Mount Kailash, a 22,000-foot-tall mountain in Tibet, is considered sacred by Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Bonists alike. The peak is at the center of an ancient origin myth that believes it to be the mythical Mount Meru, which is considered the birthplace of the world and the center of the universe in those religions. Followers of Bonism, Tibet’s ancient religion, believe that climbing Mount Kailash will exonerate them from their sins.

Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 CE. The Armenian Khor Virap Monastery is located on a hill overlooking Mount Ararat, the supposed resting place of Noah’s Ark. The monastery is a former prison that once held St. Gregory the Illuminator. According to tradition, he was freed after he cured King Trdat III of disease, and the king converted his country to Christianity.

The Baha’i Gardens, located on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel, are home to the Shrine of the Bab, the most important site in the Baha'i Faith. Hundreds of thousands visit annually to see its beautiful terraced gardens. In the middle of the gardens stands the Shrine of the Bab, which holds the remains of the religion’s founder, Siyyid Ali Muhammad Shirazi.

Pilgrims have been climbing Sri Pada (also known as Adam’s Peak) since the fourth century, with kings, scholars, and even Marco Polo himself making the strenuous journey to the top of the Sri Lankan mountain. The summit of the 7,359-foot-tall peak is home to a gold-painted pavilion that houses two bells — pilgrims ring one of the bells in accordance with how many times they have completed the journey.

Situated near the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem is an Islamic shrine called Dome of the Rock, which covers a slab of stone where Muslims believe that Islamic Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven. It is also a sacred spot in Judaism, as this is considered the spot where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son. The ornate building was constructed in the seventh century.

Norway’s most famous pilgrimage honors St. Olav, a former Viking king who was canonized for his efforts to spread Christianity in Scandinavia. His shrine is located in a cathedral in Trondheim, and it is here that pilgrims walk to pay their respects. There are nine different St. Olav Ways, all of which meander for a collective 1,864 miles through the Norwegian countryside.

The Harmandir Sahib — aptly nicknamed the “Golden Temple” — is the most important “gurdwara” (house of worship) of Sikhism. It is located in the city of Amritsar in the Punjab region of India, where the religion was founded. It is an important pilgrimage site for Sikhs. After being destroyed by raiders several times, the temple was rebuilt in the early 19th century and covered in gold foil, from which it gained its moniker.

One of the most sacred sites in Bhutan, Paro Taktsang, also known as “Tiger’s Nest,” is a requisite pilgrimage for Tibetan Buddhists. According to legend, Guru Rinpoche was carried from Tibet here on the back of a tigress, which lends the location its name. These pilgrims journey up more than 1,000 steps to a cliffside monastery, which was built surrounding a cave in 1692.

Located in the foothills of the Pyrenees, the French city of Lourdes has been a pilgrimage site for Catholics since the 19th century. According to legend, St. Bernadette was collecting firewood near a grotto when she witnessed several visions of the Virgin Mary, who told her to build a chapel on the site. Since then, a magnificent cathedral has been erected near the grotto, which is believed to contain healing waters that induce miracles.

In Japanese Shintoism, the Grand Shrine of Ise is a particularly sacred site. The complex features many buildings, but the two most important are the Inner Shrine (Naiku), which is dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess; and the Outer Shrine (Geku), dedicated to Toyuke Okami, the god of food, clothing, and housing. This important pilgrimage site receives millions of tourists annually.

Dedicated to the Virgen de Guadalupe (the Catholic title of Mary, the mother of Jesus), this Catholic church is one of the most visited religious sites in the world. Legend says that St. Juan Diego, the first Indigenous American Catholic saint, saw an apparition of a young girl on Tepeyac Hill, which urged him to build a church there in honor of the Virgin Mary in 1660.

A church has existed at the site of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem since 339 CE. According to Christian tradition, it is the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Today, the site features several churches, convents, bell towers, gardens, and a pilgrimage route. One of the main draws is the Grotto, where a 14-point star supposedly marks the exact place of Jesus’ birth.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lumbini is considered the birthplace of Buddha. It is one of the four major Buddhist pilgrimage sites and is home to several monuments that honor the Buddha, also known as Siddartha. In addition to Devdaha, the ancient capital where Siddartha spent his earliest years, the Maya Devi Temple, built to honor Siddartha’s mother, is also located here.

As the city where Martin Luther began his own branch of Protestantism, Wittenberg attracts pilgrims from around the world, who wish to see the sacred Lutheran sites scattered throughout the village. These sites include Castle Church, where Luther posted his reformation beliefs in a book entitled “95 Theses,” in addition to City Church, the site where Luther preached about his reformations.

The Goddess Ganga is the personification of the Ganges River in Hinduism. Bathing in this holy river on certain occasions is said to bring salvation, and is not uncommon for Hindus to keep a small vial of water from the Ganges in their house. The Gangotri Temple, a pilgrimage site dedicated to the Goddess Ganga, is one of the many sacred Hindu sites located on the Ganges.

As the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad and the site associated with the beginning of Islam, Mecca is the destination for Muslims making the Hajj pilgrimage. As one of the pillars of Islam, this journey is expected to be completed by Muslims at least once in their lifetimes. Millions of Muslims congregate annually to make the pilgrimage during the last month of the Islamic calendar.

Croagh (Irish for “mountain”) Patrick is located in County Mayo in western Ireland. It is a sacred mountain for Irish Christians and is known locally as “the Reek.” According to tradition, St. Patrick (the patron saint of Ireland) spent 40 days of Lent fasting and praying on top of this mountain in an effort to convert the Irish.

Also known as the Way of St. James, the Camino de Santiago is a network of over a dozen pilgrimage routes that attracts hundreds of thousands of trekkers annually. They all lead to the same place — the tomb of St. James in Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. The route has long been an important pilgrimage for Christians, and was one of the most important pilgrimages during the Middle Ages.

Originally built by King Herod in 20 BCE, the Western Wall, also known as the “Wailing Wall,” survived a Roman attack and has since become a sacred place for Jewish people. As a symbol of the Temple of God, the wall is visited by thousands of people annually, who recite prayers, which are either spoken aloud or written on paper and placed into the wall’s cracks.

Vatican City is a city-state surrounded entirely by Rome, Italy. As the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, it is one of the most sacred places in Christianity and welcomes over 5 million visitors annually from all over the world. At the heart of the city is St. Peter’s Basilica, the world’s largest church, which was built by Pope Julius II in 1506.