Walking Meditation on the Camino de Santiago
Retreat, Renewal, & Rejuvenation
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The Camino de Santiago de Compostela has been a potent pilgrimage route since prehistoric times.
The Camino is a living, breathing pathway. It makes demands of your soul, your psyche and your body. That is an authentic and extraordinary Camino. This is a 12 day vision quest, each step will gently transform you, as your body and soul balance with nature, your own pace and your psyche has the time and balancing rhythm of your footsteps to profoundly unwind what is ready to transform. |
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Our walks are an uncommon and authentic pilgrimage, while staying in the most comfortable lodgings and enjoying the tastiest French and Spanish cuisine possible. We give the support so you can savor and enjoy each step.
The Camino invites you to unweave and reweave deep parts of yourself through the joy (and challenge) of walking. We stay in small boutique hotels, farmhouses and 3 nights of luxury in 4 star hotels. You may experience a range of emotions from grief to catharsis to unbridled joy and some soul shaking laughter. Some moments will find you physically outside your comfort zone—it’s in those moments that you will discover resilience, strength and more than a few miracles. |
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Red Monkey trips are thoughtfully designed, matching you with hand selected boutique accommodations, exquisite cuisine, and genuine connections to local and historical knowledge. We lovingly take care of all the details so you can enjoy each step! |
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Basque France and Northern Spain Route for Pilgrims
After meeting in Bilbao, Spain for a night of tapas and introductions, you will begin your Camino in the Aquitaine region of Southern France. Together, we hike for 5 days through the countryside. Your soul will be soothed by the vision of wild horses, sheep, and tiny villages marking the rolling farmlands, with the Pyrenees on the horizon. Day 6, we take a gentle pass used by Charlemagne and countless pilgrims to cross these majestic mountains.
At the top of the Pyrenees, we arrive in the Basque Country of Spain. You will spend 3 days walking through the forested mountain foothills to arrive in Pamplona, the city made famous by Hemingway for its annual bull runs. You'll take a well earned rest day in Pamplona to get massages and shop in stylish boutiques. You can also enjoy the world class tapas bars, visit the historic Cathedral, and explore the old town.
Our last 2 days of walking meditation will bring us into Spain's wine country, where the landscape becomes arid. Rock formations will line your views. On the last night we'll arrive in a very special medieval city to celebrate the completion of this section of the Camino.
At the top of the Pyrenees, we arrive in the Basque Country of Spain. You will spend 3 days walking through the forested mountain foothills to arrive in Pamplona, the city made famous by Hemingway for its annual bull runs. You'll take a well earned rest day in Pamplona to get massages and shop in stylish boutiques. You can also enjoy the world class tapas bars, visit the historic Cathedral, and explore the old town.
Our last 2 days of walking meditation will bring us into Spain's wine country, where the landscape becomes arid. Rock formations will line your views. On the last night we'll arrive in a very special medieval city to celebrate the completion of this section of the Camino.
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Your 12 Day Trip Includes:
*This excludes 2 dinners and 4 lunches when you’ll have time to feast on tapas and Michelin-starred cuisine in the beautiful towns of Pamplona and St. Jean and grab a Camino side sandwich. |
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Cost: $6207 (Double Occupancy)
Scholarships and work exchange opportunities available on a limited basis. Contact us with inquiries.
Scholarships and work exchange opportunities available on a limited basis. Contact us with inquiries.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Where do We Walk?
You’ll begin in Bilbao, Spain, and travel to the Basque region of Southern France, where you'll walk through rolling farmlands dotted with wild horses, sheep, and quaint villages, with the Pyrenees on the horizon.
On Day 2, you’ll cross the Pyrenees, following the historic route of Romans, Charlemagne, Napoleon, and countless pilgrims.
Next, you’ll enter Basque Spain, walking through forested mountain foothills for two days, eventually reaching Pamplona. After a rest day, continue through the arid, wine-growing countryside, passing Alto de Perdon, and concluding your journey in the historic town of Estella with a final group circle and celebratory dinner.
On Day 2, you’ll cross the Pyrenees, following the historic route of Romans, Charlemagne, Napoleon, and countless pilgrims.
Next, you’ll enter Basque Spain, walking through forested mountain foothills for two days, eventually reaching Pamplona. After a rest day, continue through the arid, wine-growing countryside, passing Alto de Perdon, and concluding your journey in the historic town of Estella with a final group circle and celebratory dinner.
How many miles a day will I be walking?
You'll walk 10-15 miles a day with many breaks to enjoy our surroundings. Each pilgrim can walk in accordance with their own body’s rhythm, so there's no pressure to "keep up" with anyone else on the trail. It sounds long, but is actually very doable even at a slow pace. Walking in the country is much less arduous than hiking. Most days there are small cafes with fabulous coffee and treats to keep you feeling great. If needed, there is also a taxi service available daily.
How fit do I need to be for this trip?
Pilgrims vary in ages from preteens to elders in their 80s. Walking the Camino is suitable for everyone in reasonably good shape. It helps to love up your body with exercise before you arrive, but everyone is sore the first few days. Blisters, sore muscles and other symptoms of long walks are common. After your body adjusts, the problem becomes never wanting to stop walking!
Info and faqs
MEET YOUR GUIDES
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Joy is a coach, facilitator, writer and martial artist with deep and varied experience holding groups through transformative processes. The current expression of this is through her company Beginnerdom, where she offers workshops and coaching to help folks birth their truest expression into the world. She is the author of a book on the art of writing and has done quite a bit of writing about the Camino.
As is true for so many, the Camino called Joy for reasons that she still can’t explain. Her first trek in Basque Country with Red Monkey turned out to be the first of several, with more questions getting answered (and still more arising!) with every step. Joy lives in Northern California with her cute husband and two tiny canines, and goes hiking a lot. joyreichart.com Luigi is a seasoned traveler, having trekked across five continents and explored various Camino routes. He's also an author and humanitarian, having worked with Peace Brigade International in Colombia and published two books and counting.
Learn more about your guides here |
TESTIMONIALS
Hear from our Pilgrims
Hear from our Pilgrims
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"YESSSSS, I absolutely 1,000 times recommend [this trip]. This trip was the most authentic and beautiful way to get to know the walk and the history, food, people, culture, etc. There is nothing else like it. Learning to literally put one foot in front of the other and enjoying the process taught me a lot about the kind of resilience one can gain from challenging not only the physical body, but the mental as well. It's powerful to be with your thoughts and I know a lot of people are afraid to go to that place with themselves, but it’s so important. All the while, having the support of the group made it so much more valuable." - K.B. Denver, CO Project Manager 2018 |
"My favorite part of the walk? Oh my-where to start? My encounters with ME! The release from years of built up emotions I’ve held in my body for so long. The forgiveness, of self and others. And the fun of being on the journey-the feeling of accomplishing the hills and celebrating at the top with my new close friends. The new feeling of being ageless- a nice feeling for a senior lady. The timelessness of walking without concerns for much of anything (thanks to Rachel’s planning), with just the sounds of nature and the rhythm of my boots taking one step after another." - S.M. Atlanta, GA |