11 Places to travel for spiritual healing
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The world is rich with places that don’t just offer beauty. They offer healing. In a time where many seek stillness, clarity, and deeper connection, these destinations stand out for their quiet power.
This list of 11 places to travel for spiritual healing was carefully curated with the mindful explorer in mind. Each location invites a journey inward, shaped by the rhythm of nature, spirit, and sacred presence. In addition, you will learn a secret or a curious fact most visitors are not aware of.
✨ Best places to travel for spiritual healing
Rishikesh, India
Cradled at the base of the Himalayas, Rishikesh hums with spiritual resonance. It’s where the Ganges flows pure and the air feels charged with devotion. Temples rise above the riverbanks, ashrams (spiritual hermitages or retreat centres) offer long retreats, and yoga is a path to transcendence.
A quiet secret: Just beyond the crowds of Laxman Jhula, a suspension bridge, lies the abandoned Beatles Ashram, where silence reigns and the forest reclaims the art-covered ruins. Few know that graffiti-filled meditation cells here now echo with birdcalls and introspection. It is a forgotten temple of creativity.
Mount Shasta, California, USA
Snow-capped and enigmatic, Mount Shasta is a myth in motion. Indigenous tribes have revered it for generations, and many spiritual seekers today report visions, awakenings, or inexplicable clarity in its shadow. Silence here feels sacred.
A hidden treasure: Deep in its forested base lies Panther Meadows, a meadow so sacred that even local tribes approach with offerings. Visitors often miss it entirely, but those who find it describe a strange calm… As if nature itself is watching, and gently guiding.
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Ubud whispers healing through its rice terraces, jungle air, and rhythmic ceremonies. It’s a place where sound healers, herbalists, and artists coexist in quiet harmony. Beneath the tourist layer lies a deep spiritual undercurrent, waiting for the mindful traveller to tune in.
A sacred whisper: Hidden behind a nondescript temple wall, you may find the Tirta Empul purification springs, a sacred water temple. Even more secluded is the locals-only pool where ceremonies happen at dawn, unadvertised and untranslatable, where water feels sacred and time feels still.
Machu Picchu, Peru
Built by hands guided by the stars, Machu Picchu feels like a bridge between realms. Its high-altitude ruins pulse with ancestral memory, inviting visitors to reconnect with Earth and sky alike. Many arrive seeking history, but leave with something intangible: a spiritual recalibration.
A hush only locals speak of: Most follow the Inca Trail to the front gates, but few know the moon temple lies hidden in the mountains behind. Carved into caves with intricate stonework, it’s a place of lunar ritual: dark, quiet, and hauntingly still.
Glastonbury, England
Misty and mystical, Glastonbury sits at the intersection of legend and lore. Believed by some to be Avalon, home of the Holy Grail, its hills and wells still draw pilgrims, pagans, and poets. During solstices and festivals, the veil between worlds seems to thin.
A well-kept gem: Beneath Glastonbury’s famous Tor lies a little-known cave known as the Egg Stone. It is said to be a place of womb-like rebirth. It's not marked on maps, and locals speak of it only in whispers, as a place to meditate and reconnect with the earth’s feminine core.
Kyoto, Japan
Refined and reflective, Kyoto is where simplicity meets the sacred. Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples rise quietly from cedar forests. Zen gardens ripple with stillness. Every tea ceremony, incense trail, and temple bell is an invitation to pause and return to the present.
A secret only the silence reveals: Near the Philosopher’s Path lies a humble temple called Honen-in. Visitors often miss it entirely, but its mossy steps and thatched gate lead to a sanctuary of raked sand, quiet rooms, and a pond that mirrors your stillness — a pocket of Kyoto untouched by crowds.
Tulum, Mexico
At the edge of turquoise seas and ancient ruins, Tulum merges Maya cosmology with contemporary healing. Energy lingers in the cenotes (natural freshwater sinkholes), wind whispers through temples, and today’s retreats offer sound baths, breathwork, and soul-deep rituals by the ocean.
A little-known sanctuary: Not far from the main road is Cenote Cristal, a quiet alternative to the touristy spots. Locals swim here at sunrise, and some say the spirits of the forest linger by the trees, watching in silence. It’s less a scene and more a sacred encounter.
Ayers Rock (Uluru), Australia
Rising from the red desert, Uluru commands reverence. Sacred to the Anangu people, it is not simply a geological wonder, it’s a living being, embedded with ancestral stories and songlines. Visitors often report feeling moved without words, as if the land itself speaks.
A mystery tucked beneath the surface: Most gaze at Uluru from the ground, but few visit the Mutitjulu Waterhole, hidden at its base. It’s a rare place where desert meets still water, and where creation stories are etched into stone. Whisper here, not because it’s a rule, but because it feels right.
Lumbini, Nepal
In this serene corner of Nepal lies the birthplace of the Buddha. Monasteries from many traditions surround the Maya Devi Temple, each one echoing silence, chants, and the sound of wind through trees. It’s a gentle yet profound place to reconnect with compassion and purpose.
An untold wonder: Away from the pilgrim trail lies the World Peace Pagoda’s rear gate. Locals walk here at dusk, when light softens and birds fly low. Some monks leave flowers in silence, their offerings not for show. Just for peace.
Camino de Santiago, Spain
The Camino is a pilgrimage of the soul. Winding through fields, villages, and ancient churches, it allows space for contemplation, release, and connection. Every step becomes symbolic, each blisters a reminder of resilience and transformation.
A veiled presence: Many end their journey at Santiago de Compostela, but few continue beyond to the sea at Finisterre (once believed to be the "end of the earth”). There, some pilgrims burn old clothes or letters at sunset, letting go of the past beneath the Atlantic sky.
Iona, Scotland
Tiny and windswept, Iona feels like a place that time forgot. Its abbey has stood for centuries, drawing pilgrims seeking solitude and soulfulness. The landscape is raw, the energy gentle yet potent. Is is a sanctuary for anyone drawn to spiritual roots and inner quiet.
A secret known by few: A lesser-known beach called St. Columba’s Bay lies at the far end of the island, reachable only by foot. It’s rumoured to be where the saint first landed. Among its pebbles are rare green stones, thought to bring peace to those who find them.
🧘 Your chosen spot
These places whisper, calling to those who are ready to pause, listen, and reconnect with the deeper threads of existence. Whether you're walking a sacred trail or simply watching the wind move across ancient stone, each place offers something rare: a chance to come back to yourself.
Which of these places feels like it’s calling you next? Pause. Reflect. Then follow the quiet pull.
Ready to take a step inward? Explore more mindful travel inspiration on New Hermits.
About the author: Thaíz Lara is the creator behind New Hermits, a New Zealand-based storyteller who believes in the power of story and soul-filled travel. After living in 5 countries and exploring 60, she has come to understand that the most meaningful journeys often begin within. Learn more about Lara.
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A curated guide to 11 places around the world that offer deep spiritual healing — through nature, stillness, and sacred energy.