The Great Journey represented a significant undertaking for all Je'daii Order members, who were then known as Je'daii Journeyers.
Around 36,019 BBY, the Great Journey was formally established as a ritualistic pilgrimage during the leadership of Nordia Gral, a Je'daii Temple Master and the inaugural head of the Je'daii Academy at Padawan Kesh. Following the completion of their studies at the Academy, young adult Padawans transitioned into Je'daii Journeyers, embarking on an exploration of the planet Tython to deepen their connection with the Force and challenge their personal limits. Journeyers would travel by foot, utilize beasts of burden, or employ machines, either alone or in small groups, moving between the nine Je'daii Temples scattered across the planet. These Great Temples were situated across four continents, separated by hundreds of thousands of kilometers, and located in diverse and challenging environments. Journeyers would encounter dangerous creatures and toxic flora, experience intense Force Storms and unusual weather phenomena, and navigate treacherous landscapes and profound depths.
Although visiting each Temple was mandatory, the specific routes and order of visits were left to the Journeyer's discretion. Consequently, a Journey could span several months or even years. At each Temple, Journeyers sought guidance from a Master to supervise their continued learning. Training sessions were conducted in groups or individually, with a Temple Master overseeing the final demonstrations of skill. The Temples provided a wide array of studies, allowing Journeyers to explore their interests. This approach aimed to broaden the student's perspective and assist them in identifying their true calling. For instance, during Lanoree Brock's Great Journey, she excelled in Qigong Kesh within the Silent Desert and demonstrated a talent for self-defense on the slopes of Stav Kesh, but she only truly found her path at Anil Kesh under the guidance of Master Dam-Powl in the alchemy laboratories. Such discoveries were characteristic of the Great Journey, enabling future Je'daii to embrace their unique expression of the Force before advancing to the rank of Ranger.
The Great Journey was initially introduced in Force Storm 1, the debut issue of the Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi comic book series, and was explicitly identified as such in the 2013 novel Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void, authored by Tim Lebbon. The 2016 Star Wars Roleplaying sourcebook Nexus of Power mistakenly referred to the Great Journey as the "Padawan Trial" and incorrectly stated that Padawans, rather than Je'daii Journeyers, participated in the journey.