New travel books: sacred places, epic journeys & a global guide

“Sacred Earth: Places of Peace and Power,” by Martin Gray (Sterling, $35), is filled with images and descriptions of awesome spots - many connected to ancient worship traditions - including the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Tibet’s Potala Palace, Mauna Kea in Hawaii and Teotihuacan in Mexico.

National Geographic’s “Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World’s Greatest Trips” ($40) is divided into chapters describing trips you can take by water, road, rail, or on foot, or in search of culture, food or adventure. There is also a chapter called “Up and Away,” showcasing “flights, skyways and bird’s-eye views” including balloon adventures, flightseeing tours and a list of top 10 funiculars and cable cars. A final section called “In Their Footsteps” lays out a Jack Kerouac “On the Road” trip, a journey along the fabled Silk Road, a tour themed on Ansel Adams’ photographic explorations of Yosemite, and many other pilgrimages.

“Make the Most of Your Time on Earth: A Rough Guide to the World” ($29.99) lists “1,000 Ultimate Travel Experiences,” from “haggling in the souks” of Morocco to tracing civil rights history in Montgomery, Ala., to trekking to the source of the Ganges in India.