François Schick, a Buddhist practitioner and teacher with more than fifteen years of training in the Gelug tradition, is preparing to walk 808-miles(1,300 kilometers) across the Australian wilderness—connecting two significant Buddhist sites and laying the foundation for what may become the country’s first dedicated Buddhist pilgrimage route: “The Stupa Walk.”

The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Bendigo. AUS. Photo courtesy of The Great Stupa.

Thousands of pilgrimage routes exist around the world, ranging from the famous Camino de Santiago in Europe to sacred trails across Asia. While many Buddhist pilgrimage routes are found in India, Nepal, and Japan, Australia has never had a dedicated long-distance Buddhist camino of this kind. Thanks to  François Schick, a new sacred walk in Australia will be established. 

Beginning in October 2026, François will walk solo for the first 621,371 miles (1,000 kilometers), passing through the wilderness of the Blue Mountains, the Australian Alps, and the Victorian Goldfields before reaching Bendigo. The route—named the Stupa Walk—connects two significant Buddhist sites: the Buddhist Vihara Katoomba, one of Australia’s first established Buddhist monasteries, representing the Theravada tradition, and the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo, the largest Buddhist stupa in the Western world. 

 A Path of Compassion: From Stupa to Stupa 

François Schick, Zanzkar valley, Northern India. Photo courtesy of François Schick

A solitary modern Buddhist pilgrimage that aims to foster interfaith dialogue, connection, and shared universal values. A stupa traditionally symbolizes the enlightened mind of the Buddha, the Great Stupa of Bendigo also embraces a profound vision of interfaith harmony and universal values, and the walk reflects the same aspiration. While the first 621,371 miles (1,000 kilometers) will be undertaken as a solitary retreat, the final section of the pilgrimage is intended to be open to others who wish to participate in walking meditation, listening, exchanging ideas, and celebrating the everyday goodness that connects all of humanity.

The journey is expected to take between two and a half and three months, walking through Australian spring into early summer—mild and temperate in the Blue Mountains, cooler and occasionally snowy in the Alps, and warm as the route descends toward Bendigo in December.

For François, this walk is not primarily an endurance challenge. He is dedicated practitioner in the Gelug tradition with more than fifteen years of training, François has been drawn to long-distance walking at the age of thirteen. Over the years, he has completed several pilgrimages throughout Asia, often trekking alone to find silence in the elements. He has spent more than a year in solitary retreat, including six months under the guidance of B. Alan Wallace, focusing on shamatha meditation. He teaches across Europe and at Kalachakra FPMT Center in France, and is currently working on a book on shamatha practice.

“The walk is estimated to take between 2,5 to 3 months, from October to December 2026,” he says. “This is not a race; it is a pilgrimage. The pace allows for silence, observation, and the physical challenges of the terrain”

François Schick. Photo courtesy of François Schick’s website

Although inspired by long-distance pilgrimages such as the Camino, the route more closely resembles wilderness trails like the Appalachian Trail. François will carry all essential equipment, camp for most of the journey, and spend extended periods in remote landscapes.  “This route is unique to Australia. It connects two Stupas” —sacred monuments representing the enlightened mind of a Buddha. “The name reflects the destination and the intention: a walk of mindfulness from one sacred site to another.” The route is not a single marked trail. Instead, it links several major walking networks, including the Bicentennial National Trail, the Australian Alps Walking Track, and a series of rail trails leading into Bendigo. “It reflects the ancient tradition of pilgrims in Tibet, who traversed vast distances through the elements, finding their practice in the silence of the Great Outdoors.”

Some sections require navigation through unmarked country routes, making preparation a significant undertaking. François has spent considerable time mapping the route, identifying campsites, water sources, and resupply points. Logistically, the journey presents many challenges. “Resupply is the biggest logistical challenge.” In remote sections, François expects to carry up to ten days of food at a time. Water management will be critical, particularly in drier areas closer to Bendigo.  He will be in deep isolation for the first 1,000 kilometers as a solitary retreat. “While the wild Australia is home to venomous snakes and spiders, and encounters are possible, the biggest risks, however, are actually heat exhaustion and dehydration, not animals. Water is the lifeblood of this walk”. 

François Schick, Zongkhul Monastery in Ladakh. Photo courtesy of François Schick

Beyond the personal challenge, François hopes to establish a lasting resource for future practitioners. Throughout the journey he will document route logistics, campsites, water sources, navigation details, and reflections from the trail. His goal is to develop both a practical guide and a spiritual companion for future pilgrims. His aim is to document the route thoroughly enough that others can follow. “My goal is to capture the experience not just as a travel log, but as a series of reflections that future walkers can use. I intend to publish the GPS data, logistical notes, and a spiritual guidebook. The aim is to make The Stupa Walk a repeatable journey, opening the way for a permanent pilgrimage route in the West.”

You can learn more about the Stupa Walk and  Francois’ plans for this journey. 

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.