Walking the Path of Authentic Travel: Bruce Chatwin’s Philosophy on Exploration

by Angela Perez

Bruce Chatwin, a renowned English travel writer known for his nomadic lifestyle and literary explorations of culture and identity, noted, “Walking is a virtue; tourism is a deadly sin.” This quote encompasses a philosophy on the essence of genuine exploration. Chatwin, who rambled the world for the rest of his life after age 32, didn’t just mean the physical movement of “walking” – the concept represented a deeper form of engagement with the world. It signified immersion, curiosity, and a willingness to connect intimately with the landscapes, people, and cultures encountered along the way. To stroll in with confidence that anywhere can be home. In essence, walking symbolized a mindful and deliberate approach to travel, characterized by slow observation and genuine interaction. In contrast, “tourism,” in Chatwin’s view, represented a more superficial and commodified form of travel. It conjured images of hurried sightseeing, checklist-driven itineraries, and a detachment from the authentic essence of a place. Timid tourists bent over tourist maps on their way to another site on their list. Chatwin’s quote critiques tourism for its tendency to prioritize quantity over quality, reducing destinations to mere attractions to be consumed and forgotten. Through this quote, Chatwin urges travelers to embrace the virtues of walking—to venture off the beaten path, engage with the world on a deeper level, and cultivate meaningful connections with the places they visit. He suggests that in doing so, one can avoid the pitfalls of superficial tourism and truly experience the richness and authenticity of the human journey. hashtag#BruceChatwin hashtag#authentictravel hashtag#culturaltourism hashtag#sociologyoftourism

Read more about cultural tourism and travel on my Speaking of the South blog.

Photograph by Bruce Weber and styled by Jason Rider for the New York Times.