What Is Soulful Travel? And How to Plan a Trip That Feels Good

Did you ever come back from a trip and feel… more tired than when you left?

Like you checked all the boxes, took the photos, did the “must-do” list—but something still felt off? Maybe it looked amazing on Instagram, but your heart didn’t quite feel it. I’ve been there too.

After over a decade of traveling—through 35+ countries, checking off bucket lists like bungee jumping, hiking Machu Picchu, and seeing the Eiffel Tower—I started to crave a different kind of travel. One that wasn’t just about doing more, but about feeling more. One that left me not just with photos, but with clarity, calm, and connection.

That’s what soulful travel is all about.

It’s not a trend. It’s not just a digital detox. And it’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all itinerary.

Soulful travel is a way of exploring the world that feels aligned, intentional, and deeply personal.

In this post, I’ll share what soulful travel really means, how to tell if it’s what you’re looking for right now, and how to start planning a trip that actually feels good.

By the end, you won’t just have ideas—you’ll have a clearer vision of the kind of travel that truly fits you—and how to start creating it, step by step.

What Is Soulful Travel?

Let’s start with what soulful travel isn’t.

It’s not just escaping to a remote beach with a smoothie in hand (although that sounds amazing).

It’s not quitting your job to travel the world, or staying in luxury eco-resorts, or attending silent retreats—unless those things genuinely align with what you need right now.

Soulful travel isn’t defined by where you go or what you do—it’s defined by how it feels.

It’s a way of traveling that’s rooted in presence, purpose, and inner alignment.

It’s about choosing places, experiences, and rhythms that meet you in your current season of life—whether that’s healing from burnout or a breakup, seeking creative inspiration, reconnecting with nature, or simply slowing down.

You don’t have to meditate every morning or delete Instagram to make it a soulful trip (though that really helps).

But you do need to listen to what your soul is craving—and give it space to feel, rest, explore, and be fully present.

Soulful Travel vs. Checklist Travel

Traditional travel often says:

“You’re here, so you have to do this, see this, eat this.”

Soulful travel asks:

“What would feel good to you right now?”

The difference is subtle—but powerful.

Instead of filling your schedule with all the “must-sees,” soulful travel invites you to:

• Sleep in if your body needs rest
• Linger in one city instead of rushing through five
• Skip a must-see museum if a walk feels more nourishing
• Sit down for a meal instead of grabbing it to rush to the next stop
• Stay longer in one place to form deeper connections with locals—and with yourself

It gives you permission to travel on your own terms.
To let your intuition—not algorithms—lead the way.

What Soulful Travel Looks Like in Real Life

For me, it’s looked like:

• Volunteering at a yurt in a village in Alaska, where I’d hike and bike after work
• Spending two quiet weeks in a Bedouin tent in Jordan and learning more about their nomadic life
• Coming back several times to a small island in the Philippines just because it felt good (even if I’d already seen everything)
• Saying no to a packed tour in favor of a morning walk and a deep conversation with a stranger
• Sitting by the ocean, doing absolutely nothing—and realizing that was enough

None of these made it onto a “Top 10 Things to Do” list.
But they’re the ones I still carry with me.

Soulful travel isn’t always exciting. Sometimes it’s slow, soft, or even uncomfortable.

But it’s always real. It makes space for you—your needs, your energy, your truth.

If your last few trips left you feeling overstimulated, disconnected, exhausted, or just… off, it might be time to explore a more meaningful travel style.

One that doesn’t just show you the world—but brings you back to yourself.

5 Signs You’re Craving Soulful Travel

Sometimes, the signs are loud—like full-on burnout, a heartbreak, or waking up one day and thinking, “What am I even doing here?”

Other times, it’s a quiet restlessness. A feeling that your recent trips, while beautiful, didn’t quite feel right.

You were there, but not there. You came home with good photos—but no spark.

If any of these resonate, it might be your soul whispering:
“Let’s do this differently next time.”

1. You’re feeling overstimulated or emotionally tired after trips

If you’ve ever returned home needing a vacation from your vacation, you’re not alone.

Modern travel can be exhausting—over-scheduled, over-documented, and packed with pressure to do it all.
Soulful trips, in contrast, leave you feeling full, not fried.

2. You’re craving stillness, space, or deeper meaning

You might be at a life crossroads. Or maybe things are “fine” on the outside—but something inside you is aching for more clarity, connection, or peace.

Soulful travel creates space for those things to emerge.
It’s not always about finding answers—but giving yourself the conditions to hear the questions.

3. You don’t care about the must-see spots anymore

There’s nothing wrong with the Eiffel Tower or wearing a flowy dress on a Bali swing. But if your heart’s no longer lighting up at bucket list attractions, that’s okay.

Soulful travel gives you permission to skip what doesn’t move you—and seek out what does, even if it’s just watching the sunrise from a quiet balcony.

4. You want travel to feel less curated and more personal

If you’re tired of planning trips for the feed or trying to prove something, you might be ready to travel for yourself.

Not for the highlight reel. Not for the checklist.
Just for your own healing, growth, curiosity, or joy.

5. You’re longing to feel more connected—to nature, to people, to yourself

This might look like:

• Choosing a homestay over a hotel
• Volunteering with locals instead of joining a tour
• People-watching on a park bench instead of cramming in another landmark

If you’re craving that kind of presence and purpose, a soulful travel escape might be exactly what you need.

These signs don’t mean you have to give up your love of adventure or spontaneity.

They simply mean you’re ready for a more meaningful travel experience—one that’s customized for you.

And the best part?
You don’t need a six-month sabbatical or a yoga retreat in Bali to do it.
You just need to start with intention.

The 5 Core Elements of Soulful Travel

There’s no rigid formula for soulful travel—because your version won’t look like mine.
But after years of experimenting with different travel styles (and a lot of trial and error), I’ve found that truly meaningful trips tend to share a few core ingredients.

Think of these like a compass—not a checklist.
They’re here to guide you back to yourself.

1. Intention

The most soulful trips start before you book the flight.
They begin with a simple question:

What do I need right now?

Maybe it’s rest. Maybe it’s clarity. Maybe it’s a big, beautiful shift.

When you lead with intention instead of impulse, every decision—from where you go to what you say yes to—feels more aligned.
Your trip becomes less about escape, and more about returning to who you are.

2. Presence

Soulful travel is about being where you are. Fully.

That could mean putting your phone away during dinner, sitting in silence on a long train ride, or taking a few deep breaths before stepping into a new place.

Presence is what transforms a nice view into a memory that moves you.

It’s what turns small moments—like sipping tea with a stranger or watching a dog nap in the sun—into the whole point of the trip.

3. Connection

We all crave connection—whether to nature, new people, or forgotten parts of ourselves.

Soulful travel deepens that connection.
It might look like:

• Having an unrushed conversation with your homestay host
• Asking the barista about a coffee you loved, instead of spending ten minutes getting the perfect shot
• Sitting quietly in a park and soaking it in, instead of rushing to your next stop

You’re not just passing through—you’re letting the place and its people shape you, however briefly.

4. Simplicity

Sometimes the most meaningful travel moments come when we stop trying to do everything.

Soulful trips often thrive on simplicity:

• One or two destinations, instead of five in a week
• Slow mornings instead of jam-packed itineraries
• Comfortable clothes, not perfect outfits for the ‘gram

When you simplify, you make room—for ease, for spontaneity, for magic.

5. Flexibility

Let the journey surprise you.
Let the weather change your plans. Let your body tell you to rest instead of hike.

Soulful travel is spacious by design.
It lets you respond to how you feel, rather than rigidly sticking to a plan. It trusts that even if things go “wrong,” they’re probably leading you to something better.

These five elements—intention, presence, connection, simplicity, and flexibility—are what I come back to again and again.

They help turn any trip, no matter how short or close to home, into a meaningful travel.

You don’t need all five all the time. Just start with one.
And see how it shifts the way you experience the world.

How to Plan a Trip That Feels Good

You don’t need a big budget, a six-month sabbatical, or a perfect itinerary to travel soulfully.
But you do need to pause—and ask yourself what you actually want to feel.

That’s where real planning begins.

Here’s how I design my own soulful trips (and help others do the same):

1. Start With How You Want to Feel

Before you choose a destination, ask yourself:

• Do I want to feel rested?
• Inspired?
• Reconnected with myself?
• Challenged in a healthy way?
• Like I’m part of something bigger?

Your answers will shape everything—from where you go to how you travel when you get there.

📍 Not sure what you’re craving? Take this quiz to discover your unique travel type and get ideas that match your energy.

2. Choose a Destination That Matches Your Energy

Once you’re clear on how you want to feel, the right place often reveals itself.

• If you need stillness → look for quiet nature escapes, remote villages, or off-season travel
• If you need inspiration → consider places with vibrant culture, art, or landscapes that stir something in you
• If you need healing → think about familiar places, solo retreats, or spaces where you feel emotionally safe

It doesn’t need to be far or exotic. A transformative travel experience can happen two hours from home, if it meets you where you are.

💡 Need help narrowing it down? Here’s my step-by-step guide to choosing a travel destination that fits your soul.

3. Plan Less—Feel More

Soulful travel doesn’t thrive in tightly packed schedules. It thrives in space.

Try this:

• Before your trip, choose 1–3 must-see places or must-eat spots that really matter to you—and let the rest be optional
• Add one “free day” to every trip: use it to reschedule if needed, catch your breath, or simply wander around with no plan
• Instead of planning every hour, plan just one meaningful thing per day
• Leave room for naps, people-watching, journaling, or spontaneous connections
• Create soft anchor points (like a morning walk or an evening wind-down) that help you stay grounded

Remember: slowness isn’t laziness. It’s depth.

4. Curate Experiences That Nourish You

Think of experiences as nutrients for your trip. What does your spirit need right now?

Ideas for soulful experiences:

• Volunteering with a local project
• Joining a community meal or family dinner
• Attending a cultural ritual or nature-based workshop
• Taking a morning hike alone
• Signing up for a yoga class, retreat, or conscious dance session
• Spending a few hours completely offline, just observing

What matters is how it makes you feel—not how impressive it sounds to others.

5. Pack Intentionally—Emotionally and Physically

Yes, bring the comfy shoes and the journal. But also bring a mindset that supports presence.

A few things I always bring on soulful trips:

• A grounding object—a small item that makes me feel safe and at home (a teddie, a bracelet, a religious item, a blanket, or even a travel-sized yoga mat)
• A simple journal with reflection prompts
• A book that feeds my soul (not just my brain)
• A flexible plan—with room to breathe

Leave space in your bag (and your day) for the unexpected. That’s where the magic lives.

✨ Bonus: Support Yourself Along the Way

Soulful travel is powerful, but it can also bring up emotions, clarity, and change. Support yourself the way you would a dear friend.

• Stay hydrated
• Rest without guilt
• Create little rituals (like morning tea or sunset walks)
• Don’t pressure yourself to “get it right”

This isn’t about being a perfect mindful traveler.
It’s about showing up as you are—and letting the experience meet you there.

Tools & Resources for Soulful Travel

You don’t need much to plan a soulful trip—but a few intentional tools can go a long way in helping you feel safe, grounded, and aligned while on the road.

Here are my personal go-to resources to support reflection, connection, and ease—so your trip doesn’t just look good, it feels good.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

🧘‍♀️ For Reflection and Inner Clarity

• Journal prompts – Pack a small notebook or simply use your phone’s notes app. Some of my favorite prompts:
  • What do I want to leave behind on this trip?
  • What do I hope to feel more of?
  • What am I learning about myself here?
    
• Calm App – Great for guided meditations, sleep stories, or grounding breathwork when you’re anxious or overstimulated

🌿 For Meaningful Experiences

• Worldpackers – A volunteering platform I’ve personally used for soulful stays in Alaska, Turkey, and Jordan. Perfect for low-cost, values-aligned cultural exchange.
  👉 Use my code HAPPINESSONTHEWAY to get $10 off your membership.
  
• GetYourGuide or Klook – Explore authentic activities that connect you with the heart of a place, like foraging hikes, grandma-led cooking classes, or local tea ceremonies.
  👉 Use my Klook discount code GLADISKLOOK for 5% off bookings.
  
• BookRetreats – A great platform to find yoga retreats, meditation intensives, or dance and healing experiences tailored to your energy.

📱 For Staying Safe, Secure, and Grounded While Traveling

• eSIM with Airalo – Stay connected in 200+ countries without switching SIM cards.
  👉 Use code GLADIS1238 for $3 off your first plan or 10% for next purchases.
  
• Offline maps – Use Maps.me or download offline areas in Google Maps so you can wander without needing signal or Wi-Fi.
  
• SafetyWing – Affordable travel medical insurance made for long-term travelers and digital nomads. I use it myself and recommend having it every trip.
  
• Wise Card – An easy, low-fee travel card to withdraw cash or pay abroad in local currency without getting hit by bad exchange rates.

What Happens When You Travel From the Soul

Traveling this way changes you.

Not overnight. Not in dramatic, life-altering ways (though that can happen too).
But in quiet, lasting ones.

You start to notice the things you used to rush past—like the way the light hits the street at 4 PM, or how a stranger’s smile can soften your whole day.
You come home not just with souvenirs or photos—but with clarity, softness, and a deeper connection to yourself.

You begin to trust your pace.
You let go of the pressure to “do it all.”
And you realize the most memorable parts of a trip aren’t always the big-ticket moments—they’re the slow mornings, the spontaneous conversations, the feeling of finally exhaling.

Soulful travel is about creating space for those moments.
It’s not about being perfect or profound. It’s about being present. And choosing what feels good and true—to you.

Ready to Plan a Trip That Feels Good?

If you’re ready to go deeper and want help creating a journey that feels aligned with your energy, intentions, and inner rhythm—I’d love to support you.

My Soul Travel Design Lab is a 1:1 travel planning experience where we co-create a trip that fits exactly what you need—whether that’s rest, clarity, connection, or a full reset.

No matter where you go next, I hope you travel with intention.
Not for the checklist. Not for the likes.
But for the joy of being fully, deeply you—wherever in the world that may be.