An unusual type of travel is slow travel. Slow travel vs around the world The slowest travel

Have you ever returned from a vacation feeling more exhausted than before you left? Many travelers live hectic, busy lives, and the frantic pace continues during their trip as they rush from one tourist attraction to another. But there is a grassroots movement that has quietly emerged as a solution to the problem of burning tourists: slow travel.

What is slow tourism?

Slow travel is an offshoot of the slow food movement that began in Italy in the 1980s to protest the opening of McDonald's in Rome. The slow food movement aims to preserve regional cuisine, local farming, communal dishes and traditional cooking methods. This cultural the initiative has since evolved into a whole lifestyle known as "Slow Motion" that emphasizes connection - connection with food, connection with families and, in the case of travel, connection with local people and culture.

Slow travel is not so much a specific mode of transport as it is a way of thinking. Rather than trying to cram as many attractions or cities into each trip as possible ("4 cities in 3 days," for example), the slow traveler takes the time to thoroughly explore each destination and experience the local culture. In keeping with the philosophy of slow travel, it's more important to get to know one small area than to see just a few different areas - that way you'll have something to see on your next trip.

Slow Travel may refer to:

• renting a cottage or apartment for a week at a time and exploring your immediate surroundings on foot or by car,
• cycling from one village to another on country roads rather than highways,
• crossing long distances by train rather than by air so you can see the scenery along the way.

But no matter how you do it, travel slows down and makes the most of every moment of your vacation.

Benefits of Slow Travel

It allows you to form a closer bond with the place you are visiting and feel much less rushed. With a "slow" route, you won't experience the stress of trying to carve a new path into your guidebook. Instead, you'll stay in one place long enough to get to know your neighbors, shop at local markets, and choose your favorite coffee shop. Slowing down in other countries not only allows you to escape your own stressful everyday life, but also allows you to naturally immerse yourself in the pace of another culture.

Another less obvious benefit of slow travel is that it is much more environmentally friendly than other forms of travel. While airplanes have been identified as a major contributor to global warming, trains are a much greener alternative, as are bicycles and, of course, your own feet! And even car travel becomes less harmful to the environment when you drive only short distances.

Slow travel is more economical. Staying in one place for a week or more cuts down on your travel costs, and renting is often more affordable than hotels because it allows you to cook your own meals rather than eat out at cafes and restaurants. If you choose home exchange, you will save even more.

One thing to keep in mind is that while the slow pace of travel can be leisurely and effortless, getting up close and personal with a new culture is much more difficult than just getting to the main tourist spots. Part of the reward of slow travel is overcoming language barriers, differences in customs, and other potential stumbling blocks in connecting with the new people you meet.

Best places for slow travel

Europe is the most popular destination for slow travelers because vacation rentals are plentiful, public transportation systems are efficient, historical landmarks are relatively close together, and English language widely spread.

However, slow travel is a way of thinking, not a destination, and with a little planning, you can rest almost anywhere.

Accommodation. Slow travelers tend to stay in holiday apartments, which are more economical than hotels for longer stays and are also more spacious and comfortable. Be sure to book your rental accommodation in advance and keep in mind that many properties must be booked from Saturday to Saturday. House exchange is another good alternative for long stay. Your home exchange partner will get to know friends and neighbors, making you instantly feel like part of your new community. You can even use your exchange partner's car while at his house.

Nutrition. In the spirit of slow food, find local ingredients and taste the cuisine of the place you are visiting. Ready for yourself? In the morning, join the locals at the fish market to pick up a fresh catch for dinner, or stop by the bakery for a baguette straight out of the oven. If you eat out, give preference to local cafes and restaurants.

Transport: travel by railway can be a relaxing and often luxurious way to see the countryside, especially in places like Canada and Europe. Trains in these regions are convenient and efficient, and there are plenty of fare options to help you cut costs.

Other "slow" alternatives include cycling, river boats, walking, and even running.

When "Slow" Isn't an Option

While slow travel is an increasingly popular option for people looking to enrich their travel experience, it's not for everyone. If you visit a lot of sights every day and feel energized and energized, then you may find the more laid-back pace of life frustrating or boring. If you think this might be your only trip to Italy (or New Zealand, or Morocco), then you need to decide what is most important to you: traditional excursions or cultural experiences.

The main condition for slow tourism is to relax without haste: to move on foot, on a bicycle, horses or donkeys; live in a tent, houseboat or on farms; get acquainted with the local culture, customs, buy products and souvenirs “0 km” (grown and produced locally, not Crimean avocados with quinoa or Chinese magnets from around the world). A tourist is no longer a tourist, but a traveler.

Nothing, of course, is new under the holiday sun: not that hiking, leisurely tourism with a backpack on your shoulders was invented yesterday. But since trips around the world have become available not only to representatives of the very top of the social pyramid, the race “around the world in 80 days” has ceased to be interesting, and the traveler begins to choose not the most expensive, but one that brings both pleasure and benefit.

The same thing happened with plastic bags: as a child, I had to go shopping with my grandmother's shopping bag, then plastic bags appeared in supermarkets, and grandmother's handbags disappeared as unnecessary. But twenty years have passed - and cellophane bags have become an attribute of philistinism, and then irresponsibility, environmentalists sounded the alarm. It turned out that the grandmother knew a lot about ecoshopping, and canvas bags can be quite a fashion accessory.

Comparison of mass tourism with a threat to the Earth could be an exaggeration, but no: the world's cultural heritage, local residents, flora and fauna really suffer from an uncontrolled flow of travelers, ecosystems are destroyed in the process of building another giant hotel or amusement park, water bodies are polluted, etc. .

One of the purposes of slow travel is environmentally friendly vacations, but this should not be confused with ecotourism. The main goal of the slow trip is knowledge, calmness, rejection of the usual frantic rhythms.

From food to travel: how to procrastinate

The first slow movement originated in one of the most leisurely countries in Europe - the cradle of "dolce vita" Italy.

In 1986, in the small town of Bra, Carlo Petrini founded the cultural association Arci Gola (Arci is the abbreviation of cultural association, Gola - « throat" or "gluttony"), opposed to the fast food system. The purpose of this movement was to preserve local enogastronomic traditions, to revive unique, endangered products, to stop intensive and monocultural Agriculture, preserve biodiversity and create catering with a slow food philosophy. In them, visitors do not throw a plastic cheeseburger into themselves on the run, but enjoy healthy food and dishes prepared according to local traditional recipes.

Together withslow food in Italy, movimento slow was born, "Slow movement", calling for not to rush, to live more calmly and more consciously. Slowly, different directions of slow philosophy began to be born: in 1999, the “Slow City” was born in Italy, cittaslow ; wanted to be slow andthe science , Andupbringing , and reading, and aging, and - last but not least - vacation.

So it is not surprising that the leisurely manner of traveling received the widest response precisely on the Apennine Peninsula. 2019 declared year of slow tourism in Italy: Ministry cultural heritage, cultural activities and tourism of Italy has launched a portal with a map of the main routes of slow travelers.

The atlas included only those paths that correspond to the wholeseries of criteria: for example, they must be safe, be under the control of human rights authorities, be paved with a maximum of 40%, and places with food and lodging for the night should be located no further than five kilometers from the road.

The map also shows cycle paths between cities, the most interesting towns, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, historical cemeteries and many other interesting sights.

Another Italian site - genteinviaggio.it - ​​published the 10 commandments of the slow tourist, which quickly became inviolable rules on all portals on the topic:

1. Choose rural tourism, eco-hotels or scattered hotels.
2. Avoid or overly popular places.
3. Move around by bike, eco-car, horse.
4. Wherever you are, clean up after yourself and recycle your trash properly.
5. Don't use plastic utensils.
6. Learn the local culture. Learn a few words of the local language and tradition.
7. Adapt to any situation.
8. Buy only local products to boost the economy of your host country, ecological products or clothing made from natural materials.
9. Don't harm local animals and don't buy endangered animals.

And finally, the good old:

1. Smile!

Is there slow tourism in Russia

In Russia, slow tourism is gradually developing in last years, but rather weakly and unevenly: there is no centralized route safety system, a tracking system for travelers and weather conditions, public address systems or sports fees.

The number of people choosing this type of recreation can only be judged by the statistics of accommodation in collective sports facilities (for example, those left after the Olympic Games): according to Rosstat, in the first nine months of 2017, 36.8 million Russian citizens were year - 41.6 million. There is no rating among the regions of the Russian Federation.

Slow tourism in Europe: in the footsteps of Italian pilgrims

In Europe, slow tourism is developing much more actively, but also not everywhere. The most developed are those directions that have long been trodden by pilgrims. Spiritual tourism and religious sites began to attract not only adherents of religion, but also connoisseurs of trekking, cultural heritage and historical monuments.

Associations operate on many routes, whose tasks include security control, cleaning, first aid and transportation of travelers' luggage from yesterday's overnight stay to today.

One of the most famous religious routes in Europe is the Way of the Franks from Canterbury to Rome.

According to the latest study by Touring Club Italia, already in 2015, only 10% of pilgrims traveling in the footsteps were driven by religious reasons, the remaining 90% made this journey for completely different purposes. For example, 25% walked for cultural values, 17% just wanted to try a different vacation format. Three-quarters of the holidaymakers walked, the rest rode a bicycle.

The average duration of the whole journey is 80 days. However, a rare tourist passes it entirely: many are limited to small sections of the path (average travel time is 10 days), remembering that the main goal of their trip is relaxation, and not overcoming any obstacles at all costs.

Whether you came for religious purposes or not - do not forget to first obtain (register via the Internet or ask at the tourism office) your pilgrim passport ( la credenziale in Italian, aka la credencial, or lacreanciale) and get significant discounts with it at lodging places, catering and transport companies when you are planning to return home.

Way of Saint James: through France, Spain and Portugal

Italy, of course, is not limited to the atlas of slow travel. Religious sites in France attract about 51 million visitors every year. About 327 thousand travelers walked in 2018 Way of St. James, which starts in the south of France or Portugal (there are several routes), and most of it passes through Spain.

Apparently, pilgrims prefer this route to the Way of the Franks: only 10% of visitors crossed the Way of St. James for purely cultural and not religious purposes.

Offers of slow and contemplative tourism and various eco-destinations can be found in any country, you just have to make a search in a search engine, but the most information will be in Italy, Spain and France, which is not surprising: this trinity is firmly entrenched in leading positions in the lists of the most popular countries in the world.

Slow Vehicles: Feet and Bicycles

The usual means of transportation for slow travelers is on foot. Judging by the statistics of different routes, approximately 89% of tourists in 2018 traveled on foot. Many make their own itineraries, pack their backpacks, and download apps on their GPS-enabled smartphones, but if you're not a very experienced slow traveler, you may not take into account various important nuances, and it would be easier and safer to join an organized group.

The number of tourists choosing a bicycle is an order of magnitude smaller: a two-wheeled friend is still not only a means of transportation, but also a luxury. Equipment and bike accessories cost money, and not everyone can cope with a breakdown of transport in field conditions. At the same time, a bicycle is more traumatic than legs, and more cumbersome - if a tourist decides to change the route and drive part of the way, say, by hitchhiking, this can be an obstacle.

If among pedestrians approximately gender equality reigns, then among cyclists dominatemen , women often refuse such a means of transportation, considering it

No matter how paradoxical it may sound, but most people, after returning from a trip, need to rest. Ironic, isn't it? The trip is supposed to renew us, recuperate after hard months of work, energize, but everything happens exactly the opposite. The intense pace that we set for ourselves in the hope of seeing everything is very tiring. Moreover, it leaves us depressed, sometimes even disappointed.

Imagine that instead of a group tour of tourist destinations and staying in chain hotels, you are relaxing in the wilderness of Provence or Tuscany. In the morning you get enough sleep, and then walk to the nearest market to buy local products and drink a cup of aromatic coffee in a colorful place. Every day you visit the nearby neighborhoods, walk not along the roads, but along the paths, communicate not with tourists, but with local residents. You do not strive to visit all the sights in the area - you slowly explore them at your own pace, for your own pleasure. This is the magic of slow travel.

You won't believe how many interesting things you can learn without too much fuss. In addition, it is an incredibly effective way to truly experience the local culture and create vivid memories. This is essentially the meaning of slow travel. This is not just a travel style, it is a whole philosophy based on complete immersion in the culture of an unfamiliar country. And just being relaxed is not enough. Slow travel has its own principles.

Quality, not quantity

This is one of the most important principles of slow travel. In pursuit of visiting as much as possible more countries in fact, we only get stamps in the passport, missing all the fun. By focusing on one country, you can feel the local atmosphere, get to know the locals and understand how different we are from each other.

Planning minimum

Try to outline only contours and directions for your next trip. Find out the prices and rules for using public transport, as well as the location of the center. Do everything else as you go. Like an artist, apply the main strokes on a blank canvas, and write the “picture” itself during the journey.

Local apartments instead of hotels

With development Airbnb service staying in the apartment of local residents is now easier than ever. And instead standard room in the hotel we get a colorful home, saturated with the atmosphere and culture of the city we are interested in. For longer stays, you can often get a discount, and from an environmental point of view, this option is better! Moreover, it is not necessary to rent the entire apartment, you can limit yourself to a room in the house. If found a good option, then there will be an opportunity to chat with the hosts, try everyday familiar dishes and learn about what life is like from their point of view.

Time for "doing nothing"

For some, doing nothing is manna from heaven, for others it is real torture! If you fall into the second category, we advise you to consciously write down the time for "nothing" in your travel calendar. Don't worry about being bored. Doing nothing in a new place is the fastest route to adventure you'll ever find.

Learn new things

Slow travel gives you the opportunity to enjoy the spiritual riches of the country, so don't be afraid to say yes to a new experience. Cooking classes local cuisine, traditional crafts, opera, festivals - all these are opportunities to learn something new. Immersing yourself in the local flavor will make your trip truly unique and personal.

Chat with locals

Contemplating the amazing architecture and surrounding beauty is an indispensable attribute of any trip. However, in order to know the true soul of the country, you should get to know the locals better. Ask for their recommendations. What will they do on the weekend? Where do they usually go for dinner? The advice of bloggers who have been in the city for a few days will never compare with the experience of people who have lived there.

Use "slow" transport

Arriving at tourist place try to use buses or trams. So you will learn a lot more and will not be distracted by the road. The ideal solution would be to rent a bike. Two-wheeled transport will allow you to perfectly explore how small European city, and a small island somewhere in Asia. If necessary, you can often go out of town, you can rent a car, but let these trips be unhurried and with obligatory stops.

Travel in the off season

In the off season tourist cities feel completely different. If you wander around Piazza San Marco on a hot summer afternoon, you will find it difficult to push your way through the crowd. You will have to make a lot of effort, dodging selfie sticks and intrusive sellers. But on a rainy November morning, the square will seem completely different, and you can enjoy the charm of the great city without too much fuss. Pigeons flying overhead, spiers of buildings visible in the morning mist, a unique, slightly damp smell. They will leave indelible impressions and will forever be engraved in memory as one of the most amazing moments.

Save

Usually slow travel means longer rest. This means that we are subconsciously preparing to spend less. When compared, a month of "slow" travel costs about the same as a week-long tour of several cities in Europe. In a relaxed state, we are not as prone to impulsive purchases and unnecessary spending. And expensive excursions and taxis are replaced by chic walks and communication with people.

Take your time

It is impossible to see everything in one trip, not even all locals can boast of this. So relax and enjoy the moment. Enjoy the thought that you don't have to run anywhere, that you are in right place at the right time. After all, this is your holiday. Your break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and the opportunity to experience something new.

Photo: @amberlyvalentine, audreyrivet.squarespace.com

This is when you arrive somewhere and live without thinking about time, instead of constantly moving from city to city, as in a round-the-world trip.

Adventurer and journalist Jonathan Angles, who looks like Mad Max's Tom Hardy, recently published an article about slow travel. He claims that they are much cooler than any circumnavigation.

You have to stretch the feeling of time while traveling, savoring the tastes and smells, absorbing rich colors with your eyes, without taking out your camera. Feel the warmth of the sun on your skin, and then listen to the songs of the crickets. Slow travel allows you to get lost, dive into an enticing bar and watch the locals flock to it.

Characters

Experts

About saving

Ivan Morgunov. Obviously, it is more economical to stay in one place. Unless, of course, it's London.

On whether to slow down

Mila Demenkova. All round-the-world and speed races are entertainment for boys, who will then measure themselves with tomatoes. If you want, you slow down; if you want, you jump from place to place.

On travel fatigue

Alexander York. The correct strategy is to use a certain place as a base for traveling around the area.

Moment with transport

Anna Egorova. Kilometers of travel can be boring for hiking. If I had a car, I would choose it.

About dating while traveling

Alexander York. In places where there are a lot of interesting people, you want to get acquainted and communicate constantly.

When I started to "explore the world" through abroad, my first trip was an 8-day tour of Europe. We traveled by bus 5 countries.

I was able to say whether I liked this trip or not only a week after my arrival home. When the "roof" fell into place from the sights seen and kilometers traveled.

The principle: to have time to get around and see everything, or, more simply, galloping across Europe worked 100%.

I don't want to rest like this anymore. Not because everything is fast and fast and a lot, but because you don’t really have time to realize and digest one information, how a new excursion begins.

We will introduce you to a new direction in tourism and a type of travel - slow travel. This is a slow and unhurried acquaintance with the traditions, customs of other countries and the maximum immersion in a new culture.

And instructions on how to get the most out of travel and minimize the pace of life.

Has it ever happened to you that you come back from a vacation more exhausted and tired than you were before you left?

Resting is still stressful: one excursion is replaced by another, you have to have time to see all the palaces and ruins, sights and waterfalls, do not forget to buy souvenirs ...

The slow pace of life is getting more and more popular and even gaining momentum.

I'll tell you a secret: not all people live according to the principles of "...faster, higher, stronger ...".

Work work after work, and on weekends, depend on a smartphone, social networks and the Internet ... do everything yesterday.

I don’t want to stop, look at the beautiful cumulus clouds and think, like in childhood, who do they look like ...? Spend a day or a week with your family in nature, in the forest or by the sea?

The slow movement offers this: to live today and now, to solve problems without the all-knowing Google, to make decisions as your heart and experience suggest.

The magic of the slow type of travel is when the emphasis is not on excursions, but on leisurely trips around the country.

Life will slow down (at least for a week) in a small rural cottage, you will love going to the local farmers market for groceries, getting to know your neighbors and allowing yourself trips to the nearest cities (for one day). The stress will disappear and the budget will not suffer.

You can travel slowly: over several years or over two weekends

How did this direction in tourism appear?

In Italy, protests began in the 1980s against the opening of a McDonald's chain in Rome. Slow eating opposed fast food. Family unhurried meetings in cafes and pizzerias, the traditional way of life of Italians defended their right to exist.

Slow travel means renting a small cottage for a few days or a week and exploring the area by car or on foot. Cycling through nearby villages on dirt country paths, avoiding highways and highways.

Slow motion

S low-movement has moved to all areas of life, not just leisurely food. S low art - means meditative immersion in art. Contemplation of works slowly, as an alternative to running around exhibitions. S low media is the opposite of the social networks Facebook and Instagram, where information is absorbed and released at a rapid pace, real and every second updated.

Best places for slow travel

Europe is the most popular place for such trips. Car rental and housing is developed and accessible to everyone, public transport works flawlessly, historical sights at every turn, English is understood everywhere.

Slow travel is not for everyone

How to plan slow travel

Renting an apartment is more economical than a hotel for a longer stay. Accommodation must be booked in advance.

This can be done on these sites:

• Airbnb
• HomeAway
• tripadvisor

There is a practice of house exchange. This is an alternative for long-term residence in another country. You can arrange to rent a car from your exchange partner. The most popular site for this is HomeExchange.com.

You can view profitable housing options right now.

Food is also "slow"

Find local markets and try the cuisine of the town where you went.

A small bakery nearby will delight you with fresh catch and fragrant pastries for breakfast…

Slow travel is not for everyone

If you are used to living in rhythm, hurry to travel around all the countries of the world and are charged with tireless energy, then this type of tourism may seem boring.

If this is your only trip to Italy or, then you should think carefully about what is more important: to merge with the culture and locals or see as many sights as possible.

You can travel slowly over several years systematically, or over two weekends. The main thing is to change the attitude to rest.

Doing less rather than more is the first step to Slow travel, especially if time is short.

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