The Daring Camino de Santiago – Spain

7:00am – 7:30am: Breakfast at the hotel

7:30am – 11:00am: Daily reflective practice, check-in, and educational sessions

11:00am – 5:00pm: Hiking the Camino de Santiago

5:00pm – 6:30pm: Personal time for relaxation, reflection, and rejuvenation

6:30pm – 7:00pm: Social “hour”

7:00 pm – 9:00pm: Group dinner

We use diverse techniques to help cultivate joy, meaning, and purpose, including lectures, journaling, daily group reflections, and quiet personal reflection. We also use our experiences and the paths we hike as daily metaphors to develop gratitude, hope, awe, and joy.

Day 1: Arrive and overnight in Sarria

At 4:00PM, we will meet at our hotel for introductions and our first educational session.   We suggest you spend the night before in Lugo before the tour begins. Lugo, a wonderfully restored walled city, was built by the Romans in the 3rd century and is protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. A wander around the narrow streets within the enclosed walls will take you right back to the middle-ages.  We will offer a shuttle that will do a pick up in Lugo at 11am on this day to take you to Sarria and our hotel for check in.  On arrival you will be given a package containing route notes, pilgrim shell, pilgrim passport and luggage labels.  Our initial educational sessions  are focused on truly arriving and creating the inner and outer space to settle and open.  (Dinner Included)

Day 2: Walk Sarria – Portomarin.

The walk between Sarria and Portomarin is one of the quietest and most peaceful of the Camino. Climb up through woods and see mountain views in every shade of green imaginable. During the summer there are plenty of places for lunch and drinks along the way.  One of the great joys of walking the Camino will not only be the stunning landscapes you take in, but also the variety of people you meet. Join pilgrims from all over the world and all walks of life.  Educational sessions are a deep dive into gratitude, relationships and mindset. Breakfast and Dinner Included (14.5 miles)

Day 3: Walk Portomarin – Palas de Rei

Starting from Portomarin, we climb up through woodland and then over our high point for the day, the Sierra Ligonde, on quiet country roads. Views abound in every direction, far reaching hill and mountain-scapes in every shade of green imaginable.  The villages we pass through have long standing associations with the Camino and ancient pilgrim’s hospices are now just whispers of the past. There are several miles of road  walking along this stretch but the roads are quiet and you pass through some small villages  – i.e. the Romanesque Church of Santa Maria in Gonzar is 5 miles into the walk. There is a lovely Galician cemetery church in Ligonde which is about another 3 miles.  Morning educational sessions will be on creating space in our busy life – how to get clear on our values and set boundaries and allow for a new story of meaning and purpose to arise. Breakfast and Dinner Included (15.5 miles)

Day 4: Walk Palas de Rei – Melide

Today we pass though the town of Palas de Rei, Palace of the King named after an 8th century Visigoth king who once ruled the lands. From here the route becomes more undulating as we meander through the village of San Xulian, a classic Camino village with its 12th Century church, and walk through forested trails over two river valleys.  The route takes you to Melide  – this is a pleasant town with a former monastery Church Sancti Spiritu, along with a pilgrim hospital and the Church of San Pedro.  Morning educational sessions will focus on perfectionism, grief and forgiveness.  Breakfast and Dinner Included (10 miles)

Day 5: Walk Melide – Arzua

As you leave the town of Melide, the Church of  Santa Maria is worth a visit.  Walk through quaint camino villages and over well preserved medieval bridges to the location where limestone was carried to build the cathedral in Santiago.  You will want to stop for lunch today to enjoy one of Galicia’s specialties—Pulpo Gallego—steamed octopus prepared by the locals and enjoyed by pilgrims! Walk the short distance today to the small village of Arzua where you will spent the night.  See eucalyptus forests and moss covered stone walls walking past the oldest albergue on the Camino.  Morning educational sessions will use clearness committees to focus on how to create the life you desire.  Breakfast and Dinner Included (8 miles)

Day 6: Walk Arzua – Arca do Pino

Arzua is famous for its creamy cow cheese which you really must try before you leave today.  Onwards, our walk is dotted with small hamlets hidden within tall eucalyptus forests and behind moss covered stone walls. Villages named Rua, Calzada, and Calle all refer to the word ‘road’, recognizing that this pilgrimage trail has been leading pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela for centuries. The route continues to Arca do Pino, where you will spend the final night before the final section of the walk into Santiago – making the walk today only 12.5 miles, with the same distance to cover in the morning to Santiago.  Morning educational sessions will focus on transitions and continue to hone the vision for your new life with more meaning, purpose and joy. Breakfast and Dinner Included (12.5 miles)

Day 7: Walk Arca do Pino – Santiago

We climb from Arca do Pino to the famed Monte del Gozo, Mount Joy, where, if we are lucky we catch our first glimpse of the towers of the cathedral of Santiago. Tradition claims that if you were the first one in your group to sight the church towers, you could officially change your name to King (Rey, Leroy, Le Roi). Our Camino walking journey ends at the steps of the cathedral today. We will gather for evening’s Pilgrims mass to participate in the ritual that has been going on for a century.  We will see the famed Botafumeiro swing and visit St. James’ Crypt. We will make sure to help you  collect your Camino Compostella – your certificate of completion and then its time to enjoy this beautiful city.  A final Gratitude Circle will wrap up the week.  Breakfast and Dinner Included (12.5 miles)

Day 8: Buen Canino – End of the retreat after breakfast

After a leisurely breakfast, there will be an optional extension to travel to Finnesterra and Enjoy the “End of the Earth” extension of the camino.  Or stay in Santiago and check out one of the guided walking tours of the city finishing in time to attend the Pilgrims Mass. (Breakfast included)

Please Note: This itinerary may change slightly due to accommodation availability, rain, festivals and spontaneous side trips. This is not an endurance race, nor a competition. Please be respectful of all the different paces and walks of life that come together on this group trip

DOUBLE OCCUPANCY ROOM =$3599 per person
SINGLE OCCUPANCY ROOM = $4299

RESERVE YOUR SPOT WITH A DEPOSIT=$500

Accreditation Statement:  This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of the Minnesota Medical Association and Innovations in Resilience. The Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

CME Credit:  The Minnesota Medical Association designates this live activity for a maximum of 19 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Commercial Support: There is no commercial support for this event.

A commercial interest is any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients.  The ACCME defines “‘relevant’ financial relationships” as financial relationships in any amount occurring within the past 12 months that create a conflict of interest.

• Expert bilingual guides
• Daily interactive sessions on transitions, resiliency and self-care
• Lodging in exquisite small local inns
• Daily breakfasts and dinners with wine
• Van support for luggage and transportation along the route
• One pre-departure meeting to discuss reflective practices and preparation for the trip

• Round-trip airfare
• Ground transportation to and from the retreat
• Daily lunches
• Tips and gratuity
• Travel Insurance

• Cancellations prior to July 22, 2024 are subject to a $500 cancellation fee
• Nonrefundable on or after July 22, 2024
• If Bounce Travels cancels the trip due to any reason, you have your choice of a refund (minus the credit card fees) OR using your entire balance towards another Bounce Travels trip through the following calendar year.

This itinerary may change slightly due to accommodation availability, rain, festivals and spontaneous side trips. This is not an endurance race, nor a competition. Please be respectful of all the different paces and walks of life that come together on this group trip.