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Travel beyond the tick box: Steppes Travel explain how to discover true luxury on your travels
By Tempus | 9 January 2025 | Travel
True luxury isn’t Michelin star dining and expansive suites, it is about making connections. Here, Steppes Travel tell us how we can forge that on our future travels
In our modern world of travel there’s a growing realisation that real luxury isn’t found in superlative suites, palm-lined pools or Michelin-starred meals but, instead, lies in immersive experiences that foster connections with places, people and cultures.
It’s increasingly clear that true fulfilment isn’t achieved by ticking off sights sourced from Instagram or from socially shared snaps but in savouring unique, life-shifting moments.
14th-century Maghrebi explorer Ibn Battuta’s timeless take, that “Travelling leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller”, rings truer with each journey, where the greatest memories are not just made in the seeing — but in the doing and the being.
Consider, for example, swimming with sperm whales off the coast of Dominica. Here, you’re not just observing these magnificent creatures but opening yourself to their world, in their dominion. Below the surface you’ll hear the close clicks and calls of the whales, sounds that will reverberate in your bones and shake your soul. You will share a speechless connection, rooted in curiosity and respect, that you’ll carry with you — a story to tell, yes, but also a profound reminder of shared existence.
Journey into the wilderness of Patagonia. where the grandeur of Torres del Paine offers a powerful invitation to pause. While many visitors may scramble to capture the perfect view, there’s gold to be found in simple absorption. Sitting beside a glacier, you feel the primal tug of nature, a reminder of the earth’s ancient rhythms. Quiet, reflective moments drop anchors in the memory that are impossible to slip.
Destinations like the Galápagos Islands, too, offer additional layers of depth when visited with intent. These islands are a wildlife lovers paradise, but there’s much more to be learnt from a conservation focused experience where, by participating in local projects, you support biodiversity whilst learning about the island’s delicate balance and its unique ecosystem.
Such projects transform scenic tours into meaningful exchanges — opportunities to leave a positive impact on the very landscapes you’re privileged to explore. Whether it’s participation in rhino conservation in Kenya or working alongside scientists at the Scott Polar Research Institute to understand the fragility of our colder regions, every day becomes a narrative thread in the larger story of conservation, belonging and responsibility.
Transformative experiences aren’t limited to wildlife encounters. Eastern Turkey offers fascinating, historical journeys along the Silk Route. Here, among ancient ruins, bustling bazaars and timeless landscapes, you taste the blend of history and modern-day culture. In cities like Mardin, where stone-carved buildings cling to hillsides and languages converge, you feel the whispers of countless traders who came before.
You become part of a continuum, where history, folded into the vibrant now, will subtly reshape your view of the world. It’s in places like this that quiet exploration seeds personal revelation, where a slow, deliberate pace allows for the unplanned and, on occasion, the magical.
We must never forget the importance of people in our travels. Spend quality time in a Maasai village, not for an Instagrammable snapshot but to understand the cultural traditions and rhythms of life passed down through generations. In everyday exchanges you see the commonality of our lives, a recognition that will resonate more deeply than any photo ever could.
The message is clear: it’s not about what you see; it’s about how you connect. In a world of overpacked itineraries and instant gratification, slow, experiential travel offers a new kind of luxury — one that nurtures the self.
For those ready to journey “beyond the tick-box” the reward is a tapestry of memories and stories shaped by meaningful moments, chance encounters and unforgettable connections. Memories and stories become souvenirs, reminders that true luxury sometimes means disconnecting, if only to reconnect in a profound, visceral way with the world; that the luxury of experience is indeed the richest kind of wealth.
All you require is the inspiration to realise it.
Voted a Conde Nast Leading Specialist Tour Operator 2023 and 2024, Steppes Travel have been creating beautiful luxury adventures and remarkable holidays for more than 30 years. +44 (0) 1285402195
Images: Shutterstock