Sacred 'jizo' carvings on the Dainichi Goe, Kumano Kodo
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Other Camino Trails
This article is designed for pilgrims who have already walked the Camino de Santiago trail and are looking for a different Camino route for an alternative pilgrimage experience.
The majority of people who walk the
Camino de Santiago do so along the
Camino Frances trail, which is an 800km trail starting in St Jean Pied de Port. And of this trail, most pilgrims walk from Sarria to Santiago because it's the minimum distance required to earn the Compostela (Pilgrim's Certificate).
Does this sound like you? If you've already walked the Camino de Santiago and entered the holy city of Santiago de Compostela, had a great experience (of course you did!), you're probably looking for alternative Camino trails to walk.
Well, you're in the right place! Join us as we describe other Camino trails and different pilgrimage routes to explore in Italy,
Japan, France, and beyond.
Via Francigena Route (Switzerland & Italy)
One of the world’s most rewarding walking trails, the historic
Via Francigena is an ancient road and pilgrim’s route stretching more than a thousand kilometres through Switzerland and Italy, finishing up in the Eternal City of Rome.
At UTracks, we offer the
Full Via Francigena tour that stretches from the Great St Bernard Pass in Switzerland to Rome in Italy. We admit this epic 50 day tour isn't for everyone (it's actually the longest tour we have!) and we've broken the Via Francigena up into more achievable sections. The most popular route is from
Orvieto to Rome, which qualifies you for the Testimonium (Italy's equivalent of the Compostela).
In Switzerland, walking the initial stretch from the
Great St Bernard Pass to Ivrea in Italy, is an exceptional way to experience walking in the Alps.
St Francis Way (Italy)
Another pilgrimage route in Italy, the
St Francis Way is an Italian Camino route inspired by the life of St Francis of Assisi. It connects the Renaissance town of Florence with Rome and rewards pilgrims with a picturesque section through eastern Tuscany and northern Umbria, the ‘green heart’ of Italy.
The St Francis Way is a multi stage walk and we offer attainable self guided walking options.
Kumano Kodo (Japan)
Take a break from Europe and try the Kumano Kodo, Japan's version of the Camino de Santiago. It's actually recognised as a sister trail, and pilgrims of both can become certified as Dual Pilgrims.
French Way of St James (France)
The
French Way of St James is a pilgrimage route that connects France with the Camino Frances (the Camino Frances is in Spain, confusing we know!). It follows an ancient path from Le Puy en Velay to St Jean Pied de Port and explores many of the prettiest French villages. This alternate Camino trail is often regarded as the most spectacular of the Camino routes as it rewards hikers with some of the most scenic parts of France.
Note that this Camino trail is also called the Via Podiensis and the Way of Le Puy. UTracks offers a comprehensive range of self guided and guided walking tours as well as culinary tours and cycling tours.
Wicklow Way (Ireland)
The
Wicklow Way is an inspiring route along Ireland's oldest walking trail, from Laragh to Dublin. The Wicklow Way explores unspoilt trails, remote scenery, lakes, glacial valleys, forests and gentle farmland. Starting in southwest County Wicklow the route passes through rural communities, old market towns and grand estates on its way to the bright lights of Dublin.
Have you walked any of these alternative pilgrimage trails? Let us know in the comment section if you have, or if you have any other Camino routes to add to the UTracks range.