Did you know that Canada, Italy, and India are some of the most spiritual countries you can visit? According to Wayfairer Travel’s Global Spirituality Index, these countries have high religious diversity and faith-related attractions. We are proud to have many.
If you want to make a pilgrimage, learn the ancestral stories of a faith-based country, or find physical or spiritual healing, consider visiting one of these countries and their famous spiritual sites please.
What makes a country spiritual?
According to Wayfairer Travel, spirituality is a difficult concept to explain.
The University of Minnesota describes spirituality as “a sense of connection to something larger than oneself that involves the search for meaning in life.”
Please note that being spiritual does not necessarily mean being religious.
Countries ranked high in spirituality by Wayfairer Travel are considered to have religious diversity, freedom, tolerance, and large religious populations.
Is America a spiritual country?
Wayfairer Travel ranked the United States as one of the top spiritual countries in the world. (Third place with other countries)
But how do Americans rate themselves?
A recent Pew Research Center survey found that 70% of American adults consider themselves spiritual.
Here are some of the other findings from the Pew report.
- Adults who believe humans have a soul or spirituality: 83%.
- Adults say there is something spiritual beyond the natural world: 81%.
- Adults believe there are things that science can’t explain: 74%.
- Adults who suddenly felt a connection to something from outside this world: 45%.
- Adults who felt strongly that the deceased was communicating with them: 38%.
- Adults who have encountered spirits or invisible spiritual forces: 30%.
Top 10 most spiritual countries
According to Wayfairer Travel’s Global Spirituality Index, these countries (excluding the United States) have high levels of religious diversity, freedom, location, tolerance, and population.
1. Canada
According to Wayfairer Travel, Canada ranks first for religious diversity, religious freedom, religious tolerance and quality of life.
If you’re interested in a spiritual road trip, consider a pilgrimage to Lake Sainte-Anne. This year’s main pilgrimage is set for July 20th to July 25th.
Years ago, thousands of people walked to the large Lake Sainte-Anne in search of healing, spiritual renewal, and to make new friends. According to Laccent, this is the largest annual gathering of Indigenous religions and Catholicism in Western Canada. Ann’s Pilgrimage.
2. Italy
According to Wayfairer Travel, Italy follows Canada and has similar numbers for religious diversity.
One of the tourist attractions in Italy is the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. According to the Book of the Holy Wanderers, Assisi, Italy, is a place where people come to connect with the teachings of St. Francis, who “embraced a life of poverty, simplicity, and mercy.”
3. India
India, Japan, the UK and the US are tied for third place. Of these countries, India has the highest religious diversity and the highest number of haunted places to visit, according to Wayfairer Travel.
When you visit India, be sure to stop by Varanasi, India’s oldest city. This place is sacred to Hindus.
The legends of Varanasi date back more than 10,000 years and depict stories of gods, the beginning of eras, and wars. One of them, according to Smithsonian Magazine, includes the belief that if you are cremated in Varanasi, your soul will be freed from samsara, or the cycle of reincarnation.
4. Japan
Of the four countries tied for third place, Japan has the highest degree of religious freedom and tolerance, according to Wayfairer Travel.
Dedicated to Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun, and Toyouke, the protector of food and industry, Ise Grand Shrine is a beautiful place to visit.
Known as the “birthplace of Japan’s spirit,” according to Hotels.com, you can walk down the street and find shops selling sweets, bags, and other goods.
5. United Kingdom
According to Wayfairer Travel, the UK is highly religiously diverse.
One of the popular spiritual places to visit is Stonehenge in Amesbury, Salisbury. It may be unclear why the stone circle coincides with the sunrise and sunset of the summer solstice, but the surrounding landscape has a lot of history.
According to Historic England, ancient burial grounds and other areas of ancient spiritual significance can be found nearby.
6. Mexico
According to Wayfairer Travel, Mexico ranks lower than seven other countries, but has high religious diversity and tolerance.
Mexico has multiple historical and spiritual places to visit. For example, you can see Chichen Itza, the Mayan ruins of Palenque, and the Aztec pyramids of the Tepoztlan Mountains. According to Where Wonder Waits, you can take a tour or visit a church to hear more about its rich history, rituals, and haunted sites.
7. Australia
According to Wayfairer Travel, Australia has a high religious diversity, religious freedom, and quality of life for spiritual people.
In Australia, you can visit Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. This site is important to the Anangu people of the Yakunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara groups. These groups tell stories about how their ancestral presence shaped the land. According to YHA Australia, their anger and grief hardened into the sandstone we see today.
8. Philippines
Wayfairer Travel says the Philippines is on par with Australia in religious diversity, freedom and tolerance.
If you are in need of physical or spiritual solace, try Mount Banahaw in Quezon Province. According to Atlas Obscura, this ancient volcano is said to be a place to restore health, see hallucinations, and perform other miracles.
9.Germany
The final two countries, Germany and Switzerland, were tied. According to Wayfairer Travel, Germany has a high level of religious diversity and a high health and quality of life for spiritual people.
You can take a tour or visit Aachen Cathedral, which is over 1,000 years old. Emperor Charlemagne, whose construction began in 796 AD, is buried in the cathedral. This cathedral is inspired by the Holy Roman Empire and is full of columns, shrines, and altars. Furthermore, according to the Rough Guide, many kings and queens had their coronation ceremonies held inside the church until after 1500.
10. Switzerland
According to Wayfairer Travel, Switzerland has a high level of religious diversity, religious tolerance, and a high quality of life for spiritual people.
When you visit Switzerland, why not visit Eindeln? According to Mark’s travelogue, many people make pilgrimages through the city to the Benedictine monastery to see the basilica dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
