1. <\/strong>Thailand and the Temples of Angkor <\/strong><\/a> (17 days)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBuddhism in Thailand and Cambodia<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Buddhist](\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2022\/01\/buddhist-monks-temple-asia-1-1024x576.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs Buddhism is the dominant religion in both Thailand<\/a> and Cambodia<\/a>, these countries offer up some incredible spiritual travel experiences. We\u2019ll start in Bangkok at the Grand Palace, where you can visit Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand\u2019s most sacred Buddhist temple. Head to Wat Pho, Bangkok\u2019s oldest temple, and you\u2019ll see the impressive largest-reclining Buddha in Thailand.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nRELATED CONTENT: 7 beautiful and unique cultural experiences you can only do in Thailand<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nAfter temple-hopping in Bangkok, we\u2019re off to Sukhothai where you can see the 15-metre seated Buddha in the UNESCO-listed Sukhothai Historical Park. Then we\u2019ll visit Chiang Mai for a special experience in Wat Suan Dok where you\u2019ll meet a local monk and learn about Buddhism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our trip continues to Cambodia where we\u2019ll visit the iconic Temples of Angkor. Made famous in the film \u2018Tomb Raider\u2019 we\u2019ll explore the ancient corridors, courtyards and temples alongside saffron-robed Buddhist monks. As an ancient city of a lost empire, a visit to Angkor is a truly incredible experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
RELATED CONTENT: 5 Buddhist temples you should visit on your next trip to Bali<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Land of the Gods<\/strong><\/a> (13 days)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nJudaism, Christianity & Islam in Israel<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"worshippers](\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2022\/01\/wailing-wall-prayers-israel-1024x576.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThere are few better places to experience different religions than Israel<\/a>, a country known for its cultural and religious diversity. We\u2019ll take you on a sightseeing tour through Jerusalem\u2019s Old Town, a holy city in many religions including Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Visit the Western Wall in the Jewish Quarter, where Jews cede their prayer notes into the wall. Learn how the Dome of the Rock<\/a> is sacred for both Jews and Muslims. <\/p>\n\n\n\nRELATED CONTENT: 8 places to add to your Israel bucket list<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nWe\u2019ll also head to the Mount of Olives and the garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus spent the night of his arrest before his crucifixion. Then walk the path that Jesus was forced down on his way to his crucifixion to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Next up, we\u2019ll take a trip to the Church of the Visitation at Ein Karem where the Virgin Mary visited Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. We\u2019ll also explore the Israel Museum to see the famous Dead Sea Scrolls. And you won\u2019t miss out on a special trip to Bethlehem. Here we\u2019ll meet a Local Specialist at the Church of the Nativity, built over the cave where Jesus was born. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
RELATED CONTENT: Exploring the Holy Lands \u2013 7 Christian tours you can take with Trafalgar<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n3. Days of Devotion<\/strong><\/a> (12 days)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nCatholicism in France, Spain & Portugal<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"crowd](\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2022\/01\/fatima-sanctuary-crowd-candelight-1024x576.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nKick off your Catholic religious travel experience in Lourdes, France<\/a>, the global centre of the Marian pilgrimage. It\u2019s said to be the sacred place where St. Bernadette who witnessed the Marian apparitions of the Immaculate Conception. You\u2019ll learn more with a Local Specialist on a visit to St. Bernadette\u2019s Grotto, her birthplace and shrine, where millions of pilgrims come to pray and drink its holy water. Then, you\u2019ll get immersed in the devotion of the pilgrims as we take place in the moving Torchlight Procession. You\u2019ll join believers from all over the world as they sing the Ave Maria of Lourdes and it\u2019s a truly stirring experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe’ll then cross the border into Spain<\/a> to visit Santiago de Compostela, the iconic pilgrimage site. Thousands of pilgrims have walked this spiritual path for centuries and you can visit the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the final resting place of St. James. You can even join the Pilgrim\u2019s Mass in the evening, to welcome the pilgrims who have finished their journey in the city that day. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWe\u2019ll finish our spiritual journey in Portugal<\/a>, where we\u2019ll visit F\u00e1tima, the famous Catholic pilgrimage site. Follow in the footsteps of millions of pilgrims to the shrine where three young shepherds saw the apparition of the Virgin Mary. Join worshippers from all the world in the evening to recite the Rosary in the stunning Sanctuary of Our Lady of F\u00e1tima. From France to Portugal, this is a spiritual travel experience you\u2019ll cherish forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRELATED CONTENT: 9 ways to ensure you\u2019re a culturally sensitive traveller<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n4. Golden Triangle, Tigers and The Ganges<\/strong><\/a> (11 days)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nHinduism in India<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Hindu](\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2022\/01\/hindu-prayer-ritual-1024x576.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThis beautiful journey offers the chance to experience the different religions of India<\/a>. We\u2019ll take you to a soul-stirring Aarti Ceremony<\/a> at the Birla Temple, one of the most iconic Hindu temples in Jaipur. The ceremony involves giving offerings of food, flowers, incense, and water, along with singing and passing a traditional Aarti lamp around the deity. It\u2019s a very special experience all set amongst the glimmering white marble and stunning sculptures of the temple.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe\u2019ll then head to the sacred city of Varanasi where you\u2019ll find yourself at the heart of the Hindu religion. Explore the ancient temples then head to the Ganga Mata (Mother Ganges), the sacred river. Here, we\u2019ll cruise along the river to witness the locals performing moving rituals in the holy water. It\u2019s a magical experience you won\u2019t soon forget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RELATED CONTENT: What is Diwali, and how is it celebrated?<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n5. Spain, Morocco and Portugal<\/strong><\/a> (16 days)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIslam in Morocco & Spain<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Hassan](\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2022\/01\/casablanca-hassan-mosque-1024x576.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIslam is the dominant religion in Morocco<\/a>, making it the perfect place to get immersed in this fascinating religion. We\u2019ll kick things off in Rabat where you can see the magnificent 17th-century Palace and Mausoleum of Mohammed V. In Marrakesh, we\u2019ll visit the breathtaking Bahia Palace, before heading to the iconic Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca. It\u2019s one of the only mosques in the world open to non-muslim visitors, and we\u2019ll take you on a special guided tour through the magnificent buildings and grounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nRELATED CONTENT: What to know about Moroccan culture and etiquette before you go<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nNext, we\u2019ll hop over to Granada in Spain, where you\u2019ll walk in the footsteps of royalty in the ancient palace of Alhambra. It\u2019s one of the finest pieces of Moorish architecture in the world, built in the 12th century during the Islamic rule in Spain. Known as \u2018paradise on earth\u2019, Alhambra is said to have been inspired by the description of paradise found in Islamic verse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019ll join a Local Specialist for a guided tour to explore the stunning gardens, intricate rooms, and enormous fortress walls. We\u2019ll also meet a Local Specialist on our visit to C\u00f3rdoba, to explore the Mosque of the Caliphs. With incredible arches and Byzantine mosaics, this is a true gem of Hispano-Islamic art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RELATED CONTENT: What is Ramadan and why is it so important to the Islamic faith?<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n6. Classic Japan<\/strong><\/a> (11 days)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nShintoism in Japan<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Shinto](\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2022\/01\/Kiyomizu-temple-kyoto-japan-1024x576.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhile Shintoism is the dominant religion, you can experience many different religions in Japan<\/a>, including Buddhism and Confucianism. We\u2019ll take you to see the iconic Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto, a UNESCO-listed temple famed for its grand Main Hall and gorgeous Jishu-Jinja Shinto Shrine.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe\u2019ll also do some temple-hopping in Osaka, where you\u2019ll learn the tragic love story of Ohatsu and Tokubei at the Tsuyunoten Shinto Shrine in Umeda. It\u2019s tradition for visitors to write their prayers for love on wooden plaques known as ema, in honour of the star-crossed lovers Ohatsu and Tokubei. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Next up, we\u2019ll take a ferry to Miyajima Island for a special visit to the famous Itsukushima Shinto Shrine. This UNESCO-listed torii gate rises out of the sea and it\u2019s one of the most beautiful sacred places in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RELATED CONTENT: Mystical East: How to Discover Japan\u2019s Spiritual Side<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n7. Best of Germany with Oberammergau<\/strong><\/a> (12 days)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nChristianity in Germany<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"ornate](\"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2022\/01\/oberammergau-church-germany-1024x576.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIf you want to experience one of the world\u2019s most extraordinary religious experiences, you can\u2019t miss the Passion Play<\/a> in Oberammergau, Germany<\/a>. The devoted villagers have performed the play since 1634 as thanks to God for saving them from the 17th-century plague. Held only once a decade, this Passion Play will be happening this year from 14 May to 2 October 2022 – and you can get there with Trafalgar.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe play is a celebration of faith and a moving depiction of the life and death of Jesus Christ – and it\u2019s a life-changing experience for many. When you travel with Trafalgar, we\u2019ll score tickets to premium seats to the Passion Play. We\u2019ll also mingle with locals when we dine at a restaurant before the thrilling second half of the performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs Buddhism is the dominant religion in both Thailand<\/a> and Cambodia<\/a>, these countries offer up some incredible spiritual travel experiences. We\u2019ll start in Bangkok at the Grand Palace, where you can visit Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand\u2019s most sacred Buddhist temple. Head to Wat Pho, Bangkok\u2019s oldest temple, and you\u2019ll see the impressive largest-reclining Buddha in Thailand.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n RELATED CONTENT: 7 beautiful and unique cultural experiences you can only do in Thailand<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n After temple-hopping in Bangkok, we\u2019re off to Sukhothai where you can see the 15-metre seated Buddha in the UNESCO-listed Sukhothai Historical Park. Then we\u2019ll visit Chiang Mai for a special experience in Wat Suan Dok where you\u2019ll meet a local monk and learn about Buddhism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our trip continues to Cambodia where we\u2019ll visit the iconic Temples of Angkor. Made famous in the film \u2018Tomb Raider\u2019 we\u2019ll explore the ancient corridors, courtyards and temples alongside saffron-robed Buddhist monks. As an ancient city of a lost empire, a visit to Angkor is a truly incredible experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n RELATED CONTENT: 5 Buddhist temples you should visit on your next trip to Bali<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There are few better places to experience different religions than Israel<\/a>, a country known for its cultural and religious diversity. We\u2019ll take you on a sightseeing tour through Jerusalem\u2019s Old Town, a holy city in many religions including Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Visit the Western Wall in the Jewish Quarter, where Jews cede their prayer notes into the wall. Learn how the Dome of the Rock<\/a> is sacred for both Jews and Muslims. <\/p>\n\n\n\n RELATED CONTENT: 8 places to add to your Israel bucket list<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ll also head to the Mount of Olives and the garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus spent the night of his arrest before his crucifixion. Then walk the path that Jesus was forced down on his way to his crucifixion to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next up, we\u2019ll take a trip to the Church of the Visitation at Ein Karem where the Virgin Mary visited Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. We\u2019ll also explore the Israel Museum to see the famous Dead Sea Scrolls. And you won\u2019t miss out on a special trip to Bethlehem. Here we\u2019ll meet a Local Specialist at the Church of the Nativity, built over the cave where Jesus was born. <\/p>\n\n\n\n RELATED CONTENT: Exploring the Holy Lands \u2013 7 Christian tours you can take with Trafalgar<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Kick off your Catholic religious travel experience in Lourdes, France<\/a>, the global centre of the Marian pilgrimage. It\u2019s said to be the sacred place where St. Bernadette who witnessed the Marian apparitions of the Immaculate Conception. You\u2019ll learn more with a Local Specialist on a visit to St. Bernadette\u2019s Grotto, her birthplace and shrine, where millions of pilgrims come to pray and drink its holy water. Then, you\u2019ll get immersed in the devotion of the pilgrims as we take place in the moving Torchlight Procession. You\u2019ll join believers from all over the world as they sing the Ave Maria of Lourdes and it\u2019s a truly stirring experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We’ll then cross the border into Spain<\/a> to visit Santiago de Compostela, the iconic pilgrimage site. Thousands of pilgrims have walked this spiritual path for centuries and you can visit the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the final resting place of St. James. You can even join the Pilgrim\u2019s Mass in the evening, to welcome the pilgrims who have finished their journey in the city that day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ll finish our spiritual journey in Portugal<\/a>, where we\u2019ll visit F\u00e1tima, the famous Catholic pilgrimage site. Follow in the footsteps of millions of pilgrims to the shrine where three young shepherds saw the apparition of the Virgin Mary. Join worshippers from all the world in the evening to recite the Rosary in the stunning Sanctuary of Our Lady of F\u00e1tima. From France to Portugal, this is a spiritual travel experience you\u2019ll cherish forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RELATED CONTENT: 9 ways to ensure you\u2019re a culturally sensitive traveller<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n This beautiful journey offers the chance to experience the different religions of India<\/a>. We\u2019ll take you to a soul-stirring Aarti Ceremony<\/a> at the Birla Temple, one of the most iconic Hindu temples in Jaipur. The ceremony involves giving offerings of food, flowers, incense, and water, along with singing and passing a traditional Aarti lamp around the deity. It\u2019s a very special experience all set amongst the glimmering white marble and stunning sculptures of the temple.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ll then head to the sacred city of Varanasi where you\u2019ll find yourself at the heart of the Hindu religion. Explore the ancient temples then head to the Ganga Mata (Mother Ganges), the sacred river. Here, we\u2019ll cruise along the river to witness the locals performing moving rituals in the holy water. It\u2019s a magical experience you won\u2019t soon forget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RELATED CONTENT: What is Diwali, and how is it celebrated?<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Islam is the dominant religion in Morocco<\/a>, making it the perfect place to get immersed in this fascinating religion. We\u2019ll kick things off in Rabat where you can see the magnificent 17th-century Palace and Mausoleum of Mohammed V. In Marrakesh, we\u2019ll visit the breathtaking Bahia Palace, before heading to the iconic Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca. It\u2019s one of the only mosques in the world open to non-muslim visitors, and we\u2019ll take you on a special guided tour through the magnificent buildings and grounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n RELATED CONTENT: What to know about Moroccan culture and etiquette before you go<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Next, we\u2019ll hop over to Granada in Spain, where you\u2019ll walk in the footsteps of royalty in the ancient palace of Alhambra. It\u2019s one of the finest pieces of Moorish architecture in the world, built in the 12th century during the Islamic rule in Spain. Known as \u2018paradise on earth\u2019, Alhambra is said to have been inspired by the description of paradise found in Islamic verse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ll join a Local Specialist for a guided tour to explore the stunning gardens, intricate rooms, and enormous fortress walls. We\u2019ll also meet a Local Specialist on our visit to C\u00f3rdoba, to explore the Mosque of the Caliphs. With incredible arches and Byzantine mosaics, this is a true gem of Hispano-Islamic art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RELATED CONTENT: What is Ramadan and why is it so important to the Islamic faith?<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n While Shintoism is the dominant religion, you can experience many different religions in Japan<\/a>, including Buddhism and Confucianism. We\u2019ll take you to see the iconic Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto, a UNESCO-listed temple famed for its grand Main Hall and gorgeous Jishu-Jinja Shinto Shrine.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ll also do some temple-hopping in Osaka, where you\u2019ll learn the tragic love story of Ohatsu and Tokubei at the Tsuyunoten Shinto Shrine in Umeda. It\u2019s tradition for visitors to write their prayers for love on wooden plaques known as ema, in honour of the star-crossed lovers Ohatsu and Tokubei. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Next up, we\u2019ll take a ferry to Miyajima Island for a special visit to the famous Itsukushima Shinto Shrine. This UNESCO-listed torii gate rises out of the sea and it\u2019s one of the most beautiful sacred places in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RELATED CONTENT: Mystical East: How to Discover Japan\u2019s Spiritual Side<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to experience one of the world\u2019s most extraordinary religious experiences, you can\u2019t miss the Passion Play<\/a> in Oberammergau, Germany<\/a>. The devoted villagers have performed the play since 1634 as thanks to God for saving them from the 17th-century plague. Held only once a decade, this Passion Play will be happening this year from 14 May to 2 October 2022 – and you can get there with Trafalgar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The play is a celebration of faith and a moving depiction of the life and death of Jesus Christ – and it\u2019s a life-changing experience for many. When you travel with Trafalgar, we\u2019ll score tickets to premium seats to the Passion Play. We\u2019ll also mingle with locals when we dine at a restaurant before the thrilling second half of the performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Land of the Gods<\/strong><\/a> (13 days)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Judaism, Christianity & Islam in Israel<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Days of Devotion<\/strong><\/a> (12 days)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Catholicism in France, Spain & Portugal<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n4. Golden Triangle, Tigers and The Ganges<\/strong><\/a> (11 days)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Hinduism in India<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n5. Spain, Morocco and Portugal<\/strong><\/a> (16 days)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Islam in Morocco & Spain<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n6. Classic Japan<\/strong><\/a> (11 days)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Shintoism in Japan<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n7. Best of Germany with Oberammergau<\/strong><\/a> (12 days)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Christianity in Germany<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n