Travel Is Therapy
Ever feel like your brain has 47 tabs open, and none of them are loading properly? That’s your cue to get out and rediscover yourself. Luckily, some places make you rethink everything without even trying. These are the kind of destinations that will really help put things into perspective and potentially change your life. So, let’s take a look at 20 beautiful places where losing your way might actually help you figure things out.
1. Bali, Indonesia
In Bali, serenity and celebration intertwine in sacred rhythm—from the reflective stillness of Nyepi to the spirited energy of Ngaben cremation rituals. The island’s essence lies in this duality, where volcanic peaks overlook peaceful rice terraces and countless Hindu temples hum with daily offerings and prayer.
2. Ollantaytambo, Peru
Climbing in flawless stone terraces that reveal the ingenuity of Incan craftsmanship, Ollantaytambo remains a tribute to 15th-century engineering. Situated near Machu Picchu, this ancient fortress thrives as one of South America’s oldest continuously inhabited towns and serves as a living gateway to Inca heritage.
FLASHPACKER TRAVELGUIDE on Wikimedia
3. Kyoto, Japan
Steeped in centuries of ceremony, Kyoto presents Japan’s disciplined elegance and order. Its imperial legacy stretches back over a thousand years, seen in its temples, gardens, and preserved geisha traditions of Gion. And every July, the lively Gion Matsuri festival celebrates Kyoto’s unbroken rhythm of culture and ritual.
4. Cape Town, South Africa
Set at the base of the iconic Table Mountain, Cape Town blends scenery with a vibrant cultural spirit. The city celebrates its diverse heritage through art, music, and cuisine. Nearby, the Cape Floral Kingdom flourishes in rare biodiversity, and Robben Island stands as a symbol of freedom.
5. Cappadocia, Turkey
Cappadocia’s scenario looks like a fantasy, with its fairy chimneys sculpted naturally from volcanic rock. Early Christians transformed these formations into hidden churches, and ancient engineers carved vast underground cities. Today, colorful hot air balloons float above, offering a beautiful view of this extraordinary human creativity.
Nipun Chandra Surnilla on Unsplash
6. Lake Bled, Slovenia
Fourteen millennia of glacial wisdom shaped Lake Bled's waters, where ninety-nine stone steps rise to the seventeenth-century Church of the Assumption. Through generations, the sacred rhythm continues, as pletna oarsmen, inheritors of ancient tradition, guide vessels across waters where fairies once danced.
7. Serengeti, Tanzania
Among Earth's most scientifically significant ecosystems, the Serengeti stands as a living laboratory of natural history. This ancient region, named "endless plains" by the Maasai, hosts one of nature's grandest spectacles: the migration of million-strong wildebeest herds alongside zebras.
Regal African Safaris on Unsplash
8. Banff National Park, Canada
While railway workers of the 1880s pursued industrial progress, they unexpectedly uncovered Banff's therapeutic hot springs, leading to Canada's first national park in 1885. Today, this sanctuary balances that heritage with nature's ancient rhythms, from over 1,000 glaciers to the healing turquoise waters of Lake Louise.
9. Torres Del Paine, Chile
In southern Chile’s Patagonia, Torres del Paine commands attention with its granite spires and glacial lakes. The park’s vivid blues echo the Tehuelche word for its name, and the famed “W” trek guides explorers through sweeping valleys, icy rivers, and untamed natural beauty.
10. Oaxaca, Mexico
You might expect Oaxaca's colonial UNESCO heritage to clash with its indigenous soul, but this spirited corner of southern Mexico proves otherwise. Here, mezcal flows freely through cobblestone streets while ancient traditions dance with Spanish architecture, reaching peak harmony during the colorful Day of the Dead festivities.
11. Petra, Jordan
Carved into rose-red cliffs, Petra traces its roots to the 4th century BCE as the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom and a thriving trade center. Its iconic Al-Khazneh, known as “The Treasury,” gained fame through Indiana Jones, and the lost city reemerged in 1812 through explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.
Mihaela Claudia Puscas on Unsplash
12. Antigua, Guatemala
Antigua amazes visitors with its preserved Spanish Baroque architecture and cobblestone charm, earning its UNESCO World Heritage status. Once Guatemala’s capital, until 18th-century earthquakes struck, the city now thrives with tradition, hosting spectacular Semana Santa processions.
13. Scottish Highlands, UK
Stretching across northern Scotland, the Highlands awe visitors with mountains and misty glens. Home to Ben Nevis, the UK’s tallest peak, the region brims with legend—most famously the Loch Ness Monster—and its scenery inspired the sweeping backdrops seen in Braveheart.
14. Icelandic Highlands, Iceland
Covering nearly forty percent of the country, the Icelandic Highlands remain one of Earth’s last true wildernesses. For much of the year, snow and wind guard its volcanic plains, glaciers, and hot springs. Within this raw expanse, Landmannalaugar’s colorful rhyolite mountains reveal nature’s hidden palette of fire and stone.
15. Queenstown, New Zealand
In moments of quiet reflection, the soul finds its mirror in Queenstown's pristine waters, where Lake Wakatipu stretches like liquid silver beneath the watchful Southern Alps. This sacred intersection of mountain and mere speaks so powerfully to the human spirit that it called filmmakers to turn it into Middle-earth's magical realm.
16. Salar De Uyuni, Bolivia
Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni converts with the seasons, alternating between a gleaming salt desert and a flawless natural mirror. Spanning 10,000 square kilometers of ancient lakebed, this surreal landscape shifts from a brilliant white plain to a glassy reflection.
17. Annapurna Sanctuary, Nepal
A pristine glacial basin carves nature's amphitheater into the Annapurna range, where snow leopards and blue sheep roam their rarified realm. This sanctuary, named for Sanskrit's "Goddess of the Harvest," calls adventurous souls to its base camp trek.
Annapurna Base Camp Trekking on Unsplash
18. Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia
In southeastern Zambia, the winding Zambezi River shapes the wild heart of Lower Zambezi National Park. Along its fertile banks, elephants wander in large herds, and hippos share the waters with stealthy crocodiles. Adventurers experience this pristine region best through guided canoe safaris.
Dmitrii Zhodzishskii on Unsplash
19. Namib Desert, Namibia
Spanning one of the planet’s oldest landscapes, the Namib Desert captures nature’s balance between permanence and change. Towering red dunes at Sossusvlei rise above shifting sands, and cool Atlantic fog drifts inland, sustaining fragile life across this timeless wilderness.
20. Mount Sinai, Egypt
Like an ancient sentinel of stone, Mount Sinai's granite form has witnessed millennia of divine revelation, from Moses receiving the Ten Commandments to countless pilgrims ascending its 3,750 Steps of Repentance. At its base, St. Catherine's Monastery endures as one of Christianity's oldest working sanctuaries.
