Best Pilgrimages & Spiritual Journeys
Pilgrimages, retreats, and sacred destinations — the world’s most meaningful journeys for seekers of all kinds.
Pilgrimage is one of the oldest reasons to travel. Long before tourism existed, people walked hundreds of kilometres to reach a sacred site, and the journey was the point as much as the destination. That impulse hasn’t changed - what’s changed is the footwear.
You don’t need to be religious to find value in these routes and sites. Walking for days toward a fixed destination, with nothing to do but put one foot in front of the other, has a clarifying effect that works regardless of what you believe.
The Essentials#
The spiritual destinations that draw millions of visitors a year - places where faith, history, and architecture converge in ways that transcend any single tradition.
The most walked pilgrimage in the world. Yellow arrows mark the route, albergue hostels appear every 10 - 15 km, and the credential (pilgrim passport) you stamp at each stop becomes a record of the journey. The Camino Francés from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is the classic route, but dozens of alternatives cross Spain, Portugal, and France.
The Cathedral of Santiago at the end is emotional whether you’re Catholic, atheist, or somewhere in between. The appeal is rhythm - walking every day, stripped of decisions, carrying what you need. It works for believers and sceptics alike.
The holiest city in Hinduism, on the banks of the Ganges. Cremation ghats burn around the clock. Dawn boat rides pass pilgrims bathing in the river and sadhus meditating on the steps. The evening aarti ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat - fire, chanting, incense, bells - is overwhelming in the best sense.
Varanasi is not a comfortable place. It’s crowded, chaotic, and confronting in ways that no other city quite matches. But it’s also one of the most alive places on earth - the continuous cycle of death and renewal played out in public, with no attempt to sanitise it for visitors.
Sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, all within the Old City’s one square kilometre. The Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Dome of the Rock sit within walking distance of each other. The layers of history and devotion are visible in every stone - 2,000 years of construction, destruction, and rebuilding.
The politics are ever-present and unavoidable. Visit with open eyes and respect for every community’s claim. The Old City’s four quarters - Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Armenian - each have their own character, and the transitions between them are abrupt and illuminating.
Sikhism’s holiest site and one of the most welcoming religious buildings in the world. The golden temple reflected in its surrounding pool is genuinely beautiful, especially at night when the illumination doubles in the water. The atmosphere is devotional but not exclusive - visitors of all faiths are welcomed warmly.
The langar (community kitchen) is the real experience. Up to 100,000 people fed daily, for free, regardless of religion, caste, or nationality. Volunteers wash dishes alongside billionaires. It’s the most practical expression of egalitarian faith you’ll find anywhere.
Where Siddhartha Gautama sat under a Bodhi tree and attained enlightenment, becoming the Buddha. The Mahabodhi Temple marks the spot and is surrounded by monasteries built by Buddhist communities from Thailand, Japan, Tibet, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka - each in their own architectural tradition.
The town is small and the atmosphere is contemplative rather than spectacular. Monks in saffron and maroon robes meditate under the descendant of the original Bodhi tree. The significance is quiet - you have to bring your own attention to it, which is perhaps the point.
Two thousand temples and shrines in one city. Fushimi Inari’s ten thousand vermillion torii gates marching up a mountainside. Ryōan-ji’s raked gravel Zen garden. Kinkaku-ji’s golden pavilion reflected in its pond. The moss-covered grounds of Saihō-ji. Japanese spiritual traditions at their most concentrated and most beautiful.
The famous temples are crowded for good reason, but the quieter ones reward early mornings. Tofuku-ji, Nanzen-ji, and the sub-temples of Daitoku-ji offer genuine stillness. Cherry blossom season (late March - April) and autumn foliage (November) add another dimension entirely.
The Potala Palace rising above the city like a fortress of faith. The Jokhang Temple - Tibetan Buddhism’s holiest site - with pilgrims prostrating on the flagstones outside. The Barkhor kora circuit where devotees walk clockwise, spinning prayer wheels and murmuring mantras.
The spiritual atmosphere is powerful despite the political complexities of modern Tibet. Permit and guide are required for foreign visitors. Altitude acclimatisation is essential at 3,650 metres - fly from Chengdu or take the Qinghai - Tibet Railway, the world’s highest rail line.
The world’s largest Buddhist temple, built in the 9th century on the island of Java and buried under volcanic ash for centuries before its rediscovery. A massive stone mandala - six square platforms, three circular platforms, 504 Buddha statues, and 2,672 relief panels telling the story of Buddhist cosmology.
You circumambulate upward through the levels, and the journey from base to summit mirrors the Buddhist path from worldly desire to enlightenment. Sunrise visits are popular and ticketed separately. Combine with nearby Prambanan - the Hindu counterpart, 40 minutes east - for one of the most impressive temple days anywhere.
Pilgrimage Routes#
The world’s great walking pilgrimages share a common structure: a defined route, a series of stages, and a destination. The infrastructure - hostels, waymarks, fellow walkers - makes them accessible even if you’ve never done a multi-day walk. The physical rhythm of daily walking strips away the noise of ordinary life, and the simplicity becomes the point.
Camino de Santiago
The Camino Francés from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostela, 780 kilometres over 30 - 35 days. Albergues (pilgrim hostels) every 10 - 15 km, yellow arrows marking the route, and a credential (pilgrim passport) you stamp at each stop. The Cathedral of Santiago at the end is emotional whether you’re Catholic, atheist, or somewhere in between. Dozens of alternative routes exist across Spain, Portugal, and France.
Location: Spain Distance: 780 km Duration: 30 - 35 days
Shikoku Pilgrimage
88 temples around the island of Shikoku in Japan, traditionally walked over 30 - 60 days. The route passes through rice paddies, mountain forests, and fishing villages. Most modern pilgrims do sections rather than the full circuit. The henro (pilgrim) culture is welcoming - locals offer food, lodging, and encouragement (osettai) to walkers.
Location: Japan Temples: 88 Duration: 30 - 60 days
Kora around Mount Kailash
A 52-kilometre circuit around the mountain sacred to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and followers of Bön. Kailash has never been climbed - all four traditions consider it sacrilege. The kora takes 1 - 3 days at altitudes above 4,500 metres. Reaching Kailash in western Tibet is itself a multi-day journey. Permit and guide required.
Location: Tibet, China Distance: 52 km Elevation: 4,500 - 5,630 m
Via Francigena
The medieval pilgrimage route from Canterbury to Rome, 1,900 kilometres through England, France, Switzerland, and Italy. Less developed than the Camino but growing in popularity. The Italian sections through Tuscany and Lazio are the most scenic. Pilgrim hostels are sparser - plan accommodation in advance.
Location: Canterbury to Rome Distance: 1,900 km Duration: 2 - 3 months
Sacred Cities#
Some places accumulate spiritual significance over centuries, becoming destinations for multiple traditions or generating a contemplative atmosphere that transcends any single faith. These cities don’t require a multi-day walk to reach - they’re the destination itself, and the spiritual dimension is woven into daily life rather than set apart from it.
Varanasi
The holiest city in Hinduism, on the banks of the Ganges. The cremation ghats, the dawn boat rides, and the evening aarti ceremony are intense and unforgettable. This is not a comfortable place - it’s crowded, chaotic, and confronting. But it’s also one of the most alive cities on earth. The pilgrims bathing in the river at sunrise, the sadhus on the steps, and the continuous cycle of death and renewal give Varanasi a rawness that nowhere else replicates.
Location: India Faith: Hindu Best time: Oct - Mar
Jerusalem
Sacred to three faiths and fought over for millennia. The Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Dome of the Rock are all within the Old City’s one square kilometre. The layers of history and devotion are visible in every stone. The politics are ever-present. Visit with open eyes and respect for every community’s claim.
Location: Israel / Palestine Faiths: Jewish, Christian, Muslim Best time: Mar - May, Sep - Nov
Kyoto
Two thousand temples and shrines in one city. Fushimi Inari’s ten thousand vermillion torii gates, the raked gravel of Ryōan-ji’s Zen garden, the golden pavilion of Kinkaku-ji, and the moss-covered grounds of Saihō-ji. Kyoto is where Japanese spiritual traditions are most concentrated and most accessible. Early mornings at the lesser-known temples (Tofuku-ji, Nanzen-ji) offer genuine stillness.
Location: Japan Temples: 2,000+ Best time: Mar - May, Oct - Nov
Lhasa
The Potala Palace rising above the city, the Jokhang Temple (Tibetan Buddhism’s holiest site), and pilgrims prostrating along the Barkhor kora circuit. The spiritual atmosphere is powerful despite the political complexities of modern Tibet. Permit and guide required for foreign visitors. Fly from Chengdu or take the Qinghai - Tibet Railway (the world’s highest, topping out at 5,072 metres).
Location: Tibet, China Elevation: 3,650 m Permit: Required
Amritsar
The Golden Temple is the holiest site in Sikhism and one of the most egalitarian religious buildings in the world. The langar (community kitchen) serves 50,000 - 100,000 free meals daily to anyone who shows up, regardless of faith or background. The temple reflected in its surrounding pool, lit up at night, is genuinely beautiful. Cover your head, remove shoes, and accept the hospitality.
Location: India Faith: Sikh Langar: 50 - 100k meals/day
Retreats & Contemplation#
Not every spiritual journey involves a famous temple or a thousand-kilometre walk. Sometimes the point is simply to stop, sit, and be quiet for a while. Meditation retreats, yoga ashrams, and monastery stays offer a structured way to step out of ordinary life without needing a destination or a route.
Rishikesh
The yoga capital of the world, on the banks of the Ganges in the Himalayan foothills. Ashrams range from austere (4am wake-up, silent meals, no phones) to resort-like (pool, spa, optional chanting). The Beatles came here in 1968; the ashram they stayed at is now a ruin you can visit. Teacher training courses draw students from around the world.
Location: India Known for: Yoga, meditation Best time: Sep - Nov, Feb - Apr
Ubud
Bali’s spiritual and cultural heart. Rice terraces, Hindu temples, and a concentration of yoga studios, healers, and meditation centres that’s become a cliché of the Eat Pray Love circuit - but exists for a reason. The Monkey Forest temple, Tirta Empul water purification, and the daily offerings placed on every doorstep give Ubud a devotional rhythm that persists beneath the tourist surface.
Location: Bali, Indonesia Known for: Yoga, healing, Hindu culture Best time: Apr - Oct
Vipassana Retreats
Ten-day silent meditation courses taught in the tradition of S.N. Goenka, available at centres in over 90 countries. No talking, no reading, no eye contact, no phones - just sitting and observing your own mind for ten days. The courses are free (donation-based). The experience ranges from transformative to excruciating, depending on the day. Not for everyone, but those who finish rarely regret it.
Location: Worldwide (94 countries) Duration: 10 days Cost: Free (donation)
Monastery Stays
Buddhist monasteries in Myanmar, Thailand, and Sri Lanka accept temporary ordination and meditation retreats. Catholic monasteries across Europe (particularly France, Italy, and Spain) offer guest stays with varying levels of participation in monastic life. Mount Athos in Greece is the most extreme version - a self-governing monastic republic with 20 monasteries, accessible only to male visitors with a special permit. Most monastery stays are inexpensive or donation-based.
Location: Worldwide Duration: Days to weeks Cost: Usually donation-based