Relaxing while traveling

Embracing slow traveling

When we travel, it’s easy to get so caught up in it that we end up feeling more exhausted than when we started. Traveling can be stressful, but it shouldn’t feel like work. You should feel more relaxed rather than stressed. We’re so keen on seeing as much as possible that we forget about the place we’re currently at. We’re always focusing on getting to new destinations that we don’t see what we have in front of us. But there’s a solution to that: travel slowly.

Since we’re so used to living hectic and stressful lives at home, it can feel strange to just change our habits and go from doing a lot to almost nothing. But there are many benefits of slow traveling. Here are a few of them:

You’ll really get to know the place

If you’ve ever lived abroad, you probably know how different it is to actually live in the city rather than just passing by. When you travel slowly, you allow yourself to take the time to really get to know the local cafés, restaurants, find the hidden gems and befriend locals. It really gives you the opportunity to truly immerse yourself in the place you’re at.

You can relax and recharge your batteries

Traveling is tiresome and at times, even gruesome. Some trips makes you feel downright exhausted. If you’re only planning on staying for a few nights, you’re probably going to go out and sightsee the first thing when you arrive. There’s simply no time to rest if you’re in a hurry. But if you practice slow traveling, you’ll be able to recharge your batteries, relax and allow yourself to reconnect with yourself. It’ll also make your trip more pleasant, when you can truly enjoy where you’re at.

You empower the local economy

When you stay in one place for a longer time, you start to venture outside most touristic sites and start finding more local places. By walking around and talking to locals, you’ll easily find out what the best local businesses are and where to find them. The best thing is that it’s usually cheaper and you get to support the local businesses.

Preserve the environment

When you travel around quickly, you’re going to be taking more buses, flights, cars, etc. Speed can be highly correlated with pollution so the slower you travel, the less you pollute.

It’s always fun to try a new way of traveling

Maybe you’ve been backpacking for a really long time now and the old habits are becoming boring. You move from place to place, meet new people everyday, see a new city every other day and find yourself sitting more in buses than in cafés. Why not change your way of traveling! Slow traveling will not only benefit you, but also the environment.

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Sweden, a hikers dream

Skuleberget: A hidden gem for hikers

Living in Sweden means you have access to some of the most beautiful hiking trails. Unfortunately, most Swedes tend to spend their vacation days abroad because people long for tropical heat and beaches. But that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing in Sweden – quite the contrary! Sweden’s landscape is known to be one of the most stunning ones in Europe and what’s even better is that the nature here is unspoilt. There’s also a thing called “Allemansrätten” which means that everyone can roam the countryside in Sweden. That’s why being outdoors is highly popular in Sweden and you’ll most likely run into a few hikers almost all year round.

If you’re interested in hiking in Europe, you must visit Sweden. One of the best hiking spots in Sweden lies in the north. It’s called “The High Coast” and has some excellent hiking trails. You can either choose to do easier hikes for a few hours or you can go on the longer ones that can last up to a few days. If you don’t want to hike alone or you’re lacking knowledge to go out on hiking adventurers on your own, you can hike with a guide. It’s a fun way to get to know other people as well.

The High Coast Trail extends all the way from Hornöberget in the south to Örnsköldsvik city in the north. Along the trail, you’ll see how the environment shifts from deep forests, mountain tops, steep cliffs, green meadows and even sandy beaches. If you want to do the entire trail, the total length is 128,6 km and takes about one week to finish, depending on your speed.

The best season to hike in Sweden is by far in summer, when the weather becomes a bit warmer. But it’s also the peak season so you won’t be hiking by yourself. So if you want to go when there’s less people, try to do it late spring or late summer. Summer in Sweden is absolutely fantastic and the landscape turns all green and filled with flowers. It’s the best time to visit The High Coast.

To get there, you can either rent a car and drive from Stockholm if you arrive in Arlanda. It will take you about 4-5 hours, so if you’re not keen on driving that far, there are many buses and trains that runs to the north as well. You can also catch a flight to Örnsköldsvik and from there continue onwards with the bus to Docksta Marina, only 2 km walk from Friluftsbyn, where the trails start.

Remember to pack snacks, don’t litter, bring a map and enjoy the beauty of Sweden!

Travelling around Vietnam

The best ways to get around in Vietnam

Getting around in Vietnam can either be stressful or helluva fun. There’s everything from cyclo, bicycle rickshaws, to motorbike taxis that can take you around the cities. For longer journeys, there’s a number of transportation options you can take. Let’s check out what the best ways to get around in Vietnam are!

Vietnam by bus

Bus is the most popular way to get around in Vietnam, but it’s not the most reliable. Travelers prefer to take the bus because it’s usually the cheapest option and buses run frequently and almost everywhere. But you can never rely on the bus being on time for example. The driver might be late, the traffic can be hectic and sometimes the bus might even break down. So taking the bus can be frustrating, but it will get you to where you need to go. Eventually.

Vietnam by train

Taking the train is quite underrated because the train is sloooow. It’s also very cheap! So if you’re not on a strict time schedule, it’s highly recommended to take the train. You just need to sit back, relax and enjoy the views. The main line, the Reunification Express, runs from Hanoi all the way south to Ho Chi Minh City and stops by some popular spots such as Hue, Danang and Nha Trang.

Traveling by boat

If you’re thinking of heading to one of the islands in Vietnam, taking the ferry is usually the cheapest option (although if you look early, you might find cheap flight deals to Phu Quoc from Ho Chi Minh for example). Halong Bay is a very popular spot where you should definitely get around with a cruise so you can see all the limestone islands and islets that the UNESCO World Heritage Site is known for. There are both day and overnight cruises you can choose from.

Vietnam by motorbike

This is by far the most popular way to get around Vietnam, at least amongst the adventurous travelers. You can rent a scooter as well if you don’t feel comfortable riding a motorbike. Usually backpackers rent or buy a motorbike, start in either north or south and drive their way cross country. This way, they can stop wherever and whenever they want to. This is an excellent way to find those hidden gems in Vietnam where you can only get to if you have a motorbike. Do keep in mind that traffic in Vietnam can get very hectic, especially in the bigger cities, and that accidents occur quite often. So make sure you’re insured, be aware of your surroundings, always wear a helmet and go explore Vietnam!