Beyond the Camino: 10 Walking Pilgrimages You Haven't Heard Of

The World's Hidden Pilgrimages

While the Camino de Santiago draws hundreds of thousands annually, dozens of equally meaningful walking pilgrimages exist across the world — many far less crowded and equally transformative.

1. Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, Japan

A 1,200 km circuit of 88 Buddhist temples on the island of Shikoku. Takes 30-60 days on foot. Pilgrims (henro) wear traditional white vests and conical hats. The route follows in the footsteps of the monk Kūkai (774-835 CE).

2. Abraham Path, Middle East

A 1,000+ km route through Turkey, Jordan, Palestine, and Israel, tracing the journey of Abraham/Ibrahim. Passes through villages where hospitality — the core Abrahamic virtue — is still practiced generously.

3. Char Dham, India

Four sacred sites in the Himalayas — Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath — visited in sequence. The full circuit was traditionally done on foot and takes several weeks at extreme altitude.

4. Via Francigena, Italy

Canterbury to Rome, 1,900 km through England, France, Switzerland, and Italy. Less known than the Camino but equally historic — it was one of the three great medieval pilgrimages alongside Santiago and Jerusalem.

5. Kumano Kodo, Japan

Ancient pilgrimage routes through the Kii Mountains south of Osaka. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, shared with the Camino. Only two pilgrimage networks hold this status.

6. Kora around Mount Kailash, Tibet

52 km at extreme altitude around the most sacred mountain in the world. Takes 1-3 days. Sacred to four religions.

7. Mount Sinai Night Climb, Egypt

3,750 steps climbed in darkness to arrive at the summit for sunrise. The mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments.

8. Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Peru

42 km over 4 days through cloud forest and Inca ruins to arrive at the Sun Gate overlooking Machu Picchu at dawn.

9. Croagh Patrick, Ireland

Ireland's holy mountain, climbed by over 100,000 pilgrims annually, many barefoot. On Reek Sunday (last Sunday in July), up to 30,000 ascend in a single day.

10. Lalibela Circuit, Ethiopia

The 11 rock-hewn churches of Lalibela are connected by underground passages. Walking the circuit with white-robed pilgrims chanting ancient liturgy is deeply moving.

The World Is Full of Sacred Paths

The Camino de Santiago gets the attention (and deservedly so), but it represents just one of dozens of walking pilgrimage traditions practiced worldwide. For those who have completed the Camino and hunger for more, or for those seeking a first pilgrimage experience outside the European framework, the world offers an extraordinary variety of sacred paths. Each has its own character, challenges, and spiritual rewards.

Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, Japan — 1,200 km, 30-60 days

The Shikoku Henro is a circular route connecting 88 Buddhist temples associated with the monk Kūkai (also known as Kōbō Daishi), who founded the Shingon sect of Buddhism in the 9th century. The route circumnavigates the entire island of Shikoku, passing through mountains, coastal areas, river valleys, and towns. Pilgrims (henro) wear white clothing symbolizing readiness for death and carry a walking staff that represents Kūkai himself — tradition holds that the master walks alongside every pilgrim. Unlike the Camino, which has a fixed destination, the Shikoku circuit ends where it began, emphasizing the Buddhist teaching that the journey is the destination. Accommodation ranges from temple lodgings (shukubo) to henro huts (free shelters) to modern hotels. The Japanese practice of osettai — offering food, drinks, or rest to passing pilgrims — is widespread and deeply moving.

Char Dham Yatra, India — varying distances, 10-15 days by vehicle, months on foot

The Char Dham ("Four Abodes") pilgrimage connects Hinduism's four most sacred sites in the Indian Himalayas: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. The journey takes pilgrims through some of the most dramatic mountain scenery on Earth, with passes above 3,500 meters and temples perched in valleys surrounded by snow-capped peaks. While most modern pilgrims travel by vehicle (the Indian government has built roads to all four sites), the traditional walking pilgrimage — covering hundreds of kilometers on foot through the Himalayas — remains a deeply revered practice. The Char Dham season runs from late April to early November; the temples close during the Himalayan winter. The 2013 Kedarnath disaster, when floods killed thousands of pilgrims, is a sobering reminder of the route's dangers.

The Abraham Path, Middle East — 1,000+ km (sections available)

A modern pilgrimage route tracing the journey of Abraham/Ibrahim through Turkey, Jordan, Palestine, and Israel. Launched in 2007 by Harvard's Global Negotiation Project, the path follows the biblical narrative from Harran (in southeastern Turkey) through the Jordanian highlands to Hebron. The path passes through Bedouin communities, ancient ruins, and landscapes virtually unchanged since the Bronze Age. Particularly powerful is the section through the Palestinian West Bank, where village-to-village hospitality offers an intimate perspective on life rarely seen by visitors. The path is explicitly interfaith, honoring Abraham's importance to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and it has become a tool for people-to-people diplomacy in one of the world's most contested regions.

Kumano Kodō, Japan — 60-80 km for main route, 3-7 days

This network of ancient pilgrimage trails through the mountains of Japan's Kii Peninsula has been in use for over 1,000 years and is the only pilgrimage route outside the Camino de Santiago to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The trails connect three grand Kumano shrines and pass through ancient cedar forests, past waterfalls, and through mountain villages where hospitality traditions date back centuries. The Nakahechi route, the most popular, can be walked in 3-5 days and offers a mix of challenging mountain terrain and comfortable ryokan (traditional inn) accommodation. The spiritual tradition of Kumano blends Shinto nature worship with Buddhist mountain asceticism in a uniquely Japanese synthesis.

The Nakasendō, Japan — 534 km, 10-14 days

While not strictly a pilgrimage route, the Nakasendō (Central Mountain Road) was one of five major routes connecting Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo) during the Tokugawa period, passing through mountain terrain considered sacred in Japanese tradition. The best-preserved section, between Magome and Tsumago, passes through dark cedar forests and beautifully preserved post towns. Walking this route today connects travelers to the experience of Edo-period pilgrims and traders in a way that feels remarkably authentic.

Via Francigena, Italy — 1,900 km, 70-80 days (or sections)

The medieval pilgrimage route from Canterbury to Rome was one of the three great Christian pilgrimages of the Middle Ages, along with Jerusalem and Santiago. The Via Francigena passes through England, France, Switzerland, and Italy, crossing the Alps at the Great St. Bernard Pass. While less developed than the Camino in terms of pilgrim infrastructure, the route is being rapidly restored, with growing numbers of pilgrims walking sections or the entire route. The Italian section, from the Alps through Tuscany to Rome, is the most developed and passes through some of Europe's most beautiful landscapes.

Practical Considerations for International Pilgrimages

Walking pilgrimages outside Europe present logistical challenges that the Camino's well-oiled infrastructure does not. Language barriers are more significant; accommodation options may be limited or require advance booking; and route marking may be minimal or nonexistent. GPS navigation (download offline maps) is essential on less-established routes. Cultural sensitivity becomes more important as you move through communities less accustomed to foreign pilgrims. Health precautions (altitude acclimatization in the Himalayas, water purification in South Asia) must be taken seriously. And the absence of a Camino-style pilgrim credential system means you will need to create your own framework for tracking and commemorating your journey.