Discover your spiritual side amid spectacular scenery, says Nick Trend
1. Dreamtime rock
Uluru, the red sandstone formation in central Australia that rises nearly 3,000ft above sea level, is one of the most spectacular sights in the outback. Climbing was banned in October 2019 because the mountain is revered by the Anangu people who associate it with Aboriginal dreamtime stories. However it is still an unmissable sight and Australian Sky offers excursions from Alice Springs that include viewing the rock at both sunrise and sunset. There’s also a visit to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre for an insight into the local culture and legends that are woven into the landscape.
Red Centre Experience from £599pp for three nights, with one dinner and transfers. Australian Sky (australiansky.co.uk).
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2. Crater lake
The collapse of volcanic crater Mount Mazama was a seismic event which has been woven into the oral history of the Klamath tribe of American Indians. They believed it was caused by a battle between the gods of the sky and underworld, and the beautiful, pure, inky-blue lake that has filled the deep caldera left is considered a sacred site by the tribe. The lake, in southern Oregon’s Crater Lake National Park, is the deepest in the United States at nearly 2,000ft.
Oregon’s All American Road Trip from £1,160 per person for nine nights, room only, including flights and car hire. America As You Like It (americaasyoulikeit.com).
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3. Sleeping volcano
At 13,803ft above sea level, Hawaii’s dormant volcano of Mauna Kea (meaning “white mountain” because of its snow cap) is the highest peak in the archipelago. According to Hawaiian mythology, it was a home to beneficent deities including the goddess of snow, Poli’ahu, one of four sisters, who triumphed over the volcano goddess Pele. Discover the World offers a helicopter ride over the spectacular landscape of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park as part of its island-based itinerary.
Discover The Big Island Hawaii from £788 for six nights including transfers. Big Island Volcano Deluxe tour from £506. Discover the World (discover-the-world.com).
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4. Origin of life
Sacred to the Inca people, Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake, sits at 12,500ft above sea level in the Andes mountains on the border of Peru and Bolivia. Incan legend tells that the god Con Tiqui Viracocha emerged from its depths accompanied by humans before creating the sun, moon and stars. Upon death, the Incas believed their spirits returned to its waters.
Sacred Peru from £2,099 for 11 nights including flights, transfers and some meals. Departs February to November. Mercury Holidays (mercuryholidays.co.uk).
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5. Mount Fuji
This iconic and still active volcano has long been one of the most recognised symbols of Japan and features frequently in art. Its distinctive conical from, rising to 12,388ft, is regarded as a holy mountain and place of pilgrimage. Often shrouded in cloud, a clear view of the snow-capped summit is far from guaranteed, but Wendy Wu’s Trails of Japan tour includes an overnight stay in a the area to maximise the chance of seeing the peak. The itinerary also includes a three-hour walk through volcanic forest that wraps around the lower slopes of the mountain.
Trails of Japan from £5,090 for 12 nights with flights, transfers and most meals. Departs March to May, September and October. Wendy Wu Tours (wendywutours.co.uk).
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6. Sacred river
The Ganges, which rises in the western Himalayas and flows to the Bay of Bengal, is considered sacred by Hindus who personify the 1,569-mile river as the goddess Ganga. The faithful gather at revered spots along its course to purify and cleanse themselves by immersion. The holiest site is the city of Varanasi in the north-eastern state of Uttar Pradesh, where pilgrims perform cremations and rituals on its stone-built ghats on the riverbanks.
Jewel in the Crown tour from £1,780 for 10 nights including transfers and sunrise Ganges cruise. On The Go Tours (onthegotours.com).
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7. Where oceans meet
The turbulent water created by meeting point of the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean at the northernmost tip of New Zealand’s Aupouri Peninsula, is full of significance for the Maori people. This remote spot, on the tip of the North Island, is where they believe spirits of the dead begin their return to Hawaiki, the ancestral homeland. Picnicking is banned on this hallowed headland but visitors can admire the views from the cape’s lighthouse.
Magnificent New Zealand from £3,995 per person including flights, transfers and some meals. Cape Reinga Day excursion from £83 including lunch. Distant Journeys (distantjourneys.co.uk).
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8. Set in stone
Plenty of stories surround the footprint-shaped impression in rock on the top of Adam’s Peak, a conical-shaped mountain rising to 7,359ft in Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands. Some believe this is the place where Adam arrived on earth after being cast out of heaven; others ascribe the footprint to the Buddha and it has been a place of pilgrimage for more than 1,000 years. Rickshaw Travel offers tailor-made itineraries to the island with a two-day add-on trek to the summit.
A Taste of Sri Lanka from £1,785 per person B&B for 13 nights. Excludes flights. Adam’s Peak trek from £78 per person for one night’s B&B. Rickshaw Travel (rickshawtravel.co.uk).
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9. Devil’s Tower
In the prairie-lands of north-eastern Wyoming near the small town of Sundance, Devil’s Tower is a remarkable straight-sided and flat-topped upstand of rock, 1,267ft high. Streaked with cracks, the outcrop features in the oral histories of several American Indian tribes including the Cheyenne and Lakota people. Designated the country’s first national monument in 1906 and popular with climbers, it remains a spiritual site and focus for traditional ceremonies, dances and prayer.
Wild Wyoming from £2,998 for 14 nights including flights and car hire. Complete North America (completenorthamerica.com).
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10. Home of the gods
The 12 principal gods of ancient Greek mythology, ruled by Zeus, were thought to dwell among the deep gorges and snowy peaks of Mount Olympus and it features often in classical legend. The highest point is Mytikas at 9,570ft and the starting point for an ascent is the town of Litochoro in the eastern foothills. It takes three days to reach the summit with two nights in refuges. Your reward is some breathtaking views across the Greek mainland.
Sacred Summits of Olympus and Meteora from £1,105 for seven nights including flights, transfers and some meals. Departs June, September and October. KE Adventure Travel (keadventure.com).
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