Frequently Asked Questions

For J2A Pilgrimages

What makes Sacred Places Travel different from other tour companies?  Sacred Places Travel journeys are carefully tailored to fit the needs of the Episcopal Church's Journey to Adulthood program.  Most of our pilgrimages can be taken during any dates that work for your group, for any length of time with an itinerary we develop with you to fit your group’s interests and budget.

How does the process work?  A group can take one of the pilgrimages that we have already created, with an itinerary customized to your interests, time and budget, or we can design a new pilgrimage to the location of your choice.  Once a destination and dates have been chosen by the group, we co-create the itinerary with you using housing and activities that fit the group’s interests and budget. Then we make arrangements for housing and activities and develop materials that support the journey.

Does Sacred Places Travel help with the spiritual part of the journey?  We see this as our most important mission.  Besides choosing activities and sites that can lead to spiritual growth, we prepare what we call a Backstory that describes the spiritual nature of each place and activity.  This document of a dozen or more pages sets out some of the opportunities for spiritual growth available at each stop along the way with information to help pilgrims find God at that place.

Do you prepare liturgies?  If the group desires them and for an additional fee, we write daily morning prayers and evening reflections tied to the places to be visited that day.

How detailed is the information Sacred Places Travel provides on the practical side of the journey?  Sacred Places Travel develops Leader Information Sheets in itinerary order listing addresses, directions, telephone numbers, costs, contact people, arrangements, time involved and anything else deemed useful for making the journey.  Usually over a dozen pages, these materials are intended to give you everything you need to travel easily from place to place.

Does Sacred Places Travel provide a leader for the trip?  Our pilgrimages are designed so that J2A group leaders can successfully lead their own trip, even if it is their first pilgrimage.  We are available throughout the planning stage to share our knowledge of the process of pilgrimage and our experience leading sacred travel.  If a group wants Sacred Places Travel to provide a spiritual guide, we will do so for an additional cost and expenses if our schedule permits. 

How much does it cost to go on a pilgrimage? The cost varies depending on which trip you choose, where you stay, length of stay, number of pilgrims and the activities in which your group participates.  Groups can make choices during the process of developing the itinerary to keep within budget.

How does Sacred Places Travel charge for its services?  We have a set fee for our work on each pilgrimage. If a group wants us to provide a set of liturgies or a spiritual guide for the journey, we charge an additional fee for those services. 

What will we eat? You will take responsibility for planning, shopping for and preparing simple, nutritious foods as a group. Breakfast can be hot or cold; lunch is often a picnic in a natural setting; dinner is usually fixed together and occasionally eaten at family restaurants. Ask us about the availability of kitchens at a specific location. Sacred Places Travel is glad to advise leaders about food planning. 

Where do we stay?  This decision is made by each group, depending on budget and needs.  Groups typically stay in rustic cabins, hostels, or church halls of a congregation they are visiting. 

What should I bring? We will send you a detailed packing list to assist in beginning the journey with a spiritual perspective.

How will we travel?  Generally, groups travel by van.  Groups either drive the entire trip, or fly to a location and rent a van there. Sacred Places Travel does not make these arrangements.

Our J2A group has discussed traveling abroad vs. traveling in the U.S.  What are the advantages to taking a pilgrimage in the U.S.?  The United States is rich with sacred places to visit! J2A groups can experience different cultures, witness breathtaking landscapes, immerse themselves in outdoor adventures, and deepen their spirituality without leaving the country.

Do you develop trips overseas?  Yes, we can create a new pilgrimage for you in Canada, Europe, Asia, Oceana or South America.  We have traveled extensively in each of those places, designing and taking extensive personal and family pilgrimages for 30 years.  We would be glad to put that experience to work for you.