Here’s Where You Should Travel Based on Your Enneagram Type (Hint: It’s Not Where You Think)

Unlike zodiac signs, which are rooted in your birth date, taking a personality test that reveals your Enneagram type shows how see the world and your core motivation. For the unfamiliar, the system was developed by Chilean psychiatrist Claudio Naranjo in the 1970s, and it’s essentially a simplification for what motivates you, what you fear, how you make decisions, and what you’re actually seeking. And those nine different personality types can totally can impact decisions you make when you travel. Understanding your type shows you where you’ll feel most like yourself on the road, and why. Here’s how to explore the West using your type as a guide. 

The Brand Leader

Type 1: The Reformer/Perfectionist

It’s true that perfectionists can be great planners, but that can be the enemy of the flow of travel. The strong side of this type (also referred to commonly as reformers) is that they often choose use their travels to create real, measurable impact. Lean into something like WWOOF-ing (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) at one of California’s organic farms, where you trade labor for room and board while learning sustainable agriculture directly from the farmers doing the work. Or volunteer with the Channel Islands Naturalist Corps, where you serve as a naturalist on whale watching vessels and conduct citizen science to track marine mammals. It’s the kind of detail oriented, performance driven volunteerism that makes you feel like you actually changed something for the better.

Tanveer Badal

Type 2: The Helper

Helpers thrive on warmth and genuine human connection. They need to feel welcomed, to build relationships, and to know the people around them actually care. Some of the change-driven, volunteer-type ideas listed above for Type 1 travelers would be great for them, too. But you could also consider a wellness retreat like the ones at the iconic Golden Door in Escondido, California or the Ranch Malibu, where community and healing are woven into every experience. 

Don Riddle

Type 3: The Achiever

Achievers want to see results and cross things off their list—preferably in a way that feels impressive and offers proof of their experience. For wine lovers, look into WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) certification camps like the ones at Napa Valley Wine Academy where you can level up your tasting credentials with measurable knowledge. Or enroll in one of Kai Sallas’ surf retreats on O’ahu, where you’ll spend a week improving your wave knowledge, connecting with other surfers, and exploring some of the island’s best breaks. 

Thomas J. Story

Type 4: The Individualist

Individualists seek beauty and authenticity, so naturally a solo journey where you can feel something deeply and discover who you are in a place that reflects your creative soul is the move. A quiet trip up to the Mendocino Coast is practically tailor-made for a trip like this: rugged, moody landscapes, genuine artist communities, and raw, brooding views that make you go internal.

Pierre Leclerc Photography/Getty Images

Type 5: The Investigator

Investigators want to understand something deeply, whether that be geology, ecology or history of the destinations they visit. Utah’s red rock country, especially around Moab and Escalante, tells a clear geological story through hiking and observation. Book a private guided tour with Desert Highlights, where expert guides share the geological and natural history of the red rocks while taking you to hidden canyons and lesser-known vistas that reveal millions of years of Earth’s existence.

Photo by Matty Leong

Type 6: The Loyalist

Loyalists want a guaranteed good time—something well-reviewed, well-established, and secure enough to actually relax. We’re all about visiting historic hotels and lodges for this very reason. If it works, it works. The Kaimana Beach Hotel in Waikiki offers exactly this kind of reliable comfort: a beachfront gem with proven service, stunning views of Diamond Head, and the kind of understated elegance that feels like home every time you return. 

Pgiam / Getty Images

Type 7: The Enthusiast

Enthusiasts want variety, spontaneity, and the freedom to change their minds. A California coastal road trip up the recently reopened Highway 1 delivers this perfectly: multiple distinct stops, varied landscapes from redwood forests to desert, beach towns to mountain villages—all connected by one continuously rewarding drive. It’s a bucket-list journey for a reason. And fall is the perfect time to do it, with much less crowds than the summer months when school is out.

Courtesy of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

Type 8: The Challenger

Challengers want to call the shots, push themselves and experience something real. Sign up for a skillcation that involves the outdoors, like a backpacking trip, wilderness training, or avalanche safety training with NOLS in Colorado or Montana’s backcountry. These types of extensive outdoor learning experiences unlock new levels in the outdoors, making it a lifelong gift to yourself as a traveler.

Courtesy of Mii Amo

Type 9: The Peacemaker

Peacemakers want someone else to handle the details and don’t mind relinquishing control. They crave beautiful surroundings, total comfort, and the freedom to simply be without making decisions. Sedona, Arizona, is perfect for this: book a stay at the very woo-woo wellness icon Mii Amo, where your days are structured for you, your meals are decided, your treatments are booked, and your only job is to sink into the peaceful, healing energy that surrounds you. It’s the kind of place where you don’t have to think, just breathe and let the desert do the rest.