A journey of mind, spirit – and many steps

Long-distance walks are an ideal way to see a region, immerse yourself in it, and learn a little more about it. They also offer the benefit of stripping your existence down to the bare basics and encouraging a simplicity that is difficult to otherwise attain amid the busyness of life.

When your only tasks each day are to put one foot in front of the other, ingest some food and water along the way, and find a safe place to lay your head at night, clarity creeps in. After a few days of establishing a routine, something begins to shift. You stop trying to figure out your life and start living it.

Walking teaches patience in a culture obsessed with doing things fast. During a long walk, the outside world slowly begins to fade over time. It becomes replaced with focus on the present, and mindfulness of the steps you are taking. Walking every day removes urgency and gives our thoughts the chance to untangle themselves. It’s in the repetition that reflection happens.

When the body settles into the simple pattern of wake-walk-eat-sleep, the brain can take a well-deserved break from the daily demands of decision-making. Gradually, progress becomes measured in steps, not achievements or acquisitions. Walking becomes mentally transformative as a daily practise in moving and meditation.

The Camino de Santiago is perhaps the best-known walking journey on the planet. It’s not a single route, rather a network of paths which all converge in one place. For over 1,000 years pilgrims have been arriving at Santiago de Compostela to visit the resting place of Saint James – one of Jesus’s 12 apostles. After his tomb was discovered in the ninth century, a place of worship was built over top of it. Construction of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela began in 1075 and was completed in 1211 – giving pilgrims a sacred and iconic endpoint ever since.

The Camino Frances is the most traveled of all Camino routes. It stretches nearly 800 kilometres from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. For centuries it served as the main artery of the pilgrimage, shaping towns, monasteries, and traditions along its path.

The route crosses a range of landscapes, from mountain passes to vineyard-covered hills, scenic valleys and ancient cities. While it’s the longest Camino route, it’s also the easiest to navigate with excellent markers, abundant accommodations, and services catering specifically to walkers. It is the favourite choice of solo travelers and first timers.

When I did my Camino walk back in 2022, I chose the Camino Portuguese. Known as one of the most rewarding routes, it offers a slower and more intimate experience. The most popular section begins in Porto, Portugal, and runs due north to Santiago de Compostela, covering approximately 300 kilometres.

This route has fewer crowds, and weaves through coastal villages and rolling countryside, along Roman roads with medieval bridges, and down forested paths and trails. It encourages attention rather than endurance and is ideal for those seeking depth without overly demanding physical intensity.

There are several other options for Camino routes. Regardless of which one you choose to walk, by the time you arrive in Santiago you’ll feel like you’ve completed not only a physical journey of the body, but also one of mind and spirit – and that comes with a feeling of accomplishment you simply can’t get from anything else.