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Seeking a more in-depth and responsible way of seeing the world? Here are 10 tips for choosing a Connection Over Consumption approach to experience a more authentic journey with a positive impact, wherever you choose to go.
01. Travel off-season
Avoid peak tourist times for a more peaceful experience that places less pressure on local communities and infrastructure. Low season, often influenced by less predictable weather, can be the perfect excuse to get cosy beside a roaring fire or soak your worries away in a steaming hot bath. Or perhaps this wetter, colder weather is the perfect opportunity to take some yoga lessons and nourish yourself with hearty, wholesome food. There’s no feeling quite as liberating as wandering along a wild rugged beach or through a charming town wrapped up warm, hot drink in hand, with nowhere else to be.
Discover: Nile Safari Lodge, Uganda is open all year round and game and bird life is prolific throughout, although bird-watching is best during the months of October/November (low season) when the migratory species are in the region. The rainy season (July – November and March – May) can also be a good time to visit as the nearby Murchison falls are full of water and there are fewer people in the park providing a more exclusive and peaceful experience.
02. Take it slow
Take your time and savour the journey, rather than rushing from one attraction to the next. By taking your time to experience a region, you’re allowing the magic to reveal itself to you at its own pace, providing a much more indepth and authentic insight into a place.
By slowly savouring the world, you truly let the world in, enabling significant changes to occur, to your perspective, your mindset and your soul, that would otherwise be missed if you were travelling faster and already focusing on the next destination or attraction.
Discover: Explore the remote region of Amazonas, Peru at a leisurely pace with Gocta Natura‘s Chachapoya Heritage trail to slowly uncover the mysteries of the ancient, pre-Columbian Chachapoya culture and enjoy the area’s majestic landscape before returning back to the Gocta Natura Reserve to enjoy a delicious homegrown dinner and a restorative massage in the evening. 03. Connect with locals through culture
Immerse yourself in local culture by engaging in conversations, trying local activities and respecting local customs and traditions. Why not learn a few key phrases in the local language, a simple greeting, “thank you” and “please” and learning how to express respect in the local language, particularly to elders, can go a long way.
For example, in the Philippines it’s customary to say “po”, which translates to “sir/madam”. The Filipino people will often use “po” when addressing travellers and it’s a sign of mutual respect when you address them this way in return too. A little research on respectful customs before arriving will be appreciated by the locals and will make for a more enjoyable trip for yourself.
Discover: Avana Retreat, Vietnam provides a cultural exchange between guests and local artists. Traditional dance, fabric weaving and bee-wax painting demonstrations are frequently set up at Avana.
Or embark on a deeply Ladakhi adventure at Dolkhar Ladakh, India, from treks on frozen rivers to immersive craft workshops, all experiences are created, contextually and consciously to represent Ladakh in its most authentic form. 04. Sample local cuisine
Try traditional dishes to discover the unique flavours of the region. From one town to the next, the same dish can taste entirely different, depending on the cook, available ingredients, and regional variations in produce, giving you a hyper-local culinary experience.
Eating engages all our senses, bringing our minds and bodies alive to the present moment. So what better way to truly immerse within a culture than to be fully present and receptive to all of our senses at once?
Discover: San Canzian, Croatia offers a truly locavore dining experience through Luciano Restaurant, a restaurant named after one of their most important suppliers of authentic Istrian products. Their gardeners, local farmers, producers, suppliers and winemakers deliver the best of Istria, while their Chefs create the perfect gourmet experience for you to enjoy.
Or if fire-dining is more your style then look out for Los Nadies Bodega Almacén in Uruguay who occasionally offer events with dinner cooked over glowing embers alongside their handcrafted, limited-edition wines, giving you a true taste of traditional Uruguayan cuisine.
05. Support local businesses
Contribute to the local economy by choosing locally-owned restaurants and shops who support local suppliers and producers. Not only does this give you a unique insight into each destination, but it also ensures your stay has a positive impact by spreading your money and support further around the area to hard-working local business owners.
Local businesses are often the heart and soul of a community. They reflect the area’s traditions, values and history in a way that chain stores and large corporations simply can’t. By shopping at a local market, eating at a family-run restaurant or taking a tour with a local guide, you gain firsthand exposure to the authentic culture of the place. You’ll discover unique products, taste regional specialties and hear stories that you wouldn’t find in any guidebook.
Discover: La Tizná, Spain is a cosy eaterie with a F.L.O.S.S. philosophy (fresh, local, organic, sustainable and seasonal products) where you can enjoy breakfast, brunch or lunch, as well as an eco-shop with products directly sourced from the Andalusian countryside by small family producers. 06. Stay with locals
Immerse yourself in the community and culture by staying in guesthouses, retreats or hotels owned and operated by local people. This ensures you will receive a truly authentic welcome and unique overall experience throughout your stay thanks to the local knowledge passed down from generation to generation while simultaneously supporting the local custodians of a region.
Discover: Shel Ladakh, India is a homestay blending sustainable luxury, ancestral wisdom and hospitality with modern design amidst the mystical beauty of Ladakh. The local team at Shel strive to bring the best for each guest as individuals as well as through their shared vision and connection to the land.
Your Hosts at Avana Retreat, Vietnam come from the ethnic Thai and Muong communities in the villages surrounding Avana, they grew up alongside majestic mountains and expansive rice fields. Thanks to them joining the Avana team, the positive values of mountain village life have been brought closer to the hearts of visitors from near and far.
“Guided by a commitment to sustainable tourism, our hosts bring back the skills and knowledge they’ve gained through their training and work at Avana, along with their new income, to enhance the quality of life in their communities and to preserve and promote the distinct cultural heritage of their ethnicity. Whenever you wish to learn more about the beautiful Mai Chau region, engage directly with our hosts, as it is their greatest joy in their work.”
07. Skip the tourist hot-spots
Explore lesser-known destinations and hidden gems. Not only does this reduce the pressure on the already over-visited areas of the world, but it also ensures you avoid cookie-cutter experiences during your stay. Hosts off the beaten path will delight in sharing their hidden gems with you and you’ll leave with unique memories and a deeper appreciation of a place having perhaps seen a different side to a culture or country.
Discover: Das Fort Boutique, Romania offers a charming stay in the heart of Râșnov, a mediaeval town registered as a protected monument area of national interest. Das Fort is a wonderful ensemble of reborn Saxon houses carefully restored, preserving the authentic saxon feeling, while introducing modern touches and sustainable technology. Providing guests with the opportunity to be part of an experience bringing together hospitality, cuisine, history and art – delivering a story, not just standard services. 08. Travel like a local
Embrace the local way of life by using public transport or walking, it’s a wonderful way to get to know an area and its community. The slower you travel, by foot or bicycle for example, the more you can see the smaller details that are so easily missed when travelling by car or plane.
Travelling by local bus can also be a beautiful way to experience the soul of a place, not only is it enjoyable to watch the world go by outside the windows, but looking within the bus, watching the interactions between people, observing manners and customs, facial expressions and conversations, whether you can understand the language or not, can add a little more depth to your insights and appreciation of a place and its people.
Discover: Zlata Ladjica Boutique Hotel, Slovenia provides guests with bicycles for a relaxed exploration of Ljubljana, one of the most cyclist-friendly cities in the world.
Or if you prefer something a little more adventurous, why not unleash your inner explorer at Hacienda El Porvenir, in the heart of the Ecuadorian Andes. Here you can enjoy horseback riding while experiencing the culture of the Chagra (Ecuadorian cowboy) to immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Andean life. 09. Eat seasonally
Find out which fruits and vegetables are in season locally and try to eat these whenever possible rather than imported ingredients. Not only will this significantly reduce the carbon footprint of your meal and support local producers but seasonal ingredients always taste so much better too and provide a very of-the-moment dining experience. Furthermore, exploring local markets and seasonal menus can offer a unique and immersive cultural exchange, connecting you to the destination’s authentic flavours and traditions.
Discover: Amaya, India celebrates local flavours, crafted with precision and passion. You are invited to dine privately at a secluded hill-top within the property or sample bold, innovative flavours at Amaya Labs.
“Amaya’s culinary philosophy blends Himachali traditions with global techniques, crafting dishes that evolve with the seasons. Each meal tells a story —from a braised neck of lamb glazed with foraged mulberry murabba to hand-churned pine nut ice cream drizzled with pinecone syrup. Developed in Amaya Labs, this signature dessert captures the very essence of the surrounding pines, infusing a delicate, resinous sweetness reminiscent of the forest itself. ”
Additionally, Los Confites Organic Farm, Spain allows you to sample the freshest seasonal bounty, a locavore’s dream journey, at an idyllic farm-to-table experience nestled in the Sierra de Gredos foothills. Not only will you be able to enjoy their gastronomic offering, but you will also be able to walk freely through their crops, meet their animals or take a stroll through the surrounding woods giving you a true taste of the region. 10. Learn from locals
Taking classes and learning from local teachers is a great souvenir to take home with you while also supporting the teachers and their businesses directly.
Often we associate the idea of souvenirs with cheap trinkets that are bought spontaneously and discarded upon arriving home after the initial interest has worn off. This isn’t always the case of course, but at Singular Places we like to extend our idea of what we consider a souvenir to be. It could simply be an idea formed during your journey that stays with you, a seed planted. Or a photograph, a few phrases in the local language, a locally-made textile or piece of art, an antique or perhaps an item that you have made yourself alongside a local teacher. Perhaps your idea of a perfect souvenir is a bottle of locally-produced wine taken home to enjoy with friends and family or it could even be a treasured memory to be revisited from time to time and shared with others.
Discover: A delicious culinary experience or a recipe is a wonderful souvenir to take home with you. Kuyana Amazon Lodge, Ecuador offer cooking classes, for those who wish to take a piece of the Amazon home, where you will learn to prepare local specialties, such as maito de tilapia and artisanal chocolate. During these sessions, you will discover the secrets of their local ingredients, many of which are grown in their own garden. From selecting ingredients to the final preparation, each step is an opportunity to connect with Amazonian nature and culture. If you’re in need of inspiration, browse our
carefully curated collection of responsible hosts all around the world to ensure your next journey has a positive impact on your chosen destination while simultaneously creating unique memories to be treasured for a lifetime by you and your loved ones.
