Easter 2025 – 21st – 27th April
The Camino Santiago de Compostela
The Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of St. James, is a world-renowned place of pilgrimage dating back to medieval times.
Pilgrims journey to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain where the Apostle St. James the Great was buried.
The city of Santiago is named after St. James: Santiago de Compostela means St. James of the Field of Stars. The pilgrimage attracts over 100,000 pilgrims a year, many walking for several days or weeks on various routes.
We will start our walk from Sarría on the Camino Francés and will walk 70 miles to Santiago de Compostela, staying in hostels each evening.
Pilgrimage
2025 is a Jubilee year in the Catholic Church, the theme given by Pope Francis is ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. The jubilee calls for us to set out on a journey and to cross boundaries. When we travel, we do not only change place physically, but we also change ourselves. A pilgrimage is an inward and outward Journey. People have a variety of reasons for participating. Perhaps a search for meaning or direction, a time to work through some challenges or a desire to find peace and healing. Some may be looking for time out and an opportunity to re-evaluate life choices, a different sort of break away, or an adventure. Others may be looking for a time of spiritual renewal, for prayer and contemplation.
Whatever brings you on this journey, we hope to build a sense of unity and support to foster friendships and community. We will provide a space to share our experiences and to listen to each other, as well as appropriate times of silent accompaniment on the road.
Why journey the Camino with the Carmelites?
Our Carmelite tradition speaks of a journey of transformation and our path begins in a place of attentiveness to God. The events of our lives are not meaningless. We believe that in each moment of each day, God is calling us to take a step forward on our journey. Carmelites are invited on this journey by our Rule, which for us echoes and mirrors the Gospel.
We journey alongside those we meet and try to help them discover God’s presence in themselves; for the image of God is present in every human being and must be allowed to emerge in complete freedom.
We offer this pilgrimage experience with generosity. We wish to walk alongside and share our own experiences, drawing on our rich Carmelite tradition. Our Carmelite story is a guide that will give direction but will also reflect life’s challenges, joys and hopes.
Practical Information
What we know currently
Date: Easter Monday 21st – Sunday 27th April
We will fly to Santiago de Compostela and then travel by bus to Sarria to start our pilgrimage.
Camino route
We will walk the final five days of the Camino francés; this is the minimum needed to receive a certificate on arrival in Santiago (100km). The route is quite hilly, but there are no mountains, and there are many villages on the way, where food and drinks can be bought.
Costs
Approx. £500 (based on slight increase on2024)
- Flights – depending on time of booking £200 (Ryanair from Stansted)
- Transfers in Spain €20
- Hostels on the route. These are roughly €15 per night, €25 in Santiago de Compostela.
- Meals are roughly €30 per day (€5 breakfast €8 lunch €17 evening meal)
- Small cost for certificate €3
- Addition cost – Insurance, UK airport travel, spending money and optional group t-shirt
Interested?
- Please complete our ‘Expression of Interest’ form: https://forms.office.com/e/eMVnELMexC
- Pilgrims reflection from 2024 Camino pilgrimage – https://carmelite.org/news/carmelite-camino-pilgrimage-sarria-to-santiago-de-compostela-1st-7th-april-2024
- 2024 Photo Album https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBkDtL
