What Is Immersive Travel?
In a world of bucket lists, cruise ships, selfies, vacation resorts, etc., how can someone travel with purpose? How can they be immersed into a culture? That is where immersive travel comes in!
Immersive travel means that a person wants to experience the unique sights, sounds, smells, people, and challenges of a culture. An immersive traveler specifically seeks out local interactions and authentic cultural immersion that will benefit them and the local community.
“Destinations can only be as rich as what we bring to them” – Pico Iyer, The Secret Of Immersive Travel
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Let’s talk about authenticity. Seems like most everyone on social media is wanting realness now.
My hope is that this craving for genuineness and honesty starts to carry over to squash the ugly head of overtourism.
Not only is this form of travel terrible for the environment, it usually does not bring any sense of fulfillment or meaning.
“No-one has yet mastered the art of seeing the world deeply while running around” – Pico Iyer, The Secret Of Immersive Travel
Comparatively, being mindful and having immersive travel experiences makes sense for a person and the world.
Adopting immersive travel can be challenging, but it also has so many benefits.
Cultural immersion travel can spark connections and open opportunities, expand one’s knowledge, give unique chances to experience local life, helps to learn and practice languages, builds one’s confidence, helps to strip away stereotypes, etc.
Let’s do a little more investigating to find out what is keeping you from learning, connecting and being immersed during your travel.
5 Things Keeping You From Having Immersive Travel
#1 Using Traditional Ways To Book
With the abundance of online options, it is easier than ever to say no to travel agents, holiday packages, and large hotel chains. Though it might be familiar and therefore easier to keep arranging your holiday/vacation time through one of these means, it will be so much better to do a little bit of planning yourself.
Looking into alternative accommodation and activities lets you customise and choose options that will support local economies rather than international businesses.
Though investing your vacation money in the right places is essential for local communities, you will also receive a more meaningful and authentic holiday experience too!
Homestay is great for finding local families to stay with at an affordable price. You get to feel right at home when you arrive and it’s perfect for short or long term stays. Get €20/$25 off your first Homestay trip!
TrustedHousesitters helps you stay in wonderful places for free by house sitting and caring for cute pets. You can find unique & amazing accommodation that would normally be hundreds per night!
Purchasing a 1 year membership is $119/€99, which gives you access to unlimited, worldwide house sitting opportunities. They have more than all other housesitting websites in the world combined!
Another option to consider is volunteering in exchange for free food and accommodation. Our favourite way to live with locals is through a volunteering platform called Workaway!
It gives you an automatic in with the locals because you are literally staying with them. You are bound to get amazing recommendations and probably some delicious meals. We highly recommend signing up for it if you want to be immersed into a culture.
Read More: Volunteer With Workaway: The Ultimate Guide To Working Away
#2 Always Going For Private Transport
Taking private transport is easier and sometimes necessary depending on the circumstances (please don’t miss your flight because you wanted to figure out public transport on the last day lol).
I always take public transport, and not just because it is the most affordable option. I do it because I get to see what day to day life is like. It is seriously the perfect way to blend in and look like you know what you doing (hello confidence boost!)
I always feel a sense of accomplishment when I have mastered the transport do’s and don’ts of a particular place. It makes me feel like when I return, even if it is years later, I will have the confidence to start off my trip without hesitation.
#3 Planning Out Every Detail
Now we go to the other end of the spectrum, those people that painstakingly plan out every detail of their trip. We are talking about scheduling every meal, tourist site, etc.
My travel has slowly gotten away from this and moved towards more and more freedom in my schedule. I found that when I let go of the details, I let go of my anxiety and fear of missing out. I was happier without all the demanding requirements of fast pace travel.
My solution? Limit the time planning. Yes Karen, I see you, step away from Pinterest.
If you do have that planning itch, try to relieve it by watching movies or reading books (shocking concept I know) about local culture.
Hopefully this will eliminate some culture shock and be educational for you. By familiarising yourself beforehand, this will hopefully prepare you to limit ‘FOMO’ and feel able to be spontaneous!
I should include that books and movies can often uphold misleading stereotypes as well so keep this in mind as you consume.
Read More: 99 Wonderful Adventures To Help You Enjoy Your Travel
#4 Obsessing Over Instagram Worthy Destinations
Rather than loving travel itself, I think people are more enthralled with making themselves look good online, which in turn makes others envy them and also the exotic location that they are in.
Most people probably will not admit that they are going somewhere solely because it will make for incredible Instagram content. BUT, I think that is because most people would not say it out loud or admit that to themselves. Conscious or subconscious, it does not really matter.
“Most of the joyful moments in a person’s life probably won’t include a mobile application.”
Either way, content on IG can often give a dreamy, fairytale look to place. When people obsess over unrealistic photos, it can create a totally false expectation if you do actually visit.
What I propose is that you should try to take the initiative to think about what you want from having a presence online. Be purposeful about discerning your intentions. Be aware of the relationship between you and what you are posting.
#5 Using A Popular Travel Guide
Firstly, I want to say that this is not necessarily wrong. I wholly believe that you can use a travel guide and still visit popular places and destinations at times when it is less crowded. This takes some effort though, effort that most people do not put forth (hence the crowds).
To have more immersive travel, avoid using popular travel guides. If you do use a guide, try to find a locally written one as this will help the local economy and hopefully bring more authentic adventures!
If you are using a popular travel guide, try to avoid ONLY going to places listed in it. If a place or site is listed in a guide book, then chances are that most other guides will also list that same place. This means you will be seeing all the other tourists that decided to purchase a travel guide book.
Also, guide books can be out of date since things can change quickly in some places. If you are really set on following them still, check out online travel guide books since they can be updated regularly with new information.
