Novotny Enjoys Transformative Destinations

Nikki Novotny’s trips to Peru, Egypt, and India are far more than travel. They’re opportunities for exploration, transformation, and connection — journeys that shape her understanding of herself and the world around her.

From shamans to gurus, Novotny said, “Fellow travelers who began as strangers became close friends through shared experiences and challenges. The journeys provided opportunities to learn about ancient cultures and sacred places plus valuable insights into human connection and personal growth.” In one experience, Novotny slept in a cave, and in another learned how to navigate blindfolded.

The genesis of Novotny’s trips can be traced to August 2024. Following a year of intense personal healing, she experienced “a Kundalini spiritual awakening” that altered her perspective. Seeking to better understand herself, she began studying subjects like intuitive healing. Those explorations ultimately led to a series of international journeys.

The first step came in June 2025, when Novotny attended a weeklong dark and silent retreat. She spent four days in silence wearing masks, guided through breathwork, yoga, movement exercises, mindful eating, and extended periods in nature. Three additional days were devoted to processing and integration. Although the retreat involved complete darkness and silence, Novotny said the time passed surprisingly quickly. The effects of the experience continued to unfold long after the retreat ended.

In Peru, Novotny was struck by the “powerful energy of the land.” The country’s dramatic mountains, ancient sites, and natural landscapes created a strong sense of connection to both nature and history. “The powerful energies of the places we visited were among the most memorable aspects of the trip,” she said.

Egypt offered a distinctly different experience. While Peru felt deeply connected to nature, Egypt impressed her with the scale and grandeur of its ancient civilization. Massive temples, towering columns, and monumental structures left a lasting impression. Even after seeing photographs over the years, Novotny found the reality difficult to comprehend.

She recalled, “The size of the temples and monuments was overwhelming, while the intricate carvings and hieroglyphics demonstrated remarkable artistry and precision. The combination of immense architecture and delicate craftsmanship made the sites so memorable.”

She also sensed a different kind of energy in Egypt. Compared with Peru, the atmosphere felt stronger and more intense, perhaps influenced by the country’s desert landscape and harsher climate. Yet beneath that intensity was a profound connection to thousands of years of human history.

One especially meaningful aspect of the Egypt journey was the opportunity to visit sites connected to Jewish history. In Cairo, the group toured a synagogue. Later, while traveling along the Nile, they visited Elephantine Island, where a Jewish temple once stood before 525 BCE. During that visit, Novotny picked up a stone and later presented it to Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal, senior rabbi at Ahavath Achim, where Nikki has been an officer and long-standing board member.

In early 2026, Nikki set off to India to meet with 55 Buddhists from 19 countries to mimic Buddha’s Northern Indian path. They were led by an Indian Buddhist authority who has been guiding trips for 38 years, and five monastics from Thich Nhat Hahn’s Plum Village monastery who lead daily meditations and teachings. They visited the place Ghandi last lived, before he was assassinated.

She recalled, “Our first meditation as a group was near the monument erected on the place where Ghandi was killed. We also floated on the Ganges River, where fires on its banks are tended and burn 24 hours a day, for cremation.”

Modes of travel were also part of the experience. In Peru, participants traveled primarily by van, moving between remote locations and sacred sites. In Egypt, the group sailed portions of the Nile aboard a dahabiya, a traditional boat accommodating approximately a dozen passengers. The smaller vessel allowed travelers to reach sites before the arrival of larger cruise ships, creating opportunities for more intimate visits.

Novotny’s next trip may be less exotic, but still “Nikki style,” as she will head west in a camper van for a road trip with her dog to tour her home state of Colorado and visit Santa Fe, N.M.