Footpaths
The Footpath Clearing Project
Next pilgrimage: 4-18 May 2025
The Friends of Mount Athos are committed to the ongoing project of clearing, restoring and maintaining the old Athonite footpaths, many of them are stone-paved (kalderimi) tracks for transporting goods by mule and dating from late Byzantine times. The project was initiated with the active advocacy of His Majesty the King when he was Prince of Wales and who remains a supporter of the project.
Every year since 2001, FoMA has arranged a path-clearing pilgrimage to Mount Athos and this has grown to become one of the most significant activities in which the Society engages. Typically, the expedition takes place in May and is restricted to some 25-30 team members each of whom usually participates for a period of 2 weeks (a limited number of one week only places are also available).
If you are interested in joining the footpaths team for the next pilgrimage* please contact the footpaths leadership team as below.
If you would like to learn more about one pilgrim’s journey to the mountain, read this beautifully written account by our friend Wade Kolb.
Click here for more footpath information and to buy the pilgrims map produced in collaboration with the path clearing team.
For more details about the footpaths of Mount Athos see Following the Footpaths.
Contact the Footpaths Leadership Team at footpaths@athos.org
* The 2025 path clearing pilgrimage will take place 4-18 May 2025 – applications are now closed; if you wish to be placed on the waiting list or to enquire about the 2026 pilgrimage contact us as above.
Clearing the Footpaths
There are a number of reasons why this work is valuable and necessary. It is a work of charity for pilgrims travelling on foot between the monasteries and in slowing down or at least providing an alternative to the growing use of vehicles, we preserve an ancient element of the living history of the Mountain. The miles of kalderimi – cobblestone mule tracks – are monuments as much as the ancient buildings and we help to conserve them and keep them in use. On a personal level, I find the work spiritually uplifting and physically invigorating and it’s carried out with genial companions in extraordinarily beautiful surroundings.
John Mole, Author and path warrior
