5 Best Travel Destinations for People with Anxiety, According to Psychiatrists

Ankita Rai | Wed, 19 Mar 2025
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Not all travel energizes—some destinations are designed to heal. Psychiatrists recommend places where nature, solitude, and mindfulness create the perfect environment for anxiety relief. From the tranquil shores of Okinawa to the Arctic stillness of Svalbard, these five destinations offer a retreat for the mind, helping travelers reset, recharge, and find lasting calm.
Bhutan
( Image credit : Pexels )
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Break Out of the Fray and into Your Peace


Traveling is a thrilling break for the majority, but for the anxious, it is a cause for tension. Crowded airports, strange surroundings, and crowded schedules can be overwhelming instead of calming. But selecting a place that promotes calm, solitude, and sensitivity can make traveling an honest healing experience.
Psychiatrists and mental health professionals suggest locations where nature is the focal point, where time stands still, and where you can breathe freely without any distraction. If you need a holiday that de-stresses you and wish to reboot, these are five top recommendations that are going to calm the troubled mind.

1. Okinawa, Japan – A Place Where Time Slows Down


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Japan
( Image credit : Pixabay )

Way out in the East China Sea is Okinawa, where life moves slowly. Famous for its stunning scenery and one of the longest-lived people in the world, the Japanese island is serene.

Why It's Ideal for Stress Relief:

Forest bathing in ancient forests –
Strolling through the dense forests of Okinawa, an activity called Shinrin-yoku, has been found to lower cortisol levels and reduce stress.

Secluded beaches with crystal clear waters –
Unlike more touristy spots' beachfront chaos, Okinawa's isolated coves are a sanctuary where one can peacefully unwind.

A conscious culture –
The island residents practice the philosophy of "Ikigai," or a reason for being, that prescribes a carefree and balanced way of life.
Here, the world is slowed down, and the worries of daily life are left behind, to be heard only with the roar of the sea and the burn of the sun on your back.

2. Svalbard, Norway – Silence and Isolation in the Arctic


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Norway
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If your mind is full of constant din and disorder, Svalbard has something unique to offer: genuine silence. This Norwegian island chain, well above the Arctic Circle, is an area where nature holds sway and man is absent in large numbers.

Why It's Ideal for Reducing Anxiety:

An unspoiled setting –
With endless expanses of ice fields, vast mountains, and infinite reaches of wilderness, Svalbard is the epitome of remoteness.

The soothing light of the Northern Lights –
Seeing the auroras dance in the sky is a hypnotic, almost trance-like experience.

A profound sense of perspective –
Having this vast, empty space surrounding you can place your own concerns into perspective, and make them seem less, and more manageable.
There is no hurry here, no relentless stimulation—only the soft hum of the natural world, reminding you to breathe, to think, and release.

3. Bhutan – The Land That Measures Happiness


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Bhutan
( Image credit : Pixabay )

Differently from the rest of the world, Bhutan does not measure success on economic development but on the people's happiness. This Himalayan kingdom, otherwise referred to as the last Shangri-La, is a refuge for tranquility, serenity, and spiritual rejuvenation.

Why It's Perfect for Relief from Stress:

A conscious culture –
Meditation, prayer flags, and serene monasteries dictate the pace for a slow, thoughtful living.
Hiking the Himalayas –
From a leisurely stroll in Paro Valley to a trek to Tiger's Nest Monastery, with each step comes closer to nature.
Restricted tourism to maintain peace –
Bhutan has only a limited number of tourists annually, so even the most sought-after places are thinly populated and peaceful.
Stress is a remote idea in Bhutan. The wind is cool, the mountains are quiet, and the world is moving at a speed that lets you breathe your very own breath.

4. Isle of Harris, Scotland – The Rhythms of the Sea


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Isle of Harris
( Image credit : Pexels )

There is something extremely calming about the sea, and on the Isle of Harris, the sea engulfs you. This remote Scottish island, with its broad beaches and precipitous cliffs, offers a retreat where nature's rhythm becomes your own.

Why It's Perfect for Anxiety Relief:

Miles of untainted coastline –
The island's beaches, such as Luskentyre and Seilebost, are among the world's most beautiful, yet frequently deserted, which equals tranquil solitude.

A more sedate pace of life –
Isle of Harris is a place with villages that breathe at a languid pace and is a region that exudes profound tranquillity.

Roar of waves as soothing music –
It is researched that marine sounds have a relaxing effect on the mind and melt away anxiety, and Isle of Harris will be the prime location to unwind.
Here, the ocean speaks for itself. It whispers to us to slow down, to release, and to be here.

5. Kauai, Hawaii – The Island That Heals


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Hawai
( Image credit : Pixabay )

While everyone else envisions Hawaii as a crowded tourist destination, Kauai is not. The Garden Isle, it's called, and it's an area of untamed, wild beauty, with enormous waterfalls, green cliffs, and peaceful beaches that are the perfect setting for healing.

Why It's Ideal for Anxiety Relief

Nature in all its splendor –
From tranquil Hanalei Bay waters to the green walls of the Nā Pali Coast, the landscapes of Kauai provide a natural antidote to anxiety.
Less trendy, more tranquil –
In contrast to Oahu or Maui, Kauai is less populated, with less development and accordingly fewer crowds, and a stronger sense of solitude with nature.
A retreat for wellness retreats –
The island boasts many yoga, meditation, and wellness retreats where one can simply unwind and reconnect with themselves.
Time in Kauai is not the same. The cares that burdened so much before melt into the fog of the waterfalls, leaving only an unmeasurable peace.

Final Thoughts: Travel as Therapy


For the anxious, traveling does not have to be a stress-inducing activity—it can be therapeutic. The correct destination can be used to create space to breathe, to distance oneself from the burdens of day-to-day living, and to connect with yourself.
Whether it's Okinawa's peaceful forests, Svalbard's icy quiet, or Scotland's rhythmic shores, these places remind us that peace isn't something to be achieved—it's something to be discovered, in the stillness of moments, in the clean lands, in the act of simply existing.
So if you are searching for a place where your mind can finally release, then the path maybe is not one of seeing more, but of feeling less burdened. The world is vast, and in it there are spaces to cradle you in their stillness.
Tags:
  • anxiety-friendly travel
  • best destinations for anxiety
  • calming travel spots
  • stress-free vacations
  • peaceful travel destinations
  • psychiatrist-recommended travel

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