If you’ve determined to stroll the Camino de Santiago, you is perhaps questioning whether or not you need to be a part of a guided tour or go it alone. Truth is, whilst you can attain the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela by your self, you is perhaps lacking out.
Everyone has their very own causes for strolling the Camino. It might be for religious causes, for the bodily problem, to reconnect with nature, or to easily get away from all of it. Whatever it’s you’re searching for, strolling the Camino guarantees to be an unforgettable journey. It’s an opportunity to get out of your consolation zone, join with like-minded travellers and uncover a number of the most charming Galician countryside and scrumptious meals alongside the best way. But do you have to do a self-guided journey or go as a part of a tour?
If you’re pondering of strolling the Camino and crossing considered one of Europe‘s oldest pilgrimages off your bucket record, listed here are six the explanation why you need to do a guided stroll as an alternative of going it alone.
1. Meet like-minded travellers
There’s one thing very particular about embarking on an epic journey with like-minded travellers. When you meet new individuals on the street, it usually forges a deeper connection that may be arduous to seek out in ‘normal’ life. On a guided Camino tour, you’ll have the chance to satisfy travellers from all walks of life – individuals who you most likely by no means would’ve crossed paths with in any other case. Everyone shall be there for their very own causes, however you’ll share the journey and the laughs, feelings and challenges that include it. Who is aware of, your new strolling buddies might even turn into buddies for all times.
READ MORE: WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT MYSELF ON AN INTREPID WALKING TOUR
2. Benefit from the steerage of a neighborhood chief
The Camino is effectively signposted so getting misplaced isn’t often an issue. But should you do a self-guided stroll, you gained’t profit from the wonderful data of your native chief. Whether it’s the historical past of well-known websites and landmarks alongside the route, suggestions for native Galician delicacies and eating places, humorous anecdotes or transferring tales, your information shall be there to help you and assist you get essentially the most out of your journey. Having to depend on your journey guidebook (or Google) doesn’t evaluate to having an knowledgeable information by your aspect.
3. Take the load off (actually)
Forget about lugging your suitcase or rucksack round with you. On a guided tour, baggage transfers are organized for you and your bag shall be taken to your lodging every day. All it’s good to do is convey a small day bag sufficiently big to hold your necessities (digital camera, water bottle, purse, and many others). When you’re strolling this many kilometres daily, your ft will thanks for the lighter load.
READ MORE: WHY YOU SHOULD DO A GUIDED WALKING TOUR IN EUROPE (SOMETHING I LEARNED THE HARD WAY)
4. Get a superb evening’s sleep
After strolling as much as 29 kilometres daily, you’ll most likely go to sleep as quickly as your head hits the pillow (particularly after a cheeky glass of wine or two). But should you’re a lightweight sleeper, otherwise you’d relatively not threat dropping a valuable evening of sleep in a loud hostel (or a ‘refugio’ because it’s known as on the Camino), then a guided tour is the best way to go. Accommodation shall be organised for you every evening in non-public inns or guesthouses, so that you’ll be extra more likely to get a superb evening’s sleep. Accommodation on the Camino path additionally will get booked up quick, significantly within the peak summer time months, so that you gained’t have to fret about securing rooms in time.
5. Eat the perfect native meals
Torricado, tapas and tempranillo. Need we are saying extra? Spain and Portugal know learn how to eat, and a Camino tour is as a lot of a journey on your tastebuds as it’s on your ft. There’ll be loads of alternatives to pattern the native fare alongside the best way. But the perfect half? Thanks to your native information, you’ll be fed and watered in the perfect native joints with out having to traverse the streets a gazillion occasions making an attempt to determine the place to eat (we’ve all been there). Tuck into Galician specialties like polbo á feira (market model octopus drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with smoked paprika), creamy Arzúa Ulloa cheese or crispy pimientos de Padrón (Padron peppers) sprinkled with sea salt.
READ MORE: A CULINARY JOURNEY ACROSS NORTHERN SPAIN
6. Delegate the small print
On a guided tour, every little thing is taken care of from airport and baggage transfers to lodging and cultural actions. Some individuals love planning a visit and organising each minor element, however should you do sufficient of that in on a regular basis life and would relatively change off, pack your bag and hit the paths, you may take pleasure in a guided tour extra. Plus, you should use the time you’d often spend planning to get enthusiastic about what you’ll be able to eat and drink, or perhaps even study just a few Spanish or Galician phrases. The similar goes for when you’re there – your information will care for all of the logistics, housekeeping and any potential hiccups so you’ll be able to totally immerse your self in your Camino expertise.
Are you able to stroll the Camino and expertise every little thing it has to supply? Check out our Camino de Santiago excursions.