Long-distance walking experience and well-being: a phenomenological study

This master's thesis focused on the topic of long-distance walks and their effect on well-being. The primary goal of the research was to examine the lived experience of people who participated in long-distance walks. The theoretical part describes well-being and its key concepts, defines long-distance walks and introduces those relevant for the thesis, discusses the topic of the effect of physical activities and natural environments on well-being, and finally, it describes what a person can experience during a long-distance walk and its effect on well-being. The research was conducted within the methodological framework of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The data were collected from 12 respondents using semi- structured interviews, in three phases: before the walk, immediately after the walk, and at least a month after the walk.The research question was: "How do participants of long-distance walks perceive the impact of this experience on their psychological well-being?" The results of the IPA created a complex picture of how the respondents experienced their walk. The thesis is the first work focused on this topic of long-distance walks and well-being in the Czech Republic and can serve as a jumping-off point for further research.