(Slow travel + quick recharge = a lifelong experience)

The “slow” way of travelling therefore recharges our batteries faster, because we are not driven by a stressful pace (seeing as much as possible in as little time as possible) or by a strict travel schedule (which creates extra tension and wears us out), and so our experiences stay imprinted in our memory for longer.

This rich, lifelong experience of the “slow” way of living comes from interacting with the local culture and customs, learning to cook local dishes, but also from enjoying authentic food and spending time with local people, who will certainly give you plenty of useful tips that you won’t find in any travel guide. After trips like these, we can return home truly rested and recharged. Because the purpose of travelling is precisely to gain rich experience, to escape routine and discover new authentic things, to rediscover ourselves, our abilities, strengths and limits, and to broaden our horizons.

A fast-paced lifestyle brings a huge flow of information, fast communication and technology, but also increased stress and burnout syndrome, which is becoming more and more common outside the business world as well. Everyone needs to slow down, not only physically but also mentally, to return to the natural sources around us and to enjoy them.

The relatively new concept of the slow movement emerged in 1980 in Italy as a response to a global fast food chain that was opening a new branch right there. Over time, the values of slow food and slow travel spread to other areas of life too, from the concepts of slow fashion, slow science, slow gardening, slow education, slow ageing.

The term slow travel itself means enjoying the process (of travelling) rather than reaching the destination. Or, in other words, less is more. And no, it has nothing to do with the speed of travel or hiking with a rucksack on your back, or with boring travel just for older people, nor is it limited to those who have more time or don’t have small children, or any similar reasons that might spring to mind. You have very probably already experienced slow travel without knowing it. When you had more time to really enjoy a few things without rushing to a plan and schedule, when you steered clear of the crowds and stress so often found at popular tourist spots, avoided a strict itinerary and instead set yourself a few checkpoints as guidelines, leaving the rest to your adventurous spirit. Or awakening it that way. And if you also got away from technology for a while, then you know what we are talking about.

Slow travel can be experienced in many ways, from tours with tastings of local specialities or wine to camping, cruises and cycling tours. It can often be cheaper too, thanks to lower travel costs, yet still luxurious. Camping, for instance, has its own version of glamorous camping (glamping), when you stay in luxury mobile homes, just like the ones you can find at Camping Plitvice. With the use of the pool, this 5-star campsite offers a superb holiday feeling in the very heart of a nature reserve. Camping in particular can be identified with the slow travel trend, because it is a ritual of sorts, from getting everything you need for camping to setting up camp. In addition, one of the qualities of slow travel is zero impact on the environment, which means we leave it just as we found it. Enjoying the natural beauty that so often surrounds a camping spot comes in the end as a reward for the effort and time invested. There is no point rushing on after just one day; better to stay and soak up all the energy around you.