Quick Answer
The great pilgrimage walks include the Camino de Santiago in Spain, Japan’s Kumano Kodo and Shikoku 88 Temple route, Italy’s Via Francigena, Norway’s St Olav’s Way and the Mount Kailash kora in Tibet. Most can be walked in sections rather than all at once.
You do not have to be religious to walk these, and most people who do them aren’t. What they share is a route with centuries of use behind it, an infrastructure of simple lodging built for walkers, and a rhythm that only appears after several days on foot.
10 Great Pilgrimage Walks
1. Camino de Santiago, Spain
Best months: Apr–Jun · 12–25°C days · some rain (ERA5 climate data)
The best-known long pilgrimage in the world. The Francés route runs about 780km from the Pyrenees; the Portugués and the Norte are quieter alternatives. A pilgrim passport gets you into the albergue network.
2. Kumano Kodo, Japan
Best months: Sep–Nov · 14–22°C days · rainy (ERA5 climate data)
A thousand-year-old network of forested routes on the Kii Peninsula, and one of only two pilgrimage routes on the UNESCO list — the Camino is the other.
3. Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, Japan
Best months: Sep–Nov · 14–22°C days · rainy (ERA5 climate data)
A 1,200km circuit of the island visiting 88 temples, traditionally walked in white, and far less travelled by foreigners than the Kumano Kodo.
4. Via Francigena, Italy
Best months: Apr–Jun · 13–23°C days · rainy (ERA5 climate data)
From Canterbury to Rome in full, though most walk the Tuscan section through Siena and San Gimignano.
5. St Olav's Way, Norway
Best months: Jun–Aug · 14–21°C days · rainy (ERA5 climate data)
Some 640km to Trondheim’s Nidaros Cathedral through forest and mountain — a short season and genuine solitude.
6. Mount Kailash kora, Tibet
A 52km circuit at extreme altitude, sacred to four religions. Permits, an organised group and serious acclimatisation are mandatory.
7. Adam's Peak, Sri Lanka
Best months: Dec–Feb · 23–30°C days · rainy (ERA5 climate data)
An overnight climb of some 5,500 steps timed to reach the summit for sunrise, walked by Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians alike.
8. Char Dham, India
Best months: Nov–Jan · 9–21°C days · dry (ERA5 climate data)
Four Himalayan shrines — Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath — open only in the warmer months, at altitudes that demand acclimatisation.
9. The Jesus Trail, Israel
A 65km walk from Nazareth to Capernaum through Galilee, walkable in about four days.
10. St Cuthbert's Way, UK
100km from Melrose to Holy Island, finishing across a tidal causeway that must be timed to the tide tables.
Planning a long walk properly
Train before you go, in the shoes and with the pack you will actually carry. The most common reason people abandon a Camino is blisters and tendon injury in the first week, almost always from new boots or too much weight. Aim to carry under 10% of your body weight, and break everything in beforehand.
Book ahead in peak season on the popular routes — the Camino Francés in summer and the Kumano Kodo in autumn both fill — while shoulder seasons are quieter and often better walking. Several routes need permits or advance registration: Mount Kailash requires a permit and an organised group, and the Char Dham shrines open only seasonally. Carry the credential or stamp book where one exists, since it is what gets you into pilgrim accommodation and, on the Camino, earns the compostela at the end.
Walk your own pace rather than the group’s, start early to avoid afternoon heat, and treat hot spots on your feet the moment you feel them rather than at the next stop. Altitude is the serious risk on Kailash and the Char Dham — build in acclimatisation days and know the symptoms of altitude sickness.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the Camino de Santiago take?
The full Camino Francés is around 780km and takes most walkers four to five weeks. Many walk the final 100km from Sarria instead, which still earns the compostela.
Do you have to be religious?
No. Most modern pilgrims walk for reflection, physical challenge or the company, and the routes welcome everyone.
Which is the hardest?
The Mount Kailash kora, for altitude rather than distance — it crosses a pass above 5,600m and requires permits and acclimatisation.
