After years of chasing our favorite destinations, flitting from country to country and trying to tick off as many countries as possible, the pandemic forced us to rethink our plans.
In contrast to the frantic pace of modern life, the rise of’slow living’ encourages more mindfulness and intentionality in everyday life. This movement has had an impact on many aspects of life, including one of the key travel trends predicted for 2022.
Slow travel is defined as experiences that focus on connecting travelers with the places they visit and the people they meet. A vacation that has an emotional and cultural impact while also having a low environmental impact.
So, for those looking for a slower pace of travel, Rainforest Cruises, a specialist adventure travel provider, has highlighted some of the best destinations around the world to immerse themselves in.
Laos
Laos, located in the heart of Southeast Asia, is an often-overlooked destination that is ideal for travelers looking to experience a completely unique blend of culture and landscapes. Because of the country’s political history, it has been kept somewhat in the past, creating a’slow living’ atmosphere ideal for those who want to make meaningful memories and build connections with the people they meet.
Visitors can charter a traditional ‘Gypsy Boat’ to sail down the Mekong River on a three-day tour for a truly unique Laos experience. Excursions can be tailored to your specific interests, with options such as visiting local villages, biking through rural landscapes, trekking through the jungle, or seeing the karst formations and Buddha effigies of the Pak Ou caves.
Indonesia
The Republic of Indonesia is made up of over 17,000 islands and is a popular slow travel destination due to the diverse cultures and experiences available depending on where you go. In addition to the classic tourist hotspots of Bali, Lombok, and Padang Padang, there are hundreds of towns and villages throughout the country that provide a glimpse into authentic Indonesian life as well as numerous opportunities for meaningful connection and education.
A ‘Katharina Yacht’ tour of the islands is a fantastic choice if you want your mode of transportation to reflect the authentic Indonesian experience. The traditional two-mast sailing ship departs from Bali and takes passengers to Gili, Kawana, Satonda, and Siaba Islands, to name a few, with activities that allow you to immerse yourself in the scenery and get up close and personal with local wildlife, all with an emphasis on relaxation.
Chile
Chile, as the world’s southernmost country, already has a distinct quality that makes it an ideal destination for travelers seeking alternative and meaningful experiences when visiting somewhere new. Many places in the country are so remote that slow travel is the only way to explore them, and with an otherworldly range of scenery and a range of local cultures, it’s the ideal place for a more mindful getaway.
Rainforest Cruises offers two ways to visit this South American country, the first of which is based at the Tierra Atacama hotel in the remote Atacama desert. It was designed to immerse its guests in nature, and it’s the ideal place to stay on a slow travel break that includes exploration of the region’s lagoons, desert plains, and salt flats, as well as astronomy excursions in one of the world’s foremost stargazing hotspots.
Chilean Patagonia is one of the country’s most famous regions, and the second experience is based at the Explora Salto Chico hotel on the shores of Lake Pehoé, which is another building designed to complement its surroundings in order to maximize your interaction with the landscape. There are regular excursions to the nearby mountains, lakes, and waterfalls, as well as the opportunity to experience a unique aspect of Chilean culture by riding horses with Chilean cowboys.
Amazon
The Amazon is one of the most popular slow travel destinations in the world; a truly unique ecosystem with acres of unexplored landscape and plenty of fascinating local history and culture to discover. The rainforest is on the verge of irreversible destruction due to pollution and deforestation, and a sustainable visit can help support the fight to save the world’s largest forest.
Because of the Amazon’s vast size, slow travel experiences take time, and the ‘Amazon Odyssey’ boat tour is designed with this in mind. A private houseboat departs from Manaus and offers a variety of excursions, ranging from encounters with native communities to dolphin-spotting trips and expert-led treks through the rainforest, depending on your preferences.