11 Most spiritual healing places on earth | Spiritual destinations

Written by: Sini Hietaharju, Master of Tourism Research & Slow Traveller

spiritual destinations

As you ended up to this article, you are probably seeking for a transformational journey, to one of the most spiritual countries in the world.

These 11 spiritual healing places in the world are great for traveling alone, joinign a retreat or discovering the sacred spiritual pilgrimages.

These 11 spiritual travel destinations are a good bucketlist for a mindful wanderer.

Content

What makes a place spiritual?

Some lowest parts of the earth, energy vortexes and ancient spiritual destinations are believed to carry a different kind of energy.

These spiritual travel destinations are common among people seeking for natural healing power, a transformational journey and a new perspective in life.

The chosen 11 destinations on this list have either natural, historical or cultural significance. The spaces are used for mindful practices, and there are books and stories about the healing powers of these places.

I am listing you some more known places that must be mentioned, like the home of yoga in Rishikesh, India, but as always in Slowtravelrepeat, I tried to keep the list more of a hidden gem kind of listing.

11 spiritual travel destinations

Destination Best Time to Visit Plan Your Trip
Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Routes, Japan Spring (April-May) and Autumn (October-November) Find Accommodation
Pokhara, Nepal October to early December, or February to April Discover Retreats
Varanasi, India November to February Recommended Spa Hotel
Rishikesh, India October to March Yoga Schools
The Dead Sea, Jordan Spring (March-May) or Autumn (September-November) Retreats in Jordan
Choquequirao, Peru April to October Retreats in Peru
Iceland Summer (June-August) for Midnight Sun, or September-March for Northern Lights Retreats in Iceland
Sedona, Arizona, USA Spring (March-May) and Autumn (September-November) Retreats in Arizona
Mount Lussari, Italian Alps June to September Luxury Spa Hotel i recommend
Mount Shasta, California, USA July to October Retreats at Mount Shasta
Bali, Indonesia Dry season (April to October), with shoulder months (April, May, June, September) being ideal Retreats in Bali

1. Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Routes, Japan

Kumano Komo pilgrimage routes in Japan are known for its spiritual energy and stunning nature.

Wakayama area is a spritiual destination in Japan with flowing rivers, thermal hot springs, lush forests and opportunities for spiritual healing.

Here are some spiritual places to stay in Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Routes area:

Modern glambing style accommodation

Comfortable guest house in the middle of greenery

2. Pokhara, Nepal

Nepal is known for its stunning mountain views and very friendly people. Pokhara offers serene views of the Annapurna mountain range.

You can find many affordable and lovely retreats organised in this area.

BEST TIME TO VISIT:

Aim for the dry season, from October to early December. The second-best window is from February to April, before the summer monsoon.

3. Varanasi, India

Varanasi is one of the world's ldest citiest on the sacred river Ganges. It's a profound, sacred place for Hindu purification rituals.

I recommend checking this Indan retreat organizer in Varanasi: Unique Wellness

If you prefer experiencing the place by yourself, but returning to a serene, lovely place to stay ate, here are my recommendations:

For a fantastic stay in Varanasi with a Spa: Brijrama Palace

Boutique hotel with a Spa:
Coco Cabana

BEST TIME TO VISIT:

Visit is during the cooler winter months, from November to February.

4. Rishikesh, India

This Yoga Capital of the World on the sacred Ganges river is a must-visit for all yogis and spiritual seekers.

Rishikesh is full of ashrams, meditation centres yoga retreats and yoga teachers trainings.
It can get a bit tricky to pick the best experiences among the wide range of offerings.

Here are my top 3 retreat recommendations for Rishikesh:

14 Day The Renewal: An Ayurvedic Cleanse and Lifestyle Coaching Course in Rishikesh, India

7 Day Holistic Meditation Retreat in Rishikesh, India with Yoga Nidra and Mindfulness

10 Day Yoga and Meditation Yoga Retreat in Rishikesh, India

BEST TIME TO VISIT:

The ideal period to travel to Rishikesh is October to March.

5. The Dead Sea, Jordan

The dead sea is the lowest point on earth. It is known for its mineral-rich water and mud with detoxifying properties.

This mystical place is a beautiful destination to combine a spiritual retreat and a cultural experiences.

BEST TIME TO VISIT:

Visit during the shoulder seasons of spring (March-May) or autumn (September-November).

6. Choquequirao, Peru

This lesser-known destination nearby Machu Picchu is known as Cradle of Gold. The place is sacred and stunning nature, but equires trekking.

If hiking and nature connectedness are for you, maybe heading for a trek for an Inka Archealogical Site is you calling.

There are organised, multi-day hikes to Choquequirao, for example this 6 day trek

BEST TIME TO VISIT:

The dry season, from April to October, is the only practical time if you are heading for the hike.

7. Iceland

Iceland is a magical destination to connect with all five elements. Geysirs, Blue Lagoon and raw nature helps you to empty the mind and awaken the soul in a new level.

BEST TIME TO VISIT:

For winter season and Northern lights go September to March and for summer season with nightliess nights, June to August.

8. Sedona, Arizona, USA

You have probably seen picutres of these orangeish rock fomration in Sedona, Arizona.

The place is ideal if you want to connect hiking, nature connectedness and spiritual healing sessions.

BEST TIME TO VISIT:

Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) is the best weater to explore outdoors in Arizona.

9. Mount Lussari, Italian Alps

This pilgrimage path destination, known as "Il Cammino Celeste" is a sacred place with stunning nature.

As it's not as known as other destinations in Alps, you can enjoy it more peacefully with tranquility.

To spend amazing time for example with digital detox, daily meditaiton and connecting with the amazing nature in Julian Alps, I recommend checking these tranquil and one-of-a-kind accommodations:

Luxurious Spa with Hammerack Hotel, Spa & Wellness

I haven't been there by myself yet, but it's definitely on my list. This is how Slawomir from Poland on reviews describes the place:

“A hotel like from a fairy tale. Beautifully restored 15th century castle transformed into a small boutique five-star hotel. Everything still smells fresh. The rooms are beautifully finished and large. Breakfasts are very nice. The SPA area is simply brilliant for such a small hotel: a beautiful large sauna, a great and very hot jacuzzi. A hotel with an amazing history - in the tower there is an amazing clock with a time machine. Very professional and helpful service.”

Alpine cottage with style: Lussari Style Apartments


This is simple, functional and stylish cottage in the Alps.

BEST TIME TO VISIT:

The best time for pilgrimage and hiking is from June to September.

10. Mount Shasta, California, USA

Mount Shasta is said to be one of earth's primary energy vortexes. The energy of the place is ideal for spiritual awakening, and therefore a centre of many great transformative retreats.

Some believe it even to be an interdimensional portal. If this place calls you, I would start by checking these amazing, spiritual retreats in Mount Shasta, California.

BEST TIME TO VISIT:

The best travel time for retreats and hiking is late summer to early autumn (July to October).

11. Bali, Indonesia

Bali is known as the Island of the Gods, and therefore a famous place to go for spiritual healing. The yoga scene is big all around Bali, epecially in Ubud and there are sacred temples for healing.

Personally, I would rather recommend the destinations at the top of this list, as Bali has become quite touristy and overcrowded in recent years.

However, I definitely understand that you want to discover the place yourself and give it a chance. If that's the case, I would start from these best yoga centres for healing in Bali.

BEST TIME TO VISIT:

The dry season in Bali lasts from April to October.

How to Choose Your Spiritual Journey

Here's some simple tips to help decide between these spiritual destinations.

  • Intention: What are you seeking on this journey?

  • Travel alone or spiritual group trip? This helps you decide if you shoudl browse retreats to find a group set-up or dreamy destinations to travel alone mindfully

  • Budget? This helps you see how far away destinations are realistic

Practical planning tips for a spiritual trip

Let's get your dream spiritually healing trip into reality with some practical tips.

PREPARATION

Make sure your passport is valid

Check if you need a visa for the destination

Activate/Make sure you have a valid travel insurance that also covers you in the destination country

Book your flights - I always compare the best deals and flight options at Skyscanner

Book your accommodation or book your retreat

PACKING LIST

If you want to travel only with handluggage,

utilize this easy 5-step packing list to travel with only handluggage.

handluggage

Spiritual destination FAQ: Your common questions answered

You are not the only one wondering:

What is the most spiritual place on Earth?

This is not so black and white question to answer, but I would say Varanasi in India. It's because Varanasi is one of the oldest cities and a holy site in Hinduism. On the Ganges River, life and death converge and bring you down to the most important questions in life.

Where can I go for spiritual healing?

For the tradition of a place for healing, I would recommend Rishikesh in India.


For trauma and emotional release I would head for Sedona, Arizona in the US.

For physical, spiritual awakening, I would head to Dead Sea in Jordan to its minral rich water and mud.

For peace I would head to Nepal.

How do I choose the right spiritual destination for me?

Turn inwards to ask yourself what is it that you would most deeply desire from this journey.


Once that is clear, you should also consider the more practical side, like you budget, alone or in a group and how far from home.

What is the difference between a spiritual destination and a regular vacation spot?

Some places in the world are believed to resonate higher frequency energy and have become popular among people seeking for spiritual healing. Spiritual destination has natural, cultural or historical significance or healing properties.

What is a "vortex" and where can I find one?

Vortex is a palce where earth's energy is believed to be more intense. For example, Bell Rock and Cathedral rock in Sedona, Arizona are places like this. You can browse spiritual retreats in Sedona here.

Can I visit spiritual places on my own, or do I need to join a retreat?

This is entirely up to you and your innermost desire. Sometimes the support and connection with a group of people who are seeking for similar kind of spiritual alignment from their trip can be helpful, but it's completely fine to travel alone to spiritual sites as well.

How can I find a spiritual retreat?

You can browse my retreat recommendations here: Retreats

Destination Best Time to Visit Plan Your Trip
Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Routes, Japan Spring (April-May) and Autumn (October-November) Find Accommodation
Pokhara, Nepal October to early December, or February to April Discover Retreats
Varanasi, India November to February Recommended Spa Hotel
Rishikesh, India October to March Yoga Schools
The Dead Sea, Jordan Spring (March-May) or Autumn (September-November) Retreats in Jordan
Choquequirao, Peru April to October Retreats in Peru
Iceland Summer (June-August) for Midnight Sun, or September-March for Northern Lights Retreats in Iceland
Sedona, Arizona, USA Spring (March-May) and Autumn (September-November) Retreats in Arizona
Mount Lussari, Italian Alps June to September Luxury Spa Hotel i recommend
Mount Shasta, California, USA July to October Retreats at Mount Shasta
Bali, Indonesia Dry season (April to October), with shoulder months (April, May, June, September) being ideal Retreats in Bali

WRITTEN BY

Hey there, I'm the Author

I'm Sini, an enthusiast in slow traveling, yoga retreats, travel as self growth journey and rubbing dogs.

This is your go-to slow travel corner of the internet.

I'm here to share my best travel tips, digital nomad thoughts and photographs from the journeys.

I happen to be kind of a professional in this as well, as I have my Master's degree within Tourism Research and both my master's and bachelor's thesis are about yoga travel.

I want to share the best knowledge of hidden gem retreat and mindful destinations, as well as some deeper, honest thoughts what digital nomad lifestyle actually is.

You can read more about me here.

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