A Touch of Spirit - Travel to India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Australia

They say that every travel experience is amazing for the soul, and this applies even more when you’re travelling to some of the world’s most intriguing and exciting destinations. Imagine yourself travelling to places like India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and even Australia; immersing yourself completely into the realms of these spectacular countries for an experience you’ll never forget.

The world is full of exciting adventure destinations – one of the hardest decisions is trying to choose the right place for you! In order to help, we’ve come up with some of our favourite destinations and we thought we’d introduce you to these amazing places, along with giving you a plethora of reasons why we believe you should go there.

India

India is one of the most diversely cultural and uniquely fascinating places on earth, with everything from bustling chaotic cities to the most tranquil landscapes you can dream of. It’s a place of intriguing history, breathtaking scenery, a unique and fascinating ancient culture/spirituality and a land filled with some of the most welcoming and friendly people on earth. Also known as the ‘Land of the Gods,’ India somehow touches something deep inside of you and can reignite your internal fire.

Discover India’s astonishing cultural and creative richness on a journey through North or South India. Combine the art of yoga, Ayurveda, and healing with an exploration of spectacular landscapes, lively markets & ancient temples and monuments. Even a walk down the street becomes an adventure in this crazy chaotic & lively land. It’s truly an experience to be had.

India is also a photographers’ dream come true. An inspiring photography expedition through Northern India will completely open your mind to a whole new world of visual stimulation and artistry. India is home to some of the world’s most stunning and photogenic sites. From the forts & palaces of Udaipur, the remote nomadic desert life of Jojawar to chaotic Mumbai and the peaceful Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, you can experience India like never before using the camera as a window into her colourful life and landscape. Witness a sunset prayer ceremony performed on the banks of the River Ganges, visit Vasishta Cave and the astonishingly beautiful Golden Temple in Amritsar. There are so many amazing places to experience, you won’t be bored for a single moment. Visit the Dalai Lama’s hometown of Mcleod Ganj, join an English conversation group with monks and other Tibetan refugees or sit in on the chanting. There’s no better way to see the real India than with a small group tour that allows you to embrace your creative side and delve deeper into your soul.

For those who are the more hands-on (or feet down) type of traveller, one of the truly amazing ways to see any country is by trekking through the most fascinating parts with a group of friends, or strangers who will become friends. One of the best places to trek in India is Ladakh in the far north. Ladakh is strikingly beautiful and packed with ancient Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, white-washed stupors, prayer flags, mani walls and traditional villages with mud- brick houses. We have also found some fabulous trekking in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand state.

Sri Lanka

The name ‘Sri Lanka’ means ‘splendid island’ and even at first glance, it undoubtedly lives up to its name! Although small and compact, it is teeming with cultural richness, diverse sceneries, magnificent sacred sites and fascinating history. The island is rich with resorts and high-end heritage hotels featuring sprawling gardens and fabulous swimming pools.

From lush tea plantations to Sigiriya Rock’s ancient cave paintings, the stone carvings in Dambulla cave temples to breath-taking waterfalls in the mountain region, Sri Lanka has much to offer. You can visit spice plantations to learn about the health benefits of native spices. The island is a tourism haven, and somewhat more exclusive than other destinations. And the shopping and culinary highlights will delight your senses!

Nepal

Wedged comfortably between India and China is the small country of Nepal. One of the most highly sought-after destination countries for adventure seekers on the planet, it features 8 of the world’s 10 tallest mountains, including the breathtaking Mt Everest. Nepal is filled with cultural beauty, stunning Himalayan landscapes and warm, welcoming people. It is also where the most elite of trekkers congregate for the highlight of their climbing lives. Aside from the obvious extreme mountain climbing culture in Nepal, there are also many amazing monuments and temples to be visited, along with stunning old-world villages and vast open spaces with magnificent views of the snow-capped Himalayan mountains.  

Australia

And of course, right in our own backyard – you’ll find a world of adventure. So much so, that you’ll wonder why you didn’t just travel Australia before. Cape Tribulation is one place that you need to add to your bucket-list if you haven’t already done so. The beautiful Daintree rainforest provides the ultimate setting for a relaxing holiday that is also a haven of activities, from bushwalking to night nature walks, exploring the indigenous culture to snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef, taking a boat cruise to explore the local wilderness, to massages, healing treatments, yoga and meditation.

The spectacular red centre is another wonderful destination with highlights including some of our most famous natural landmarks – Uluru, Kata Tjuta and King’s Canyon as well as Alice Springs and it’s fabulous surrounds. There is no better way to learn about the culture and spirituality of the traditional owners of our land than by participating in ceremonies, art classes, cultural talks and spending time in nature visiting sacred sites. After experiencing the centre, we have come to the conclusion that you cannot really know Australia until you travel to the heart of it.

Sometimes you don’t need to go very far to enjoy the ideal getaway – Cape Tribulation and the Red Centre are definitely two of those occasions.

Touch of Spirit Tours offer a range of tours designed to bring out your creative side through art, writing or photography; to enhance the wellbeing of your body, mind and spirit through yoga, spirituality, self development and Ayurveda; take you into the wilderness with trekking and hiking adventures. All tours are small group and emphasize authentic cultural experiences.

If you want to know more about Touch of Spirit tours to any of these destinations above, or you want to learn more about our tours in general – visit www.touchofspirittours.com.au.