If you’re reading this post, you’re probably a traveller or at least someone who enjoys consuming travel misadventures and inspiration. Whether you travel to escape your everyday routine or explore the world, many genuinely believe that wellness travel is the key to longevity, myself included.

I honestly believe participating in activities that bring you joy improves your health and well-being. Ultimately, good health contributes to longevity – so if travel is your passion, why not indulge and defy premature ageing in the process?

 

Obviously, I’m not a doctor or a health expert, but Fangli Hu, a researcher in the Centre for Precision Health at Edith Cowan University, has participated in a study exploring the concept that travel is the key to longevity. She was the lead researcher in a paper titled The Principle of Entropy Increase: A novel view of how tourism influences human health. We chatted about wellness travel and whether travel is the key to longevity on Travel Writers Radio, which you can listen to here.

 

 

Triggering positive entropy

Our chat delves into this ground-breaking travel therapy research by exploring how tourism triggers entropy changes, where entropy is the general trend of the universe towards death and disorder. The theory is that entropy changes through positive experiences enhance physical, mental and social health and could slow down the signs of ageing. “Ageing, as a process, is irreversible. While it can’t be stopped, it can be slowed down,” says Fangli.

The blue zones, where wellness is a way of life

Perhaps entropy comes into play within the blue zones, which have the longest-living populations. The blue zones include Okinawa (Japan), Italy (Sardinia), Ikaria (Greece), Loma Linda (California) and Nicoya (Costa Rica), with Singapore named the sixth zone in August 2023. To qualify as a blue zone, there must be a high concentration of record-setting ages in the community and with common characteristics of regular movement, low stress, a healthy diet and a clear sense of purpose. With four of these zones being islands, there must be something about island life where wellness is a way of life.  Sri Lanka is another island boasting longevity, having one of the longest life expectancies in Southeast Asia, which many believe is attributed to the ancient practice of Ayurveda.

The health benefits of wellness travel

The benefits of travel range from relaxation, embarking on a physical challenge or learning about a new culture. Speaking from experience, positive travel experiences certainly have enhanced my own physical and mental health, particularly through wellness travel. I’ve spent some time exploring time this concept with stays at wellness retreats at Fivelements Wellness Retreat (Ubud, Bali), Shreyas Yoga Retreat (Bangalore, India) and Barberyn Ayurveda Resort (Sri Lanka). They were all transformative experiences in their holistic approach to wellness, nurturing the body, mind and soul through nutrition, physical activity such as yoga, and decadent treatments, always in beautiful surroundings. As each retreat centres around local health traditions, cultural immersion is at the core of the experience, and I highly recommend it for a unique holiday you’ll never forget.

The act of travel usually requires varying levels of physical exertion and potentially boosts metabolism and energy levels. Even if you plan on flopping on a beach for days on end, think about the effort it takes to get to the beach starting from the moment you leave home. It’s easy to get your steps up in the airport alone. Travelling requires a certain level of fitness, which can inspire even the sedentary of us to maintain our health and make the most out of the journey.

Adventurers already know the health benefits of wellness travel, whether it’s a retreat, walking the Camino de Santiago or diving in the Cocos Islands. You can keep those feel-good endorphins pumping by planning a trip around milestone celebrations such as birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, honeymoons and graduations for more memory-making journeys with your favourite people.

Travel exposes us to new surroundings, people and activities, elevating metabolic rates and stimulating stress responses while triggering an adaptive immune system. “Put simply, the self-defence system becomes more resilient. Hormones conducive to tissue repair and regeneration may be released and promote the self-healing system’s functioning,” says Fangli. You might enjoy these tips for staying fit while travelling.

When travel isn’t healthy

On the flip side, there are instances where travel can have an adverse effect on your health. Unsanitary conditions, natural disasters, pandemics, accidents, injuries and safety issues can play havoc with your travel plans and potentially counteract the benefits of travel. Never leaving home without travel and health insurance will alleviate some of the stress, as will consulting with smartraveller.gov.au and the World Health Organisation before booking your trip.

Swap the botox for wellness travel

If travel makes you happy, and promotes good health and longevity, then I can’t think of a better remedy to delaying premature ageing and maintaining a youthful outlook for as long as possible.