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 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 places of interest.

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 has been gradually developing in recent years, but rather weakly and unevenly: there is no centralized route safety system, a system for tracking travelers and weather conditions, public address systems or sports fees.

The number of those who choose this type of recreation can only be judged by the statistics of accommodation in collective sports facilities (for example, those left after Olympic Games): according to Rosstat, in the first nine months of 2017, 36.8 million Russian citizens were placed, for the same period in 2018 - 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.

Many routes have associations 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 receive 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 to their GPS-enabled smartphones, but if you're not a very experienced slow traveler, you might 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 bicycle 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

Upon returning from vacation, many are haunted by the feeling of an unfulfilled program: in a couple of weeks there was not enough time to visit, experience, photograph everything they wanted. Such regrets are unknown to Clive and Jane Green, who went to. The couple traveled 51,000 nautical miles on their yacht and visited 56 countries. Thanks to media reports, millions of people around the world have learned about them. But before sighing about the impossibility of such a long rest, it is worth delving into the essence of an amazing trip. From the unusual experience of the Greens, you can still draw some ideas for your modest two-week vacation.

Not downshifters and not champions

The Greens did not seek to set a record and did not plan to flee their native Wales in search of a better life, they are not contenders for a line in the Guinness Book of Records and are not downshifters in the classical sense of the word. The idea of ​​a British cruise was based on the concept of slow travel (slow travel).

Take your time and see everything

The concept of slow travel is not new. It received a second wind in the fussy 21st century, but was very popular in the 19th century. The French travel poet Théophile Gauthier (1811-1872), for example, was a good two centuries ahead of modern slow tourism proponents, arguing that the world needed to "slow down." The same opinion was shared by the Swiss researcher and writer Isabelle Eberhard (1877-1904), who also insisted that the most important thing on a trip is to get to know the life of the people living in the country better.

Slow travel is a fashion trend that is gaining popularity all over the world. Its main idea is not only to abandon the standard tours, but also the hurried tourism that most modern people in general have chosen for themselves. Slow travel fans believe that it is better not to see the famous landmark, but to get a lot of small and unique experiences that allow you to really get to know a new place and relax your soul.

To do this, it is recommended to literally join the life of the locals, neglect the hotel in favor of rented apartment and don't try to see too much in a short amount of time. Excursions and sightseeing are not forbidden, but the emphasis is still on non-standard impressions and the rejection of guidebooks.

In July 1998, Clive and Jane Green embarked on a cruise on their 35-foot yacht from Abergavenny, Wales. They traveled for 16 years, 1 month and two days, although at first they were only going to spend a week in Spain. Tourists were in no hurry and made long stops along the route: they lived with tribes in the Asia-Pacific region, swam with seals, helped save the shellfish harvest, were afraid of pirates eastern shores Africa.

The road is already rest

Some fans of slow tourism believe that planes deprive the traveler of one of the main pleasures - the anticipation of arriving at a destination. Just a few hours, and the movement "from A to B" comes to an end. This, in the opinion of many "slow travelers", is fundamentally wrong. Among the adherents of slow travel, however, there are those who believe that it is a sin not to enjoy the benefits of technological progress.

However, both anti-aircraft and anti-aircraft opponents recognize the beauty of long car or train journeys, as long as they fit within the travel time frame. For example, cult for slow-travelers are travels along transcontinental routes, such as Route 66 and Lincoln Highway in the USA.

Eco, not

Some of the ideas of slow travel have something in common with ecotourism (for example, complete or partial rejection of air travel). However, the motives of the adherents of these currents are slightly different: ecotourists are concerned about environmental problems, and “slow travelers” are not satisfied with modern methods of moving in space, more from a philosophical point of view.

Slow Tourist Manifesto

Despite the fact that fans of slow travel disdain travel guides for vacationers, even they have a set of rules. They are curiously described by the Manifesto for Slow Travel. An article with this title was published by Hidden Europe and is considered a useful read if you want to try slow tourism.

10 Rules for a Slow Tourist

Fans of slow tourism are sure that it is not necessary to quit your job for the sake of making a slow trip. With a standard vacation of 7-14 days, slow travel rules can also be successfully applied.

It is better to stay in one place and study it well than to see many cities in fits and starts. For example, you can get to know Italy better by renting a house in the countryside, rather than driving around the country in an attempt to see Rome, Florence and Venice in one week.

Try couchsurfing, or an exchange vacation.

Visiting local markets is very exciting. And for those who are going to cook their own meals in rented apartments, the tempting aisles with local specialties are just a godsend.

Even those who scornfully turn their backs on shawarma and fried donuts in their homeland should try the local street food.

Have a picnic in the park like a real city dweller.

You can sign up for local courses in drawing, diving, salsa - whichever seems interesting.

Be sure to attend a concert by a popular local pop or rock band. Visit a purely local festival that no one has ever heard of. Experience a local sports championship that won't be featured on TV news.

Everything in the world can be done slowly

Slow tourism is only a small part of the global movement to slow down modern life Slow movement. To learn more about this way of life, it is best to read the book In Praise of Slowness, published in 2004, by Carl Honore. At one time, The Financial Times compared the significance of this work for adherents of the slow movement with Karl Marx's "Capital" for supporters of communism.

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 style of travel, 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 many countries as possible, in fact, we only get stamps in the passport, missing out on 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 prices and terms of use public transport and 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. In comparison, 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 the 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.

Slow down. This is a message we've been hearing a lot lately. Inhale. Relax.

Perhaps this is one reason for the recent resurgence of luxury trains. Now a flood of new, re-engineered and classic trains is returning to the day when rail travel was a graceful affair. These are the carriages where people will preen for dinner, where attentive waiters serve five-course dishes on bone china, and where fresh linens await you.

1.Belmond-Andean Express

First luxury sleeper train South America, the new Belmond Andean Explorer, follows one of the highest railway lines in the world. Single and two day trip covers the Peruvian Altiplano, Lake Titicaca and the caves of Sumbai with links to Cusco and Arequipa. The 24 carriages are roomy and stylish, with hand-woven fabrics and soft tones of alpaca wool.

2.Luxury train Shiki Shima, Japan

One-, two- and three-day trips on this new ultra-luxury train take guests into the beauty of the Orient. Japanese village. The carriages are all suitable apartments, equipped with modern Japanese furniture and materials. The white-tablecloth restaurant serves fine regional cuisine, the lounge and viewing cars feature wide windows, and the crew serves as butler and concierge.

3. Presidential train, Portugal

Built in 1890 as the Royal Train for King Dom Louis I, this train took on that incarnation two years ago, after a theater producer invested €1m in a two-year restoration. Now this is his love letter to Portugal. On full-day trips through the Douro Valley, Portuguese food and wine are especially important. Another Michelin chef cooks every weekend and one long stop is at the winery.

4. Maharajas Express, India

The most famous of the luxury trains in India, the Maharajas Express takes 88 guests at a time on a four or eight night odyssey through the most captivating destinations, Jaipur, Varanasi and Goa among them (and of course the Taj Mahal). The carriages have classic Indian design, and the two restaurants with dining room, bar and lounge are simply amazing. But there are plenty of reasons to disembark: the train makes stops for elephant matches and Aarti evening rituals at the bathing ghats of the Ganges.

5. Venice Simplon-Orient Express, Europe

The historical name Orient-Express is largely synonymous with "ultralight trains". While not the same train, Belmond's luxury carriages that run from London to Paris, Venice and Istanbul will be updated in March. Grand suite with private bathrooms and walk-in showers and 1920s Art Deco interiors that reflect the spirit of these cities. Think embroidered leather for Istanbul, chic furnishings for Paris, and handcrafted Venetian glass.

6. Blue train, South Africa

Icon South Africa, The Blue Train has been taking guests from Pretoria to Cape Town for 70 years. Nearly 1,000-mile ride - 31 hours of fun, with spacious carriages, five-star service and award-winning cuisine wine list and 24-hour butler service. This is an environment where people still wear ties. And, although champagne and caviar are not included in the menu, they are available. The Blue Train also does a one-way 19-hour "rail safari" as part of a package that combines the train with one of the safari lodges in the Greater Kruger and Sabie Sands areas.

7. Gan, Australia

Since 1929, the Gan has been considered one of the world's greatest rides. Over the course of four days, it travels from Darwin through the red heartland to Adelaide. There are many stops along the way to explore the Northern Territory, such as canyon hikes and camel rides. Back on board, there are expertly prepared dishes of local specialties such as barramundi and kangaroo, craft beers and some of Australia's finest wines. Platinum class guests are offered three five-course meals per day.

8.Canadian, VIA Rail, Canada

For three days, the Canada Express makes its way through magnificent mountains, prairie and lake country between Vancouver and Toronto. During the day, guests dine and relax in panoramic cars with clear ceilings, and the best thing about them is the stunning views.

9 El Transcantabrico Gran Lujo, Spain

Another example of time travel in the era of the golden age railways 1920s, social carriages and cabins on El Transcantabrico Gran Lujo complete an authentic five-star hotel on rails with 21st-century essentials (such as bathrooms). The eight-day journey from Santiago de Compostela to San Sebastian is a celebration of Spanish landscape, gastronomy, culture, glamour, fun and relaxation.

10. Golden Eagle, Russia and Mongolia

The Trans-Siberian Railway has long called for the aspiration of Pavel Therous and the recruitment of tourists, but the typical approach to horseback riding can hardly be called a luxury. That is why the classic Trans-Siberian route from the Golden Eagle is so attractive. The two-week journey spans over 6,800 miles from Moscow to Vladivostok, driving along the shores of Lake Baikal to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Luxurious attractions include a private tour of the Kremlin, a glass of champagne with one foot in Europe and the other in Asia in Yekaterinburg, and a traditional Russian cooking class in Irkutsk, the "Paris of Siberia." New for 2018, the BAM Explorer takes guests even further into the underdeveloped parts of Siberia.