Unique Travel

*Please note that this trip is scheduled for the year 2025. Not this year!*

3-week spiritual pilgrimage to India visiting sacred sites to Lord Shiva. Limited to just 8 participants, this spiritual journey will change your life.

• Meditation & Yoga
• Holy Temples to Lord Shiva
• Spiritual connection and fellowship

We will stay in Ashrams (spiritual hostels) in each of these 3 cities:

1. 6 days Tiruvannamalai, India in Tamil Nadu. Sacred mountain called Mount Arunachala where Ramana Maharshi achieved self-enlightenment at the age of 16 by meditating in the hot caves of the mountain. We will perform a full-day pradakshina (meditative circumambulation around the mountain). See peacocks in the courtyard and we will stay in the Ashram where Sri Ramana Maharshi is buried!
2. 6 days in Varanasi, India located on the Ganges river and a city said to be founded by Lord Shiva. We will visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple: A visit to the temple and a bath in the river Ganges is one of many methods believed to lead one on a path to Moksha (liberation). Thus, Hindus from all over the world try to visit the place at least once in their lifetime. Ashram accommodations to be announced.
3. 8 days in Rishikesh, India in the state of Uttarkhand. Located on the Ganges in the foothills of the Himalaya Mountains, this town is known as the Yoga Capital of the World and is a sacred place of pilgrimage for Hindus and Shaivites. We will stay in the Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama (SRSG) if it is available. If not, the ashram will be announced later.

If more than 8 people are interested in this trip, we will schedule another trip and we will make sure that all travel companions are compatible, as this will be an intensely spiritual growth trip. I've done it in 2008, and it is life-changing and the work of multiple lifetimes of inner work and growth.

Please call me on my cell with questions: 720-556-7241 (Angela)

About This Tour From neon-lit streets filled with people to quiet shrines filled only with silence, come face-toface with a culture thousands of years in the making. Experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Explore the cities of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, traveling between them on the famous shinkansen bullet train. Meet the incredible ama pearl divers and dine with them while hearing tales of their lives and traditions. Meet the bowing deer of Nara Park. Explore the historic geisha district of Kyoto, Gion. See the beauty of the Arashiyama bamboo forest and the Golden Pavilion. Dive deep into the culture of Japan with the Women’s Association of Kyoto. Stay among Buddhist monks at a monastery on Mount Koya and wander the moss-covered paths of Okunoin Cemetery. Visit the Peace Park and Memorial Museum of Hiroshima and hear firsthand accounts of the atomic bomb’s devastation. See the famous O-torii Gate of Miyajima Island. Explore the neon-soaked streets of Osaka’s Dotonbori district. Discover the thousand facets of culture, art, and life that make up the incredible spirit of Japan. Trip Length: 14 days
Your Tour Includes

• 6 Handpicked Accommodations
• 19 Meals

Must-See Inclusions:

• See the gleaming beauty of the Golden Pavilion.
• Wander among the swaying trees of the Arashiyama bamboo forest.
• Explore the neon-soaked streets of Osaka’s Dotonbori district.

Cultural Experiences:

• Stay among Buddhist monks at a monastery on Mount Koya.
• Meet Japan’s ama pearl divers and learn more about their elite profession.
• Visit Hiroshima’s Peace Park and Memorial Museum and hear accounts of the atomic bomb’s devastation.

Culinary Inclusions:

• Dive deep into the culture and social norms of Japan over dinner with the Women’s Association of Kyoto.
• Enjoy a traditional, multi-course kaiseki meal.
• Make delicious okonomiyaki, savory pancakes that are a Japanese favorite.

#### Highlights

• Tokyo
• Asakusa
• Tea Ceremony
• Ginza
• Tokyo National Museum
• Bullet Train
• Ise Grand Shrine
• Kaiseki Dinner
• Mikimoto Pearl Museum
• Ama Pearl Divers Dinner
• Kyoto
• Gion
• Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
• Golden Pavilion
• Women's Association of Kyoto
• Okunoin Cemetery
• Monastery Stay
• Hiroshima
• Okonomiyaki Cooking Class & Lunch
• Peace Memorial Park & Museum
• Discussion with an A-Bomb Survivor
• Osaka

##### Book with Confidence *With Insurance Purchased

• *No Hassle Refunds
• Traveling Well Safety
• No booking fee, *no change fees
• Top Rated Travel Protection

Price: $8899 Double Occupancy $10,349 Solo Traveler

About This Tour Hunt for the elusive northern lights and discover fascinating Finland, “Daughter of the Baltic.” Come to know Finnish culture and history on a tour of Helsinki with a local expert. Savor the local cuisine in Helsinki’s restaurants. Experience rugged Lapland during a 3-night stay in the north of Finland. Overnight surrounded by wilderness in a glass igloo and a Finnish log cabin. Embark on a reindeer safari with a local herder. Mush yourself to breakfast in your own Finnish sleigh and lead your own dog sled team. One dynamic experience follows another on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure through Finland.
Itinerary
Day 1: Overnight Flight On an adventure to the top of the world, experience a side of life that feeds the imagination and leaves you forever enchanted with Finland, “Daughter of the Baltic.”
Day 2: Helsinki, Finland Hotel Lilla Roberts Hotel Culinary Dinner Hei Helsinki! Finland’s vibrant capital, where history converges with architectural style and combines with a laid-back vibe across beautiful islands and pristine public parks, welcomes you. This evening, gather with new friends for a welcome dinner in the city center, taking a 20- minute stroll to a local restaurant. Hyvää ruokahalua! (bon appetit!)
Day 3: Helsinki Hotel Lilla Roberts Hotel Culinary Breakfast Join a local expert for an engaging city tour. If Finland’s heart beats in Helsinki, then Helsinki’s core is in Senate Square, home of Helsinki Cathedral, the city’s most iconic building. Take a 90-minute walking tour of empiric-designed Tori Quarters before enjoying some free time in Market Square, the city’s famous international market. See the steel monument dedicated to the composer Sibelius. During your free time, explore more of Helsinki independently.
Day 4: Helsinki - Kakslauttanen - Northern Lights Search Hotel Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort - West Village Culinary Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner Escape to northernmost Finland’s winter wonderland on board a flight to Ivalo and magical Lapland. Like a storybook come to life, Lapland’s culture is steeped in myth and legend. Relish a sled ride with reindeer and unspoiled views of the northern lights.* At the remote Kakslauttanen Resort, spend two nights in your very own Finnish log cabin** indulging in your own personal Finnish sauna. Take the motor coach north toward Inari on a chase for the northern lights.* Stops along the pursuit allow you the chance to witness nature’s dazzling, electric light show.*
Day 5: Kakslauttanen - Santa Claus’ Home - Reindeer Safari - Northern Lights Hotel Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort - West Village Culinary Breakfast & Dinner Hit the snow and mush yourself to breakfast aboard your own authentic Finnish sleigh. After a leisurely breakfast, meet Santa's Elves who will escort you to meet Santa Claus in his own home. Learn about Santa’s origins during a warm and friendly conversation at his house. After dinner, under the Arctic moonlight, a reindeer farmer introduces you to some friendly Lappish reindeer that will escort you on an exhilarating safari through remote Kakslauttanen. Gain insight into the importance of reindeer herding to the Sámi indigenous culture. Sip warm berry juice, a Finnish tradition, around an open fire, inside a Lappish Tepee in the surround of northern Finland’s wilderness as you continue the search for the elusive northern lights.*
Day 6: Kakslauttanen - Husky Safari - Northern Lights Search Hotel Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort - West Village Culinary Breakfast & Dinner Breathe in the fresh Arctic air this morning and step into the role as leader of your own dog sled team. Zoom through the wilderness on a husky safari, driving your husky guides that are as fast as they are adorable. Spend some time getting to know these amazing dogs and learn about their different commands. You’ll also be introduced to the equipment you’ll need to experience this incredible Arctic adventure at its best. Enjoy your last night in the heart of the Lappish wilderness, nestled in your incredible and unique glass igloo.*** You may even see the northern lights* dancing overhead from the comfort of your own bed.
Day 7: Kakslauttanen - Helsinki Hotel Lilla Roberts Hotel Culinary Breakfast & Dinner Say goodbye to enchanting Lapland and fly back to Helsinki. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. Explore the city’s central squares and get in tune with the latest Finnish trends at a collection of charming shops. Tonight, in downtown Helsinki, toast to grand adventures and new friends.
Day 8: Helsinki - Tour Ends Culinary Breakfast Set out for home with incredible memories and a longing to return.
Pricing: $5999 Double Occupancy $6999 Solo Traveler