I don’t know about you, but I’m obsessed with the Enneagram, a personality test that pinpoints your deepest desires and fears.
But what makes the Enneagram different from other personality tests? Personally, I love the Enneagram because it’s so accurate. Honestly, my results were kind of scary; it’s shocking how much a 15-minute test can reveal about you. Secondly, I like the Enneagram because it gets to the heart of why we do things. Rather than assessing how we interact with the world, it assesses why we feel what we feel in the first place. It goes deeper.
The Enneagram divides the population into nine Enneagram types. Each type has a unique set of traits, desires, and fears. Don’t know your Enneagram personality type? Take a free test here.
When it comes to travel, each Enneagram type wants something different. Ones want to make the world a better place. Fours want to experience something beautiful and unique. Sevens want to have a good time. Now that a new year is upon us and we’re all thinking about where to travel next, I wanted to suggest some vacation ideas for your Enneagram type.
So, here’s where you should travel this year, based on your Enneagram type:
Type 1 – The Reformer
Words that define you: Principled, purposeful, self-controlled, perfectionistic
Where you should travel this year: Chiang Mai, Thailand
Conscientious and ethical, Ones care about making the world a better place. But Ones aren’t idealistic people who theoretically want to help others — they’re practical people of action.
So this year, travel to Chiang Mai, Thailand, a city in Northeastern Thailand that is home to many grassroots volunteering organizations. In Chiang Mai, there are myriad ways to make a difference, from building homes for single mothers to teaching English to novice Buddhist monks.
If you’re an animal lover, you can even spend the day caring for elephants at the Elephant Nature Park. What could be better?
Type 2 – The Helper
Words that define you: Generous, demonstrative, people-pleasing, and possessive
Where you should travel this year: Baños, Ecuador
Empathetic and self-sacrificing, Twos have a tendency to ignore their own needs and put others first. This is due to their core desire to feel love. All of this people-pleasing takes a toll — which is why Twos especially need a break.
This year, treat yourself to a relaxing vacation in Baños, Ecuador, a spa town known for its naturally heated baths where you can enjoy massages and spa treatments. As Twos especially need to focus on self-care, this would be the perfect vacation for you.
If you’re worried that doing something like this sounds self-indulgent — don’t! If any Enneagram type deserves some R&R, it’s you.
Type 3 – The Achiever
Words that define you: Adaptable, excelling, driven, and image-conscious
Where you should travel: Mount Kilimanjaro
As a Three, pushing yourself to be “the best” is kind of your hobby. So what better way to challenge yourself than by climbing Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain?
Considering how energetic and competitive you are, reaching the peak will be no problem. Plus, as someone who’s a bit — let’s face it — image-conscious, imagine how many Instagram likes you’ll get.
Type 4 – The Individualist
Words that define you: Expressive, dramatic, self-absorbed, and temperamental
Where you should travel: Tivoli, Italy
Never heard of Tivoli? Don’t worry — most people haven’t. And that’s why it will appeal to you. It’s unique (like you!)
As a Four, you have a soft spot for antiquity as you tend to romanticize the past. So you’ll love Tivoli, a quaint Italian town known for its beautiful Roman ruins. Tivoli’s crown jewel is Hadrian’s Villa, a 2,000-year-old Roman mansion built for Emperor Hadrian, the emperor who also built Hadrian’s Wall.
Fours are the artists of the Enneagram; they love to create art and appreciate it deeply. With your refined taste, love of history, and appreciation of uniqueness, what could be more appealing than a beautiful and obscure Roman ruin?
Type 5 – The Investigator
Words that define you: Perceptive, innovative, secretive, and isolated
Where you should travel: London, England
Curious and alert, Fives are the brainiest of all the Enneagram types. One of your key motivations is to understand how the world works, so you’ll love London, a city that some of the world’s greatest thinkers, scientists, and philosophers have called home.
A few things you’ll enjoy: the Churchill War Rooms (a secret bunker in Westminster), the Sherlock Holmes Museum (dedicated to the fictional Sherlock Holmes, who was definitely an Enneagram Five), and the British Museum (where you’ll find the Rosetta Stone, which unlocked the meaning of Egyptian hieroglyphics to the modern world). You may also want to consider a day trip to Bletchley Park, where Alan Turing cracked the Enigma code.
Type 6 – The Loyalist
Words that define you: Engaging, responsible, anxious, and suspicious
Where you should travel: Kyoto, Japan
Fearful and suspicious of others, Sixes worry a lot about their personality safety. So where better to go than Japan, a beautiful, fascinating country with virtually no crime?
You’ll especially enjoy serene Kyoto. The former capital of Japan, this historical city has many lush gardens and peaceful temples to explore, without the hustle and bustle of Tokyo.
Loyal and trustworthy, you’ll particularly enjoy Kyoto in the company of a significant other, friend, or family member. Building relationships with loved ones is important to you, so having someone by your side will only enrich your experience in Japan.
Type 7 – The Enthusiast
Words that define you: Spontaneous, versatile, acquisitive, sensitive
Where you should travel: Cape Town, South Africa
Spontaneous and adaptable, Sevens are born travelers. The only problem? They’re easily bored.
So this year, head to Cape Town, a dynamic city that is bound to have enough things to entertain you. A few things you’ll love: a wine tour in Stellenbosch, cage-diving with sharks, and a day trip to see the penguins and Cape of Good Hope.
A word of warning — don’t over-exert yourself. As a Seven, you’re always trying new things, which often leaves you feeling scattered. Don’t forget — you can do lots of activities and relax on your vacation.
Type 8 – The Challenger
Words that define you: Self-confident, decisive, willful, and confrontational
Where you should travel this year: Alaska
Resilient and self-assured, there are few Enneagram types tougher than Eights. As an Eight, two of your core desires are to prove your strength and dominate your environment — and where better to do it than the wilds of Alaska? If anyone can handle the Last Frontier, it’s you.
Whether you decide to backpack Denali or go halibut fishing on Yakobi Island, Alaska is sure to provide a hearty challenge. You might even consider doing this trip solo. Charismatic and outgoing, you have no trouble meeting people no matter where you go.
Type 9 – The Peacemaker
Words that define you: Receptive, reassuring, agreeable, and complacent
Where you should travel: Rishikesh, India
Let’s be honest — as a Nine, you’re a bit of a hippie. The “spiritual seeker” of the Enneagram, you love to get in touch with yourself and don’t shy away from things others might consider alternative or “out-there.”
Which is why you should visit Rishikesh, India, a city known for its spiritual practices like studying yoga and meditation. If doing sun salutations as the sun rises over the Ganges sounds like your idea of a good time, this might be your perfect trip.
Plus, you’d be following in the Beatles’ footsteps — the band came to Rishikesh in the sixties to study at an Ashram.
What about you? Are you into the Enneagram? What’s your personality type? In case you were wondering, I’m a four wing three.
Have you ever taken the Enneagram? What do you think about my Enneagram vacation ideas?
(Passport graphic, elephant, Baños, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Hadrian’s Villa photos via Wikimedia Commons)
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Ashley I absolutely love this! What a fun spin on 2020/New Year and travel. My sister got me into Enneagram (she’s a 4 too!I’m a 3) and it’s fascinating. Cool post :)
Thanks for commenting! I’m a 4 wing 3 :)
This was fun! I am a 1! The destination surprised me a little, but lucky I love suprises!
That’s good to hear! :)
Wow this all looks amazing! Gorgeous words and stunning photographs to compliment them. Now I need to head here immediately!
Glad you enjoyed it! :)