Ever feel like modern travel shows are just influencers eating expensive brunch in places they can't pronounce? It's exhausting. Honestly, the soul is usually missing. That is exactly why Sacred Planet with Gulnaz Khan feels like such a massive breath of fresh air in a crowded room of generic "top ten things to do" videos.
It isn't just about pretty landscapes.
Gulnaz Khan isn't your typical host. As an editor and journalist who spent years at National Geographic, she has this way of looking at a map and seeing the stories hidden in the dirt and the stone. She’s not interested in the tourist traps. Instead, the show dives into the intersection of culture, spirituality, and the environment. It asks a pretty heavy question: How do we stay connected to the earth when the modern world is trying so hard to pull us away?
What makes Sacred Planet with Gulnaz Khan different?
Most travel media treats the earth like a backdrop. A stage for the presenter. But in Sacred Planet with Gulnaz Khan, the land is the main character.
You've probably noticed how "wellness" has become a corporate buzzword. We buy crystals and overpriced yoga mats, yet we feel more disconnected than ever. Khan’s work taps into a more authentic version of that search. She explores indigenous wisdom and ancient traditions without the weird, exploitative "orientalism" that plagued travel docs in the 90s.
It's nuanced.
The storytelling relies on the idea of sacredness—not necessarily in a strictly religious sense, but in the sense of reverence. Whether she’s talking about the peaks of the Himalayas or the quiet rituals of a community in the Amazon, the focus remains on conservation. Not just "saving the trees" conservation, but saving the human stories that protect those trees.
The National Geographic Pedigree
You can't talk about this project without mentioning Khan's background. Her time as an editor at Nat Geo clearly shaped her "boots-on-the-ground" philosophy. She’s spent years covering how climate change isn't just a scientific data point; it’s a cultural tragedy. When a sacred site is destroyed by rising sea levels or industrial mining, we aren't just losing a landmark. We’re losing a piece of the human map.
💡 You might also like: Wingate by Wyndham Columbia: What Most People Get Wrong
Khan brings a level of journalistic integrity that is, frankly, rare in the lifestyle and travel space today. She doesn't just show up and film. She spends time. She listens. You can see it in the way her interview subjects interact with her—there's a level of trust there that you can't fake for a camera crew.
Why people are obsessed with "Sacred" travel right now
There is a huge shift happening in how we vacation. Or, more accurately, how we seek.
People are tired of the "Instagram vs. Reality" trap. We’ve all seen the photos of the Bali swing where there’s a three-hour line of influencers waiting for the same shot. Sacred Planet with Gulnaz Khan appeals to the traveler who wants the opposite of that. It’s about "slow travel."
- It's about understanding the why before the where.
- Looking at how ancient myths actually dictate modern ecology.
- Learning from cultures that have lived sustainably for ten thousand years while we're over here struggling to recycle a soda can.
Basically, the show functions as a mirror. It shows us what we’ve forgotten.
The Intersection of Faith and Ecology
One of the most compelling parts of the Sacred Planet with Gulnaz Khan narrative is the deep dive into "Sacred Natural Sites" (SNS). These are areas of land or water that have special spiritual significance to peoples and communities.
Ecologists are finally starting to admit something that indigenous groups have known forever: these sacred sites are often the most biodiverse places on the planet. Why? Because people protect what they pray to.
If you believe a mountain is the home of a deity, you don’t strip-mine it. Khan highlights these "custodians of the earth" in a way that feels urgent. It’s not just "cool culture"—it’s a survival strategy for the planet.
📖 Related: Finding Your Way: The Sky Harbor Airport Map Terminal 3 Breakdown
Breaking down the "Exploration" Myth
For a long time, travel writing was about "discovery." White explorers "finding" places where people had already been living for millennia. Khan’s perspective flips the script. She’s not "discovering" anything; she’s being invited in. This shift in power dynamics is subtle but incredibly important for 2026 audiences who are much more aware of colonial legacies in travel.
It’s about collaboration, not consumption.
The cinematography usually reflects this too. Instead of sweeping, aggressive drone shots that make the land look like a toy, the camera work in her projects tends to be more intimate. Close-ups of hands working the soil. Long, still shots of the wind in the grass. It forces the viewer to slow down their heart rate. It’s almost meditative.
Common Misconceptions about Sacred Planet
Some people hear the word "Sacred" and think it’s going to be a "new age" crystals-and-incense kind of show. It’s not.
Khan is a journalist. While she respects the spiritual aspects of the places she visits, the work is grounded in reality. It’s about the very real struggle for land rights. It’s about the legal battles to get rivers recognized as living entities with human rights (like the Whanganui River in New Zealand).
Another mistake? Thinking this is just for "spiritual" people. Honestly, even if you’re a hard-nosed atheist, the show works as a masterclass in anthropology and environmental science. It’s about human behavior and how we relate to our surroundings.
How to Apply These Insights to Your Own Travels
You don't need a film crew to travel like Gulnaz Khan. It’s a mindset shift.
👉 See also: Why an Escape Room Stroudsburg PA Trip is the Best Way to Test Your Friendships
Instead of looking for the best "photo op," look for the story. Ask the locals about the history of the land, not just the best restaurants. Research the environmental challenges of the region before you arrive.
Most importantly, recognize that you are a guest in someone else’s sacred space. Whether that’s a cathedral in Italy or a forest in the Pacific Northwest, the "Sacred Planet" approach is about leaving a place better than you found it—or at the very least, leaving it unchanged.
Actionable Steps for the Conscious Traveler
If you want to move beyond being a tourist and start engaging with the world the way it's presented in Sacred Planet with Gulnaz Khan, start here:
1. Research the "Indigenous Land" of your destination.
Before you fly, use tools like Native-Land.ca to understand whose ancestral home you are visiting. It changes your perspective immediately.
2. Follow the work of the Sacred Land Film Project.
Gulnaz Khan has been involved with or highlighted similar initiatives. This group works to protect sacred sites around the world. Supporting them is a direct way to contribute to the themes of the show.
3. Practice "Leave No Trace" plus one.
Don't just take your trash. Spend five minutes picking up what others left behind. It’s a small ritual of stewardship.
4. Opt for community-led tours.
Instead of booking through a massive international travel agency, find tours owned and operated by the local community. This ensures your money actually stays in the hands of the people who protect the land.
5. Listen more than you speak.
When visiting a site of significance, put the phone away for at least twenty minutes. Just sit. Observe the way the light hits the stone. Notice the insects. The world is talking to us; we’re just usually too loud to hear it.
The real takeaway from Khan’s work is that the "Sacred Planet" isn't some far-off destination you need a passport to find. It’s the ground right under your feet, wherever you happen to be standing. Treat it that way.