Soul searching holidays for inspiration

HAS 2007 dealt you a few blows? Marianne Betts has seven top travel ideas to designed inspire or soothe the soul.

Dogon spiritual / Florin Iorganda

HAS 2007 dealt you a few blows? Sometimes we need travel simply to inspire or soothe our souls. Marianne Betts has some travel ideas that should do just the trick.

Climb that mountain
Mt Kinabalu, Borneo, Malaysia

Nothing is quite so rewarding as climbing a mountain. With the incredible sense of achievement and stunning views comes a humbling reminder of our place in the universe. Mt Kinabalu, a World Heritage site, is 4095m. On a clear day, hikers can see the Philippines from the summit. All that's needed for the trip, typically two days, is a good dose of stamina, determination and weatherproof clothing.

Pay homage
Western Front battlefields, France

There's nothing like visiting a place of great sacrifice to make you appreciate your life and what you have. The bloodiest 24 hours in Australian history unfolded on July 19, 1916, at the battle of Fromelles, when 5533 troops were killed or wounded. The Australians, fighting alongside the British, had to cross a small strip of land under German fire. The peace and beauty of the area now - mostly farmland surrounding the village of Fromelles - make it hard to imagine the horror of 1916. A small museum, a cemetery and a statue pay homage to the dead.

Find your family
Bassiano, Italy

Tracing your ancestors can lead to amazing discoveries. A rustic village far from the cosmopolitan glamour of the catwalks of Milan is where a traveller can get lost in another life. Photographer Manuela Cifra found Bassiano when she went looking for her father's home. The Italian village, 75km southwest of Rome and home to 2000, is steeped in tradition. "People still do their washing in the communal fountain and make their own prosciutto and olives," Cifra says.

Go crazy
New York City, US

Where better to let your hair down than in New York City? Have a drink at one of the rooftop bars in Manhattan, catch the Staten Island ferry to see the Statue of Liberty or visit the Museum of Modern Art. Later, catch a show on Broadway or a baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Escape the bustle of the city with a picnic in Central Park or go shopping.

A whole new world
Dogon Country, Mali

The 150km-long Bandiagara Escarpment, near Timbuktu, is home to the other-worldly culture of the Dogon. Anywhere between two days and three weeks can be spent trekking through the red-rock, Mars-like landscape of Dogon Country, following the escarpment from village to village. Trekkers bed down in basic rest houses in the larger villages, or stay with local families - usually on a rooftop under the stars.

Scare yourself
Gordon Dam wall, Tasmania

Nothing is more empowering than getting out of your comfort zone, facing fears and conquering them. A 140m abseil - the world's longest commercial abseil - down the Gordon Dam wall, run by Aardvark Adventures, will do the trick. Get ready to be 130m above the forest and just swinging in the breeze. By the time abseilers reach the bottom, they are 20m out from the wall.

Help someone out
Kolkata, India

Follow in the footsteps of Mother Theresa and volunteer in Kolkata. When she arrived in the area in 1937, Mother Theresa was horrified by the number of poor people who died on the city's streets. She established an order, the Missionaries of Charity, and it has since become an international operation. The charity has opportunities for volunteers at several care homes around Kolkata.