As much as hiking is mostly about discovering new landscapes and views, it can also have cultural and spiritual tones, and pilgrimaging is a big part of it.
The majority of popular routes nowadays, like the Camino de Santiago or Via Francigena, are rooted in Christianity, but traveling to a holy place and passing religious sites is one of the world’s oldest traditions. It dates to the days before Christianity, to the faiths of ancient Egypt, China, and Persia.
Today, thousands of pilgrims keep it from going extinct, journeying to places like Santiago de Compostela or Rome. Long days on the road lead them on a path of personal transformation and fulfillment.
From charming medieval towns and ornamented basilicas to slow-paced walking and seclusion from the crowds – pilgrimages remain everything the modern world is not anymore.
They truly feel like stepping back in time.
Reconnect with yourself, dine on delicious local cuisine and wine, and meet fellow pilgrims on a life-altering experience.