such as New Zealand than spending the night in tents under the stars (interspersed with nights in comfy rural guesthouses)? Or even under the Ballroom Overhang, which is a giant limestone outcrop? Getting to explore New Zealand this way, you get exposure to an adventure unlike anything you’ve experienced before.
Learn more about our slow travel hiking itinerary in New Zealand here.
SLOW Travel in the Caribbean
One of the best regions for slow travel, the Caribbean practically require travelers to slow down, relax and enjoy the chilled out vibe of island life. Set apart from the ‘sun, sand and sea’ destinations in the area, the island of Dominica is hands-down our favorite place to explore in the Caribbean. It’s an off-the-beaten-path island that’s often confused with the Dominican Republic, but this ‘nature island’ is very special compared to its neighbors. With wonderfully friendly locals, unique cultural influences, and jaw-dropping natural beauty galore, this island is the perfect spot to rejuvenate the mind and body.
Dominica is a place where you can choose your level of adventure or relaxation, with plenty of easily accessible nature and beaches as well as luxurious lodgings and spa treatments, right alongside a host of incredible adventures ranging from a spectacular canyoning excursion or an epic hike to the worlds second largest boiling lake!
Learn more about our slow travel retreat in Dominica here.
Now that you have a better idea of how to embark your next adventure on a slow travel tour, you are now ready to learn about some of the best slow travel locations all over the world. From Morocco to Nepal, to tropical paradises in Latin America, such as Colombia and Chile.