The world can be a hectic place. That’s why 2025 should be your year of very demure, very mindful travel.
In late January, Blakk Smoke, a brand dedicated to “relaxation and wellbeing,” released the findings of its study ranking the world’s most mindful travel destinations. It named Sedona, Arizona, the most mindful place of all, with a score of 92 out of 100. Its key mindfulness features, the company noted, include its “energy vortexes, red rock formations, and strong spiritual community.”
Those vortexes, according to the region’s official tourism bureau, Visit Sedona, are “swirling centers of energy that are conducive to healing, meditation and self-exploration. Many people feel inspired, recharged, or uplifted after visiting a vortex.”
There are also plenty of wellness-centric hotels in Sedona looking to cater to those seeking a mindful escape, including the L’Auberge de Sedona, which specializes in immersive experiences, and Amara, which comes with a spectacular full-service spa.
Joining Sedona in the top three is Lake Bled, Slovenia, for its “tranquil waters, a secluded island church, and Alpine serenity,” and the Lake District, England, which is third thanks to its “rolling hills, peaceful lakes, and literary inspiration.”
Rounding out the top 10 most mindful travel destinations in the world are Big Sur, California (4th); Santorini, Greece (5th); the Scottish Highlands, Scotland (6th); Asheville, North Carolina (7th); the Amalfi Coast, Italy (8th); Cornwall, England (9th); and Kyoto, Japan (10th).
To determine its rankings, Blakk Smoke created a “mindfulness score” based on “sentiment analysis, keyword frequency, and mentions of mindfulness-based activities” from thousands of TripAdvisor reviews from the past three years. It then added its mindfulness activity index to the mix, which the company explained is the “number of mentions of yoga retreats, meditation centers, spa experiences, and restorative nature spots.”
However, Blakk Smoke’s ranking of the world’s best mindful travel destinations are far from the only spots where you’ll find a peaceful escape. In January, BookRetreats named Iceland its top destination for a quiet vacation, while Canada was recognized as the most relaxing destination in North America and the second-best worldwide.
And if none of these suit your fancy, here are 14 more fantastic places to travel to find peace and relaxation.
