Take a spiritual trip; come back on a higher plane
Check your emotional baggage and travel to a different state of mind. These spiritual retreats will bring peace, serenity and give you a ‘holy’ new perspective. Whether you’re looking for an awakening, ultimate Zen or just the chance to see some sacred ruins, we have the perfect trip for your inner being.
- The Dalai Lama says to visit one new place a year, and Kayak.com can’t help to think this is sage advice indeed. Many Tibetan exiles, including His Holiness, have relocated to the Dhauladhar, India mountain region. First stop on this spiritual journey: Tsug-Lag-Khang, where you can see the residence of the Dalai Lama. Next, take refuge at the Tsug-Lag-Khang. Find your Zen at Kunal Pathri, a formation of rock temples and when your spirit is full, take advantage of the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts and the bustling bazaars scattered throughout the region. As the valley girls say, ‘Ommmmmmmm-mi-god!’
- Perhaps the most sacred spot in South America, the ancient city of Machu Picchu was built by Incan ruler Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui between 1460 and 1470 AD. Tour the 200 mortarless stone buildings of temples, residences, baths and public buildings. Start your pilgrimage with a stop at The Tower of Three Windows and marvel at the trapezoidal-shaped windows where the sun illuminates the sacred plaza. Your trip won’t be complete without a glimpse of Intihuatana Stone, the Incas sundial and astrological calendar.
- The ancient Navajo region of Sedona, Arizona is a mecca for tourists seeking out beauty, rustic travel and spiritual awareness. Take pause at the vortex meditation sites where you can tap into the energy of the earth. Once your spirit is one with the earth, take a journey to Chapel of the Holy Cross, built right into the red rocks. Next, drive through Sedona Oak Creek Canyon where you’ll find breathtaking views. And don’t forget to check out Montezuma’s Castle and Montezuma’s Well. Although it’s not a castle and Montezuma never lived here, it is a 20 room cliff-dwelling built into a limestone recess by the Sinagua Indians over 600 years ago. Watch out for Montezuma’s revenge.
- * The sovereign city-state of Vatican City has its own independent postal system, government offices, army and radio station. First stop: St. Peter’s Basilica. This enormous church houses endless statues, art and the sacred Michelangelo’s Pieta. Go to the lower level of the Basilica to see where each of the popes is buried. Next, spend a day wandering through the Vatican Museum, which holds the Sistine Chapel; the pope’s personal chapel. Why not rent a room at a convent during your stay to make your spiritual journey complete? The nuns welcome everyone, but be respectful and expect to have a curfew enforced. And no jokes about penguins.
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Peace be with you,
Steve and Paul, Kayak.com co-founders