10 Unique Slow Travel Experiences Around the World
What is slow travel? Slow travel is the experience of immersing yourself in the local culture to learn something new at your chosen destination. It emphasizes connecting with the locals to learn about who they are and what makes them unique in the world. Sometimes our lives are simply too busy and slow travel encourages us to pause, take a breath, and appreciate the details of where we are.
These immersive slow travel experiences can be found on every continent on earth. Here’s a sampling of just a few that I and my fellow travel bloggers have enjoyed.
Due to the ever-changing impacts of Covid-19, hours and services may change. Please contact the site to confirm hours, offerings, and health and safety protocols for your visit.
Historical Tour of Freemantle Prison – Perth, Australia
Experienced by Victoria at “Guide Your Travel” – Instagram
One of the most exciting things to do when you visit Perth is taking a tour of the old Fremantle prison. This historic site was constructed in 1850 and remained in operation as a correctional facility until 1991. Today it serves as a tourist attraction and educational location. To see the prison and truly appreciate its history visitors need to book a tour. This can be done easily online on the Fremantle Prison website or in person on arrival. Tours sell out quickly during weekends and popular visiting times so pre-booking is recommended.
Fremantle Prison is very large and there is plenty to see. It was renovated in a way to restore some parts of the buildings so they reflect different time periods and places a large emphasis on raising awareness of the mistreatment of aboriginal inmates during the 20th century.
The image above shows paintings in one of the prison cells. Initially, painting was forbidden in the prison until the guards realized that it calmed the prisoners and tended to prevent fights. Aboriginal inmates were then allowed to paint their own cells and some of the beautiful art has been preserved. This is a great afternoon activity for anyone interested in slow travel, local history and the Australian correctional system. See more about my tour here.
About Freemantle Prison Tours
There are different types of tours that you can choose from depending on what interests you. The “Tunnels Tour” for example explores the underground passages of the old prison while the “True Crime Tour” tells you all about the facilities’ most notorious inmates. Don’t miss out on the “Torchlight Tour” which lets you experience the prison by night. Definitely not an activity for those who are scared of the dark. The prison offers discounts on combination tickets so it’s highly recommended to book more than one tour when you visit.
Cachaça Tasting Tour – Paraty, Brazil
Experienced by Bruna from “I Heart Brazil” – Facebook
Paraty, one of the best places to visit in Brazil, is a beautiful colonial town surrounded by nature. Located on the Green Coast, this town in Rio de Janeiro State is famous for hosting the annual Cachaça Festival and having incredible distilleries. In case you don’t know, Cachaça is the national liquor of Brazil and is made from sugar cane juice. It’s a strong drink (about 40% abv), and locals treat its production process like an artwork.
So before you hit the beach, consider going on a “Paraty Jeep Tour with Waterfalls and Cachaça” This slow travel Jeep tour leaves Paraty and heads for Serra da Bocaina National Park. After doing some hiking and climbing around gorgeous waterfalls, you’ll visit Pedra Branca and Engenho D’Ouro Alembic for the Cachaca part of the tour. Luana, the English speaking guide, will teach you about this liquor with great cultural significance for the country as well as let you taste the different types of Cachaça.
A very small percentage of Cachaca is exported outside of Brazil, so chances are you won’t find those products anywhere else in the world. After the tour, you might want to purchase a bottle or two to bring back home–it’s delicious, and makes an excellent souvenir!
What Makes This Tour Unique
One unique aspect of this tour is that they take you to original, family-owned distilleries that serve Cachaca’s unique flavors. Each distillery only sells their own brands. The different aging of each bottle changes the flavor and we tasted 2 to 3 Cachaca flavors in each place.
Prices start at $46.00 for a 6-hour tour. The Paraty Jeep Tour with Waterfalls and Cachaça is offered in English and Portuguese language.
Spanish Language Lessons – Havana, Cuba
Experienced by By Sue at Sue – Where? Why? What? – Pinterest
I took a Spanish Course in Havana, Cuba using 2 weeks to improve my skills. If you would like to do the same, you can book through Apple Languages who offer courses for many different languages across the world. I chose the Intensive + Private package for 25 lessons per week. Costs for this are currently £955 with accommodation. I had a single room with an ensuite bathroom & 3 meals a day all included – perfect for slow travel.
We lived with a family in Vedado, a residential part of the city which was a great way to get an understanding of the local culture. Vedado is a lively location & the apartment was within walking distance of the famous Malecon. For me, the food was delicious but do not expect the accommodation to be more than basic. This is Cuba. A number of students also stayed in the apartment with some taking lessons in their room, others in the common areas. Mine was in the next-door neighbor’s house.
You can choose how long you would like to study for. Some decided to only take a week to brush up their skills, others were there for months. In the afternoons you can also take advantage & learn salsa dancing. This will exercise your brain in a whole other way & build your confidence to enjoy the infamous nightlife of this energetic city in the evenings.
What This Slow Travel Experience Is Like
If you choose to learn in Cuba, you can expect it to be intense but effective. Lessons will be on a 1:1 basis for 3 hours every weekday morning, with just a short 15-minute break. Many of the teachers do not speak English & this could be challenging if you are a complete beginner. I took 6 months of lessons at home beforehand which I was grateful for. In Cuba, the level of resources is very basic. There are no handouts & the exercises are all handwritten by the teacher.
You will need to bring a notebook & all stationary with you, but that is the nature of Cuba. At the start of my 2 weeks, I struggled to put a sentence together. By the time I left, I talked for 10 minutes about my experiences, barely catching my breath! It was the perfect way to set me up for exploring this beautiful, chaotic country for 2 weeks on my own. I loved it & think you will too!
Cheese Caves Tour – Roquefort France
Experienced by Jay Artale of “Roving Jay” – Twitter
During our Workaway adventure at an 18th Century Mill in France, Nathalie our host served us a chicory, walnut, and Roquefort cheese salad. Even before we’d wiped the final smear of creamy blue cheese from the plate with a crusty piece of baguette we were already requesting an encore. She did one better.
On a grey and wet January afternoon, she drove us over to the Roquefort AOP Société caves in the village of Roquefort to find out how this distinctive sheep’s milk cheese is made, and more importantly, for a cheese tasting.
These perfect slow travel tours are usually conducted in French. We were the only guests, so our guide gallantly fumbled through the one-hour private tour in English. Veronique shared a romantic tale—a local shepherd in the Middle Ages wrapped his lunch in muslin and left it in a cave, but when he returned the moisture had encouraged blue mold to form on his white cheese. Word spread, and the locals began leaving their cheese in the caves to mature into Roquefort cheese.
Nowadays, wheels of cheese are injected with penicillin and left in dark humid caves to mature. The Société is one of a few companies making Roquefort cheese, and they have created their own strain of penicillin. There are over 300 varieties of French cheese and about 40 of them have the AOC designation which means the production is tied to a the geographic location.
Cheese became a recurring theme during our 10 week trip through France, it’s a stinky cheese-lovers paradise. We no longer consider ourselves vegetarians, from now on—we’re Fromagivores.
More Details About the Cheese Tour
A tour includes a short movie about the production lifecycle. After that, we were led through narrow tunnels known as The Fleurines. These contain fissures that ventilate the caves from the surrounding mountainside. The highlight of the tour is deep underground, to the caves where the wheels of cheese ripen and grown their distinctive blue-green veins of mold. The tour ended with a cheese tasting trio of the different varieties The Société makes.
You can only view the ripening of the cheese between January to July, although the one hour tour is hosted year-round. The temperature of the caves is 10°c so bring something warm to wear or you’ll feel the chill.
Geothermal Baking – Laugarvatn, Iceland
Experienced by Michelle Moyer at Moyer Memoirs Empty-Nester’s Travel Blog – Instagram
On your tour around the Golden Circle in Iceland, be sure to plan a stop at Laugarvatn Fontana. In addition to having very relaxing hot springs to soak in, they also have a fun Geothermal Baking – Rye Bread Tour. They will teach you how they make bread using the geothermal heat from those hot springs to bake it!
The guide will tell you about Laugarvatn Fontana, whose bread-making endeavors for making and serving bread began in 2012. The locals, however, have been using the hot springs for geothermal baking for over 100 years in this little village. They have perfected the recipe. It takes a full day of geothermal heat reaching temperatures at 90 – 100 degrees Celsius (194 – 212 F) to completely bake the bread.
You will be amazed to see how the earth is used as a geothermal bakery. The unbaked bread is prepared in a steel pan that’s wrapped in layer upon layer of plastic wrap. This keeps the hot springs water out. While you watch, the guide will take the daily-prepared loaf and bury it in the black sandy bottom of the hot springs. Then they dig up the steamy loaf from the previous day. You’ll have a chance to unwrap the layers of plastic wrap with your hot pad mittens. Your prize is a rye bread loaf.
You can then go inside to the warmth to be treated with a sample of your fresh-baked rye bread topped with creamy Iceland butter. Laugarvatn Fontana doesn’t mind showing you a copy of the rye bread recipe if you happen to have access to geothermal heat!
Geothermal Baking Tour Details
The ultimate in slow travel, Geothermal Rye Bread Tours are offered at 2:30 pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays starting in the lobby of Laugarvatn Fontana. They take reservations ahead of time, so reserve your tour, especially during peak travel times or for large parties. The tour is completely outside next to the hot springs and lake so dress for the chilly Iceland weather. The tour lasts about half an hour and is appropriate for all ages that can stand still listening to stories for that amount of time.
Immersive Italian Language Lessons – Italy
Experienced by Renata at “Bye:Myself” – Facebook
A Tamil saying claims that ‘A New Language Is A New Life”. And indeed, learning a new language opens gates to a new life. Especially if you have the immersive experience to learn the language right in the country of origin.
As European borders were open again, I packed my bags and headed towards “A New Life” in Italy. To be honest, it was not that new since it was my third Italian class in the country. I took a course in Rome and later in Milan. I now split my stay between one week in Rome and another one in Florence. Every time I chose the Scuola Leonardo da Vince which has campuses in the beforementioned places and also in Siena.
No matter which campus you choose, the staff at the Leonardo da Vinci School is very experienced and professional. They offer different classes for all levels. For those A-students among you, there is also the possibility to take more lessons choosing the intensive course. This – in addition to the opportunity to practice what you have learned right away – makes learning Italian pretty easy; and therefore great fun.
Beyond the Language Lessons
If you are interested in taking Italian classes, but you’re insecure about how to organize your stay, don’t worry. The staff at the Scuola’s office takes you by the hand and arranges basically everything for you – starting with an airport pick-up if you wish. Then, they find you suitable accommodation – for instance at a shared apartment. Or you choose a half-board stay with an Italian family. For those who need more privacy, they arrange a hotel room. But staying with locals is the best option since you are challenged to communicate.
Normally, school’s out around noon which gives you enough time to do some serious slow travel immersive tourism and explore what the city has to offer. Obviously, trying out all that beautiful vocabulary. Mind you, learning Italian is like learning a melodious tune. If you’re undecided on what to do, there are also some activities provided by the school. This is another great opportunity to practice and get to know other students. Whereby, quite honestly, these conversations from learner to learner get sometimes lost in translation. But it’s fun just the same, and that’s the most important factor, am I right?
So if you are looking – metaphorically – for a new life, why not do so in Italy!
Wilderness Skills Training – Gopeng, Malaysia
Experienced by Teja of “Teja on the Horizon” – Facebook
If you’re looking for an adventure activity while in peninsular Malaysia, and you want to learn something at the same time, check out Nomad Adventure in Gopeng. Gopeng is a small town near to the more hipster-famous Ipoh, and is Malaysia’s adventure tourism hidden gem.
Nomad Adventure is a pioneer of Gopeng’s (and Malaysia’s) adventure tourism, with a strong program emphasis on skills and safety. The founder is passionate about adventure skills and safety and is a friend of my colleague. I learned about the training class while planning a Perak visit to see them.
Through their programs, you could learn river safety skills the fun way through white water activities. Learn climbing and rope skills at their mountaineering school, and even jungle wilderness survival – including actually getting certified!
Duration varies from half a day to 4 days (or more), depending on the number of activities and whether or not you’re seeking certification. There are also group size requirements for certification courses, which are described on their website.
For those seeking less active learning experiences, they now also run village-based activities that would have you learn iconic rural skills of Malaysia such as traditional jungle skills from local aboriginal people, and village economy skills like rubber tapping and how to pan for tin.
You’re not expected to bring special gear, although advice on basic attire and optional items (whether spare clothing is recommended etc.) are provided. Highly recommended for all experience levels from beginners to those seeking to upgrade their outdoor survival skills.
Jewish History Walking Tour – Warsaw, Poland
Experienced by Or from “My Path in the World” – Instagram
As much as I love wandering around a city freely, I always look for unique slow travel walking tours I can take. Seeing a destination from a local guide’s perspective and learning about a specific aspect of the city is an interesting experience everyone should try at least once.
When I was looking for things to do in Warsaw, I came across Walkative. This company that operates free walking tours in various cities in Poland, as well as in Vienna and Berlin. Being Jewish, I was highly interested in their free Jewish history walking tour. That said, I think that anyone who loves history will find it fascinating, especially because the guide is so knowledgeable and informative.
The 2.5-hour tour will teach you all about the history of Warsaw’s Jewish community. It begins with the 19th century to World War II to the Communist era to the present day. Some of the stops included on the tour are the 19th-century Nożyk Synagogue, a few remains of the ghetto, and the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes. The monument is also where the tour ends. It’s located right in front of the incredible POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews. You can continue your learning adventure there.
Syrian Refugee Center Tour – Istanbul, Turkey
Experienced by Marika Devan at “Clumsy Girl Travels”
A few years ago, when I was visiting Istanbul, Turkey, I had the pleasure of visiting a Syrian Refugee Center, and it is an experience I will remember forever. I booked a guide for a private tour, and the money spent went to the refugee center as a donation, which is why I picked that company. My guide met me in front of a popular tourist attraction, and then we took public transportation to the neighborhood where the center was located. He gave me a bit of information on the neighborhood as we walked to the Refugee Center.
Once there, I got a tour of the entire center and information about what programs they offer. It was incredibly fascinating and made my heart happy, knowing places like this help those fleeing war-torn countries. After the tour, I got to sit down with two individuals who worked at the center and heard their stories about fleeing Syria to come to Istanbul. One of them said they watched their best friend die. I can’t even begin to imagine what they went through.
Then we sat down to a typical Syrian meal, and I have to say, it was one of the best meals I have ever had. The entire experience opened my eyes to the risks, struggles, pain, and hope these people have. It was truly a slow travel cultural experience I am going to remember forever.
Astronomy Telescope Tours – Arizona, USA
Experienced by Nancy at “Traveling With Purpose” – Facebook
Arizona may not be at the top of your mind when it comes to Astronomy, but several major telescopes are located in the state. In fact, the northern Arizona mountain town of Flagstaff has been home to telescopes and astronomers since 1894. It’s part of their DNA. Its early claim to fame is that the dwarf planet Pluto was discovered there.
These days you’ll also find the recently-built Lowell Discovery Telescope tucked into the forest in a remote “dark-sky” area south of Flagstaff. This seven-story structure is “almost heaven” for folks who love gazing at the night sky. That’s why I was thrilled to be able to book a tour for my husband (an amateur astronomer) and me to visit.
Since the Discovery Telescope is at a secure location, we met someone from the tour and rode with them to the site. Our small group of about 10 people was excited to learn that our tour guide was one of the engineers who helped oversee the building of the telescope. He shared a wealth of information! We learned so much about how these massive instruments work and why they’re so important to scientific studies around the world. We saw the $7 million-dollar, 3.35 ton (3040 Kg), 14-foot (4.3 meter) diameter mirror that is key to observing at such great distances.
There was a retired NASA scientist and a couple of engineers in our tour group, so you can imagine some of the questions that came up. We didn’t always understand those questions or answers, but the Lowell tour leader made a point to make all of his explanations easy for lay people. We were so privileged to be able to see this magnificent achievement up close.
Booking Lowell Observatory Telescope Tours
When we went we were able to tag along on a private tour booked by a group of “Dark Sky” advocates from Sedona for a nominal fee. The tour was arranged through the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, who oversees the Discovery Telescope. At this time Lowell Discovery Telescope Tours are only available as a benefit of their Discovery Circle Membership. It’s the highest level of membership they offer at the observatory. At $5,000 a year, Discovery Circle is fairly exclusive, which keeps public tours of the DCT limited at this time. If you’re interested in a tour of one of the newest telescopes in the country, contact the observatory for availability.
If you’re not able to book a Discovery Telescope tour, Lowell also offers Premium Access VIP Tours for small private groups of various telescopes at the Flagstaff Observatory site. Access may fluctuate during COVID-19, so check their website for current information.
Here’s another great suggestion from Jamie at Pink Luggage Abroad. Have you ever actually seen a whirling dervish in real life? You can learn all about where to see them here.
Are you looking for other ideas for slow travel or lifelong learning at your next destination? Check out this list with dozens of ideas.
Traveling with Purpose is a reader-supported blog. In order to keep the lights on, I sometimes include links to products or services that I recommend. I may get commissions for any purchases that you make through those links, but it won’t cost you any more for the products. As an Amazon Associate, I also earn from qualifying purchases.
Category: Arizona, Asia, Australia, Brazil, Cuba, Destinations, Europe, France, Iceland, Italy, Malaysia, Oceania, Poland, South America, Southwest States, Turkey, United States
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what a great list. So many amazing adventures. I would love to do the telescope tour. Thanks for sharing!
You’re so welcome, Kelly. It was a very interesting tour and the observatory in Flagstaff is really interesting too.
I loved the Havana shoutout! Lovely idea for a slow travel experience 🙂 thank you for sharing!
Thanks for stopping by Carley.
I’m always rushing around when I’m travelling, trying to see as many places as possible. This list is a great idea for slow travel though!
Krista, I know what you mean. It’s always hard to slow down when I’m not sure if I’ll have a chance to return to a destination. I want to do ALL the things. 🙂
I love doing unique things, and finding that little extra, exactly like the Cachaça Tasting Tour you found.
We did a Gin tasting tour in Edinburgh, it was amazing 🙂
I’m with you. I love doing tastings of local food and drink. Having it so fresh and unique to the area seems to make it taste even better.
There is definitely something for everyone on this list and as you say a fabulous way to immerse yourself in a culture that is otherwise alien to you. I would choose the prison tour, drinks tour and the cheese tour – yum. It is always good to slow down especially when travelling for great lengths of time otherwise burnout can quite easily set in.
I definitely agree. It always feels good to connect more with the local culture and even more when there’s food involved. 🙂
I love this list…especially the Cuban one…but I’m biased 😉 There are some great ideas here & I’m a big believer in taking my time to get to know a place & trying something different. Here the food & drink ones I have to admit do particularly appeal. I love going wine tasting on trips & am keen to incorporate more cooking classes too. Thanks so much for compiling & it was an honour to be involved.
Thanks so much for being involved. I love how these kinds of experiences really help people connect with the local culture. The more we know and love a place, the better we’ll take care of it.
Some great ideas here. Once Covid calms down a bit, I would love to do an immersion Italian course in Italy. I’m into all things Italian at the mo. The Syrian refugee centre sounds interesting. I teach English to Syrian refugees here in English and some of the stories are just horrific!
Loved these – I’m very much into slow travel these days, so lots here to spark my imagination. I love the sound of the telescope tour and you had me with cheese 🙂
Oh yes, I’m a cheese-lover too. Well, I love so many different foods and even more so when they’re local.
Thanks for featuring my segment about visiting the blue cheese caves. It looks like I’m in good company there’s some great slow travel recommendations here. The more slow travel I do the more I realize it’s the only way to go. I know when I first started traveling I thought slow travel was all about modes of transport and taking your time exploring places.But now I’ve embrace the concept that slow travel is a state of mind
Thanks for your interesting contribution. I love all these experiences.
This is such an inspiring compilation. What I love most about this post is the incredible variety – and all activities are interesting and inspiring. Obviously, the food tours should add a hedonistic touch to every travel. On the other hand, the political and historic tours would give the visit a deep insight – I like that when travelling. I like that, but don’t enjoy it – enjoyable for me is immersing in the culture and everyday life – and what better way to do that than learning a language on the spot?! As I said – what an inspiring mix!
I want this stupid pandemic to book all these activities right away!
I agree. I’m so ready to be out and about again.
We certainly do try to enjoy slow travel when we are away. And have extended that concept to local travel. We have learned so much about our own province this year. It is interesting to read about things like prisons turned into tourist spots. So much history to learn. And the idea of travelling for local food and drinks is something we often do. A good way to learn about culture at the same time. I have always wanted to do an immersive trip to learn a language. Maybe something to plan when we start travelling again.
Totally agree with all you’ve said. We visited the famous Alcatraz Prison in San Francisco many years ago. So interesting. I’m with you on local exploration as well. We always seem to skip over the things that are so easy to get to. We’re moving next year, (probably) so I’m trying to focus on the local experiences before we go.
A nice list. I always think of slow travel is traveling the way the local people do–which generally isn’t by plane but by train or bus or feet. I am intrigued by the Cuban Spanish experience. I was thinking of doing that at some point in Antiqua, Guatemala
Thanks for stopping by, Jeff! I think no matter how we define slow travel, it’s well worth the effort, right?
Great list!! I have added the cheese caves to my bucket list! 🙂
Thank you for sharing this amazing list with us. I really love this list and your idea of slow travel. Keep sharing more content like this.
You’re welcome, Melisa! Thanks for stopping by!
Slow travel is my preferred way to travel. However, it’s the one that is hardest for me to do. Sign me up for the cheese caves in France or the immersive Italian classes in Italy please. What a dream.
I’m with you!