While hiking is a fantastic way to experience the great outdoors, there are countless other immersive, creative, and restorative ways to deepen your bond with the natural world.
Exploring nature through different lenses can offer even more enriching experiences that awaken your senses, stir your imagination, and leave you feeling grounded and inspired.
Whether you’re meandering through a forest on horseback, stargazing in the desert, or learning traditional ways of living from indigenous communities, these unique approaches can help you slow down, look deeper, and truly tune in to the rhythms of the Earth.
Here are six ways to connect with nature on your travels, beyond hiking:
1. Go Forest Bathing (Shinrin-yoku)
Originating in Japan, forest bathing is the art of mindfully spending time among trees without an agenda, destination, or presence. It’s about strolling, breathing deeply, and observing the forest with all your senses. Whether in a national park or a quiet woodland, this practice can lower stress, improve mood, and heighten your awareness of nature’s subtle beauty.
2. Try Wildlife or Birdwatching Safaris
Observing animals in their natural habitat is one of the most awe-inspiring ways to connect with nature. From spotting jaguars in the Brazilian Pantanal to watching puffins on an Icelandic cliffside, wildlife safaris and birdwatching trips turn your attention outward. They teach patience, respect, and appreciation for ecosystems far from yours.
3. Sleep Under the Stars
Camping, glamping, or even open-air rooftop stays can reconnect you to the rhythms of day and night. Whether in the desert, jungle, or alpine meadow, sleeping under the stars makes you more aware of the sky, the temperature, and the sounds around you. Stargazing can be a deeply humbling and magical experience, especially in dark-sky reserves.
4. Participate in a Conservation Project
Volunteering for a day (or more) with an environmental or wildlife conservation initiative offers a unique way to give back while you travel. You might help clean up a beach, monitor sea turtle nests, or plant native trees in a rainforest. These hands-on experiences deepen your relationship with nature and the communities working hard to protect it.
5. Explore by Kayak, Canoe, or Paddleboard
Take to the water and discover nature from a fresh perspective. Paddling through mangroves, gliding across a glassy lake, or floating along a quiet river allows you to move gently through ecosystems you might not see on foot. It’s peaceful, low-impact, and perfect for spotting birds, fish, and even dolphins or otters along the way.
6. Learn Indigenous or Local Nature Practices
Many cultures have deep, spiritual relationships with the land. Participating in indigenous-led nature walks, medicinal plant tours, or storytelling sessions allows you to connect with nature in ways rooted in tradition, respect, and balance. It’s a reminder that nature isn’t just scenery, it’s part of a living, breathing relationship between people and the Earth.
In a world that often feels disconnected from the natural cycles, traveling with intention can help bring you back into harmony with the planet. By exploring nature through gentle, cultural, spiritual, or scientific paths, you’ll return home refreshed and more deeply connected to the world around you.