Travel can enhance spiritual growth when you “travel far enough to meet yourself”.

The above is one of my favourite sayings as it relates not only to my love for physical travel but also to our journey in life as spiritual beings and is a metaphor for life’s journey.

The correlation between spirituality and travel has been documented for years, from religious texts to pilgrimages to Mecca, so the positive effects should come as no surprise.  Yet they have, as I never truly got the connection until I lived the experience and reaped the rewards.

If we’re doing it right, life’s journey generally brings enlightenment, spiritual and otherwise. We’re not supposed to stay in the same place in life, physically, mentally, or soulfully, so evolving is a natural course. However, I know that travel has accelerated such expansion.

How physical travel mirrors inner transformation

In life’s journey, no matter how far we travel, the destination is ultimately self. Travel, especially solo travel, can enhance spiritual growth and the journey to self-discovery as it involves leaving behind what is familiar and comfortable and visiting places not yet explored. Travel is, therefore, synonymous with the spiritual journey, with the discovery being both outward and inward.

Though it wasn’t my thought to go and travel to find myself, it has been crucial in my path to self-discovery.

I have come to realise that this Queen is on a journey that is both physical and spiritual. When we travel, the process is more important than the outcome. By this, I mean these holidays/trips/sojourns are not just about reaching a place but about the lessons learned along the way—much like the journey of life.

My experiences

Though our reasons for travelling can differ and may not necessarily be to seek enlightenment, without realising, travel can enhance spiritual growth intrinsically, and it has done so for me in ways I could never have imagined.

My spiritual home

My first trip to Egypt undoubtedly accelerated my spiritual growth when I entered the Great Pyramid at Giza. The experience was profound and life-changing, and I will carry it with me forever. Similar experiences occurred on my second visit to Egypt at Abu Simbel and Karnak Temple, which also fuelled spiritual growth. For these reasons, I refer to Egypt as my spiritual home.

In the fast-paced, chaotic world many of us live in, it is all too easy to run on autopilot and become indoctrinated in beliefs that aren’t even our own. From a young age, we are told who we are and how to think, so time is needed to discover who we are without the labels and connect with Source, God, the Universe, and Self.

The Egypt trip wasn’t just about the movement of going as a solo female despite the propaganda but also about the spiritual transformation and the lessons learned along the way, much like a pilgrimage.  It was a journey to a holy place that led to a personal transformation.  That holy place was both external and internal.

Whether it’s a pilgrimage or simply stepping into the unknown, travel challenges you to trust the process, just like spirituality does.

Solo travel allows a deeper connection to things and places, and a pilgrimage to some places can go beyond surface-level touring to genuinely connect to people, cultures and spirituality of the countries and places visited. My recent visit to Brazil did so in a way that humbled me and furthered my soul expansion.

As stated above, life is both a physical and spiritual journey, and travel is a pilgrimage that blends the physical and the spiritual into a unified experience.

More people of late are seeking holistic holidays rather than touristic excursions, opting for wellness and spiritual retreats. However, that’s not to say that spiritual growth and awareness can’t naturally occur while touring human-made or natural sites.

Enlightenment is the recognition of who and what we are. It is continuous and an experience that can happen anytime and anywhere – making our paths unique.

Travel invokes a feeling of freedom

Travel often invokes a feeling of freedom, which is our natural state.  In that free state, when we connect to our true, higher self, we get a sense of who we are. That may be the reason some of us get post-holiday blues.

When travelling solo, we can just be. We are born into cultures with rules, societal expectations, stereotypes and histories that shape us before we even make a conscious choice.

Being away from everyday distractions creates space for introspection and clarity, providing opportunities to listen to your inner voice or a higher calling.

Presence & Surrender

Travel can be a form of mindfulness and meditation as it forces us to live in the present moment, appreciating each experience as it comes.

Any unexpected delays or changes teach patience, surrender, and resilience, and like spirituality, travel involves discovery, transformation, and connection – whether to oneself, others, or something greater.

Travel can enhance spiritual growth for the following reasons:

1. It allows connection with something bigger than ourselves

Spirituality generally involves a sense of connection to something bigger than our physical self. It’s being able to experience connectedness with something more than our human experience and a knowing that the greater whole of which we are part is cosmic and divine.

Travel can enhance spiritual growth by allowing the opportunity to connect with ancient and current wisdom for spiritual and personal development.

2. It allows us to be present

The basic principles of mindfulness are paying more attention to the present moment, the connection of mind, body and spirit and the sensations experienced. It’s when these elements are in harmony that spiritual illumination occurs.

Solo travel grounds us in the present moment. When we are present and appreciative of the moment, we can carry and incorporate the experiences into our everyday lives.

3. It allows us to reconnect with nature

Being in touch with nature enhances spirituality. Why? Because reconnecting with nature means reconnecting to self – we are nature!

Nature is spiritual energy, and reconnecting through nature hikes, sacred journeys, spa getaways, and spiritual retreats can enhance spiritual well-being. Such travel also adds to our spiritual wellness practices in our day-to-day lives.

Adventure holidays are also hugely beneficial for both mind and body, and this type of travel can reduce stress, benefit mental health and make space for greater mindfulness.

4. It allows us to gain experiences & knowledge

Experience teaches wisdom, and travel allows us to learn and experience new things. Through these experiences, we gain further knowledge and insight into ourselves and the world. When travelling, observe, listen to and connect with locals.

Meeting people from different backgrounds fosters understanding, humility, and open-mindedness.  Reflecting on how others live in different parts of the world, learning about new cultures, visiting ancient monuments, even being lost and finding your way again can contribute to further enhancing the spiritual journey.

Education and knowledge diminish ignorance and make us more compassionate and empathetic in the realisation that we are one – a catalyst for spiritual healing.

5. It allows us to slow down

Where does the time go? The speed of modern living is fierce and, at times, pretty scary! But yet, we’re so used to being on autopilot that it can be hard to slow down.

When first arriving in a new place, it’s not unusual to immediately want to see as much as possible. However, slow travel makes us feel less rushed and, as a result, forge stronger connections to the places visited.

Travel can enhance spiritual growth as we stop living on autopilot and are present in every moment. When we continue this awareness in our daily lives, it generally becomes more meaningful.

6. It allows us to disconnect

Being more digitally interconnected than ever means that balance is needed, as this same technology can take away from experiencing the world fully.

There is often an expectation by jobs, friends, or family to be available 24/7. Travel can double as a digital detox for spiritual growth by limiting access to smartphones, TV, laptops, tablets and social media. For example, consider investing in a camera that’s not your phone.

7. It allows us to feel ancient energies

Travel can enhance spiritual growth when we feel the energy of the place visited. Everything is energy, and that energy affects us in various ways.

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only wonder of the ancient world that still stands after thousands of years. Imagine the profound energy such a place contains. When visiting temples and monuments such as these, be still and tune in. Listen to the call of the place and feel the vibration and the universal energy the ancients knew and built to. Sometimes, you don’t choose a place – it chooses you.

The journey is both spiritual and physical

To sum up, travel is not only about reaching a physical destination but also about expanding the soul. Be it through solitude, connection, or new experiences, it often leads to greater self-awareness and spiritual insight.

When we travel, we discover new places and parts of ourselves. Our soul travels spiritually, and we travel physically. We may start in one place—physically, mentally, or spiritually—and end somewhere different, even if we return to where we started.

Travel can be a powerful way to reconnect with yourself, others, and the world.  The journey of life is one of self-discovery, of which travel is an integral part.