Third time’s the charm.
After two previously postponed attempts, I finally walked the Camino Francés from León to Santiago de Compostela.

About 350 kilometres later, I returned lighter, both in what I carried and what I thought I knew.

This wasn’t the Camino I first imagined.
And that’s exactly the point.

The morning began with cold toes and the soft shuffle of backpacks zipping open in the dark. I climbed from the top bunk down the rickety ladder, alert and grateful, ready for another day that would unfold one step, one hill, one small wonder at a time.

Looking to read books about the Camino de Santiago? Here are some of the memoirs I devoured before my first Camino journey. They will satisfy armchair travellers and Camino planners equally!

My journey of walking the Camino truly began when I turned 50, inspired to embark on a secular pilgrimage full of physical challenges and personal growth. But my milestone birthday happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, so I redirected my walking quest and prepared for a DIY experience closer to home instead.

Once the world opened up again, I still wrestled with the idea of a famous pilgrimage. I explored alternatives to the Camino and enjoyed several less "popular" thru-hiking experiences.

If the thought of long-distance walking gives you an exhilarating thrill and feeds your adventurous spirit - I’m with you! Besides being one of the growing trends in active tourism, there is an irresistible allure to spending time outdoors, walking through natural beauty, and learning about a place on foot. Europe in particular, boasts a remarkable network of meticulously designed paths that weave and wind across the continent and has long embraced the culture of long-distance walking and thru-hiking.