Organized travels along the Camino de Santiago

“Hoping for change without doing anything about it is like standing at the train station and waiting for a ship.” (Albert Einstein)

What are pilgrimages?

Pilgrimages belong to the category of initiation journeys and can therefore be regarded as a form of inner journey. One of the best known is the Way of St. James to Santiago de Compostela, better known internationally as the Camino.

At least in its origins, it has always been something religious. For many religious people, it is also a spiritual path. But for people with spiritual motivation, it does not necessarily have to be a religious path.

Nowadays, many people take this path for neither religious nor spiritual reasons. Rather, it is simply out of a need to take on a special challenge without defining it more precisely. In my experience, no one undertakes such a challenge without reason. I have repeatedly met people on the Way of St. James who genuinely said that there was no real reason for their journey. It was all the more surprising when I met one or the other again in Santiago, at the latest, and they suddenly brought up the conversation from weeks before and shared new, deeper insights. This is not uncommon, quite the contrary. At the same time, this is precisely what is so special about the Camino, a pilgrimage or a hike – whatever you want to call it: the depth and clarity that the journey holds in store.

We are well aware that many people have difficulties with the word ‘spiritual’ or feel apprehensive about it. Ultimately, the word spiritual means nothing more than dealing with the nature of one's own mind. Perhaps it is also the case that these people are apprehensive about the unknown. After all, our everyday lives are shaped by completely different experiences.

If you also experience this apprehension, which has often prevented you from trying something new, then you will come into contact with the deeper reason for this step along the way, if not before. But don't worry, whatever reason you encounter, seeing it will enrich your life.

Consciously on the trail – towards yourself and the world!

Pilgrimages on the Camino serve our inner development, through which we learn to reconnect with ourselves and thus also with the world. We slow down and learn to live in tune with nature, our bodies, and our path. The old saying “the journey is the destination” becomes a reality. Only now does it become truly clear how much such an inner journey is above all a transformative journey.

What are the different routes to Santiago de Compostela and what does each one represent?

There is not just one route to Santiago de Compostela. All pilgrimage routes leading to Santiago de Compostela are considered routes to Santiago. It doesn't matter whether you start at your own front door, in Oslo, Porto, or Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. We specialize in the most famous Camino routes in Spain and Portugal. One of the most popular is, of course, the Camino Francés, the French Way of St. James, which begins in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France, and takes you across the French-Spanish border on the very first stage. The Camino Francés has a long tradition and is especially popular with pilgrims who want to take more time to devote themselves to their journey in greater depth. In addition, this route offers a great deal of scenic diversity. Whether it's the mountains of the Pyrenees, the vineyards of Rioja, or the Castilian plateau, known as the Meseta, these features make this Way of St. James just as special as the many churches and cathedrals along the way. I would also like to highlight the sense of community and unconditional mutual support among pilgrims on this Way of St. James. In summary, this route is perhaps the most spiritually powerful.

In addition, the best known routes in Spain are the Camino del Norte and the Camino Primitivo.
The Camino del Norte (Spanish Coastal Way) is a particularly beautiful alternative to the Camino Francés (French Way of St. James) for those who prefer a more secluded pilgrimage route. This pilgrimage route begins in Irun on the Spanish side of the Spanish-French border and, at approximately 812 km, is slightly longer than the French Way of St. James. This Spanish coastal route is also particularly popular for its views along the cliffs of the northern Spanish Atlantic coast. The panorama is simply unique. This route can also be combined perfectly with the Camino Primitivo by branching off from it in Oviedo.
The Camino Primitivo is said to be the oldest and is therefore also called ‘the most original’. This Way of St. James is perhaps by far the most beautiful of all the Ways of St. James – a true diamond in the rough. But it is also quite challenging, because the Camino Primitivo is very mountainous, especially in the first week, and you should expect to climb at least 500 meters per day on average.

In Spain, the Vía de la Plata Way of St. James, which begins in Seville and is known for its length and long stages, is particularly noteworthy. However, this route is not only for advanced hikers. Many people prefer to start this route later on, for example, in Ourense. The Camino Inglés is known for its British history, and the Camino Invierno was named the Winter Way of St. James because it enjoys relatively little rainfall in winter.

In Portugal, the Portuguese Coastal Way and the Portuguese Inland Way are the most popular routes and can be completed in just over two weeks. 
The Portuguese Coastal Way is obviously known (similar to the Spanish Coastal Way) for its panoramic views. Although it does not run along high cliffs, it does run at sea level. In addition, the Portuguese have built kilometers of wooden walkways along the beach, which are particularly pleasant to walk on. 
The Portuguese Inland Trail is the more traditional and historic of the two and is characterized by Portugal's varied landscapes and cultural diversity. However, it is also somewhat more mountainous than the Portuguese Coastal Trail.

Pilgrimages worldwide

In addition to the Camino, there are many other pilgrimages around the world. For example, the Shikoku Pilgrimage or the Kumano Kodo in Japan.

It is also important to mention the three most famous trails in North America: the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), and the Appalachian Trail (AT). I could also have mentioned the Camino Real de California or the Chimayó Pilgrimage (Pilgrimage to El Santuario de Chimayó) at this point. However, it is important to me to highlight these three major US trails, which are primarily regarded as athletic challenges, which they undoubtedly are. These three are certainly not religious trails. But why are they still spiritual journeys for me (and why is that important anyway)? Quite simply, everything has at least two sides: a physical or tangible side and a deeper, hidden and therefore very personal side. And it is precisely this other side of the coin, the personal, individual reason why someone embarks on such a journey, that is also called the call of life. A calling of life wants to show you even more of life, of your existence. And that is exactly what I mean by spirituality.

The special thing about a pilgrimage (but also about all other inner journeys) is that it enables special solutions because all levels of life are completely different from everyday life.

Buen Camino!