Pilgrimage – The Original Mindful Travel

1. The Camino de Santiago ends at a cathedral in northwest Spain. But what is said to be buried there, drawing pilgrims for over 1,000 years?

The Holy GrailThe remains of the apostle St JamesA fragment of the True CrossThe tomb of Charlemagne

2. The Hajj is the world's largest annual pilgrimage. Approximately how many Muslims make the journey to Mecca each year?

500,0001 million2 million5 million

3. Which ancient text, written around 1100 AD, is considered one of the world's first travel guidebooks — written specifically for pilgrims on the Camino?

The Canterbury TalesThe Codex CalixtinusThe Travels of Marco PoloThe Rule of Saint Benedict

4. Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales follows pilgrims travelling to which English shrine?

Westminster AbbeySt Paul's CathedralThe shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury CathedralGlastonbury Abbey

5. The Kumbh Mela, held in India, is considered the largest human gathering on Earth. What determines when it takes place?

The Hindu lunar calendar and planetary alignmentsA fixed date every four yearsA decision by religious leaders each decadeThe flooding of the Ganges

6. Japan's Shikoku Pilgrimage follows a 1200km circuit of 88 temples. Which Buddhist monk is it associated with, who is said to still walk alongside every pilgrim?

DogenShinranKukai (Kobo Daishi)Nichiren

7. The scallop shell is the iconic symbol of the Camino de Santiago. What was its original practical use for medieval pilgrims?

A currency token at monasteriesA drinking and eating vesselA protective charm against evilProof of completing the full route

8. Varanasi on the Ganges is one of Hinduism's holiest pilgrimage cities. It is also considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world — roughly how old is it?

1,000 years2,000 years3,000 years5,000 years

9. The Via Francigena is a pilgrimage route stretching from Canterbury to Rome. Approximately how long is the full route?

500km1,000km1,800km3,000km

10. Indigenous Australian peoples have walked Songlines — routes across the landscape tied to creation stories — for tens of thousands of years. What dual purpose do these journeys serve?

Trade and military strategyNavigation and spiritual connection to the landAgricultural planning and weather predictionComing-of-age ceremonies only

11. In which decade did the Camino de Santiago experience a modern revival, growing from a few hundred walkers a year to tens of thousands?

1960s1970s1980s2000s

12. The concept of the ziyara — a devotional visit to a sacred tomb or shrine — is central to which tradition?

ShintoSufi IslamTibetan BuddhismOrthodox Christianity

13. Pilgrims on the Hajj walk counter-clockwise around the Kaaba seven times. What is this ritual called?

Sa'iRamiTawafWuquf

14. Which famous novel, published in 1678, uses a pilgrimage as an allegory for the Christian spiritual life — and became one of the best-selling books in history?

Paradise LostThe Pilgrim's ProgressThe Divine ComedyRevelations of Divine Love

15. Today, the Camino de Santiago issues a certificate of completion called the Compostela — but only if you walk the final how many kilometres on foot or horseback?

50km100km150km200km