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Founded in 2017, travel company Slow Cabins urges guests to reconnect with nature in their off-grid cabins spread throughout Belgium.
A part of the growing ‘Slow Travel’ movement in Europe—which seems to be akin to Eco-Tourism initiatives Stateside and beyond-Slow Cabins embraces a more conscious hospitality model that cares for its guests, land, and economy in equal measure.
Working with local craftspeople and businesses, each cabin is designed with sustainable materials and completely off-grid, powered by solar panels and a rainwater system. Guests receive a fully-charged solar-battery at the beginning of their stay and a finite amount of water, which encourages them to actively participate in their consumption, the company states. At about 430 sq ft, each cabin is heated and kept cozy by a central wood stove and thorough insulation in the colder months.
Scandinavian design and Japanese minimalism drive the wooden interiors, which feature a queen-sized bed, shower, and dry-toilet, and a modest-sized kitchen with a cooktop, refrigerator, and the basic supplies one would need to whip up a meal.
Located near nature reserves and parks within two hours of major metropolitan areas, the cabins are easily accessible by public transport and close to cycling and walking paths for a convenient day of low impact adventuring.
And because the cabins are moved every so often, booking a stay comes with an element of intrigue-two weeks before departure guests receive a guidebook with tips for local eateries and activities, as well as their cabin’s new location.
To top it all off, Slow Cabins plants a tree for each booking—which start at about $580 USD for two nights—and annually invests in local nature conservation through their Impact Investment Fund. Currently, at 10 cabins, the company plans to expand and continue leading off-grid and Slow Travel movements around Europe.
And if this isn’t all to good to be true-we hope they do, too. And then make their way stateside.
Published 03-11-2021
