Experience Awe: 10 Travel Writers Share Their Stories
Awe is one of our most complex and mysterious emotions.
Awe comes in various forms and we have all experienced it at some level: your jaw dropping in amazement, those little goosebumps on your skin, your breathing halted by a feeling of wow, even a sense of fear or uncertainty in the presence of something incomprehensible. According to leading positive psychology researchers at Berkeley, awe is “the feeling we get in the presence of something vast that challenges our understanding of the world.”
I’m a seeker of awe. I feel fortunate that I feel it easily and often, and know from experience that travel is an incredible way to invite awe into your life. I’m also fascinated by the idea that a “feeling” can improve our physical health, help us think clearer, bolster our connection with others and increase our generosity. And while you can’t “make awe happen,” you can develop your mindset to be open to this emotion and actively choose activities that increase the odds of being awed.
Join me for an upcoming 7-day Awe-venture Challenge!
Sign up to receive an awe-venture prompt and inspiration every day for a week to help you notice and feel more awe.
It’s free - learn more here
10 Stories of Awe (11 including mine!)
I asked ten fellow travel writers to share a story about a time they felt awe. I had a flicker of concern that I’d get 10 similar stories but the truth of awe is reflected in these stories - as humans we can be deeply moved by so many different things. Common opportunities to experience awe include (in no particular order):
Nature
One’s own accomplishments
Art, architecture, and music
Vast spaces
Religious ritual
Other people
The supernatural
The following stories cover them all! Well except the supernatural - but that could probably be a different post!
A huge thank you to my travel writing friends! Enjoy these 11 stories (mine is included too) that will literally take you around the world! And read all the way to the very end for some practical ideas you can implement for a dose of daily awe whether you are on the road and even at home!
Experience Awe in Nature
In Tanzania
As I stood straddling the Kenya Tanzania border, overlooking what I’d once observed as a calm empty expansive space, something deep inside me shifted and I knew life wouldn’t ever quite be the same again. This time around, I was privileged enough to be witnessing one of nature’s greatest awe-inspiring shows. Thousands of motivated and committed wildebeest gathered at the high riverbank opposite me, clearly waiting to build enough safety in numbers before tackling the potentially lethal journey that lay ahead. As the numbers of these mesmerising creatures increased, my wonder for the natural world and all that I could learn from it grew proportionally.
My concern for the smaller, weaker looking lone animal lagging behind the herd as they all ferociously swam from one side of the river to the other was unnecessary. After a nail biting few moments all of the wildebeest made it across the vast stretch of water, escaping the jaws of patiently waiting hippos and crocs.
I hadn’t realised I was holding my breath, but as I gasped for air as this part of the spectacle came to a close, I made a promise to myself. A promise that from here on my life would be an epic journey, full of adventure and lifelong learning. An adventure where, what ever happened, I knew I’d make it safely to the other side.
Experience awe in Tanzania. Photo by Rebecca Thomas.
Rebecca Thomas is a Career Break Travel Coach and founder of Feel Good Getaways.
As a transformational travel coach, she inspires, challenges, and supports personalised experiences which guide people to connect with what they want more on a deeper level and to get the most out of career break travel experiences.
Connect with and follow Bex on Instagram @feel_good_getaways and @bexybrown_thecareertravelcoach
Havana, Cuba
Over 30 years of travel & 80 countries visited, I have experienced awe many times on my journey. For me, awe is when the things that you are seeing, doing & thinking collide to be overwhelming. Many times, I have been brought to tears.
One such experience was when I was attending a yoga retreat in Cuba. It was tradition to begin every day in silent meditation, watching the sunrise on the beach before our morning practice. Then, after a week in Havana, we moved on to spend a couple of days in stunning Viñales. One morning we were up at 4.30am to go hiking up to Los Acuáticos viewpoint where we would practice yoga as the sun rose over the mogotes of the Viñales valley. Whether it was the feeling of moving my body in flow with my fellow yogis, or the view that was appearing before our eyes as we did it, I don’t know. My eyes filled with tears of gratitude & awe at beauty of the world we live in. Thoughts turned to the people I love, especially those that I have lost & I felt overwhelmed.
No matter where else I go in life & the experiences I have, I always remember the emotion on the hill in Cuba so early that morning. That is where I felt the power of the world we live in & the sheer awe it can induce.
Experience awe in Cuba. Photo by Sue Cockell.
Sue Cockell is a blogger at Sue Where Why What and has been travelling the world for more than 30 years. She has visited almost 80 countries across six continents.
Sue is a certified Transformative Travel Coach, Solo Female Travel Expert, Blogger and Vlogger. Her goal is to inspire women in their 40s & 50s to have the confidence to travel the world alone & her blog provides all the resources needed to make it happen.
Connect with and follow Sue on any social media @suewherewhywhat
Experience Awe from Accomplishment
New Zealand
I arrived at the barren alpine summit of McKinnon's Pass, on the Milford Track, deep in the Fiordland National Park in New Zealand. Snow hardy tussock, a dark, foreboding lake, and a wind that could easily topple me.
"Stay back from the edge or you'll be at Quintin Lodge in 12 seconds", our guide warned.
I opted for the four hour descent over loose rocks, through freshly formed waterfalls, up precarious crevasses, and along uneven tracks with tree roots appearing at all angles. My legs felt disconnected as I traipsed over the final swing bridge dangling above the raging river below. The sight of the black Quintin lodge surrounded by dense bush, towering mountains covered in mist and waterfalls after so much rain, was a beautiful sight.
Today was the day I'd set as my number one goal. After fracturing my pelvis five months earlier I'd gone from hobbling to the bathroom on a walking frame to this. All the rehab, the exercises, the walking, the setbacks...but I'd made it.
I let out a huge whoop as I was greeted by others who'd arrived earlier. Under the shelter of the lodge verandah I sat and offloaded my pack. I leaned against the window and smiled with relief. I'd done it.
Experience awe in New Zealand. Photo by Katherine Leamy.
Katherine Leamy is founder of the blog The 5 Kilo Traveller and author of the travel memoir Dare to Travel Solo to be released in April 2023.
Her book tells the tale of a life-changing solo trip in Europe, where she discovered the ultimate secret to hassle-free travel: the art of traveling lightly. Katherine’s passion for packing light has transformed her life in ways she never imagined.
Connect with and follow Katherine on Instagram @the5kilotraveller
*Katherine helped me with carry-on packing for my last trip.
Switzerland
I am not a huge adventure seeker. When my husband plans adventures for us, he often pushes me way beyond my comfort zone. Like riding elephants in Chiang Mai, white water rafting in New Zealand, and cliff jumping in Jamaica.
As we planned our 25th wedding anniversary trip to Switzerland, he really wanted to visit Mount Pilatus. He mentioned that it was a popular place for paragliding. I’m not even sure what made me say that I would maybe, possibly think about paragliding during our stay.
Without giving me a chance to change my mind, Chris quickly booked an excursion for us. Up until the morning of our moment of “running off the edge of the mountain”, I just couldn’t let myself even think about it.
My tandem guide helped me to suit up and then clipped me into the harness. After a few quick instructions, I was running like crazy and then soaring through the morning air. The first moment of awe came when I realized I was flying... and I survived! The next moment of awe came when I looked around at the majestic beauty of the Swiss Alps that went on for miles, the green valleys below dotted with cows, and the dramatic rock faces that we soared around.
Paragliding was monumental for me. Not only was it awe-inspiring but it has also given me the courage to be more adventurous on our getaways as a couple. Can you believe I just snorkeled with sharks in Tahiti?
Experience awe in Switzerland. Photo by Jolayne.
Jolayne is a Colorado-based travel blogger of Just Wander More with a passion for exploring the world, enjoying family time, and taking fantastic photographs.
Jolayne is all about helping people discover the world through the simple joys of travel—one destination, one photograph, one adventure at a time.
Connect with and follow Jolayne on Instagram @justwantermore
Experience Awe from Art and Architecture ( & History!)
Italy
I had the privilege of traveling to Italy last summer. Italy was the one place I always wanted to visit. That place that if I could only leave the US once more that I wanted to be the place I went.
I was not disappointed.
When I was younger, I wasn’t one to get emotional over surprises or happy moments. As I’ve approached midlife, I find myself becoming overwhelmed by emotions—good and bad—far easier. During my time in Italy, I found myself in tears on at least two occasions.
The first was the moment I saw the Colosseum for the first time. Our tour bus had made a turn, and when I looked up, it was just there. I don’t know if it was from the shock of finally seeing something I’d dreamed of seeing or its size or the historical significance of it. It didn’t matter. It took my breath, and my eyes stung from the tears.
The second was during my visit to the Vatican. Standing in the Sistine Chapel, a holy place, staring at Michelangelo’s The Last Judgement, I found myself fighting back streams of tears. I was in awe of its size, beauty, and depth of colors. It was magnificent.
Experiencing places and history firsthand gives us a sense of connection to it. It makes it real to us in a way that only reading about cannot. That is awe-inspiring.
Experience awe in Italy. Photo by Jessica Wells.
Jessica Wells is the founder of Blue Grass to Sunshine. She is a mid-lifer with a husband, two grown children, and too many dogs.
Bluegrass to Sunshine is a Florida travel blog highlighting the beauty and adventure found in the Sunshine State, as well as recommendations and tips for your trip.
Connect with and follow Jessica on Instagram @bluegrass.to.sunshine
Experience Awe in Vast Spaces
Newfoundland, Canada
I have discovered the fiery beginning of time. The sky over the tempestuous sea burns orange from the sun’s glow below the horizon. It is sublime. A savage romance fills my chest and tightens my throat.
On a boggy cliff overlooking Cape Onion, the northernmost point of Newfoundland’s Great Northern Peninsula, I have hiked along its edge. It is covered in long, golden grasses bent by the wind’s relentless force. There are patches of snow on the ground. Waves rolling in from the Atlantic Ocean crash against distant islands and towering sea stacks before tumbling to the shore below. Fighting to remain steady against the biting wind, I stand still to witness the earth spin away from the sun. Overcome with a poignant loneliness strangely imbued with a sense of connection and gratitude, I simultaneously feel entirely alone and at one with a universe I cannot fathom. The experience is transcendent.
Van life has allowed me to captain my destiny in a way that I’d never before had the confidence to do. It is how I am standing on that cliff dizzied by the turbulence of conflicting emotions. A mirror to the sea. My pride in my tenacity to abandon familiar comforts and live as a nomad magnifies an experience that’s already almost too big. While van life is not easy, it is worth every hardship. No longer limited by a traditional life in a traditional home, it is how I will discover my place in the world.
Experience awe in Newfoundland. Photo by Carol Fisher.
Carol Fisher is the creator and host of The Carol-Van: A (Van) Life Podcast (or wherever you stream podcasts).
She is a digital nomad living and traveling in a minivan with her blind rescue cat. On the road full-time across the US and Canada, her home is the 148 cubic feet inside a 2010 Toyota Sienna!
Connect with and follow Carol @thecarolvanpod on all the social channels.
NEPAL
Have you ever trekked up to 18,000 feet while feeling the lack of oxygen in your lungs, hearing the crunch of the snow underneath your boots, feeling the sweat dripping down your back, thinking you'll never make it to the top...then you reach flat ground, look up, and find yourself surrounded by the tallest mountains in the world?
This is my awe inspiring experience in the Everest Region of Nepal. I spent 15 days trekking amongst the tallest and grandest mountains in the world, making everyday a new day of awe. I trekked through mountain villages, across suspension bridges, and along farmland meeting friendly yak and excited children. The main event came at the end of the trek at Gokyo Ri, with an elevation of 17,575 feet and a stunning glacial lake at the base (pictured). This was the most challenging day, leaving my lungs feeling too small and my head feeling too big. But the climb was 100% worth it. When I reached the top I had a sense of calm and peace float over me. My perspective shifted as I stood so small in the middle of 25,000+ feet of mountains. All my worries left me and I felt blissfully connected to the Earth.
How far will you go to find your awe inspiring experience?
Experience awe in Nepal. Photo by Tricia Sexton.
Tricia Sexton is a Transformational Travel Coach and Certified Life Coach with over 10 years of international travel experience. Listen to her podcast called Messy Action about transforming through travel.
She works with people who desire to move abroad or take a sabbatical from work to travel the world, and empower them to find purpose and meaning in their life through transformational travel experiences.
Connect with and follow Tricia on Instagram @coach_tricia_
Experience Awe in Spirituality
Córdoba, Spain
I’m standing under the brown and white striped arches of a place that has miraculously survived for thousands of years, through dynasties, wars, and earthquakes. Built from 784-786 AD by Abd al-Rahman, the Great Mosque of Córdoba is one of the most famous monuments of Western Islamic (Moorish) architecture in Spain.
It’s early morning inside the Mezquita-Catedral. I was the first inside and am the only person standing in the main Muslim prayer space, among 800 granite and marble pillars that support the mosque’s brick and stone-tiered horseshoe arches. I am surprised to find myself overwhelmed by emotion – awe and amazement. I’m so overwhelmed that I can’t breathe. I open my arms wide and look upwards, grateful for this moment of peace and stillness.
I try to imagine what it must have been like 2,000 years earlier. What did it feel like to worship here? How did they build a Catholic cathedral inside the mosque in 1523? How did they know where to begin the restoration process hundreds of years later? I am drawn to the mihrab, which has been painstakingly restored to its original splendour, framed by an exquisitely decorated arch of gold glass with shimmering hues of blue, brown, and yellow.
It's moments like these that remind me why we travel. When I am reminded that I am such a small cog in the universe, yet connected to all has come before me, and all that will be.
Experience awe in Spain. Photo by Carolyn Ray.
Carolyn Ray is the CEO and Editor of Journey Woman, the world’s original solo travel publication.
Carolyn is a board member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), a member of the Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC) and the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA).
Connect with Carolyn on Instagram @thecarolynray and follow Journey Woman @journeywoman_original
Did you read my Solo Travel article on Journey Woman? I learned so much working with Carolyn!
Canterbury Cathedral, England
It was dark outside when I entered the cathedral, my final destination on the Pilgrims’ Way. With my mask in place, I walked to my solitary chair in the nave, directed by a similarly masked attendant who made sure all present followed pandemic rules. There were a few other people there, all separated by several metres, the space around us cold in the autumn evening.
The choir entered in a line, walking across the nave in robes of purple, all of them masked. They arranged themselves on the steps in front of the quire screen, physically distanced, before removing their face coverings. They sang psalms in Latin, their voices soaring high into the vault above, harmonising together even as they stood so far apart. This cathedral was built for the glory of God and these men sang for Him too, but also surely for the sheer joy of human voices coming together in song at a time of so much separation.
Ancient stone, ancient words, ancient faith — and the transience of each note disappearing into silence once more. I stayed for the service, but it was the practice before that truly moved me, and those minutes almost alone in the cathedral nave that freed my spirit. A fitting end to my Pilgrims’ Way.
Experience awe in England. Photo by JF Penn.
Jo Frances Penn is an Award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers, dark fantasy, and crime. She is also the host of one of my favourite shows - the Books and Travel Podcast.
Find all her books, blog, and podcasts online.
This story is an excerpt from her newest publication which is coming out May ‘23. Pilgrimage: Lessons Learned from Solo Walking Three Ancient Ways
Connect with and follow Jo on Instagram @jfpennauthor
Experience Awe Inspired by Others
France
In the Summer of 2013, my study abroad experience in the South of France was coming to an end. I wanted to make the most of my remaining time before returning home, so I embarked on a solo adventure to Strasbourg, France. As my last night approached, I asked the receptionist at my hotel to arrange a taxi to pick me up in the morning so I could catch my train to Paris. However, a taxi never showed up.
Panic set in as I ran to the bus stop and watched the last bus disappear, leaving me stranded with all my luggage. Overwhelmed, I stood at the bus stop and broke down in tears. But just when I thought I was going to miss my bus an older gentlemen stopped his car at the bus stop and asked me, in German, what was wrong. Despite my limited French, we were able to communicate, and he kindly offered me a ride to the train Station.
Nervous and hesitant at first, I knew I couldn’t miss my train, so I accepted his offer. As he drove, we had a pleasant conversation, and I offered him money for his time, but he refused. His kindness and generosity left a profound impact on me, and I felt an overwhelming sense of awe.
This simple act of kindness reminded me why I live to travel – the unexpected encounters with people who will leave a lasting impression.
Experience awe in France. Photo by Amanda Hood.
Amanda Hood is an Attorney, Travel Advisor, and Travel Coach and shares her journeys on her site, aptly named trialstotravels.com
Amanda blogs to inspire people to make travel a priority in life so they can create even more joy in life at home. It starts with finding your why!
Connect with and follow Amanda on Instagram @trialstotravels
Seville, Spain
Tracy here! I too have awe moments that fall into all the previous categories. But allow me to add a story to complement Amanda’s tale of awe inspired by ‘other people'.
I’m not an avid professional sports watcher, my husband and I wanted to experience a professional soccer/futbol game in Europe. We bought tickets online for a Spanish La Liga Futbol match - Sevilla FC vs Rayo Vallecano (a team from Madrid). On game day, we got there early to watch the warm up and as we climbed higher and higher to find our seats in the stadium, were excited to find that our spot was 1) out of the hot Spanish sun and 2) along the goal line near the section of “Sevilla super fans”.
It was fun to people watch and feel the fan-energy grow as almost every seat in the 45,000 capacity stadium filled. There were twice the number of people in the stadium than live in my entire city!!
As the game officially began, so did the drumming and clapping and singing which did not let up for a single minute of the game. In fact, I had tears streaming down my face when the home crowd sang their customary pre-kickoff song. The power ands intensity of the fans and their singing was incredible. Listen to the video below!
It was magical getting swept away with the cheering, the whistling (booing), and the agony of lost chances. My awe moment was fuelled by the collective energy, passion, and sense of belonging that unites people. It was overwhelming!
Experience awe in Spain.
Everyday Awe
As inspiring as all these stories are across five continents, you don’t have to take a trip to Europe, Cuba, New Zealand, Canada, or Africa to experience awe. Brain science tells us that there are ways to cultivate awe in your everyday life. Here are a few things to do at home:
Get out in nature
Take a mindful walk and notice the magic in the ordinary
Go to a museum, art gallery, or concert
Step into a place of worship even if not your personal beliefs
Go on a “microadventure” - read more here for ideas
Spend time with a child who will remind you to see things with fresh enthusiasm and curiosity.
Have you received my free BOLD ACTION GUIDE to transform your “bucket list” to TRAVEL BLISS?
You might want to consider using AWE in Bold Action Step #3!!
