The art of slow travel

As our lives have grown ever busier, both the planet and our own souls often struggle to keep up. Other 'slow' movements ('slow fashion', 'slow journalism', and more broadly, 'slow living') have grown out of the realisation that faster isn't always better. 

A slow travel approach prioritises depth over speed. It doesn’t have to mean ‘slow’ (although it can), but rather prioritises rich experiences and deep connections over travel bucket lists and Instagram tourist traps. Byway's slow travel philosophy is as much a mindset as a speed: a mindset of presence and connection. But how do we cultivate this mindset? Consider our guiding principles for discovering the art of slow travel.

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Embrace the journey

The journey is an intrinsic part of what it means to travel. Buses that trundle through country roads, ferries that float past Fjords, and train routes that wind along mountain passes all help us transition our mindsets from home to away. Watching the landscapes change terrain, signs change language, and the architecture oscillate between cultures offers a grounded approach to travel. You feel you’ve earned that step off into a warmer climate, or jump into the sea, because you know where you’ve come from. The myriad modes of overland transport that move us through worlds help to give time for connection, thought and reflection. 

Follow your curiosity

Curiosity often starts with a question. Why this tradition? What’s the story behind that mural? Who built this crumbling church, and why? It’s the art of asking questions that unearth the soul of a place: the art of not just seeing, but seeking. Curiosity leads us out of the pages of a guidebook and into conversations, driving us to venture beyond postcard-perfect plazas to backstreets where life unfolds unfiltered. It invites us to linger in bookstores, join the queue at a bustling local bakery, or explore the alleys that lead away from the obvious.

Consider community

Prioritise local, independent and community-run spots. This helps ensure that real people and communities benefit from the impact of tourism, harnessing the power of travel for good. From visiting the neighbourhood coffee shop to checking out a local community music event, engagement in small community-centred businesses and activities is the gateway to deeper insight into places so often missed by tourists.

Tune into nature

It’s good for us and good for the planet. Good for our mind and our spirit. Tuning into nature, we might find ourselves struck by wonder as we contemplate the unfurling of native flora, or humbled by our smallness as we watch the sunset across unfamiliar mountain ranges. Experiencing and profoundly appreciating the natural world reminds us of the need for its care and protection. 

Seek connection

All good travel stories need people. So ditch the headphones and strike up a conversation with a fellow passenger. Ask the Trattoria waiter where they go to eat. Toast to travel companions, chance encounters, and the bartender, too. Brush up on the lingo (and actually give it a go). Forget google maps–ask for directions. Everyone you meet and each place you encounter is an opportunity for deepening connection with the world, people, and place.

Prioritise presence 

In an era of travel bucket lists and must-see destinations, slowing down is an act of resistance to the see-it-all mentality of overtourism. By prioritising being present, we gain the opportunity to savour each moment fully (because nothing good is worth rushing). Resist the allure of a jam-packed itinerary in favour of languid mornings and slow afternoon strolls, alfresco lunches and open fires that dwindle in the early hours. There’s no hurry here. Linger over an espresso in Italy, and take the scenic detour. 

Welcome the unexpected

Because it will happen anyway. Most likely, it will be the unexpected mishaps-turned-miracles that will leave you with the best memories you'd never have predicted (and the best dinner party anecdotes, too). A misrouted hike? Time to veer away from the trodden track. An unexpected downpour? A perfect excuse to take shelter in a tucked-away wine bar. Delayed ferry sailing? There's now enough time for that final pre-departure dip. The unexpected isn’t just inevitable—it’s often where the magic happens.

Take the road less travelled

 Skip the tourist traps and discover your own wonder that won’t be found in a guidebook. Serendipity and intuition are your guides worth following–as is the recommendation of the B&B owner, the barista in the neighbourhood coffee shop, or the local rambler who pointed you in the direction of a hike that’s not on the map. In the words of Robert Frost:

“I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,