To walk in Templars' footsteps

A millennium ago, an army of Templars marched across the continent in a four-year journey taking them to the Holy Land, leading to the crusades and their rise to glory.

However, when the city was eventually lost, faith in the knights' order faded and most were arrested, tortured into giving false confessions and burnt at the stake.

The Templar Trail has ignited the interest of two young men, David Delia and Max Evenbly, both history enthusiasts who stumbled upon one another when they joined the same band. They have decided to set off in the Templars' footsteps, and they claim to be the first to do so in modern times.

Gruelling is an understatement. Mr Delia, 20, who lives with his parents in Mosta, explains that the journey spans nearly five thousand kilometres, crossing canals, rivers and forests in 13 countries.

The two will start from London, cross to France, walk to Germany, Austria, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, and end up in Jerusalem.

As tough as it sounds, he is adamant on completing it in six months, starting from June 21.

What spurred the two young men to do this?

"Max and I are both adventurous and we wanted to do something different while seeing as much as we can. Walking is the best way to see most things. We also decided to walk the trail because we get to see many countries which other people do not," he says.

Despite his parents being Maltese, Mr Delia was born in Wales, and then moved to New Zealand, where he met Mr Evenbly, 20.

Two years ago, his family moved back to Malta.

Mr Delia, whose dream is to study information and communication technology or European studies at university, now spends his days preparing for the journey.

"We're working on our stamina rather than fitness. We're walking extreme distances every day. We also cycle, run and work out at the gym, doing some weights to try and build up since we're going to be carrying about 60 pounds on our back," he explains.

Meanwhile, with less than a month to go until the actual trek, his family, especially his mother Anita, cannot help but worry.

After all, with a journey taking them across so many countries, the two are bound to stumble upon a couple of hazards.

"Other than being a danger to each other, anything can happen and we could get lost," jokes Mr Delia.

Nevertheless, Mr Delia and Mr Evenbly have spent plenty of time researching the trail and have also consulted experts.

"Just hope it all goes well really, keeping our fingers crossed," he says.