The Power of Awe: Why It’s the Heart of Wellness Adventure Travel

Stacey Funt, MD
May 15
2 min read

Updated: May 15

When people ask me what makes wellness adventure travel so transformative, one word comes to mind right away: awe.

Awe is the feeling we experience when we encounter something vast, breathtaking, or deeply moving — something that goes beyond our ordinary understanding of the world. It’s that rush we feel when standing at the top of a mountain, under a brilliant night sky, or seeing the radiant hues of a sunset that stirs something deep inside us.

And it turns out that awe isn't just a fleeting positive emotion — it's one of the most powerful experiences we can have for our health and wellbeing.

Research shows that moments of awe:

Lower stress and inflammation by calming the nervous system
Expand our sense of time, making us feel like we have more of it
Decrease feelings of isolation and increase feelings of connection to others
Boost mood and creativity, even providing relief from symptoms of depression
Enhance a sense of meaning and purpose in life

Awe literally shifts us physiologically. It quiets parts of the brain associated with a focus on self and activates those linked to outward processes like wonder, humility, and generosity. In the presence of something awe-inspiring, our everyday worries diminish. We become more open, more curious, and more connected — to each other, to nature, and to something larger than ourselves.

Cultures throughout history have recognized awe’s power. Ancient civilizations often linked experiences like starry skies, towering mountains, and powerful storms to the realm of the divine. Awe was seen as a bridge between the human and the sacred — a way of touching the mystery of existence itself.

Today, we might understand more about the biology of awe, but the magic remains. That’s why I design each of my itineraries with intentional moments for awe: hiking through stunning landscapes, riding a camel amidst vast orange sand dunes, biking through rolling green hills, kayaking on tranquil lakes surrounded by volcanoes, or witnessing the creative genius of human design.

Because awe isn’t just a beautiful feeling — it’s a doorway back to our humanness and connection.

And the best part is: we don't have to travel to distant lands to experience awe. While magnificent landscapes can certainly take our breath away, hearing the morning birds return in early spring, watching the leaves twirl in the wind, observing the petals of a flower, or witnessing seeds sprouting in the garden can inspire those same feelings. What inspires awe for you in your surroundings?

Awe can be evoked not just by where we are, but by how we choose to see what is around us.