Tips for pilgrimage hikes

A pilgrimage often involves several days or even weeks of travelling and should therefore be planned well in advance. Nowadays, people often go on a pilgrimage to get away from the routine of everyday life for a certain period of time. So that you can enjoy your hike to the full, it is advisable to be clear in advance about how much time you have available for your tour.

Our tip:

You should definitely plan a certain buffer at this point. If you particularly like a place or there is something special to visit, you can at least remain a little flexible.

A pilgrimage lasting several days is one thing above all because of the great distance that has to be covered: exhausting. Pilgrims often underestimate how strenuous and difficult such a journey can be and it is not uncommon for them to overestimate their own performance potential. At this point, you should assess yourself as realistically as possible and, if in doubt, plan for a slightly shorter stage.

As with any hike, you should always take a few essential items with you on your pilgrimage and limit yourself to the things you really need.

You should also find out about accommodation options before the start of your pilgrimage and make reservations at places where you will be at a certain point on your journey. At some stages, there are only a few places to sleep available and you will have greater planning security if you book in advance.

Very important: Make sure you have the right footwear!

This point is so important for your hike that we would like to mention it again. Because if you are travelling for a long time and over a long distance, you should definitely have the right footwear. Otherwise a pilgrimage can quickly turn into a flop.

You should therefore be clear about which shoes are suitable for the tour before starting your pilgrimage. Do I need a shoe with a high shaft or rather a low shoe? Should I choose a shoe with or without GORE-TEX? Does the shoe have the right sole profile? There are many points to consider here.

Extra tip:

You should wear the shoe for some time before the pilgrimage and break it in. This will allow you to react to certain abnormalities and adapt to them. You should definitely avoid wearing a completely new shoe on your pilgrimage, as otherwise there is a risk of unpleasant surprises.

Remember a hiking map

Although the stages and paths are usually well signposted, you should always have a signpost with you so that you can get back on the right path if the worst comes to the worst. It is also crucial that you only hike on marked paths. This way, you always hike on the direct route and don't lose time and energy unnecessarily.

Take care of a pilgrim's pass in advance

Many pilgrimages provide participants with their own ID card or pilgrim's pass. You should definitely find out about such an offer in advance and, if necessary, obtain the document. On the one hand, it gives you certain discounts on accommodation or in restaurants. On the other hand, the pass identifies you as a pilgrim and often makes it easier for you to strike up conversations with other fellow travellers.

If you decide to go on a pilgrimage, you usually have a specific reason for doing so and should then make the most of it. A souvenir photo at a special place or a short message home should of course not be missed - but otherwise you should consciously put your mobile phone & co. to one side. You will experience many exciting things during the hike and get to know many other pilgrims - it would be a shame not to soak up this time as intensively as possible. And a little distance from your everyday routine will certainly stand you in good stead after a short time.