When I think back to our shared journey as part of the Erasmus+ project, I realize how much I took away from it. Slow Travel was, at first, just a theoretical concept to me – traveling sustainably, slowing down, being more mindful. But during our 15-day tour across Europe, from Barcelona to Kiel and on to Klaipėda, it became something tangible, something that has continued to shape me, even though I couldn’t join every stop along the way.
We were an international group from Barcelona, Ljubljana, Helsinki, Tallinn, Klaipėda, and Kiel. Together, we traveled – not by plane, but in true slow-tourism fashion – by bus, train, and ferry across Europe. In Barcelona, we visited a wine and olive plantation; in Kiel, a trip with many walks took us all the way to the Viking village of Haithabu. Everywhere we went, the focus was on encounters, conversations, and shared learning. No rushed sightseeing, no exhausting schedules – but time to truly experience places, people, and ideas.
During the excursion, I realized how profoundly my perspective on mobility had changed. In the past, traveling from A to B often felt like a necessary evil – annoying, time-consuming, something to get over with as quickly as possible. Now it’s different. I increasingly find myself using travel time consciously: to reflect, to observe, or simply to pause and enjoy the moment. Even in my daily life, I apply many of the ideas we developed during the project – for example, how to combine movement and learning, or how to make journeys inspiring rather than routine.
What I appreciated most was seeing theory turn into living practice. We didn’t just talk about sustainable tourism – we lived it. Through shared travel, small gestures, communal meals, spontaneous conversations, and open exchanges between students, teachers, and locals. This experience showed me that Slow Travel is more than a way of moving – it’s a mindset: to travel with awareness, curiosity, and humanity.
And the best part: it continues. In September 2026, the next tour is planned – this time from Helsinki to Ljubljana. I’m already looking forward to being on the road together again – slowly, mindfully, and full of new perspectives.
By: Prof. Dr. Marco Hardiman, Kiel University of Applied Sciences