After the chaotic joy of the festive period, January always invites a natural pause. Increasingly, it has become a month defined by intention, as Brits use the start of the year to try new things and commit to new habits. From Veganuary and Dry January to fitness challenges like the 75 Hard, the New Year reset has evolved into a cultural moment centred on experimentation, change and improved wellbeing.
However, it’s not just diet and fitness on Brits’ wellness radar for 2026. Google Trends data shows that in a fast-paced culture, slow living is on the agenda, with searches for ‘slow living’ in January 2025 up 54% compared to January 2024. Naturally, this Slow January shift is reshaping the way people travel. Drawing on the wider slow living movement, slow travel focuses on how journeys are experienced, not just where they lead.
As travellers look for more restorative and immersive holidays that reflect the values they are adopting in everyday life, Byway, the slow travel specialists, has rounded up their top picks for slow-living holidays, where the journey becomes part of the joy.
Hidden Shores of Croatia
Journeying by rail to Croatia’s lesser known coastline invites travellers into the world of pomalo, a Dalmatian philosophy centred on taking life easy. Byway’s Hidden Shores of Croatia is a 16 day, flight free rail journey from London that passes through alpine lakes and historic Central European cities before tracing along the Adriatic coast, with stays in Šibenik, Zadar and Opatija. With ample time to swim in clear waters, wander atmospheric old towns and explore nearby national parks, the journey encourages a slower rhythm of life shaped by serene seaside swims and long lunches.
£: Prices start from £1,870 per person for a 16 day journey from London
329kg CO2 (-70% Emissions)
Pause in Provence
To experience the quintessential French village life, Provence’s lavender fields and farmers’ markets embody the beauty of slow living. With our always-on digital culture, those looking for a way to escape the compounding stresses of modern life can find refuge in this quaint and beautiful region of the South of France. Travelling with Byway, passengers can watch the British fields turn into the French countryside from the carriage window, offering a mindful transition into a sun-drenched destination where time stands still. Visit the atelier of the famous French painter, Paul Cezanne, who was born in Aix-en-Provence or take a tour of a local vineyard to uncover the secrets of world-famous wine production before boarding a train back to London via Paris.
£: Prices start from £597 per person for a 3 day journey from London
112 kg CO2 (-89% emissions)
Puglia’s coastal delights
Slow living is adopted by the Pugliese who savour each moment through life’s simple pleasures, from long passeggiata walks and coffees in sun-drenched squares to evenings shaped by local food and good company. This Byway journey visits Bari, the often overlooked capital with an old town clustered with stylish shops and edgy art venues, baroque Lecce and the white washed harbour town of Monopoli. The route then winds north through Modena and on to Zürich before returning home. Designed for unhurried days that revolve around the pleasures Puglia does best, this Byway adventure embraces Il dolce far niente (sweet idleness).
£: Prices start from £1,692 per person for a 14 day journey from London
328 kg CO2 (-75% emissions)
For those after something a little closer to home …
The Cornish Coast
Byway’s Cornish Coast itinerary proves that slow living doesn’t require travelling far. Cornwall’s breathtaking coastlines and charming villages offer a tranquil environment for those after a fulfilling and immersive getaway. The county’s slower pace is characterised by a calmer coastal lifestyle, fewer people and a focus on community, especially outside of peak season, seldom found in other parts of the UK. This trip is designed to bypass the West Country’s famously congested summer roads by travelling from London to St Erth before hopping onto the scenic St Ives Bay Line, passing views of sandy beaches and crashing Atlantic waves. The journey continues to Penzance for seaside strolls, seal-spotting, paddleboarding, and fish-and-chip suppers.
£: Prices start from £606 per person for a 5 day journey from London to St Ives and Penzance
174 kg CO2 (-80% emissions
About Byway
Byway is the first dynamic slow travel planning technology. Each multi-stop journey is personalised for the holidaymaker, and optimised for quality of experience instead of speed. The company was founded in 2020 by Cat Jones, who’s never owned a car and whose annual family holiday is by train and bike Trips are currently available across the UK, Europe and North Africa for all dates in 2025 and beyond. All bookings include customised transport, hand-picked accommodation and on-demand expert advice, plus a lower carbon footprint.
About flight-free travel
The carbon impact of rail travel is 14g of CO2 per passenger mile, compared to 285g for air: you could get the train from London to Edinburgh and back five times and your carbon footprint would still be lower than if you flew there. Byway trips are not just about less carbon, but the wider benefits of travelling sustainably, avoiding hotspots, staying in locally run accommodation; about getting to know the places you visit and enjoying the freedom and unexpectedness of travelling overland.
Find out more at www.byway.travel.
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Some images supplied. Some images courtesy of unsplash.com and pexels.com
