10 Transformative Holidays To Inspire Your New Year

As the year draws to a close, we're already looking at new beginnings. Here's a list of rejuvenating holidays, spiritual retreats, cultural immersion, and ecotherapy programmes across the world to ensure that you're ready to start the new year with renewed perspective and enthusiasm.

- Shibani Bawa

1 INDIA

MADHYA PRADESH

FOR WALKING SAFARIS AND MOBILE CAMPING

An immersive experience inside the Satpura Tiger Reserve comes with the thrill of accessing the undisturbed areas of wilderness. Besides traversing the national parks by jeeps, you get to explore the jungle on foot-over rugged hills, by beautiful streams and rivers, and through tribal villages that are home to ancient temples and forts. Needless to say, you require a moderate level of fitness for this one, as you will be walking 5-7 hours daily in varied landscape. Each safari is restricted to 10 guests to provide good interaction with experienced naturalists. Evenings are spent in a full-service luxury camp set up exclusively in the buffer zone. There is no electricity or phone connectivity at the camps. You will be served freshly cooked meals and every tent is provided with a separate dry pit toilet tent and shower tent with bucket baths. pugdundeesafaris.com

2 SAUDI ARABIA

ALULA

FOR CULTURAL IMMERSION

The mystical and spectacular desert landscape of Alula is truly fit for a journey that nourishes and rejuvenates the body, mind, heart, and soul. Immerse in the history of Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hegra, where over 110 remarkably well-preserved tombs are set in the desert. Explore the Old Town, an intricate network of nearly 900 mud-brick houses, shops, and town squares, or follow the Rock Art Trail with local guides. Discover the traditions of the bedouin people as a local storyteller plays host and regales guests with legends of Saudi Arabia under a star-studded sky and, carry back a wealth of stories from this magical land. experiencealula.com

3 PERU

IQUITOS

FOR THE ANCIENT RITUAL OF AYAHUASCA