Retreat Details
Join Kathy Izard on a spiritual journey walking a thousand-year-old pilgrimage—El Camino de Santiago. Inspired by the movie “The Way,” Kathy took this trip eight years ago with friends and wrote about it in her inspirational nonfiction book The Last Ordinary Hour. Now it is your chance to walk “The Way” on this specially designed journey which showcases the very best landscapes and villages along this famous trail.
Beginning in Burgos, Spain, our group will walk 100km of a very specifically chosen section of this 500 km holy path. While the full pilgrimage can take weeks to complete, this is a 9-day adventure on one of the most scenic sections, skipping areas that parallel highways or developed areas. Our guides have each walked the paths dozens of times and will offer us incredible knowledge of the culture and history of the region which brings the Camino to life. While our main destination will be the famous Cathedral de Santiago, we will travel all the way to Finisterre, “the end of the earth” and the mythical Kilometer 0 on the trail, to make the traditional barefoot walk on the beach, as pilgrims have done for centuries. Along the way, we will enjoy wonderful regional specialties for lunch and dinner, as well as be welcomed each night into our carefully selected inns and paradors, including two nights at the acclaimed Parador dos Reis Católicos in Santiago.
This shortened trip is a brief glimpse of what true “peregrinos” experience as they travel with full backpacks along the trail which begins hundreds of miles away in France. While we will carry only day packs with van support for our (very minimal) luggage, you do need to be prepared for blisters as well as the bliss of the Camino! Note: we will walk no matter the weather—rain or shine—that is part of this journey as well!
If you have ever wanted to experience this pilgrimage, this is your chance to walk the Way with some wonderful women! Buen camino!
Who should attend? More than any other retreat we offer, this Camino experience is a spiritual pilgrimage. You should be comfortable walking at least 6 miles a day and up to 12 miles a day. Since we are not backpacking, you will not be carrying the typical 40-50 lb pack that most pilgrims take, but you will be walking many miles with your own daypack. Small luggage is transported by van to our lodging, but this is intended to be a rigorous adventure. Please do not sign up if you are looking for a “sightseeing” excursion—this is not that trip! You do not need to register with a friend and most of our women don’t know anyone before they arrive—yet leave with new friends. If you are looking to have a spiritual pilgrimage in good company, this experience is for you!
What Past Participants Had to Say about our retreats:
We reignited our imaginations and recharged our lives in unexpected ways, with unexpected friends at an unexpected time. There were laughter, tears, dancing, singing, sharing and quiet times to think and absorb. The food was delicious, the communications from leadership before, during and after the retreat were perfect, and the experience rich and rewarding. I always felt I was in an extremely safe place, yet uninhibited, and often more courageous than I thought possible.
Cindy Moran, Houston, TX
To be frank, I was a bit hesitant to invest in this retreat. Mentally I added up the cost of registration, airfare, hotel, rental car and incidentals. I wondered whether it would be worth it. It was. Every. Last. Penny.
Jennifer Hassel, Lancaster, PA
location and registration details
This retreat is limited to 15 women. Do note that private rooms are very limited. Registrants should be willing to have one roommate per night from our group. You may sign up with a roommate, but we anticipate many solo travelers—that is part of this experience! As we walk the Camino, our lodging will be simple inns and small hotels typical of the region including a former Benedictine monastery, restored farmhouse property and historic paradors.
We conclude in Santiago at the 5-star Parador de Santiago Hostal dos Reis Catolicos adjacent to the famous soaring Romanesque Cathedral of Santiago de Compestela.
A tentative schedule from our travel partners will be shared closer to the date of the pilgrimage.
Meet Your Hosts
About Kathy Izard
Kathy is an award-winning author, speaker, and changemaker as well as the founder of Women | Faith & Story. Kathy believes we all have a story worth telling and she wants to help other women find the courage to put their words in the world. Kathy took this trip eight years ago with friends and wrote about it in her inspirational nonfiction book, The Last Ordinary Hour.
Learn more about Kathy on her website here.
