Blavatsky travels

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky traveled extensively, beginning in 1849, at the age of sixteen. During a period of more than 20 years, she came into contact with mystic traditions the world over. Since she traveled alone before 1873, this period of Blavatsky’s life is difficult for her biographers to document. She wrote and talked about her adventures in later years, but there are some chronological contradictions in her memories. During her earlier travels, HPB's father would send money when she needed it. Later, she supported herself by writing travel tales and occult stories for Russian periodicals.

Early years

1831 - Born at Dnepropetrovsk (Ekaterinoslav), Ukraine, on August 12.

1842 - Moved to Saratov, to live with her grandparents, after her mother's death.

1849/50 - Left her husband, General Nikifor Blavatsky, and traveled in Turkey, Greece, Egypt and France.

1851 - Met the man who was to become her guru, Master Morya, in London.

1851 - Sailed for Canada, traveled south to New Orleans, Mexico and South America.

1852 - From the West Indies sailed via the Cape and Ceylon to India.

1852 - Attempted unsuccessfully to enter Tibet.

1853 - Traveled via Java to England.

1854 - Returned to the United States, crossing the Rocky Mountains with a wagon train of immigrants.

1855 - Returned to India via Japan.

1856/57 - Traveled throughout India, Kashmir, Ladakh, Burma, and Tibet.

1858 - Returned to Russia via Java, France and Germany.

1860/65 - Lived with the native tribes in the Caucasus.

1866/67 - Traveled in the Balkans, Egypt, Syria and Italy.

1867 - Wounded at the Battle of Mentana in Italy.

1868 - Returned to India and Tibet.

1871 - Shipwrecked off the island of Spetsai sailing from Greece to Egypt.

1871/72 - Lived in Cairo.

1872 - Traveled through Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, and back to Odessa.

1873 - Lived in Paris and sailed to the United States.