It’s not surprising that most people have never heard of holistic travel, because I made it up!
Google Dictionary defines holistic as: “characterized by comprehension of the parts of something as intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole.” In layman’s terms, everything is connected, and it’s essential to treat it as such.
Okay, so how does this connect to travel?
Holistic travel is travel which focuses on both the individual and the community. When we travel holistically, we focus on creating greater connections with yourself, the earth and the people we share this planet with. This happens on three levels. Check out the video on my youtube for an audio version of this article, or, if you prefer text, read on! Level One: The Individual Level
On the individual level, this means traveling with an emphasis on creating connections, joy and wonder.
Ask yourself: Why do I travel? What do I hope to gain from it? A friend online recently asked me if, when I travel, I run FROM or TO. I try not to run from, because it only causes more problems in the end (although I do lapse into that mentality now and again). Mostly, it's running to. My mom is like this, too: there comes a time--periodically, like clockwork--when we know it's time to pack up and go. We just get restless, and need to see what's out there. My dad calls us nomadic; it's just the way we are. So in a way I travel because I have to. I also recognize that there are certain things which make travel more enjoyable for me. It's the act of narrowing down what brings me the most joy that helps me determine how to travel. Level Two: The Community Level
On the community level, holistic travel means engaging with the local community to ensure that my trip doesn’t harm the people in the place I visit.
An important factor of this is making sure that the money I spend truly benefits the local community. This can range from supporting local organizations which address issues specific to the community, such as poverty, to supporting locally-owned or operated businesses and those which are dedicated to providing economic support to the community. Large, western-owned hotel chains can be really nice, but we need to make sure they’re not pricing out other, locally-owned businesses, and that they’re doing their part to be beneficial in the community. We also need to learn from the local culture! For me, travel is one of my favorite ways of opening my eyes to new (to me) ways of living and being. It gives me a better appreciation for the people in this world. In learning from the people I visit, it’s important to me to appreciate their culture without abusing it -- meaning I need to pay attention to what is and isn’t considered respectful, and listen without complaint when I’m told not to do something. Some cultures have vastly different ideas of what’s respectful and appropriate behavior than we do in the United States. It’s not up to me to swoop in and change their culture to better fit my own experiences and views; it’s my job to be respectful, follow along to the best of my ability, and learn from them! Level Three: The Global Level
Finally, we come to the global level, which is all about being environmentally-conscious. This, I think, is the most difficult aspect of holistic travel, and one I still struggle with. Entire books have been written on this subject, so there’s only so much depth I can go into here, but the gist of it is that we must limit our impact on the environment, for the sake of ourselves and every living thing. It’s a big task, and there are a lot of different ideas as to how to do it, but here are a few things I try to do on each trip to limit my environmental impact:
1. Limit Flights Flying is sometimes unavoidable, but it’s important to limit how many flights we take. If at all possible, take a direct flight as opposed to one with layovers, as planes expend the most energy during takeoff and landing. If possible, say no to plastic-wrapped in-flight meals, and bring your own goodies; if that’s not an option, you can still carry your own reusable cup and tableware to limit the amount of plastic produced. 2. Become a Public Transit Expert While on the ground, try to get around mostly using public transit. While not entirely green, it’s still better for the environment than cars or planes. While traveling in England this past summer, I used exclusively public transportation to get around, and actually found it to be faster than taking a car. 3. Say No To Plastics Single-use plastics are a huge source of environmental degradation, from the processes used to make them to the problem of what to do with them once we’ve used them. Even throwing your empty water bottles into the recycling bin doesn’t guarantee they’ll actually be recycled. The best solution is to avoid single-use plastics all together… which is easier said than done. If you’re new to the plastic-free train, then start small. Bring a reusable mug, and use it in favor of single-use, plastic-lined coffee cups from the cafe. Carry your own tableware, and bring a few reusable produce bags and containers when you travel, for grocery shopping as well as taking home leftovers. I’ve written an entire article about how to live with less waste, both at home and while traveling, which I recommend checking out for a more in-depth view.
Holistic travel is incredibly important to me -- so much so that I designed my blog around it! I believe that traveling in an ethical, sustainable way, focused on creating connections is really the best way to travel, which is why I’m so passionate about sharing tips for how to do so with you.
How do you like to travel? Do you think holistic travel is something you would be interested in trying? Drop a comment below letting me know what you think! Like this post? Why not share it?
If you enjoyed this article, please leave me a comment telling me what you think! Or, if you found it useful, share it with your friends! You'll be helping me turn my passion for travel into a business, and more importantly, you'll be helping your friends out with any travel questions they might have, too.
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Hi, there! Call me Kris. I’m a world traveler, author and artist working to showcase the world's beauty and inspire you to find your confidence to see the world!
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