Why 2025 could be the year of slow travel

Travel can be one of the most rewarding forms of self-reflection and investment. With work pressures mounting and stress levels at their peak, taking time off has become more precious than it has ever been. There is nothing more therapeutic than travelling to an offbeat, unexplored or unrushed destination where you can just be. Year 2025 could be a time when more and more people indulge in ‘slow travel’ and simple, stress-free personalised itineraries.

Slow travel can be defined as travelling at a more leisurely pace, the emphasis being on making a meaningful connection with the destination and on quality rather than quantity. Those who choose to truly immerse themselves in their destination and focus on meaningful interactions with the local culture are now labelled as ‘slow travellers’. The classification, however, has been expanded to include those with a focus on the environment and sustainability as well.

“With heightened consciousness about the less materialistic side of travel, the slow travel movement is trending. It is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of about 10 per cent,” says Mallika Sheth, co-founder of TealFeel, a luxury conscious travel company.

Traditionally, most travellers have felt they are missing out on things if they didn’t see everything there is to at a destination. But expect the slow traveller to prioritise this list and enjoy a few stand-out experiences rather than sight-see hectically to tick all the boxes.

Slow travel will be one of the many travel trends of 2025, but the overarching theme will be to create simpler itineraries and make travel lighter on the mind and soul. One of the easiest ways to do that is to go slow and explore fewer places. It’s about stepping back but going deeper.

“Immersing oneself in the local culture is seen as more meaningful than skimming the surface and covering more places. Slow travel is a trend because it’s a response to our harried, fast-paced lives. People are super busy and their schedules are packed: children to raise, office meetings to do, social life to attend to. So, when some travellers go on holiday, they’re seeking the opposite,” explains Sheth.

Vacations are commonly defined as holidays in which travellers completely unwind, say read a book on a beach, swim, eat. All things digital, all things that remind one of home are off the hook and the down-time is used primarily to rejuvenate by suspending all routine activity. It is a great way to attain a mental health break.

Likewise, travelling is an exploration, a holiday that is used to unwind by visiting a new place, immersing oneself in a destination, eating new food and seeing new sights. It traditionally meant being on the move from breakfast till dinner.

“The best way to plan such a slow-travel itinerary is to first fix the destination that allows exploration and has a culture of interest. And most importantly, if possible, pick the shoulder season to travel so you can avoid crowds yet get the best the place has to offer,” advises Sheth.

Detailing of the trip can include choosing the places to visit and the sites to see, picking walking tours that extend the sightseeing over a longer period, choosing nature trails to hike, looking for local restaurants rather than the usual top ten list, exploring food markets and artisan fairs, and perhaps finding a train or bus between cities that makes the journey part of the trip rather than a means to get from place to place. The mantra: live like a local, eat where they do, and soak in the place bit by bit.

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