Best Pilgrimage Routes
Route↕ | Country↕ | Tradition↕ | Length (km)↕ | Typical Duration (days)↕ | Known For↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camino Frances | Spain | Christian (Catholic) | 780 | 33 | Most popular Camino de Santiago route, from St-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostela, UNESCO World Heritage |
| Shikoku 88 Temples | Japan | Shingon Buddhism | 1,200 | 45 | Circular route around Shikoku island visiting 88 temples associated with Kobo Daishi, over 1200 years old |
| Kumano Kodo | Japan | Shinto/Buddhist | 170 | 6 | Ancient pilgrimage trails through Kii Peninsula, sister route to Camino de Santiago, UNESCO listed |
| Hajj to Mecca | Saudi Arabia | Islam | 5 | 5 | Annual pilgrimage required of every able Muslim once in a lifetime, 2+ million pilgrims per year |
| Char Dham Yatra | India | Hinduism | 1,600 | 12 | Four sacred Hindu sites in Uttarakhand: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Himalayan trek |
| Via Francigena | Italy/France/Switzerland/UK | Christian (Catholic) | 1,900 | 90 | Canterbury to Rome pilgrimage route, medieval origin, quieter alternative to the Camino |
| Mount Kailash Kora | China (Tibet) | Buddhism/Hinduism/Jainism/Bon | 52 | 3 | Sacred mountain circumambulation at 5000m+, sacred to four religions, never climbed |
| Camino Portugues | Portugal/Spain | Christian (Catholic) | 620 | 25 | Lisbon to Santiago route via Porto, coastal variant along the Atlantic, quieter than the Frances |
| St. Olav Ways | Norway | Christian | 640 | 30 | Oslo to Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway's Camino, fjord and forest scenery |
| Adams Peak (Sri Pada) | Sri Lanka | Buddhism/Hinduism/Islam/Christian | 14 | 1 | Overnight climb to watch sunrise, footprint at summit sacred to four religions |
| Lourdes Pilgrimage | France | Christian (Catholic) | 5 | 2 | Marian apparition site, 6 million visitors a year seeking healing waters |
| Way of St. James (Camino del Norte) | Spain | Christian (Catholic) | 825 | 35 | Coastal Basque and Cantabrian route, greener and hillier than the Frances, ocean views |
| Croagh Patrick | Ireland | Christian (Catholic) | 7 | 1 | St Patrick's holy mountain in Mayo, climbed barefoot on Reek Sunday by thousands |
| Bodh Gaya Circuit | India | Buddhism | 300 | 7 | Buddhist circuit visiting Bodh Gaya where Buddha attained enlightenment, Sarnath and Kushinagar |
| Camino Primitivo | Spain | Christian (Catholic) | 320 | 14 | Original Camino route from Oviedo, most mountainous, UNESCO listed, for experienced pilgrims |
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