A sacred path to spiritual renewal. A journey from head to heart. A test of endurance. A life-changing road to enlightenment.
Since time immemorial, people have gone on pilgrimages to seek forgiveness, give thanks, pray or find inner peace and purpose in times of change and crisis. St Augustine nailed it 1500 years ago when he said: “solvitur ambulando” (“it is solved by walking”). After all, what could be more intuitive than putting one foot in front of another, following a clear path to a goal? A pilgrimage is a metaphor for life.
And across the world, pilgrimages are booming.
In 2023, a record-breaking 446,073 pilgrims walked the Camino de Santiago to the shrine of the Apostle St James. But this well-trodden path is merely the first among equals among the world’s great pilgrimage routes.
Religious or not, you will be profoundly touched by the natural beauty, history and unique insights into culture and spirituality on these seven epic pilgrimages – slow-travel adventures taking you from the mist-draped mountains of Japan to the island-speckled south coast of Finland.
1. St Olav Waterway, Sweden and Finland
Best for island hopping and sea views
To slip away from civilization and back to nature, the island-hopping, coast-hugging St Olav Waterway that links Turku in Finland with Eckerö (Åland) in Sweden is the dream. A rousing 10-day romp of 215km (134 miles), this is a pilgrimage trail like few others. For starters, you don’t have to walk it – you can cycle or kayak if you prefer, with ferries joining the gaps.
Whatever your mode of transport, look forward to stupendous views of sea and sky. The trail skips over many rocky isles and skerries as it crosses the Åland Islands, where you have the space to zone out for a spell and be at one with the blues of the Baltic and greens of the pine forest in a place silent enough to hear your own heartbeat. Bring binoculars and you might well spot migratory birds, hares, deer and the odd elk swimming from island to island.
Following the route pilgrims hiked and sailed in the Middle Ages and honoring one of the most famous Scandi saints, this route is less about showstopping highlights and more about embracing every element and sense along the way. Admire the brilliant stars as you wild camp. Take bracingly cold post-sauna dips in the sea. Stop off in tiny, timber-built villages and savor local produce for picnics at wayside farm shops.
After a week or so, you’ll discover lost rhythms and…
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