Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions you want answers to?
Since Europe is on the Euro and our partner agencies and vendors receive payment in Euros, it works out best to pay in that currency. Even more importantly, participants are protected from exchange rate fluctuations that could occur between the time of their reservation deposit and the time of their final payment.
We have a lot of experience with training ourselves for pilgrim treks, so we’re happy to share our advice! Most anyone in average condition can walk a day on Camino. It’s a little harder to walk the full itinerary, and harder yet to enjoy yourself while walking from 13 to 20 miles each day, every day for a week or more. Here are some tips for training that will help you not just survive, but thrive during your upcoming pilgrimage. #1 – Start by getting your hiking shoes and socks The biggest part of training is making certain your feet and shoes work well together. When they don’t, the result is painful blisters, which happen to be the #1 reason people are unable to complete their walk. Most pilgrims nowadays use either hiking shoes or trail runners. Have these fitted professionally so they provide ample space for foot swelling in the day, usually ½ size larger than your normal shoe size. We recommend SmartWool bike socks or similar, which fit the feet very snugly, reducing friction. We also recommend very well-ventilated shoes or boots, since blisters are born in damp conditions. #2 – Take a good, long walk and listen to your body Even before you start your training, set aside a day to walk 12-15 miles in your new shoes and socks. When the day is over, how did you feel? How did you feel the next morning? If you were stiff and sore (most people are), your training objective is clear. You want your body to be ready to walk these distances each day and the only way to ensure you’re ready is to increase your walking stamina by, well, walking. #3 – Establish a daily regimen of 2-3 hrs walking in mixed terrain It’s a big commitment to set aside this kind of time, but it’s so good for your general health anyway. You’ll want to find a hiking course that has uphill and downhill terrain so you’re ready for hills. Downhills are more difficult, so make sure to include good, long downhill stretches. #4 – Adjust your diet It’s never too late to eat right. If you are careful about your carbohydrate intake, you will start losing weight as you gain muscle. The less extra weight you carry, the easier your walk. #5 – In the two months before your pilgrimage, make semi-weekly walks of 5-6 hours with a full pack Now it’s time to get serious. At least twice a week, maybe on weekends for example, take an all-day walk with your loaded backpack of 10ish lbs. Your body will become used to standing for long periods, your shoulders and back will adjust to the new weight distribution, the skin on your feet will start to change. You’re watching closely that you have blisters under control, that you have adequate hydration and that you know what kind of calories you need in order to make a day-long hike work for you. Want to go deeper? We can suggest pilgrimage fitness training consultants who will help you get yourself in shape. Contact us with any questions, and have fun out there!
Guided trips are packages created by Pilgrim Paths which typically include a host, certified guide, and possibly a support van and driver. They usually have between 8-15 people and are a wonderful way to travel, meet new friends and find out more about the trek that you're walking. Self-guided trips are custom created for our pilgrim clients and usually do not include a guide, host or van with driver. There are some exceptions though based on special requests and the number of people traveling with you. We work with you to decide the route and itinerary based on your preferences for time of the year and walking distance. Pricing is done after finalizing the itinerary and is dependent on the type of accommodation and extras that you want for your trip. No cookie cutter trips here! It's your trek, your way.
Guided group tours
Italy and Spain are meat-loving countries, so life for a vegan or vegetarian can be challenging. Make certain to spell out your needs on your registration form and we’ll do our best to alert kitchens to your dietary restrictions. Note that Italians love to eat bread and pasta, so gluten-free meals require advance notice. Once you share your needs with us we will communicate them to the restaurants and, when necessary, confirm it directly with the cooks themselves. Many of our participants make certain to find good, local fruit to include in their lunches since sometimes fruits and vegetables are scarce in European restaurant cuisine.
If you’d like, sure! However, we’re there for you and can translate for you as needed so you’re never unable to communicate.
Yes. We’ll send you a packing list so you’ll be certain to have everything you need for a successful walk. In general, you’ll need a daypack, good hiking clothing, rain gear, and most importantly a good sock/boot/shoe/sandal combination that you’ve proven will protect you from blisters. Blisters are the #1 scourge of pilgrims, so this is probably the most important preparation you’ll make. Besides your hiking gear, you’ll want to have a suitcase or duffel bag for your street clothes. If you have baggage service it is “lobby to lobby,” and the last steps to your room can be up twisty Italian staircases. For that reason we observe a “maximum 40 pounds (18kg)” rule on our baggage. It helps our driver and it helps you!
The hikes have varying degrees of difficulty, but with van and driver you won’t need to worry about whether you can handle the topography. Still, for all our walks, participants should be in above-average cardio shape with no hip, knee or foot issues and should be prepared for steep uphill and downhill stretches sometimes on slippery footing. Our baggage service means packs can be very light. Still, it may be frustrating to be under-trained or physically incapable of enjoying some of the most scenic parts of these hikes.
Your registration fee covers all ground transportation after your arrival at the time and place of our start, as well as your overnight accommodations, and baggage service (maximum of 40lbs/18kg per person). Breakfasts are included with each overnight stay, and lunches are always your own responsibility. Unless specified, a group dinner is included at or near your overnight accommodation, but in cities a few evenings are left free for you to enjoy local eateries and get a better flavor of the village, town or city you’re in. A restaurant lunch can cost €10-15 in Europe, and a sack lunch of bread, cheese and fruit can be as little as €5 or less depending on your choices. Tips to your tour hosts are not allowed, but tips to your guide and driver are gratefully accepted. Other incidentals may include occasional laundromat costs, daily morning and afternoon café refreshments, toiletries as needed, and of course the beloved midday gelato stop!
Pilgrims are free to head out at any time, but we suggest leaving with the group, which generally means 60-90 minutes after breakfast. Everyone walks at their own pace, so the slower walkers among us aren’t rushed even as the fastest among us are not held back. If your trip is professionally guided, you’ll want to walk with the guide so you’ll benefit from descriptions of flora, fauna, history, and culture. You’ll probably want to stop around 11:00 for lunch, either outdoors with sack lunches you’ve prepared or indoors at a restaurant along the way. It’s nice to be done walking by around 3:00, when it’s time to check into your accommodation for the night, have a rest, do laundry as needed, and then branch out to explore the town’s cafes, museums, castles, churches and shops on our own. If there’s no lunch restaurant available on our itinerary for the following day you will also want to shop for food for your sack lunch. Italians seldom dine before 7:30pm, so just before dinner you’ll gather for a short briefing about the next day’s adventure. Afterward head to your room or enjoy conversation until you’re ready for bed. If you would like to go to Mass, let us know and we will give you times and locations of nearby churches.
Self guided tours
You don't have to be a marathoner or do triathlons to walk our treks. Most people who are in good shape can do it. It will improve your experience if you are in good shape and are used to walking longer distances for consecutive days. While you're planning your trip figure out what your baseline walking distances are and gradually start increasing them and adding in hills. As with any health-related venture, talk to your medical provider to get their ideas about how the walk would affect any health issues.
Medieval pilgrims had horses, donkeys and wagons to accompany them, it's fine to ask for baggage transfer. The Concierge can include it in your package during the trip planning period or before you depart for your trip as an additional service. It's usually 1 bag per person weighing 15kg or less. If you haven't requested baggage transport and you've already started your walk it's fairly easy to arrange by email, online or by phone and your lodging can assist; consult with the Concierge as needed. Each route has different prices per stage.
We have a wonderful app called Pilgrim Paths Navigo which can help you get back on track, this is free to our paying pilgrim clients. We also offer 24/7 consults by WhatsApp during your trip and are happy to help if you can't find your way with the app. Our team knows your route and how to help.
If you get ill while on your trek, your best and first resource should be the people who work at your lodging. They have the most up-to-date information on local pharmacies, doctors or hospitals. If you are injured on the trail the following numbers are helpful: 112 medical emergencies or 061 health emergencies requiring an ambulance.Pilgrim Paths wants to know if you are sick or injured, feel free to contact us after you've contacted the resources above. We'll work with you as needed to get you on track.
The Concierge can offer you a variety of accommodations; in general, the first step is to decide whether you'd like to have a bed or bunk in a shared dorm and share a bathroom with several people. These lodgings sometimes have kitchens available or community breakfast or dinners, they're a great way to get to know other people on your trek. The other option is private rooms which can either have shared or private bathrooms. Private rooms come in a variety of settings which can include mid-level or high-end hotels, smaller private family run or boutique lodgings or sometimes a separate apartment with kitchen facilities. We work with you to understand your preferences and our goal is to provide safe and clean lodgings which are close to your trek and provide good customer service. Our team works with these lodgings frequently and in many cases have stayed in them on our trips. We're pilgrims too!
Meals are a very important part of your trip, especially since you are probably exercising more during your trek than what you do on a normal day at home. It's important to have enough calories in your diet and to hydrate well. In general, there is a cultural difference in mealtimes in Spain, Portugal, and Italy. There can be small variances on your route also. Breakfast is usually 8am-10am with some routes having small coffee shops open as early as 6:30am. Lunch is offered from 12pm to 3pm. Dinner can start as early as 7pm, but typically you'll find it available 7:30pm-10pm. The challenging time is between 3pm-7pm when few establishments are open, especially when you're in a small town. Having a small amount of food in your pack can be very helpful. Many pilgrims will eat a "second breakfast" to rest or fuel up about midway in their walk.
Along with mealtimes there is a cultural difference in the types and quantities of meals offered. Some larger towns have Vegan or Vegetarian restaurants and different ethnic options. Most restaurants in Spain, Portugal and Italy offer meals by course. There's a first and second course with dessert separate. You can eat just a first or just a second course or just dessert if you want. In Spain on the Camino there's a pilgrim menu which offers all three courses for a reasonable price, usually between 10-18 euros. Each course can have 2-3 options. You can also order from the normal menu. There's usually an abundance of food available of all different types though a big focus on meat and potatoes or pasta in many places. Vegans, vegetarians and celiac diets will have challenges for breakfast which is typically continental style or a buffet. Milk substitutes are available in grocery stores in the larger towns as are breads with non-flour options. One thing to note though is that wheat flour in Europe is processed differently than in the United States which sometimes can make it easier to digest. Dinner has more possibilities in general especially with advance notice. Many people with food or economic challenges use the grocery store instead of going to restaurants. The larger grocery stores may have delis also.
A norm in the US, but in general not used much in Europe. Our tipping culture guarantees that our servers get some extra money that they might not get in their per/hour wage. In Europe it's different with better salaries built into the system and pricing. It's not a mandate to tip as it is in the US and might be misunderstood if you leave one; they might think that you've forgotten some money.
Since Covid most establishments give you the option to pay by debit or with credit card for lodging or meals. There are some exceptions, especially if it's for a small amount so it's good to have a bit of cash on hand. A good way to handle this is to go to the ATM when you arrive and take out about 150 euros. Divide up your money so that you have what you need for the day handy and the rest stashed away separately just in case.
People do pilgrimages for many reasons including spiritual, adventure, grief, change of life or being a "tourist". There is no “wrong” way to do these walks but it's best to be flexible, patient and open to changes. This is not a trip in your home country, this is totally different with each step giving you different and new experiences. Having your trip arranged takes some of the spontaneity away, but does let you have time to discover new things without the worry of where you'll be staying. Your attitude and how you handle the challenges and situations will give you a deeper experience.
Everyone's body functions differently and most people who don't hike regularly get really concerned about this question. The different routes have differences in infrastructure and where bathrooms are available. Each person will figure out what works for them, but rest stops as opportunities to eat, drink and go to the bathroom. If you have to go in between these stops, find a good bush, take off your pack and just do it. Having toilet paper and a plastic bag handy gives you the opportunity to clean yourself and also keep the trail clean. When you get to the nearest garbage just throw the plastic bag away. It is good to study your route the night before to get an idea of potential stops and to have a small plastic bag with toilet paper with you for relieving yourself in the brush or in a bar or restaurant that doesn't have toilet paper. Remember it is important to hydrate!
