Our three favourite spiritual journey trips

Find inner peace in the most spiritual places to travel to

Travelling affords us the opportunity to temporarily step outside of ourselves and our everyday lives by reclaiming balance in untarnished surroundings. For many of us, reconnecting means to disconnect, and to switch off completely. For you to truly unwind, we have sourced the most spiritual places to travel to.

We may seek ultimate silence by going off-grid or find meaning in spirituality, a deeply intuitive concept that allows us to connect with cultures on many different levels. In turn, that feeling of connectedness to the world in which we live drives our urge to travel and to explore a sense of community in unfamiliar places. Today’s world features many translations of the spiritual, be it through cultural expression or daily rituals. Let us take you to some of the best places to travel to for spiritual enlightenment, unearthing some of the world’s most wholesome spiritual journey trips from Japan to India to Bhutan.

Walk the ancient routes of Japan

Away from Tokyo’s bright lights and fast trains, Japan holds an entire world of spiritual pilgrimages. It is home to Kumano Kodō, a series of ancient pilgrimage routes that crisscross the Kii Hantō, the largest peninsula of Japan, and its myriad of sacred sites that were given World Heritage status in 2004 (one of only two pilgrimage routes recognised by Unesco; the other is the Santiago de Compostela route in Spain and France).

Go silent in India

Naming all destinations for a spiritual retreat in India seems unfathomable. The birthplace of yoga and spiritual rejuvenation offers a myriad of opportunities to detoxify; from silent meditation retreats amidst idyllic Himalayan scenery, for example in the mountainous region of Kumaon, to increasingly popular regions like Kerala, also known as “God’s Own Country” with its lush landscapes made of vast networks of lakes, lagoons, and canals. To truly find inner peace, opt for a ten-day Vipassana silent retreat— Vipassana is one of the most ancient meditation techniques and means to “see things as they are”.

Press pause with a journey to peace

If you’re after a particular spiritual retreat, look no further than the Journey to Peace retreats by Aman. Led by Buddhist spiritual masters and scholars, their five-day retreats lead travellers to acquire practical skills to incorporate into their daily routines, from breathing exercises to the mindful practices of yoga, and guided meditation to discover inner peace. Aman offers a plethora of destinations to choose from; to go off the beaten path, check out their locations in Buthan, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka.

What to Pack