10 Best Spiritual Pilgrimages for 2024
Spiritual pilgrimages are an ancient tradition enjoyed by nearly every culture around the globe. Whether you’re hoping to connect with the divine or simply escape the demands of everyday life, a pilgrimage is an amazing way to broaden your understanding of our beautiful world. Keep reading for our recommendations on the 10 best spiritual pilgrimages for 2024.
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What is a spiritual pilgrimage?
A spiritual pilgrimage is a sacred journey (typically on foot) that provides an opportunity to reconnect with yourself, with nature, and maybe even with a higher power. Unlike tourists, pilgrims tend to travel for devotional reasons rather than simply taking time away to relax.
That said, a pilgrimage doesn’t need to have a religious connotation. Thousands of people take part in pilgrimages every year as a way to change their perspective, commune with others, and search for deeper meaning in the world around them. In that way, the ultimate goal of a pilgrimage isn’t in reaching your destination, but in the sheer pleasure of the journey itself.
10 best spiritual pilgrimages for 2024
1. Best overall spiritual pilgrimage: Camino de Santiago, Spain
The Camino de Santiago is perhaps the best known pilgrimage in the world, and one of only two pilgrim routes to have ever earned UNESCO heritage status. (The other route is Kumano Kodo, also featured on our list). Traditionally, this journey would’ve started from your own home — but today, there are 9 different routes that have become the most popular Camino Ways.
Regardless if you take the Camino Portugues from Lisbon or the Via de la Plata starting in Seville, all 9 treks end at the iconic Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. And whether you travel on your own for personal fulfillment, or you travel with friends to enjoy some quality time, the experiences you collect on the Camino are sure to stay with you forever.
Pilgrimage length: Longest route is ~30 days, covering 500 miles
Ending location: Santiago de Compostela, Spain
2. Best ancient spiritual pilgrimage: Mount Kailash, Tibet
The Mount Kailash trail in Tibet has been a pilgrimage destination for more than 15,000 years. Wild, right? This ~32 mile trek around the sacred peak of Mount Kailash can allegedly ‘erase the sins of a lifetime.’ Aside from the incredible views, the most beautiful part about this pilgrimage is that it welcomes people from all different religions and all *walks* of life.
Typically, this journey takes 3 full days — though Tibetans often walk the entire circuit in a single day. While that might sound like a fun challenge, keep in mind the Mount Kailash trail starts at 15,000 feet and includes an 18,372-foot pass (so you'll need to factor altitude into the mix).
Pilgrimage length: 3 full days, covering 32 miles
Ending location: Mount Kailash in southwest Tibet
3. Best long distance spiritual pilgrimage: St. Olav Ways, Norway
You’ll need quite a bit of time to walk all of St. Olav Ways, but there’s so much to be learned on the journey. This pilgrimage is made up of 9 different routes totaling an impressive 3,000 kilometers (roughly 1,864 miles) in all. Most pilgrims opt for the Gudbrandsdalsleden trail, which leaves from the capital city of Oslo and spans ‘just’ 643 kilometers (or around 400 miles).
Whichever route you choose, you’ll end your journey at Nidaros Cathedral. This cathedral stands over the tomb of St. Olav, the Viking king who played a big role in the introduction of Christianity to the region (and later became the patron saint of Norway). If you’re curious to know more about Nordic cultural and spiritual heritage, this might be just the trek for you.
Pilgrimage length: Minimum 32 days, covering 400 miles
Ending location: Trondheim, Norway
4. Best half-week spiritual pilgrimage: Kumano Kodo, Japan
The Kumano Ancient Trail was made popular by Japanese emperors some 10 centuries ago. These days, people from all backgrounds and levels of society take part in this sacred pilgrimage that stretches across the mountainous Kii Peninsula (just south of Osaka).
While there are several different routes within this larger network of trails, most people go for the Nakahechi route which takes about 4 days to complete. On the way, you’ll be immersed in the unique and awe-inspiring landscape of Kumano’s spiritual countryside — but you’ll also pass by some sacred shrines and tea houses you may want to explore a little further.
Pilgrimage length: Longest route is 2 weeks, covering ~115 miles
Ending location: Different end points depending on the route you choose
5. Best autumn spiritual pilgrimage: Croagh Patrick, Ireland
Croagh Patrick is a mountain in County Mayo (towards the west of Ireland), and is where the Irish have always turned for “guidance and reassurance before the harvest.” Pilgrims have been making their way to Croagh Patrick for well over 3,000 years — ever since Neolithic societies first recognized this 2,509-foot-high mountain as a sacred destination.
This site is actually where St. Patrick (the patron saint of Ireland) spent 40 days and nights praying, fasting, and banishing snakes from the country. Now, more than 1 million people make the journey to Croagh Patrick every year to follow in St. Patrick’s footsteps. In our opinion, autumn is one of the best times to visit given the weather and visibility during these months.
Pilgrimage length: 3 to 4 hours, covering ~9 miles
Ending location: Croagh Patrick Mountain in County Mayo, Ireland
6. Best spring spiritual pilgrimage: Inca Trail, Peru
The Inca Trail is far and away the most famous pilgrimage in all of South America, seeing as this challenging trek leads you straight to the ruins of Machu Picchu. The groundwork for this Andes-hugging, high-altitude journey was laid more than 500 years ago, and it’s truly as humbling, inspirational, and unforgettable as everyone makes it out to be.
Today, the only way to access the Inca Trail is via an organized, guided expedition that needs to be booked well in advance. While the trail is open all year (excluding February), spring months like April and May are some of the driest and are a lot less crowded than the summertime.
Pilgrimage length: 4 full days, covering 26 miles
Ending location: Machu Picchu, Peru
7. Best cycling spiritual pilgrimage: Madonna del Ghisallo, Italy
If you’d rather hop on a bike than go for a walk, you’ll love the Madonna del Ghisallo route near Lake Como, Italy. This pedal pilgrimage is iconic in the world of cycling thanks to its steep climb — as well as the fact that its summit is home to a small chapel. The coolest part? This chapel is actually dedicated to the patron saint of cycling (AKA Madonna del Ghisallo herself).
Even though the incline can get fairly challenging, the ride is short enough that most cyclists can make it to the top (and still have a little fun along the way). Once you reach the summit, you can have a look around the chapel and see all the amazing cycling memorabilia on display.
Pilgrimage length: A few hours, covering ~21 miles
Ending location: Magreglio, Italy
8. Best psychedelic spiritual pilgrimage: Lagoons of the Huaringas, Peru
The Huaringas are a circuit of 14 lagoons located in the mountainous Peruvian province of Huancabamba. These aren’t just any old lakes, though — the Huaringas are renowned for their ancient tradition of healing and shamanism. In fact, this area is one of Peru’s most magnetic places, due to the “energetic potency and healing and magical powers” concentrated there.
That said, there are 2 lagoons where the healers prefer to do their work: the Shimbe Lagoon (where flowering baths are performed), and the Black Lagoon (where ayahuasca ceremonies are often performed). While you have the option to explore the Huaringas by bus or horseback, journeying on foot gives you a unique opportunity to interact with the region’s wisdom.
Pilgrimage length: Most popular route is 10 to 17 hours, covering 15 miles
Ending location: Chunta Mountain Range in the Andes of Peru
9. Best multi-religion spiritual pilgrimage: Gosaikunda Lake, Nepal
The pilgrimage to Gosaikunda Lake is one of Nepal's most famous journeys, especially for people who practice Buddhism, Hinduism, and Shamanism. This gorgeous body of water is situated 14,000 feet in the air along the Langtang trekking route. In religious tradition, Gosaikunda is a holy lake — as it’s believed to cleanse you of all your karma if you bathe in it.
Pilgrims who’ve previously trekked to Gosaikunda describe the journey as both mentally and physically challenging, but also a great way to stretch your comfort zone. It’s safe to say this 7-day expedition will leave you breathless with wonder (if not a bit for the altitude, too).
Pilgrimage length: 7 to 8 days, covering ~40 miles
Ending location: Holy Glacial Lake of Gosaikunda in Nepal
10. Best camp-friendly spiritual pilgrimage: Way of St. Andrews, Scotland
Though it dates back over 1,000 years ago, the Way of St. Andrews was recently revived in the 21st century as one of the great pilgrimages of the world. Sometimes called the Little Camino, the Way of St. Andrews celebrates the patron saint of Scotland — St. Andrew, of course!
This choose your own adventure-style journey has multiple routes you can follow, though most pilgrims start their trek from Edinburgh, Aberdeen, or Motherwell. The truth is, you don’t have to worry too much about which route you take. They all end up at St. Andrews Cathedral, and they’re all protected under Scotland’s ‘right to roam’ laws so you can camp as you go.
Pilgrimage length: 7 to 9 days, covering 90 miles
Ending location: St. Andrews Cathedral in Fife, Scotland
Spiritual pilgrimage FAQs
Learn more about spiritual pilgrimages with the help of our FAQ section.
Why do people go on a spiritual pilgrimage?
A spiritual pilgrimage is a sacred journey (typically on foot) that allows participants to reconnect with themselves, commune with nature, and maybe even have a divine encounter. That said, a pilgrimage doesn’t always have a religious connotation. Thousands of people embark on pilgrimages every year simply to change their perspective and enjoy the journey.
What do you do on a spiritual pilgrimage?
When venturing out on a spiritual pilgrimage, you can take time to reflect on your life, dream up personal goals, or possibly get in touch with a higher power. In addition, since you’re likely traveling by foot, you can enjoy all the sites along the way and explore any of the cities you pass through (including trying the local food or participating in local customs).
Do you have to be religious to go on a pilgrimage?
All 5 of the great religions of the world — Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam — have a tradition of some kind of spiritual pilgrimage. Today, however, most pilgrimages don’t require you to follow a certain religion to take part. Anyone can join in on the journey to have a fun, inspiring, and challenging few days or few weeks.