Traveling is packed with so much fun: tours, bus rides, tropical drinks, fancy dinners, museums, walking tours, and more. With so much to do on a trip, it can feel just as busy as real life. Many of us get carried away with the excitement of being in a new place and feel the pressure to see it all. We have a desire to experience it all because we don't know when we'll be able to go again. But sometimes checking everything off your list doesn't leave you feeling refreshed or connected.
As more people want to experience the quieter side of travel, a new trend called quiet travel has emerged. This trend focuses on making the travel experience more intentional and mindful. Instead of rushing from one event to the next, the focus is on slowing down. People are looking for quiet places to relax and reconnect with themselves. Similarly, they are looking to immerse themselves in the experience and walk away influenced by the culture.
Does this sound like the way you want to travel? Let's take a closer look at how this new travel trend can benefit you.
Slow and fast travel
There are many different ways to travel, but most people tend to travel at two different speeds. There's the faster-paced travel, where vacations become a daunting ordeal. Faster travelers tend to wake up before dawn and visit the 13 monuments before breakfast. Then they dine at all the restaurants recommended by top foodies. By the afternoon, they've finished a walking tour and wine tour, and have a pub crawl planned for the evening.
Fast travel is when you travel to 10 cities in 5 days. This type of travel is for people with a lot of energy and reminds me of the travels I did in my 20s. I had a lot of stamina then. My first solo trip to Costa Rica was an adventurous trip where I visited a new place every 2-3 days. I rode horses through rapids, zip-lined through forests, soaked in natural hot springs, climbed volcanoes, and was always on the move.
The benefit of this type of travel is that you can do and see a lot in a limited amount of time, but doing everything at once isn't the right style of travel for everyone.
Quiet travel, or slow travel, means lounging on a beach, soaking up the sun and immersing yourself in a good book. Or taking a gentle yoga class in a rainforest, listening to tropical birds chirp as you move through the poses. Slow travel can help you de-stress. A few summers ago, I was in Cadiz, Spain. During three blissful days of my trip, I visited a new beach every day. From dawn to dusk, I camped under a beach umbrella, my body melting into the sand, enjoying the crystal blue waters and white sands of this paradise.
Traveling fast and traveling slowly both have their advantages, but if you're looking for relief from everyday stress and anxiety, traveling slowly can have a greater impact on your mental health.
How slow travel can benefit your mental health
It should come as no surprise to anyone that we are overstimulated. Our phones never let us disconnect. Living in a big city, we are constantly bombarded with car engine noise, bright lights, people shouting loudly, and poor air quality. Because of this overstimulation, a quiet trip offers less exposure to stimuli and an opportunity to de-stress. People who have taken a slow vacation report an uplifted mood and improved overall health.
Slowing down while traveling also allows for reflection. With fewer distractions, you can listen to your inner voice. Slowing down can also help you try new things and reflect on why new experiences resonated with you.
One of the things that's great about traveling slowly is that it gives me the opportunity to engage more deeply with the culture and people of my destination. When I traveled to Cartagena, Colombia for a month, I took a few dance classes and learned about the local dance style, Champeta. Also, not having to rush to my next destination allowed me to revisit my favorite shops and restaurants and have heartfelt conversations with people.
A silent trip helps you establish habits that prioritize your mental health, like meditating on the beach every morning or going to a local cafe every day to read a book. Most importantly, an unpacked itinerary gives you more time to relax.
How to incorporate quiet travel into your next vacation or trip
If you're thinking about giving quiet travel a try, start here.
- Choose a quieter, more relaxing placeObviously, beaches come to mind, but you can also explore the mountains and small towns and villages.
- Try a retreat. If you want more in-depth guidance, there are many retreats that focus on wellness and self-care.
- Don't overpack your itinerary. When planning something, the worry of missing out on something often crosses your mind. Instead, think about what you want to get out of the trip: adventure, relaxation, cultural learning, etc. Focus on getting the most out of your trip, rather than making the most of it, and you'll leave feeling more fulfilled.
- Incorporate quiet activities. This could be something like a quiet walk, walking mindfully in an area free of music and cell phones, listening to the sounds, sights and smells around you. Instead of hanging out at night, sit on your hotel balcony and gaze at the stars. I did this when I was in Medellin, Colombia. My Airbnb had a super cute little balcony overlooking the city. I would sit on the balcony at night and enjoy the cool breeze and watch the city lights.
No matter your preferred travel speed, there's one thing you can do to improve your travel experience: be present. It's simple and a bit cliché, but it matters whether your travel plans are packed or more relaxed. If you stay open, receptive to new experiences, and curious, travel can impact your life.
