As holiday destinations across the globe grapple with the effects of overtourism , a soul-nourishing alternative is gaining traction. Following in the footsteps of the slow food movement, which started in Italy in the mid-1980s, slow tourism prioritises the pleasures of travel while encouraging us to get in touch with our “inner tortoise”, as Carl Honoré, author of the 2004 book In Praise of Slow , puts it. Slow tourism means immersing ourselves in a place and enjoying meaningful experiences, rather than trying to see and do as much as possible in a limited time, while Instagramming it all . It overlaps with a number of related forms of travel, including eco-tourism, sustainable tourism, ethical tourism, nature-based tourism and responsible tourism. Perhaps it’s easier to say what slow tourism is not. Cramming 12 countries into a whirlwind two-week trip is the antithesis of the philosophy. The flag-following sightseer is likely to arrive home so exhausted they need another holiday just to recover. Slow tourists steer clear of the throng and spend longer in each place, meeting the locals and learning about their lives, traditions and cuisine (locally sourced, of course). Slow tourism might involve getting off the beaten track on a bicycle in Taiwan; savouring the sluggish progress of a canal barge in rural England or watching the world go past from the window of a dawdling train in Patagonia. An appetite for improvisation is another characteristic of the slow traveller, who realises that detours and diversions can lead to serendipitous discoveries – an amazing trattoria in a hilltop Italian village maybe, or a medley of glaciers in the mountains of Mongolia. The range of places and pursuits suited to slow travel is almost infinite but here are a few suggestions to get you started. Horseback Horse riding is a natural fit for slow tourism and Mongolia is a good place to explore because parts of the country that are inaccessible by vehicle can be reached on horseback. You probably won’t get a phone signal in the Altai Mountains but stumbling upon a family of nomadic eagle hunters more than compensates. Mongolia for foodies: gamy lamb, curdled milk and dumplings galore Sticking with exotic destinations, saddle up and head into the Celestial Mountains of Kyrgyzstan, or arrange a horse safari in the otherworldly Himalayan Indian province of Ladakh, also known as Little Tibet. At these altitudes, you won’t be going anywhere in a hurry – but that’s the point, of course. As American novelist Louis L’Amour said, “The trail is the thing, not the end of the trail. Travel too fast and you miss all you are travelling for.” Cycling A desire to put the brakes on and change down a gear, quite literally, might take you into the highlands of Kerala, in India; eating and sleeping at tea-houses. You could join a two-wheeled tour of the Mekong Delta, “the rice bowl of Vietnam”, or combine cycling and Khmer cuisine on an Angkor to the sea ride across Cambodia. Trundling along with a small group on a prearranged itinerary is one thing but pedalling into the countryside and seeing where it takes you encapsulates the notion of slow. Take an overnight bag and you’ve the freedom to roam. The limestone pinnacles and paddy fields of Yangshuo, near Guilin, are firmly on the mass tourism map but you don’t have to pedal far from the fast-food outlets and souvenir shops to find authenticity, welcoming smiles and village rooms for rent. A slow boat An antidote to our hectic lifestyles, barging holidays have been called the fastest way to slow down. You don’t miss any riverine activity when you’re gliding along at 5km/h. A week spent on France’s Canal du Midi offers time for reflection and connection. Drifting past sturdy stone villages, vineyards and fields of sunflowers then mooring beside unassuming restaurants for long, lazy lunches encapsulates the essence of slow. For a change of venue, if not pace, consider a Canadian canoeing holiday (wilderness camping, it goes without saying). The North American nation is a paradise for paddlers and has more lakes than the rest of the world put together. A train ride The Indian subcontinent is a rewarding place for rail enthusiasts. Slow tourism obsessives could board the weekly Vivek Express at Dibrugarh, in the northeastern state of Assam, and alight 96 hours later in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu. During the 4,262km ride, you can expect to meet (and take selfies with) more people than you would in a year back home. Alternatively, book a seat on the antiquated colonial-era train that wheezes up from Kandy to Ella, in Sri Lanka’s Hill Country, or clickety-clack along the coastal route to Galle and beyond. The Indian Ocean island is reeling after the deadly Easter Sunday bombings but visiting now shows solidarity and helps an economy heavily dependent on tourism. Hiking You can’t get much slower than walking. Nor is there a better way to get under the skin of a place. Hiking and trekking trips are available just about anywhere but let’s focus on the strikingly scenic Romanian region of Transylvania. Dracula’s fictional home is a medieval throwback, where villagers cling to farming methods and a way of life that is fast disappearing. Hikes near Taipei: the region's most difficult day hikes Britain’s Prince Charles has described Transylvania as “the last corner of Europe where you see true sustainability […] and the maintenance of entire ecosystems to the benefit of mankind and also for nature”. Queen Elizabeth’s son should know; he owns properties in the area and visits every spring. To discover why the prince is so smitten, join a Carpathian Mountain walking tour that incorporates overnight stays with hosts who serve up home-made fare using those locally grown ingredients. Italy for slow foodies It’s no surprise the Italians have embraced the idea of unhurried travel. The people who gave us slow food have designated 2019 as the Year of Slow Tourism. The initiative has the potential to divert visitors from the country’s holiday honeypots to parts of Italy unfamiliar to foreigners – places without a portfolio of must-see sights but where interaction with the locals, great weather, unpolluted air and authentic regional cuisine are reason enough for visiting. Tours that combine market trips, cookery lessons and the opportunity to meet local producers (Parma ham, balsamic vinegar, salami, buffalo mozzarella) blend the best of slow travel with slow food.