Wellness tourism is a trend that’s here to stay. From spa treatments to hot yoga and silent meditation, more of us are looking for ways to escape the everyday and switch off our brains. But cycling might just be the answer.
Alex from our HQ team recently visited Transylvania, spending six days cycling through wildflower meadows, rural villages and rolling hills. Here’s why she thinks a cycling journey may just be the ultimate retreat.
I had no doubt that I would love Transylvania. I was excited to see a different part of the world, meet new people and get back on a bike, but I hadn’t considered how the journey would make me feel. Cycling through the quiet trails and meadows of Transylvania, I felt the most switched off and relaxed I’ve been in a long time.
That might sound surprising, given that cycling is an active way to spend a day – your legs will certainly know about it, even with the help of an electric motor – but there’s something so peaceful about being in the saddle, watching the world go by. For some, it’s a chance to chat to the cyclist next to them, catching up with old friends or making new ones. But for me, I loved the quiet, my only thoughts being whether to change gear or wondering if those were the Carpathian mountains I could see in the distance (they were). There was no temptation to check my emails or mindlessly scroll on my phone; thoughts of housework were far from my mind; I didn’t even need to think about what I’d eat for lunch, knowing that a delicious picnic would be set up at the next stop.
Modern worries feel particularly absent in Transylvania, a place where traditional values and practices run strong. This is a world where farming is done by horse and cart, and young locals learn the craft of hand-painting furniture. Put the smartphone down and you discover a far richer way of life.
A Slow Cyclist journey isn’t a ‘retreat’ in the traditional sense, but there are plenty of parallels: it’s a chance to disconnect from everyday life, immerse yourself in nature, and feel the physical benefits of six days of cycling and walking (even with all the wine and hearty meals).
And there are so many mental benefits to cycling. Physical activity is proven to boost mood, help with sleep and improve brain function. Research has even shown that spending time in nature can make us happier. All pretty good side effects of a holiday.
If you’d like to discover the benefits of a cycling journey for yourself, take a look at our upcoming Scheduled Journeys or drop us a line.
