Eat Pray Love Inspired Travel Guide
If you’re feeling the itch to leave and travel in the hope of self-discovery then this travel guide is for you.
Inspired by the book and film, Eat Pray Love, we’ll be following Liz on her journey to Italy, India, and Indonesia.
Although the film is now over 10 years old and the locations have changed over time, there’s still a lot of beauty and magic in these countries that I hope to shine a light on in this guide.
Grab your plane ticket, we’re on our way to our first destination.
Italy
Liz arrives in Rome, so that’s where we’ll begin. You should head straight to the top of the Castel Sant’Angelo at sunset to get those beautiful panoramic views of the city we first see in the film. You can’t miss the view of St. Peter’s Basilica, the huge, ornate, white building in Vatican City. While you’re in Rome, you should definitely pay the Vatican a visit and spend some time adoring the art and of course, visiting the Sistine Chapel.
Image Credit: Gabriella Clare Marino
Liz meets Sofi at the Ristorante Caffè Domiziano in the Piazza Navona. Order yourself a morning coffee or a cocktail, depending on what mood you're in, and sit outside admiring the view of the Fiumi Fountain. Head to one of the many bakeries to enjoy some Italian pastries, Forno Camp de’ Fiori Roma is just around the corner from your morning coffee stop. Next, you should head to the Colosseum as you cannot miss this during your visit to Rome. Stop by the Pantheon on the way to see this ancient Roman temple and spend some time exploring the Roman Forum ruins.
A trip to Rome would not be complete without some authentic Italian food. Eat pizza at the Antica Trattoria Della Pace where Liz dines with her Italian teacher, Giovanni, or enjoy the nature of dolce far niente, the sweetness of doing nothing at the Osteria Dell’Antiquario where Liz enjoys some spaghetti. In the evening, you should visit the Trevi Fountain to make a wish and enjoy some gelato. The Il Gelato di San Crispino is just down the street and one which Liz also visited.
Image Credit: Gabriella Clare Marino
Finally, Liz visits the Augusteum ruins outside of the city. Although not as popular a spot as some of the other destinations, it’s still a unique and interesting one to visit. Get a guide to show you around to learn about this impressive, historical site. Liz describes the Augusteum as the “quietest and loneliest place in Rome”, and here she reflects on how “we must always be prepared for endless waves of transformation”. Immerse in the ruins and take time to reflect on your own history, since you’re travelling for self-reflection and self-discovery.
Before you leave Italy for your next location, take a day trip to Naples just an hour and a half train ride south. Ideally, you’ll spend this entire day gorging on Neapolitan pizza. Visit L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele where Liz and Sofi dined or stop by one of the other many pizza places. For a more luxurious experience visit 50 Kaló, a popular establishment with locals near the waterfront. If you’re looking for something far more casual, then seek out some street pizza around the Via Vergini area. Once you’ve eaten enough Italian food, you can get on the next plane to our next destination.
India
When you land in the bustling city of New Dehli, you’ll take a trip to the Ashram Hari Mandir in Pataud where Liz stayed. Immerse yourself in spiritual India, meditate and take time to find inner peace. Life in the ashram is about going back to basics and learning how to appreciate and enjoy the simple things in life. It’s an intense, challenging experience designed to give you a new perspective in the hopes of reaching personal enlightenment. If it sounds too intense for you, opt for one of the many wellness retreats instead to dip your toe in the spiritual pond. Visit Abhayaranya Yoga Ashram, a retreat that combines yoga with Ayurveda to help detoxify and rest the body or choose the Munkudil Ayurveda Yoga Retreat, a 2-day retreat with Ayurvedic treatment and massages for detoxifying the body.
Image Credit: Jared Rice
You’ll likely try most local dishes during your stay at the ashram or retreat but when in India you absolutely must experience the variety of food. Try a masala dosa, perhaps one of the most famous dishes, an Indian pancake made by a labour of love. Eat chaat at street food vendors and enjoy dal from the country it was created in. There’s plenty of food to experience and enjoy.
Liz finds a local elephant during her time in India, so take a trip to get up close and personal with these wise and friendly creatures. Take a day trip to the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre to see them up close and learn about the rehabilitation efforts. Before you leave India, you should take time to visit one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. A beautiful, sacred site that will leave you speechless and a perfect way to end your time in India.
Image Credit: Sylwia Bartyzel
Indonesia
Once you’ve found some inner peace in India, take a trip to Indonesia and settle down in Ubud, Bali. You can actually stay in the same villa that Liz stayed at if you really want to get the full experience, otherwise, there are plenty of other beautiful villas and hotels in the area with the same idyllic jungle feel. Visit the Campuhan Ridge Walk and explore the Tegallalang Rice Terraces to see the beautiful views of the rice paddies that Liz cycles around. You should also stop by the Ubud Monkey Forest to experience the Indonesian wildlife up close and personal. Bali is a busy and touristy place these days so be warned when you do visit these places you might not have it to yourself. Try and visit these sights as early as you can to appreciate the wonder without the crowds.
Image Credit: Niklas Weiss
Begin your experience of spiritual Bali by visiting the iconic Pura Tirta Empul for a cleansing ceremony. Liz spent a lot of time in this temple with the medicine man Ketut Liyer, where she learned about inner balance. If you’re looking to experience a Balinese healer like Liz then pay a visit to Bali’s most popular healer, Pak Sirkus, the Balinese Magic Man, for some intense healing sessions. Another choice is Kadek Sutarna, for spiritual and energy healing for body scanning, spiritual advice, and water blessings.
Image Credit: Florian Giorgio
After you’ve fully endorsed your spiritual side, wander through the Ubud Art Market to find some local treasures. Then head to the picturesque Padang Padang beach to relax where Liz and Felipe swam in the sea. The bar on this beach doesn’t actually exist but you can find other great beach bars in Uluwatu. Try out Sundays Beach Club for a luxurious evening, Ayana Rock Bar for incredible views, or Hatch for a laidback jungle feel. Relax and have fun on the last evening of your trip.
Liz’s travels are very much about what she learns about herself through her journey. You definitely don’t need to visit these exact locations to learn something about yourself, but travelling and experiencing a new culture can give you a new perspective on life and yourself.
As Liz says “if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue, and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher, and if you are prepared most of all to face and forgive some very difficult realities about yourself then the truth will not be withheld from you.”
Hopefully, this travel guide has given you some travel inspiration, whether you’re travelling to Italy, India, Indonesia, or somewhere else.
Travel to fall in love, with the people, places, culture, and most importantly yourself.
*This post contains affiliate links.
