Travel Secrets: Mindful Journeys

As we close the door on a year packed with relentless absurdity and unthinkable tragedy, most of us long for an escape hatch. We need a vacation. Not a trip where the travel glow fades as the return flight touches down. Like never before, many of us yearn for transformative journeys.
So how can we plan cup-filling travel that leaves us feeling good long after the vacation ends? Can our travels be value aligned while delivering renewal and rejuvenation? And, can we connect to the world more meaningfully through travel?
To answer those questions and more, we turned to travel experts for advice on planning journeys with lasting impact—not only for the traveler, but for the world we encounter along the way.
Leigh Barnes of Intrepid Travel agrees mindful journeys may prove more important now than ever. “The world is at odds between the election of President Trump, Brexit, the attempted coup in Turkey and heightened issues around immigration,” she says. “Travel provides us all with better cultural understanding and appreciation, something the world needs more of right now.”
For those who resolve to travel in 2017, here are tips for engaging in more mindful journeys.
Seek balance
Bucket-list travel comes with bragging rights, but can feel hollow due to overblown expectations and overcrowded destinations. Strive for balance between marquee spots and hopping off the beaten path. If you dream of Venice, go in offseason, then venture north to the tourist-lite Prosecco region. Hike Machu Picchu by a less traveled route, then explore remote areas of the Amazon.
Slow down and seek a sweet spot with activities too. “I think as a culture Americans place a great deal of value on time—time is money after all,” says Steve Weddle, CEO of VolunteerForever. “This premium on time, along with the shorter vacations we tend to have may lead us to feel compelled to jam pack every minute of our vacations with something to do. But, if we’re simply trading one jam-packed schedule for another, are we truly vacationing and are we truly in the place that we have traveled to?”
Ease off the check list, and spend time really getting to know a city or region. Block out whole days for just going with the flow.
Go Local
Barnes recommends taking a hyper-local and human approach. “Choose homestays over hotels, spend time with the local people whether that be tour guides, restauranteurs, or business owners,” she says. A mindful and impactful traveler will do their best to keep as many of their tourism dollars in the local economy.”
Research businesses that support local communities and pay fare wages. Buy food in local markets. Support local events. Bypass cheaply-made souvenirs by seeking locally-produced art and goods that serve as meaningful reminders of your travel.