Airplanes have made it possible to reach places thousands of kilometres away in a very short time. But more and more people are realising that this means an important part of travel gets lost.
By covering long distances on foot, by bike or on a cargo ship, you get more of an authentic feeling for the distance and travel experience.
Not travelling by plane is also better for the environment – although you will certainly need a lot more time. We take a closer look at the alternatives:
“At the start, I was overwhelmed by how long the path was,” says Rebecca Maria Salentin. She walked the 2,700km mountain trail of friendship from Eisenach in Germany to Budapest, Hungary. It was hard. If you’re on foot the entire time, you can’t skip boring or rainy passages.
You can’t walk away from your own doubts and fears, says the long-distance hiker. Instead, you notice the beautiful things along the way. And: “I realised I’m much stronger than I thought.”
After about three weeks on your feet, you have thought through everything that had been bothering you. “You find an inner balance.”
Her personal highlight wasn’t just the people she met along the way, but also the friends who supported her and accompanied her at certain points. She named her book about long-distance hiking after this club of friendship, Club Druzhba.
Comfort: After a week in the forest with your bags on your back, you really appreciate a warm shower and clean clothes.
Price: It works out well if you travel with a tent and cook yourself.
Speed: An average of 25km per day.
Sustainability: Great, if you arrive and leave by train.
Adventure factor: Very high. Bears, wolves, steep mountain passages, wilderness and storms are all possible perils on the trail.
Equipment tip: A thick inflatable sleeping mat for a good night’s sleep and trousers that prevent rubbing between the thighs.
For David Kossmann from the Pressedienst-Fahrrad news service agency, travelling without a plane is about taking responsibility. “The ecological footprint of flying is huge,” he says.
In addition, you get to know people in a different way. “Many people see you travelling with little luggage and want to offer their support.”
Kossmann recommends that anyone travelling with others should clearly agree on their expectations and priorities beforehand. How much distance can and does the group want to cover in one day?
Comfort: Strongly depends on the travel destination, travel time and comfort level of the overnight stays.
Price: There are often no transport costs, but you’ll first have to invest in a usable bike and equipment.
Speed: Between 30km and 130km per day.
Sustainability: The carbon footprint is very low.
Adventure factor: Quite high. There is nothing separating you from the environment and the weather. Last-minute changes of plan are often required.
Equipment tip: A charging system on the hub dynamo can be used to charge your mobile phone and satellite navigator when there is no power socket within reach.
Leonore Sibeth and Sebastian Ohlert have covered 97,000km in 34 months without flying once. They have a blog where they describe how they travelled from Germany to Mexico in the first 24 months. On the east coast of China the question arose: Should we cross the Pacific or head back home?
Sibeth and Ohlert decided to go to America. They bought tickets months in advance for a cargo ship to Mexico and travelled 13,500km across the Pacific in 18 days. “There are travel agencies online that specialise in these trips or you can contact the shipping companies directly,” Sibeth explains.
The pair barely suffered from seasickness. Due to its size, the ship was pretty quiet most of the time. More strenuous were the time changes, with Sibeth and Ohlert reaching a new time zone every two days. Boredom did not set in.
“We were always allowed up onto the bridge, where we were able to observe animals and even got a tour of the engine room once in a while,” says Sibeth.
Comfort: It’s quite comfortable, with your own cabin and bathroom.
Price: Around €100 (RM472) per person, per day.
Speed: On average of 800km per day.
Sustainability: The pollutant emissions are high, but the CO2 emissions are less per person than by plane.
Adventure factor: High. You’re in the middle of the sea and exposed to natural forces such as storms and waves.
For Stephanie Forsch, travelling by train is a chance to sit back and relax. Looking out of the window for hours, chasing your thoughts and having a walk around and stopping by the on-board bistro.
“It means I arrive at my destination relaxed and feeling zen,” says Forsch, who gives tips on her blog about rail travel in Europe.
For the most relaxed travel experience possible, she recommends reserving a seat, packing a rucksack instead of a large suitcase and booking a night train for city trips with a shorter stay.
Comfort: From comfortable to plain, anything is possible – depending on the destination, route and train.
Price: Night trains are often expensive, otherwise prices vary from region to region.
Speed: This can vary greatly – depending on whether you are travelling on a slow or high-speed train.
Sustainability: Significantly less CO2 emissions than flying.
Adventure factor: High. If you plan your trip with overnight stays, you can get to know a place from very different perspectives. – dpa
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
