Getting a hyper-local, authentic travel experience in a globalized world is tricky.
You want to travel responsibly, connect to local people and take part in meaningful experiences that go deeper than surface-level resort stay and overcrowded top-ten attractions.
But when you venture off the beaten path to get a taste of local life, it’s important to be respectful of the culture you’re visiting.
So what’s the best way to pull off this balancing act?
The answer is not “travel like a local.” Instead, own your position as a curious visitor and seek out the personal touch of small, locally-run travel experiences.
When you bring this attitude to travel, you’ll be supporting the local culture and learning from real people on their terms. Best of all, you’ll walk away bursting with insider knowledge (and all of your hosts’ contagious excitement)!
We’ll share some of our favorite hyper-local, authentic travel experiences below, but first, let’s talk about a very important distinction that’ll help you enjoy these moments even more.
Don’t Ask How to Travel Like a Local – Ask How to Learn From the Locals
Somewhere along the way, the idea of “looking like a tourist” became taboo.
And that makes sense: examples of bad tourist behavior are rampant in today’s media.
But as long as you’re respectful, there’s nothing inherently wrong with being a tourist, and no reason to try to camouflage yourself as a local while you’re traveling.
After all, you’re not a local!
You don’t have their background or the deep understanding of their customs, food, and place that comes with it. If you simply emulate them in an effort to “travel like a local,” paradoxically, you won’t get the experience of being a local!
You’re traveling to learn about a new culture straight from the source.
So, ask not “how to travel like a local.” Ask “how to learn from the locals.”
The first step?
Own the fact that you’re not a local.
Be open about the fact that you’re from abroad, and don’t be afraid to wear your eagerness to learn on your sleeve!
Do your best to observe local customs and speak the local language, of course. Respect the fact that you’re on someone else’s home turf. And focus on keeping an open mind and a teachable attitude.
When you act like this, locals are more likely to offer you real, authentic travel experiences that you’d never find simply by wandering around disguised as a local yourself.
Just like making friends at home, the combination of being your true self and showing genuine interest is a great way to invite people to open up to you!
Which leads us to our next tip.
Invest in hyper-local travel experiences.
Even if you have a respectful, open-minded attitude, you won’t just stumble into the local experiences you’re craving.
Well, you might get lucky and find one or two, but a trip packed with meaningful encounters needs to be planned.
This is where locally-run travel experiences come in (think private tours, cooking classes, or hands-on history lessons).
These experiences immerse you in tradition, show you ways of life that have been carefully guarded for generations, and connect you with people you’ll never forget.
Hyper-local experiential travel might just be the best way to experience a new culture beyond the surface level – you’ll be spending time with individuals who have a passion for teaching visitors and have carved out time for you in advance!
Plus, you’ll be giving back to the local economy, which helps support traditional ways of life.
Our Favorite Hyper-Local, Authentic Travel Experiences
Finding these hyper-local, authentic travel experiences isn’t easy. They’re usually not as well-publicized as corporate-run attractions, and some limit bookings to known travel partners.
When you join one of our Yoga Adventures, you’re not setting off on a normal yoga retreat. Instead, you’re diving into an itinerary jam-packed with private moments, learning opportunities, and (of course!) culinary delights.
Before we launch a new Yoga Adventure, we spend months building relationships with small local businesses and individuals. We nurture those relationships over years, as we repeat and improve trips.
The result? We offer uniquely local, authentic travel experiences from Europe to South America to the remote Pacific Islands. Each will fill you with infectious zeal for the place you’re visiting and teach you things you’ll never find on the Internet.
(Plus, you’ll rest easy knowing portions of your trip fee are going straight to each local business.)
It’s hard to name our favorite intimate local experiences, but we tried. Here are just a few!
Piedmont, Italy: Meet the Goat Shepherd and Cheese Maker
On our food-forward Italy Yoga Adventure, you’ll spend a morning on a hilltop with a local goat shepherd, who is kind enough to allow you to drive his herd into their pen for milking.
Then, he’ll walk you through the full process of transforming the fresh milk into a creamy goat cheese that you’ll get to sample right then and there!
And we know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry – our shepherd friend and his trusty dog will be by your side to help you manage this spunky herd.
Plus, hard work makes cheese taste even better.
Sicily: See an Ancient Water Mill in Action
Even in an industrialized world, traditional ways of life are guarded by a select few. This ancient water mill from our Sicily Yoga Adventure is an excellent example.
You’ll learn exactly how this time-tested technology works (it’s actually genius). Then, with your mind spinning like a millstone, you’ll get to work turning fresh, organic flour into some of the best focaccia you’ve ever tasted thanks to (you guessed it!) more guidance from your hosts.
Iceland: Step Inside a Tiny Fishing Village’s Local Restaurant
Our Iceland Yoga Adventure takes you beyond the ultra-touristed reach of the Golden Circle and into the wilds of Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
We can’t tell you exactly where you’ll roam – partly because it’s weather dependent, and partly because we don’t want to give it away.
What we can promise you is a heaping plate of famous Icelandic hospitality at a family-run restaurant in a tiny fishing village after you’ve worked up an appetite exploring the craggy coastline and otherworldly hills.
What’s on the menu? Seasonal vegetables and wild game, homemade ice cream for dessert, and of course, plenty of fresh seafood creations you won’t want to miss.
Authentic Adventure Awaits…
Wherever you adventure with The Travel Yogi, you’ll have the chance to discover delicious cuisine, ancient tradition, and unique customs. Thanks to the guidance of locals, you’ll go much deeper than you could on your own!
As you laugh, learn, and taste your way through hyper-local, authentic experiences, even though you’re just visiting, you’ll somehow feel right at home.
Sound like your kind of trip?