What Is Land Snorkelling? What Is This Travel Trend Of 2025 That Everybody Is Doing?

Land Snorkelling: It is known to most people that snorkelling is an underwater activity that includes swimming at the surface of a body of water and experiencing the underwater world, marine life and reefs. However, in 2025, a new travel trend has gained attention among travel enthusiasts and it is known as land snorkelling. This travel trend has no link with underwater exploration. The land snorkelling trend means the outdoor experiences on land with the same slow-paced exploration and feeling thrilled that characterise regular snorkelling. It suggests that instead of diving into the water, the travellers explore the mossy forest floors, desert microhabitats, or grassy meadows teeming with miniature ecosystems. It’s a slow-paced, mindful way of travelling that invites people to rediscover the beauty beneath their feet. Here’s everything you need to know about the latest travel trend, land snorkelling.

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What Is Land Snorkelling?

Hiking is about walking a couple of miles to reach the preferred destination or a beautiful landmark. It can also be regarded as a performance, to walk the longest distance in a certain amount of time. Land snorkelling puts the journey back at the centre of the hike. It includes wandering through nature with no destination, “taking the time to savour aspects of nature we ordinarily don't see or pay attention to," said Clyde Aspevig, the co-creator of the term.

Land snorkelling is about noticing patterns of lichen spreading across the soil, standing still to feel the rhythm of the wind weaving through tall grass and noticing how shadows stretch and shrink over uneven ground. The term is slightly similar to forest bathing, which asks the travellers to focus on themselves and the nature around them. With land snorkelling, travellers immerse themselves in the quiet language of the landscape matters far more than reaching any particular destination.

The Origin Of Land Snorkelling

The term, land snorkelling was first given by Montana-based artists Clyde Aspevig and Carol Guzman, who were inspired by the beautiful environment of the American Prairie, a 463,000-acre reserve where they worked as volunteers. The park landscape of the shortgrass prairie extends to the horizon, covered by rocky buttes with nothing extraordinary, yet making a perfect environment to simply wander through nature with no destination while paying close attention to natural features, plants and animals.

Aspevig mentions that the term was created by Guzman “On one of our early hikes together near Sedona, Arizona, Carol observed the flora and fauna underfoot with all its beauty and mystery. Her face lit up, and she looked at me and said, 'It's Land Snorkelling!”

Land Snorkelling Travel Trend Of 2025 (Image Credits: Canva)

Places To Do Land Snorkelling In India

Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand

This Himalayan valley is known for its wild alpine blooms, rare herbs, and damp moss-covered rocks, making it a perfect land snorkelling destination. A slow walk here reveals details you would otherwise miss on a regular trek.

Chikmagalur, Karnataka

This hill town has numerous coffee plantations that are surrounded by dense forests. During monsoon and early winter, the forests get covered with fungi, insects and wild creepers that offer a treat to the travellers.

Chandratal, Himachal Pradesh

Around this high-altitude lake, travellers can find stony soil scattered with tiny alpine plants and fossil-like textures, making every step worth exploring.

Rann Of Kutch, Gujarat

The white salt that stretches endlessly under the feet and slow walking over its surreal terrain offers a land snorkelling experience. This reveals salt crystals, unique textures and footprints of desert wildlife like the Indian wild ass.

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Nilgiri Hills, Tamil Nadu

Amidst the tea plantations, travellers will find wooded trails with mossy rocks, tiny fungi, and insect life. This is ideal for those who want a green version of land snorkelling. They can even spot fresh animal tracks on the ground if they walk early in the day.