A consequential journey: the slow travel movement and the idle arrival

Slow travel grew out of the slow food movement, which promotes local, artisanal and sustainable food sources. By the same token, slow travel begets a more mindful and conscientious approach: it’s about how one travels as well as where they travel; not just about new sights, but about new ways of seeing. “It’s a mindset more than any one mode of transportation,” says Dan Kieran, the Author of The Idle Traveller: The Art of Slow Travel. “It’s thinking in terms of depth rather than time and making space for things to happen spontaneously.

With the pandemic firmly in the past, time has become a luxury again and the idea of drawing vacations out for as long as possible and savouring each moment has a renewed appeal. Slow, gentle itineraries that allow for full immersion in one’s surroundings are an ideal way to start travelling slower – think taking a day or two out of an itinerary to walk in nature, cycle through the countryside or take a long-distance rail journey. “It’s where my mind goes between point A and point B that often excites me more than my destination,” says Kieran. “In that sense, train journeys are a great way to start experiencing slow travel. They also allow you to have conversations with strangers, which is all part of the fun and one of the ways spontaneous things can happen too.”

Rocky Mountaineer is a prime example of how a gentle pace and immersion in one’s surroundings can lead to meaningful memories; point A and point B are not the only reason why guests take these routes. Over two or three days, the trains traverse through some of the most spectacular scenery in the world – past alpine mountains, shimmering lakes and boreal wildlife – before pulling into their end destinations, where a sense of exploration can continue at one’s own pace. While the coaches are designed for guest comfort, the main attraction is what can be seen outside the window. “It’s the original TV screen,” Kieran says of the view from a train. “Train journeys really allow you to both let your mind wander and see new things.”