Nature travel tips: 12 ways to connect to nature while travelling
For many of us, travel is an opportunity to spend time in nature. Follow these travel tips to learn how you can connect to nature while travelling, whether it be through bush survival skills, multi-day hikes or simply observing the world around you.
Why do you travel? Is it to connect to the natural world around you?
There are so many ways you can touch base with nature, both at home and afar.
You can lean into the more spiritual side of things, really listening to nature and getting to know the world around you.
Or if you’re a more practical sort, you can choose to stay in eco-friendly accommodation, take part in nature-based activities or even learn some basic bush survival skills.
Perhaps both appeal to your sense of adventure!
If you’re keen to connect to nature while travelling, follow these nature travel tips.
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How to connect with nature while travelling
Follow these nature travel tips to connect with the great outdoors, while you travel.
1. Take time to sit in nature
Have you ever heard of a sit spot practice?
This is a gateway to nature connection, where you pick a place local to you, to sit and observe the world around you, ideally for around 20 minutes or more.
If you’re returning to the same place, such as a watering hole near your home, a big friendly tree in a nearby park or even a spot in your own backyard, you start to notice things.
Patterns in weather, the lunar cycle. Common birds and insects. You’ll notice when particular flowers bloom, when certain trees shed their leaves.
And while it is helpful to continue to return to the same spot, you can tap into this practice when you’re on the go, too.
Find a suitable spot, sit yourself down and watch the world around you. You may even journal what you observe – more on this in a sec.
2. Practise a bit of forest therapy
Hailing from Japan, where it is known as Shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing”, this is a recognised public health practice that can improve and strengthen both mental and physical wellbeing.
This guided experience sees trained guides lead participants on a slow walk, while inviting them to experience nature with all their senses.
You’ll deepen your connection to nature, and it’s been scientifically proven to have an affect on your overall health.
The Association of Nature & Forest Therapy is a good place to start, if you wish to seek a guide.
3. Start a nature journal
Keen scribbler or doodler? Maybe you can start a dedicated journal for your travels, especially reserved for what you notice in nature.
You could write down any animal or bird encounters, or descriptions of interesting flora you notice on your travels. If you’re handy with a pencil or paintbrush, maybe you can even draw what you see.
Not only will it be beneficial for your writing or art practice – it’s an excellent record of your travels, or personalised souvenir.
4. Learn about the bird and plant-life around you
Similarly, send yourself out on a journey of discovery, to learn about the creatures and plant life that call the area you’re travelling in, home.
Pop into an indie bookshop to find a local bird, animal or plant guide, or sleuth your way through your own personal investigation with the help of an app (Merlin is great for identifying birds from around the globe).
It would be very cool to take home some knowledge, such as the medicinal factors of a local plant, or be able to identify a bird of that region by its call. Impress your friends, and yourself!
5. Go for a long walk
If you want to immerse yourself in the rawness of nature, nothing really beats a multi-day hike.
Many of the hikes around Australia at least take place in remote areas. You’ll be exploring wild nature, seeing either the same group of people or no one for days.
By night, you’ll camp in the elements. It really gives you an opportunity to get to know a place – its rhythms, its settings and its creatures.
For more, check out my guides to the Jatbula Trail in the Northern Territory and the Thorsborne Trail on Hinchinbrook Island.
6. Get in the water (if it’s safe to do so)
Similarly, wild swimming is also a great way to connect to nature.
Plus, it’s good for you! Salt water is high in magnesium, and cold water therapy has a range of benefits, from boosting your immune system to improving your mood.
My favourite experiences are when you get to merge the two – go for a walk and swim either along the way, or at dedicated campsites.
Please practice caution when swimming in wild waters. For more, check out my tips for beach safety in Australia.
7. Practice deep listening
To connect with nature you should not only make time to be in it – you should listen to it.
You can combine this with your sit spot practice. Find somewhere to sit outside and close your eyes.
Listen to the world around you. Really listen. What is it trying to tell you?
If you hear an answer, then you’ve truly made a special connection with nature.
8. Pick up litter
Back to the more practical nature travel tips.
You’ve heard of the saying leave no trace? Well, I have to say, in my experience, seemingly not everyone has.
Some people visit fantastic areas of natural beauty and leave their rubbish behind. It boggles the mind, honestly.
Or, in the case of beaches, it’s rubbish that has washed in.
Spend some time caring for the places you’re visiting, by picking up any litter you see. Even three pieces makes a difference.
As an added boost, there are many well-being related knock-on effects from caring for the natural world, such as reducing stress and increasing overall life satisfaction. So, why wouldn’t you?
9. Stay in eco-friendly acommodation
Here’s a nature travel tip that is a little less woo woo than some others on this list!
Make it your mission to try to stay in eco-friendly accommodation.
This could consist of hotels with green credentials, off-grid cottages, glamping spots and luxury lodges.
Certification for these types of green getaways can be patchy. Some questions you could ask include:
- How does the property source their water and deal with sewage?
- Do they recycle and compost?
- How is electricity use sourced and monitored?
- What building materials have been used for construction on the property?
For inspiration, here are some options for eco-retreats in Victoria, Australia.
10. Try a solo camp
Or perhaps you forgo a physical structure and take your experience out into the literal wild.
Solo camping can be a extremely thrilling adventure, particularly if you get the chance to do so in a truly remote location.
If you are travelling to or live in a region that has a ‘right to roam’, this is something you can definitely take advantage of, camping in some amazing locations.
If not, some state and national parks have free camping sites, some of which are accessible only by 4WD, hiking or even canoe.
11. Choose nature-based activities when you travel
Likewise, try to book onto activities that allow you to connect with nature.
When I’m travelling, I look for hikes or kayaking adventures, so I can get a feel for an area’s natural splendour.
It’s also worth looking for experiences run by the country’s Indigenous people, if you really want to get the lay of the land.
Other options could include birdwatching tours, rock climbing, snorkelling, cycling, weaving, eco-dyeing and stargazing.
12. Learn some basic bush survival skills
Whether you’re preppin’ for the apocalypse, or you’re just curious about the old ways, there’s something to be said for learning some bush survival skills. Particularly if you do or plan on spending a lot of time in nature.
As humans, we have basic needs for water, food, fire and shelter, if we’re to survive in the wild. Skills you may want to hone could include:
- The ability to create fire using fire friction.
- Identify some edible weeds and/or bushfoods.
- Construct a shelter out of sticks and bramble.
- Find or produce water.
- Hunting, if you’re particularly game.
If you live in Australia and are keen on nurturing your bush survival skills, see offerings at Bushcraft Survival Australia, which runs courses for beginner to advanced students. They cover survival essentials such as building shelter, sourcing water, remote first aid and navigation.
How do you connect to nature when travelling?
Hopefully this post has given you a few ideas for nature connection, while travelling (or at home!).
If you have any nature travel tips of your own, please feel free to share them in the comments.
