Slow travel, what it is ?
Photo credit : Mike Marchetti de capturenow
Slow travel : definition and origins
Slow travel = travel slowly
To start with, slow travel simply means : travel slowly.
This type of travel is defined in opposition to the acceleration of mass tourism since the 1960s. Travellers travel farther, more often and less time each time they travel (Study about people mobility 2018-2019). In short, weekends in New York have become commonplace.
However, in the front of the climate change challenge, it’s irresponsible to continue in this dynamic. It is therefore more than necessary to engage our lifestyles towards a much more sustainable management of resources.
It is becoming urgent to slow down.
Small rewind to understand the origins of slow travel

Photo credit : Lady-Photo de Getty Images
After the Second World War, and throughout the Post-War Boom (1945-1975), two movements accelerated: the re-industrialization of Europe (thanks to the Marshall Plan) and the diffusion of the “American Way of Life” in culture and lifestyles.
So, little by little, American values and products cross the Atlantic: television and advertising, refrigerator and industrial food products, balance between “relaxation” and success, fashion “ready-to-wear”… In short, you must consume quickly and “as … ” in advertising/ such a star: consumption becomes a means of social affirmation.
Having a home equipped with the latest technological innovations, a “desk” job where you climb the ladder and time for leisure: this is the triple objective of most people. Rurality is devalued, at the same time as sedentary: social success is measured by the distance traveled for holidays. Passenger air transport is growing.
Slow Food Association

Photo credit : Alain Rouiller_Unsplash
In this context of profound change in societies, fast food restaurants starts to develop. Thanks to the franchise system, US brands arrived in Europe with hamburgers in the 1970s and 1980s. In the countries of southern Europe (Spain, France, Italy…) where meal time is culturally rather long, it is a bit of the clash of cultures.
In Italy, a journalist specialized in gastronomy, Carlo Petrini, is fighting against the standardization and industrialization of food. In 1986, following a demonstration against the opening of a fast food restaurant in Rome, he created the association “Arci Gola” with the aim of making this fight more sustainable. It was a great success! In 1989, the association became international and became “Slow Food International” with a small snail as its symbol. Signed by 15 countries, its manifesto declares itself “against the universal madness of fast life, we must choose the defense of quiet material pleasure. [… ] Let’s start at the table with Slow Food, against the flattening of fast food to rediscover the richness and aromas of local cuisines.
Today the association is present in 160 countries. Beyond the preservation of local gastronomy, it fights for the preservation of biodiversity through peasant agriculture respectful of its environment.
The extension of the slow movement to all areas
In the 1990s, following the monetary and oil crisis of the 1970s and with inflation in the 1980s, more and more people were criticizing the “intense” economic boom of the Past-War Boom. We see more and more the limits of such an acceleration and the discourse of slow food resonate with other areas.
In this context, the Norwegian Geir Berthelsen created the World Institute of Slowness (1999). In his 2004 book, In Praise of Slow, Canadian journalist Carl Honoré describes the slow movement as follows:
” The slow philosophy is not doing everything at the speed of a snail. It’s to try to do everything at the right speed. Savor the hours and minutes rather than counting them. Do everything as best as you can, instead of as fast as you can. Quality over quantity in all areas”.
Thus, many associations are born in each field: slow fashion, slow art …
Birth of the « slow travel » concept

Photo Credit : Paul Brady
In 2009, the Anglo-German journalists Nicky Gardner and Susanne Kries of Hidden Europe magazine published a “Slow Travel Manifesto“. They define slow travel as follows:
” Slow travel also remodels our relationship to places […] “The art of living” says Carlo Petrini, the charismatic founder of the Slow Food movement. ” And that must certainly include travel. “
For the nod, Carlo Petrini is the son of a vegetable merchant and a railroad: which goes to show the link between slow food and slow travel was already there!
Slow travel : what’s the point ?
A more peaceful way to travel
« Speed destroys the connection with the landscape. Travelling slowly restores it. » (Slow travel manifesto)
Beyond the simple fact of slowing down, slow travel allows you to better enjoy each spot. Take your time on the way and soak up each place, that’s the idea. In a society where chronic stress is affecting more and more people, slowing down is a real therapy.
In our article about eco-anxity, discover how slow travel can reconnect with nature, culture and others.

Photo Credit : Andrea Piacquadio de Pexels
A more sustainable way to travel
Slow travel has a lot in common with ecotourism or responsible tourism. Indeed, thanks to its principles against “infinite growth”, slow travel ultimately promotes sobriety.
Travelling slowly avoids using fast, energy-intensive means of transport such as the plane or car. It also allows the use of means of transport that are less damaging to the environment because they require less land-use, such as cycling or walking.
Taking the time to really discover local cultures helps preserve the local economy, its crafts, traditions and gastronomy.

Photo Credit : Knape de Getty Images Signature
All this contributes to the pursuit of 5 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals defined by the UN :
• Decent work and economic growth : maintaining employment in areas outside mass tourism.
• Reduced inequities : revitalizing ‘forgotten’ areas by tourism.
• Sustainable cities and communities : support the demand for soft mobilities to stimulate the development of its supply.
• Responsible consumption and production: slow travellers, including their food consumption mode on site
• Fight against climate change : reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
Slow travel : how to travel slower ?
“Gentle” modes of transport
Slow travel is making conscient choices just like in the « Slow Travel Manifesto ».
Examples :
• Take the train instead of the plane or car for long land distances
• Take the boat instead of the plane for sea crossings (the sailboat is even better when the alternative exists)
• Use public transport instead of car for shorter distances (at a regional or city level)
• Prefer cycling or walking, rather than driving, for short distances

Photo Credit : Nina_Gili
A rhythm that takes time to discover
Beyond the modes of transport, the idea of slow travel is to take your time. Rather than making trips to a “target” destination, it’s about discovering on the way.
This is exactly the concept of our itinerant loops: we do not make a round trip to one destination, forgetting completely where you go to get there (and back). On the contrary, the idea is to propose itinerant trips where discovery is permanent and varied throughout the journey.

Photo Credit : Pixabay_LeoRijnja
Meetings with the locals
Slow travel offers the opportunity to live at the rhythm of the local population and not that of a simple “tourist” (who makes a “tour” and then leaves…).
First of all, by using public transport, we get mixed with the population, sometimes even meet unlikely people, whether you travel alone, as a couple or as a family. These are the memories of meetings that are often the strongest of a trip.
Second, sleeping in homestays or small family-run facilities run by locals is a great way to connect with the culture of the country you’re in. Don’t hesitate to learn a few words and expressions in the language of the country to step into their shoes and open up the conversation.
Travel is an exchange: the traveller learns from his or her host and the host learns from the traveller.
And above all, do not miss out on the most local experiences: buy vegetables at the market, settle in a cafe or park to just watch the passersby, go to the cinema or theater, go to the library/ municipal swimming pool, Doing laundry in a laundry… Simple things that make travel immersive.
Truly local culinary discoveries
Nothing better for a tasty immersion in the local culture than to taste its gastronomic specialties. For this, follow the principles of Slow Food: local and seasonal products for traditional or inventive artisanal recipes, but always in respect of the natural and human environment.
All right, but how do you find these good addresses? Trust us now! We have searched at each stop the most “slow” restaurants that exist locally: these are addresses either respectful of the environment (short circuit and/ or organic, or with vegetarian/ vegan options) or well-established in their cultural territory (regional specialities and/or short circuit).

Photo credit : Yuliia Chyzhevska
Where to travel « slow » ?
In Italy : « Chi va piano va sano »
Follow the guide !
Nothing like our Transalpine neighbour to put into practice a very “dolce vita” concept! It is in Italy that the slow movement was born after all!
Thanks to its public transport network, you can discover all the wealth that Italy has to offer! Then embark on one of our loops to discover the Italian boot, it’s here.

Photo Credit : Foto Fritz 16 de Getty Images
In Switzerland : « The lake (Geneva) is not on fire »
Head to the shores of Lake Geneva to start exploring the sweet and surprising Switzerland. Sweet because moving without a car is simple as hello. Surprising because it reserves landscapes but also small cultural nuggets unsuspected!
So, take the time to travel through its valleys, climb to its peaks and taste its delicious culinary specialties. And then, do not hesitate to take advantage of the central position of the country to combine it with Italy or Germany. Need ideas? This way !

Photo Credit : 1164145 by Pixabay
In the United Kingdom : « Relax, take it easy »
It’s in Wales that the first train went on its opening journey ! Still on the board of world records : Channel tunnel has the longest undersea section of the world. We are lucky don’t you think ? 😉
Come on ! Jump onboard the Eurostar to reach Britain. United-Kingdom is so varied in landscapes and culture that everyone will find something to one’s taste. Follow our recommendations to explore confidently its cities full of History, its lovely small villages, hike on its wonderful national parks’ trails or reach lands of unsuspected wilderness… Let’s go ? This way please.

Photo Credit : David Knibbs
And more !
To conclude, the champion of public transport in Europe is Germany: with approximately 40,000 km of railway tracks and more than 300 stations, it is hard to do better. Take the time to travel on its small regional lines to discover the lesser-known beauties of the Rhine. You can admire castles lost in the forest, villages of half-timbered houses and cities, many cities, all more beautiful than each other… But so much more! Its natural parks, its mountains offer fantastic panoramas, which you have to take the time to appreciate. You will be surprised to discover all the diversity of landscapes that Germany has to offer!
Discover our itinerant loops in Germany!
Germany is also a wonderful stop on your way to other lands when you practice slow travel : Scandinavia or Eastern Europe. So come discover all our ideas 😉

Photo Credit : Stock Colors (Getty Images)