Your First Pilgrimage: How to Choose and Prepare
Camino de Santiago, Kumano Kodo, or Shikoku — which pilgrimage is right for you?
Why Walk a Pilgrimage?
A pilgrimage is not a hike. Hikes are measured in kilometres; pilgrimages are measured in what shifts inside you. Whether you are religious, spiritual, or simply seeking a physical challenge and time to think, the act of walking day after day toward a destination transforms you in ways that shorter walks cannot.
The three great pilgrimage routes — the Camino de Santiago in Spain, the Kumano Kodo in Japan, and the Shikoku 88 Temple Circuit — each offer a profoundly different experience. Your first pilgrimage shapes how you think about walking, solitude, and purpose for the rest of your life. Choose well.
Camino de Santiago — The Social Pilgrimage
The Camino is the world's most popular pilgrimage, with over 500,000 pilgrims per year. If you want community, conversation, and the energy of walking alongside people from 80+ countries, this is your trail. You will never walk alone — even if you want to.
The infrastructure is unmatched: albergues every 5–10km, bars and cafés at every village, yellow arrows guiding you the entire way. Getting lost is almost impossible. The Camino is the most forgiving first pilgrimage.
- •Distance: 120km (Inglés) to 1,200km (Via de la Plata)
- •Duration: 5 days to 7 weeks depending on route
- •Daily cost: €25–80/day
- •Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (mostly flat, well-marked)
- •Best for: Social walkers, first-timers, those seeking community
- •Season: April–October (best: May–June, September)
Kumano Kodo — The Sacred Forest
The Kumano Kodo is the contemplative counterpart to the Camino. Where the Camino is social and extroverted, the Kumano Kodo is quiet and inward. You walk through ancient cedar forests on stone-paved paths that have been used for over 1,000 years by Japanese emperors and ascetic monks.
The Kumano Kodo is shorter but more physically demanding than the Camino. The Nakahechi route (the most popular) takes 3–5 days. Accommodation is in traditional ryokan (Japanese inns) with onsen (hot spring baths) — a very different experience from Camino albergues.
- •Distance: 40km (Nakahechi) to 170km (Kohechi)
- •Duration: 3–7 days depending on route
- •Daily cost: €80–150/day (ryokan with meals)
- •Difficulty: Moderate to Hard (steep mountain paths, humidity)
- •Best for: Nature lovers, Japan enthusiasts, solitude seekers
- •Season: March–May, October–November (avoid summer humidity)
Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage — The Endurance Test
The Shikoku Henro is the marathon of pilgrimages. At 1,200km around the smallest of Japan's four main islands, it takes 30–60 days on foot. You visit 88 Buddhist temples associated with the monk Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai), who walked this path in the 9th century.
Unlike the Camino, the Shikoku Henro has minimal infrastructure for foreign walkers. Signage is mostly in Japanese, accommodation must be planned carefully, and you will walk long stretches of road between temples. This is an authentic, challenging, deeply rewarding pilgrimage — but not the easiest first choice.
- •Distance: 1,200km (full circuit)
- •Duration: 30–60 days on foot (most take 45)
- •Daily cost: €40–100/day (mix of temples, minshuku, and camping)
- •Difficulty: Hard (long road sections, limited signage in English)
- •Best for: Experienced walkers, those seeking deep solitude, Buddhist practitioners
- •Season: March–May, October–November
How to Choose Your First Pilgrimage
Ask yourself three questions:
- •How much time do I have? — 1 week: Kumano Kodo. 2 weeks: Short Camino. 5+ weeks: Camino Francés or Shikoku.
- •Do I want company or solitude? — Company: Camino. Solitude: Kumano Kodo or Shikoku.
- •What is my fitness level? — Beginner: Camino Inglés or Portugués. Intermediate: Kumano Kodo Nakahechi or Camino Francés. Advanced: Shikoku or Camino del Norte.
Physical Preparation
Start training 8–12 weeks before your departure. The single best preparation is walking — preferably with your loaded pack and the shoes you plan to wear. There is no substitute for time on your feet.
- •Weeks 1–4: Walk 8–10km, 3 times per week in your hiking shoes
- •Weeks 5–8: Increase to 15–20km walks on weekends with your full pack
- •Weeks 9–12: Do 2 back-to-back 20km days to simulate the Camino rhythm
- •Include hills and stairs in your training — flat treadmill walking is insufficient
- •Address any foot issues (orthotics, blister-prone spots) before you leave
The Dual Pilgrim: Walk Both
The Camino de Santiago and Kumano Kodo are the only two pilgrimage routes in the world that are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Complete both and you can apply for the Dual Pilgrim credential — a certificate recognising your achievement.
Sacred Trails covers all three pilgrimage traditions with offline navigation, stage planning, and waypoint data — so you can walk any of them with confidence, even without mobile data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which pilgrimage is best for a complete beginner?
The Camino Portugués Central (Porto to Santiago, 260km, 12 days) or the Camino Inglés (Ferrol to Santiago, 120km, 5 days). Both are well-marked, have excellent infrastructure, and are short enough for a first experience.
Do I need to be religious to walk a pilgrimage?
No. Surveys show that only 30–40% of Camino pilgrims walk for purely religious reasons. Many walk for personal growth, physical challenge, nature, or simply to disconnect. The trails welcome everyone regardless of belief.
Can I walk a pilgrimage solo as a woman?
Yes. All three routes are safe for solo female walkers. The Camino has a large community of solo women. The Kumano Kodo and Shikoku are in Japan, one of the safest countries in the world. Standard travel precautions apply.
What is the Dual Pilgrim credential?
The Dual Pilgrim is a certificate awarded to those who complete both the Camino de Santiago and the Kumano Kodo. You need the Compostela (Camino) and the Kumano Kodo completion stamp. Apply at the tourism offices in Santiago or Tanabe.
Start Planning Your Pilgrimage
Sacred Trails covers the Camino de Santiago, Kumano Kodo, and Shikoku Henro. Offline navigation, stage data, and lodging — everything you need for your first (or next) pilgrimage.
