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's 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 goal of this movement was to preserve local enogastronomic traditions, revive unique, endangered products, 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 interesting sights.

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 is gradually developing in last years, but rather weakly and unevenly: there is no centralized system route safety, travel and weather tracking systems, public address systems or sports fees.

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

Associations operate on many routes, 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 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 need 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 on their GPS-enabled smartphones, but if you're not a very experienced slow traveler, you may 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 a rented apartment and not try to see too much in a short period 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 frightened by the pirates of the eastern coast of 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.

Nevertheless, both opponents of aircraft and their opponents recognize the charm long trips by car or train, if they fit within the time allotted for the trip. 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 Honoré. 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.

By the time I started to "explore the world" through abroad, my first trip was 8 day tour in Europe. We traveled by bus 5 countries.

I was able to say whether I liked this trip or not only a week after my arrival home. When the "roof" fell into place from the sights seen and kilometers traveled.

The principle: to have time to get around and see everything, or, more simply, galloping across Europe worked 100%.

I don't want to rest like this anymore. Not because everything is fast and fast and a lot, but because you don’t really have time to realize and digest one information, how a new excursion begins.

We will introduce you to a new direction in tourism and a type of travel - slow travel. This is a slow and unhurried acquaintance with the traditions, customs of other countries and the maximum immersion in a new culture.

And instructions on how to get the most out of travel and minimize the pace of life.

Has it ever happened to you that you come back from a vacation more exhausted and tired than you were before you left?

Resting is still stressful: one excursion is replaced by another, you have to have time to see all the palaces and ruins, sights and waterfalls, do not forget to buy souvenirs ...

The slow pace of life is getting more and more popular and even gaining momentum.

I'll tell you a secret: not all people live according to the principles of "...faster, higher, stronger ...".

Work work after work, and on weekends, depend on a smartphone, social networks and the Internet ... do everything yesterday.

I don’t want to stop, look at the beautiful cumulus clouds and think, like in childhood, who do they look like ...? Spend a day or a week with your family in nature, in the forest or by the sea?

The slow movement offers this: to live today and now, to solve problems without the all-knowing Google, to make decisions as your heart and experience suggest.

The magic of the slow type of travel is when the emphasis is not on excursions, but on leisurely trips around the country.

Life will slow down (at least for a week) in a small rural cottage, you will love going to the local farmers market for groceries, getting to know your neighbors and allowing yourself trips to the nearest cities (for one day). The stress will disappear and the budget will not suffer.

You can travel slowly: over several years or over two weekends

How did this direction in tourism appear?

In Italy, protests began in the 1980s against the opening of a McDonald's chain in Rome. Slow eating opposed fast food. Family unhurried meetings in cafes and pizzerias, the traditional way of life of Italians defended their right to exist.

Slow travel means renting a small cottage for a few days or a week and exploring the area by car or on foot. Cycling through nearby villages on dirt country paths, avoiding highways and highways.

Slow motion

S low-movement has moved to all areas of life, not just leisurely food. S low art - means meditative immersion in art. Contemplation of works slowly, as an alternative to running around exhibitions. S low media - the opposite social networks Facebook and Instagram, where information is absorbed and released at a rapid pace, real and every second updated.

Best Places for slow travel

Europe most popular place for such trips. Car rental and housing is developed and accessible to everyone, public transport works without failures, historical sights at every turn, English language understood everywhere.

Slow travel is not for everyone

How to plan slow travel

Renting an apartment is more economical than a hotel for more long stay. Accommodation must be booked in advance.

This can be done on these sites:

• Airbnb
• HomeAway
• tripadvisor

There is a practice of house exchange. This is an alternative for long-term residence in another country. You can arrange to rent a car from your exchange partner. The most popular site for this is HomeExchange.com.

You can view profitable housing options right now.

Food is also "slow"

Find local markets and try the cuisine of the town where you went.

A small bakery nearby will delight you with fresh catch and fragrant pastries for breakfast…

Slow travel is not for everyone

If you are used to living in rhythm, hurry to travel around all the countries of the world and are charged with tireless energy, then this type of tourism may seem boring.

If this is your only trip to Italy or, then you should think carefully about what is more important: to merge with the culture and local residents or see as many attractions as possible.

You can travel slowly over several years systematically, or over two weekends. The main thing is to change the attitude to rest.

Doing less rather than more is the first step to Slow travel, especially if time is short.

This is also interesting:

How not to forget things at home - a list of urgent things What to take with you on vacation or collect the right suitcase 8 useful things to travel in comfort

Tired and sleepy, but checked in everywhere. Like!
Leafing through the friend feed, I notice that most of my friends travel more often, but everything is shorter and richer. The pace of life is accelerating, and the list of desires is more and more at odds with the possibilities ... Arriving in Paris, an ordinary traveler tries to see all the museums, stand in line at the Eiffel Tower, and in the evening crawl to Montmartre with difficulty ... And all this is due to the fact that we have forgotten how to travel slowly, the list of points to visit is too large in relation to a unit of time.

I understood a long time ago - you should not try to embrace the immensity if there is not much time (and there is never a lot of it!). You need to learn to catch moments, remember them, feel. You should not chase a huge list of places, you just need to visit only a few points and return to this place again. For example, in the same Paris, I will remember for the rest of my life a bottle of brut for two with a friend at the Eiffel Tower and an overnight stay without a roof over my head due to the fact that I did not have time to go to the storage room for things (because of this very bottle of brut) . And I have been to the Eiffel Tower twice or thrice already, and I have been to Paris many times since then.

Capture moments.
Do it without haste, without being distracted by the logistics and nuances of travel.
TRAVEL SLOWLY.

Well, you know how much I love Bavaria, I return there again and again for many years in a row. Today I want to tell you how I went before Christmas and plunged into a real fairy tale...

At Munich Airport I rented a wonderful BMW X1 from Sixt. After all, only a car gives freedom and saves time, how many times have I already, but I won’t get tired of repeating again and again ... Even in such an ideal, from the point of view transport infrastructure, a country like Germany, you can not be distracted by transport if you take a car. And if you are with your family, then any doubts disappear by themselves.

If we analyze, then more than half of my car rental episodes over the past 6-7 years are Sixt. In Europe, Israel, USA. Many rightly point out that Sixt- it is expensive. More often Sixt really not the best cheap option, but this is a guarantee that there will be no headaches at all stages from booking to car delivery. And even in the case of technical problems, everything will go almost unnoticed by the client. Checked on myself Sixt in Bavaria, I replaced the car within a few hours while traveling, by the way, also in Bavaria. Read if you missed it.

But I digress, this year I made friends with Sixt and now I will talk more often about how to rent a car, especially if this experience is your first. It would seem that in the era of the Internet, what could be easier than booking something online, but in practice it turns out that it is difficult for many to perform even a simple action related to finances and credit card online.

If you are new...

Make a call to the company's call center. Chat in Russian with the operator, ask about the nuances, book a car by phone.
- Something on the site is not clear? Call the call center, the operator will help you make a reservation on the site, answer questions, and suggest something sensible.

If you are a pro...

Call the operator, comparing the price in different places, it is quite possible that such an unusual booking channel for you will turn out to be the most profitable in the end. Without prices, dates and specifics, the cost of car rental is one of the most variable values ​​depending on the booking channel, time of year and specific dates.

All my reports about Car Rental are grouped by tag.

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

Perhaps this is one of the reasons for the recent resurgence 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 through the beauty of the eastern Japanese countryside. The carriages are all suitable apartments, equipped with modern Japanese furniture and materials. The restaurant with a white tablecloth serves gourmet regional cuisine, a lounge and viewing machines equipped with wide windows, and the crew serves as a 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 places, Jaipur, Varanasi and Goa among them (and of course the Taj Mahal). The carriages have a 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. The nearly 1,000-mile ride is 31 hours of fun, with spacious carriages, five-star service, and cuisine, an award-winning 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 Canadian 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 scenery, 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.