Mindful escapes aren’t about scarcity; they’re about savoring. Eco travelers pack fewer things but carry more intention. The impact? A trip that lingers long after the bags are unpacked.
Today’s mindful traveler is seeking more than just reprieve; they’re in the market for depth, ritual, and a different kind of luxury — the kind that encourages deep self-care and leaving places better than they were found. With nearly 80 percent of global travelers saying sustainable practices are important when choosing accommodations, according to a recent Booking.com survey, the eco-minded set is rewriting the rules of what it means to “get away.”
The surge in mindful travel is no longer reserved for religious pilgrimages; this expanding category of wellness tourism includes visits to sacred landmarks, immersive nature retreats, and practices such as yoga, meditation, and sound healing.
According to data cited by Fox News, U.K.-based agency Away Holidays reported a 57 percent increase in spiritual travel searches over a recent three-month period, underscoring a renewed cultural appetite for journeys that deepen one’s connection to self, nature, and purpose.
The United Nations World Tourism Organization estimates that approximately 330 million people embark on spiritual or religious trips each year — evidence that the travel-as-transformation mindset is no longer niche, but mainstream.
Top destinations are evolving to meet this shift. Tokyo leads with an impressive 3,867 spiritual sites, from Shinto shrines to ancient temples, while its 1,200 spas and hundreds of public parks offer space for reflection beyond the sacred.
London and Paris also rank highly, each offering hundreds of spiritual landmarks alongside wellness-focused infrastructure like yoga studios and green spaces. Even densely packed New York City surprises with over 300 spiritual attractions and nearly 400 parks, reinforcing that spiritual nourishment can coexist with the pulse of urban life.
From Berlin’s contemplative historical spaces to the meditative calm of the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris, today’s spiritual travel is as much about quieting the mind as it is about sightseeing.
According to the Global Wellness Institute, wellness tourism is expected to hit $1.4 trillion by 2027, growing faster than the overall tourism sector. But the most transformative journeys today are less about luxury resorts and more about slowing down, reconnecting, and minimizing harm. Whether camping in Patagonia or booking a train-based journey through the Scottish Highlands, these travelers are curating their experiences — and their packing lists — to reflect a deeper sense of presence.
Here are seven things eco travelers do differently to create a more mindful escape.
1. They pack for permanence, not convenience
The modern eco traveler sees their suitcase as an extension of their values. Single-use toiletries, synthetic-heavy fabrics, and impulse airport purchases are replaced by thoughtfully chosen, durable essentials. Brands like Patagonia and Pakt have seen a rise in demand for minimalist, multi-use travel gear. A 2023 report found that more than 60 percent of Gen Z and Millennial consumers now prefer buying fewer, better-made products.
Instead of bringing a dozen travel minis, eco travelers opt for refillable silicone containers, solid shampoo bars, and multi-purpose skincare. Clothing is chosen based on the principle of layering and function, often made from natural fibers that breathe and can serve more than one purpose (and often comes with a story).
2. They turn transportation into transformation
While mainstream tourism still favors air travel, mindful eco travelers often build their itineraries around low-impact alternatives like trains, buses, and even bicycles. According to the International Energy Agency, aviation accounts for around 2.5 percent of global CO2 emissions, but its warming impact may be more than double that due to contrail effects.
Instead of rushing from place to place, these travelers savor slowness. “Slow tourism,” a growing global trend, emphasizes staying longer in fewer destinations, choosing local over global, and walking or biking as a way to connect more deeply with surroundings. The French National Railway (SNCF) reported a significant uptick in train bookings for leisure travel in 2024, especially among eco-conscious travelers heading to the Olympic Summer Games in Paris.
3. They bring rituals that ground, not gadgets that distract
For many, travel is a break from routine. For the eco traveler, it’s a chance to deepen it. Packing a meditation cushion, travel journal, essential oil roller, or small altar kit is common. These items don’t take up much space, but they center the traveler in ways devices cannot.
Mindfulness-based travel brands like Open and Calm have launched travel-specific meditation guides. And more hotels, such as those in the Six Senses, Auberge, or Beyond Green network, offer dedicated spaces for reflection and breathwork, replacing TVs with yoga mats and lending libraries.
4. They eat local, plant-forward, and low-waste
Food is one of the most immediate and visceral ways we interact with place. Eco travelers seek out restaurants and markets that reflect the local ecology and cultural heritage — often prioritizing plant-based menus, zero-waste eateries, and farm-to-table operations.
Research shows that shifting to plant-forward diets could cut food-related emissions by up to 70 percent. This data is resonating with travelers who want their vacations to align with their climate values.
In places like Copenhagen, Bali, and Los Angeles, conscious travelers book experiences that include foraging walks, fermentation workshops, and community meals over resort buffets. They pack reusable utensils, bamboo straws, and water purifiers, and are increasingly turning to local refill shops over hotel toiletries.
5. They disconnect in order to reconnect
Digital detoxing isn’t just a wellness cliché — it’s a practice with proven cognitive and emotional benefits. According to a recent study, spending just 20 minutes in nature can significantly lower cortisol levels. Yet we miss that reset when our phones are constantly buzzing.
Eco travelers often set app limits, delete social media during their trip, or designate tech-free hours. Some choose accommodations without Wi-Fi entirely — off-grid cabins, eco-lodges in Costa Rica, or desert glamping tents in Chile.
They’re not anti-tech, but they’re just choosing intentional presence. The mountains, after all, aren’t going anywhere.
6. They tread lightly — and leave it better
One of the most defining traits of the eco traveler is their approach to impact. The goal isn’t just to “leave no trace,” but to leave a positive one. That might mean participating in a beach clean-up, donating to a local reforestation effort, or supporting Indigenous-run eco tours.
Tourism Concern and the Center for Responsible Travel both stress that the tourism industry can be a force for good — if travelers prioritize ethical operators and regenerative practices. This includes choosing hotels certified by Global Sustainable Tourism Council standards, or joining carbon offset programs that go beyond greenwashing.
“Regenerative travel isn’t just about reducing your footprint — it’s about making the places you visit healthier, stronger, and more resilient,”
“Regeneration is a more positive, aspirational way to look at the world and ultimately brings hope into the tourism and travel industry,” Amanda Ho, co-founder of Regenerative Travel, said in an interview with Vogue.
7. They move slowly and stay curious
More than anything, mindful eco travelers approach each moment with curiosity rather than consumption. That means ditching the bucket list and moving at the pace of the place. Long-term stays can help with this. Staying in one place for longer is easier than ever, thanks to platforms like www.spareroom.com that offer rooms for rent in big, popular cities like San Francisco.
Instead of back-to-back excursions, a day might include reading by a waterfall, listening to local radio, or learning the names of plants from a guide. Meaningful travel experiences are on the uptick, according to recent McKinsey data, which found 52 percent of Gen Zers reporting they plurge on experiences, compared with only 29 percent of baby boomers. “Even terminology used by younger generations to describe travel is experience-oriented: ‘Never stop exploring’ is tagged to nearly 30 million posts on Instagram,” McKinsey noted.
“We will never stop traveling as a society, but we can choose to support the right businesses that are actually making an impact, support initiatives and nature-based solutions that sequester carbon, and give back to local communities,” Ho said.
Related on Ethos:
