Seeing spectacular sights up close—medieval castles, Roman ruins, or grand cathedrals—will typically involve a fair amount of walking and stair climbing, both of which get you into the aerobic heart-rate zone. The same holds true for swimming in the Mediterranean, learning a few dance steps at a Ceili in Ireland, or hunting for truffles in the hills outside of Alba—these types of physical activities get your blood pumping and that benefits cardiovascular health, cuts down on stress levels, and even boosts muscle strength. Many of our sojourns will keep you quite active, most especially Lost Castles of Wales, Fell Walking with the Romantic Poets, Castles in the Clouds, and The Canterbury Tales Pilgrimage. Check them out!
Taking an extended break from the hustle and bustle (or humdrum) of daily life is essential; traveling gives your mind time to relax, recharge and rejuvenate. Less stress and higher levels of happiness create lower cortisol levels—leading to you feeling more content and calm. Even just planning your travel can trigger a release of dopamine, which increases your pleasure, motivation and satisfaction.
Visiting historic sites, learning a few words of a different language, navigating a new city—all will get your brain’s neurons firing, and boom! Your mental health improves! Our fascinating historical sojourns will have you pondering some of the most significant dates and events of the past–just take a look at Anglo-Saxon Britain, In the Footsteps of the Plantagenets, Roman Britain, or Great Castles of Scotland for exciting journeys that will engage your mind.
Experiencing a different culture in depth opens your eyes to new ways of living, other ways of thinking, and invites comparison as you discover how people in other places lead their daily lives. It demonstrates that most often there isn’t a right or wrong way, just a different way. Developing a deeper understanding of other cultures also helps increase your empathic abilities and cultural sensitivities.
In his travel book, The Innocents Abroad, Mark Twain wrote: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” So consider immersing yourself in a fascinating new culture and broadening your worldview by joining us for Britain’s Fifth Nation, Sun-Kissed Southern Italy*, or Brewing in Bavaria.
Visiting a foreign place and immersing yourself in its sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and customs enhances your cognitive flexibility and expands your imagination, leading to increased creativity. Traveling invites you to think outside the box, requires you to adapt, pushes your boundaries, and often begets simple and lasting inspiration.
Tasting an unfamiliar food excites your senses. Sipping Scotch Whisky on the Isle of Skye evokes an entire sensory experience. Enjoying a cooking class in Italy encourages you to try whipping up culinary delights once you’re back home. Gazing across the stunning vistas of Ireland spurs an appreciation for photography and painting that may even inspire you to start taking art classes. We offer a number of amazing sojourns that will get your creative juices flowing….just take a look at Vikings and Sagas, Scotch Whisky in Depth, Basque Rhapsody*, Masters of Italian Opera, or Great Castles of Ireland.
At the end of the day, traveling invites you to change your pace, to slow down, to pause, to reflect, to open your mind to the world around you…to breathe and be in the moment. We believe there is no better tonic!
Scholarly Sojourns takes great pride in offering you unique itineraries and beyond-the-guidebook insights. Our intellectually-engaging, small group travel programs deliver experiences that are at the same time fun, unique, authentic, memorable—and they ultimately, enhance your physical, mental and emotional well-being as well.
Indeed, there’s no doubt traveling improves heath! So, invest in a healthier you by finding your Sojourn now!