Deepak Chopra Doesn't Get Stressed When He Travels, Here's His Advice For Others

Come this November, Deepak Chopra will have traveled to every continent.

He'll complete his global journey when he embarks on his Conscious Mindfulness Expedition to Antarctica, a 10-day wellness retreat sailing with travel company Insider Expeditions to the world's southernmost pole along with around 150 other travelers. "I hope that everyone will experience a sense of wonder and awe that is absolutely central to our physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing," he said.

For integrative medicine doctor and prolific author, immersing himself in nature is a core part of his spirituality – and travel is one of the most powerful ways he makes that connection. Chopra has visited over 100 countries, from the sweeping canyons of Utah to islands off the coast of Africa and India, grounding himself in some of the world's most beautiful destinations. "We're not separate from nature, and it leads to deeply spiritual experiences," he said.

Chopra spoke with USA TODAY about his upcoming wellness retreat, how people can improve their wellbeing through travel and why there's no reason to get stressed over flight delays and cancellations.

This interview was edited for length clarity.

Deepak Chopra: While we are on the ship, when we are not on land, I will be doing workshops on the 11 pillars of wellbeing and healthspan, universal of aging, meditation, spiritual intelligence and emotional intelligence. I'll be doing workshops also on good sleep, stress management, mind-body coordination, emotional resilience and nutrition.

DC: Having seen the entire world, I think that's the best education you can get. That's the best way to understand other cultures. That's the best way to cultivate empathy and compassion, and understand that every culture has its own beauty. There would be less conflict in the world if more people traveled. 

DC: I have many. So, the Arctic was one, and then going to some of the islands around Japan was another. Going to the outback in Australia was another; I went when Halley's Comet was flying over Australia. We were there in the middle of the night doing rituals, and dancing, and all kinds of things.

Chef Richard Blais reveals quirky travel hot takes

Celebrity Chef Richard Blais dishes out his travel hot takes, from lounge showers to tuna sandwiches on planes.

DC: I think people plan too much; they spend months planning, and then during their vacations – especially when they're with their families and other friends – they get stressed out. Then once they come back from a wonderful vacation, they have to recover from the stress. So I would say don't plan, be spontaneous. Of course, plan the trip, but don't get into too many details. 

Make room for the unknown and the unknowable so that every day is a surprise and an experience of wonder and adventure. If you plan too much, like many American tourists do, they get stressed planning, they get stressed during the vacation, and they are stressed when they come back, which is a very ridiculous thing to do. Enjoy the unpredictable and the unknown, which is where wonder and curiosity and adventure unfold.

DC: If I have a choice, this train is the best. I grew up in India, and I traveled all over India by train. I have also used the train in Europe to Eurostar from London to Paris. Actually, I'm planning a trip with the Orient Express.

DC: If it's a very long flight, then aisle, so I don't have to disturb people to go to the toilet. But to watch the scenery, I'm always in the window seat. So it depends.

DC: Always a good book. I don't spend too much time on the internet on my travels. And the must-haves are all my little gizmos, gadgets, my wearables, which measure everything: my heart rate, my heart rate variability, my sleep patterns, all of that. I see how different they are when I'm traveling than when I'm, say, in a big city. My heart rate is already very slow, it's like in the 60s, but it slows down to even the low 50s when I'm in nature. 

DC: I don't get frustrated. I don't get stressed.

DC: Start every morning with a commitment to uncertainty. When you commit to the wisdom of uncertainty, nothing goes wrong because you have already accepted uncertainty.