5 of the world’s most spiritual destinations

Uluru (also known as Ayres Rock) is a sacred site for the indigenous people of Australia.

Spirituality means different things to different people, but something that most will agree with is that feeling spiritual concerns the human spirit or soul being at ease. There are some places across the world that inspire such feelings, so here are five renowned destinations known for their spirituality.

Es Vedra, Ibiza

Es Vedra sits just off the coast of the White Isle.

Standing almost 400 metres high, this uninhabited limestone island sits two kilometres off the west coast of Ibiza opposite Cala d’Hort. Shrouded in myths and legend, Es Vedra is believed to be the third most magnetic spot on Earth after the North Pole and Bermuda triangle, even though there is no evidence to support this outside of a few reports that navigational instruments are affected in its vicinity.

Regardless of its magnetic prowess, Es Vedra creates a magical atmosphere, and many people practice yoga with it in view, partly because of its suspected natural powers of healing and inspiration, while others gather to see the sun rise from, and fall, behind it.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory, Australia

Uluru is one of Australia’s most recognisable landmarks.

Uluru, also known as Ayres Rock, is a giant sandstone monolith in Australia’s Northern Territory and is a national landmark and sacred place for the indigenous Aboriginal people, who believe that the spirits of ancestral beings continue to reside there.

Visitors can take a tour of the red desert inside Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and see the fascinating geological landforms and natural beauty which made this area of Central Australia so special.

Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Angkor Wat is the most famous of the buildings at Angkor temple complex.

UNESCO-listed Angkor, the ancient capital city of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th century, is one of Cambodia’s most popular attractions thanks to its temple complex. It is the largest Hindu temple complex in the world, featuring more than 1,000 temples spread over 400 square kilometres and Angkor Wat is its headline act.

Away from the magnificent ruins there’s plenty going on including local food tours where you can sample delicacies such as deep-fried tarantula, visit the War Museum, which has a unique collection of landmines and tanks from the Khmer Rouge and Vietnamese occupation in the 1970s and traditional aspara dance shows, which uses Khmer dance to convey their story.

Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England

The United Kingdom isn’t a very spiritual country, but it does have Stonehenge.

Stonehenge in Wiltshire is the site of a mysterious 4,100-year-old stone formation and is a British icon. People travel from all over the world to visit the rocks, often coming on a day trip from London, which is only two hours away by road. A popular time to visit is during the celebrations of the Stonehenge Summer Solstice Festival, which takes place each June (although this is cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic). Walk among the stones as the sun sets and celebrate the year’s longest day with thousands of other revellers.

Lake Titicaca, Bolivia and Peru

Lake Titicaca straddles the border between Bolivia and Peru.

Straddling the border of Bolivia and Peru in South America, Lake Titicaca is a sacred body of water that holds spiritual significance. According to Incan mythology, it was from Lake Titicaca that the creator god Viracocha rose up to create the sun, moon, stars and first human beings, and in 2000 an international archaeological expedition discovered an ancient temple submerged in its waters, adding to the mystery.

Visitors can explore the lake on a group tour to the Uros Islands or go off the beaten track for an immersive cultural experience and head to the island of Anapia, whose small native population runs a community-based tourism programme with tours which include a one-night homestay with traditional homemade meals and activities such as fishing and farming