Travel with Purpose: A Guide to Cultural Immersion
Most travellers would agree that heading out into the world and exploring to your heart’s content not only gives you a wider perspective, but it helps you feel more connected to the earth and its people.
That’s not to say we live in a perfect world (far from it!), but when you travel more, it’s much harder to nurture xenophobic feelings or to dismiss people off the bat.
This is because when you get out there and see just how alike people are, as well as where they differ, the world becomes a fascinating place to learn from.
If you’re fed up of surface level travel and are ready to connect with places on a deeper level, just keep reading, because this is the post for you. Here are 6 tips for widening your cultural horizons.
6 Ways to Travel Deeper
1. With a warm welcome
If you’re polite and give yourself time to greet locals, respect their customs, be polite, and learn basic phrases and expressions, you may be surprised just how many take you in!
Many cultures love to see tourists genuinely try to engage when they travel, and you’ll see a whole new side of countries when you travel in this way.
2. Dine like a local
Hands down, the best way to experience a new culture is through its cuisine.
Don’t be afraid to try local dishes, even if they seem unfamiliar or strange at first!
The way that I find the best places to eat is by asking locals where they eat. This helps me avoid the tourist traps and see what people really eat in a destination.
3. Take a food tour
Taking a guided food or drinks tour is one of my favourite things to do when I travel.
The food tour I took in Palermo remains one of my most treasured travel memories to this day!
Gastronomic tours often take you to hidden gems, allow you to sample a variety of street foods, wines, and spirits, and provide insights into the history and cultural significance of local cuisine.
Food tours are also a great place to pick up gifts for loved ones, like personalised whisky on a whisky tour, or bottles of olive oil on an olive oil tour (yes, olive oil tourism is a thing!).
4. Embracing customs
Every culture has its own unique customs and traditions.
If you’re seen to make a real effort, it’s hard not to be included, be that Fallas in Valencia, Diwali in India, or Notting Hill Carnival in London!
5. Visit museums and historical sites
Tourism boards like nothing more than increasing foot traffic in their cultural spaces, and museums or heritage sites are the perfect place to do just that!
Seeing the most famous landmarks like the Colosseum is great, but visiting small museums, galleries, and lesser-known monuments can be just as rewarding.
6. Consider genuine history
Travel isn’t just about the famous tourist zones; it’s about the real history of a place, including its memorials, cultural influences, and the hallmarks of lost time.
Being present and curious about everything around you is what makes travel so all-consuming.
It’s why people who may not be religious can still feel awe visiting Vatican City!
When I explored Sarajevo with a Bosnian war veteran, it taught me so much about Bosnia and its people, and since then, I’ve made it a priority to learn about the history of the places I visit.
How to Travel Deeper | Final Thoughts
When we look to the world as an explorer AND a tourist, we get to experience the best of both worlds, and widen our cultural horizons while enjoying ourselves at the same time.
I hope that this article has acted as a starting point for you to travel more deeply in your future adventures!
Until next time,
XOXO
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