Tour guide or on your own?

[Eliza McAlpine]

Hi there,

I am planning on doing my first Camino with my sister next August (2017). I am just starting my research etc, and was wondering if people could recommend if the tours were worth it or not? I have found a couple and they all seem to be fairly expensive £2500 each. Is this what people roughly spend when they do it individually anyway or not? If the tours are recommended, do anyone know any that are cheaper? Is there a service that just takes your bags but you organise the hostels yourself?

Thanks so much for your help!
Eliza

 

[grayland]

Welcome to the forum.
The vast majority of pilgrims simply do it on their own.
There is no reason to use a tour guide. The cost will be a fraction of a tour.

In many ways it will restrict your experience as you must follow their agenda.
Everything is straight forward once you reach your starting point. You simply start walking following the yellow arrows and the other pilgrims.

Some do find it more comfortable to use a travel agent to book flights if they are not familiar with airline booking. It is not needed by most.

Read this forum and most of your questions will be answered.
Ask those questions you don't see answered.

 

[dougfitz]

I am planning on doing my first Camino with my sister next August (2017). I am just starting my research etc, and was wondering if people could recommend if the tours were worth it or not? I have found a couple and they all seem to be fairly expensive £2500 each. Is this what people roughly spend when they do it individually anyway or not? If the tours are recommended, do anyone know any that are cheaper? Is there a service that just takes your bags but you organise the hostels yourself?

Most of us know how easy it is to walk without the services of a tour company, and would never consider using one. However, if you crave the very high level of certainty and support you will get, it might be an option to consider.

Without knowing how many days are being paid for, it is really not possible to tell exactly how these prices compare, other than to suggest that this might be double or more than what people are likely to pay if they walked without the support of a tour company.

And finally, pack transport is readily available on the main camino routes.

 

[Felipe]

If you do it on your own, with basic accomodations and meals, as most people do (we pilgrims are notoriusly stingy), it will cost you around 30 euros as per day (there are reports of people doing it with even less...)
With private albergues (still communal, but more comfortable) and carrying backpack services, add 10 or 15 euros. With more than 50, you will walk as a king. Just add costs and compare.
The are lots of info about how to get lodgement and other services in this forum, even if you are not a Spanish speaker. Use the "search" function.
Tour companies have also been discussed here, with some members recommending specific companies.
Buen camino!

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Hi there,

I am planning on doing my first Camino with my sister next August (2017). I am just starting my research etc, and was wondering if people could recommend if the tours were worth it or not? I have found a couple and they all seem to be fairly expensive £2500 each. Is this what people roughly spend when they do it individually anyway or not? If the tours are recommended, do anyone know any that are cheaper? Is there a service that just takes your bags but you organise the hostels yourself?

Thanks so much for your help!
Eliza

Hi Eliza, last year my Camino Frances from SJPDP cost me about €1400,00.
That's a lot cheeper than a guided tour.
I would say do it on your own.
Wish you well and a Buen Camino, Peter.

 

[Waka]

A lot depends on what you want, if you're after the knowledge that all will be taken care of for you, then a tour company is an option. On the other hand if you want to feel free and let every day unfold into lots of surprises, then do it without a tour.
You will never be alone on the camino, especially the CF, you may walk every day alone as I did, but there is always pilgrims in front or behind willing to help.
I spent 6 weeks doing the CF last year, being joined in Sarria for the last week by my wife, and during that whole 6 weeks I never wanted for anything. I didn't have a budget because I was new to the journey and didn't know what to expect. My total spend was 2000 euros. Not bad for a journey of a lifetime.

 

[SYates]

Unless you have major health or other limitations there is no reason at all to pay a tour company. Get a guide book and walk your own Camino. Buen Camino, SY

 

[Eliza McAlpine]

Welcome to the forum.
The vast majority of pilgrims simply do it on their own.
There is no reason to use a tour guide. The cost will be a fraction of a tour.

In many ways it will restrict your experience as you must follow their agenda.
Everything is straight forward once you reach your starting point. You simply start walking following the yellow arrows and the other pilgrims.

Some do find it more comfortable to use a travel agent to book flights if they are not familiar with airline booking. It is not needed by most.

Read this forum and most of your questions will be answered.
Ask those questions you don't see answered.

Thank you so much!!!

 

[Eliza McAlpine]

If you do it on your own, with basic accomodations and meals, as most people do (we pilgrims are notoriusly stingy), it will cost you around 30 euros as per day (there are reports of people doing it with even less...)
With private albergues (still communal, but more comfortable) and carrying backpack services, add 10 or 15 euros. With more than 50, you will walk as a king. Just add costs and compare.
The are lots of info about how to get lodgement and other services in this forum, even if you are not a Spanish speaker. Use the "search" function.
Tour companies have also been discussed here, with some members recommending specific companies.
Buen camino!

Thank you so much to everyone - really really helpful!

 

[marbuck]

For a couple my wife and I budget 100 euros a day and do not use a tour company. This gets us a private room and three meals a day including wine. There is no where else in Europe or the West that you will get such a good deal, plus the holiday of a lifetime. Just go and do it, you will be back for more.

 

[SYates]

Hm, the Camino isn't actually a holiday, holidays in my books don't include hurting feet, blisters, carrying backpacks, heat exhaustion ... For cheap holidays I would go elsewhere ... Buen Camino, SY

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

For a couple my wife and I budget 100 euros a day and do not use a tour company. This gets us a private room and three meals a day including wine. There is no where else in Europe or the West that you will get such a good deal, plus the holiday of a lifetime. Just go and do it, you will be back for more.

As SY stated it's not just a holiday it's hard work. And it is as we say not a walk in the park.
Wish you well and a Buen Camino, Peter.

 

[oursonpolaire]

Hm, the Camino isn't actually a holiday, holidays in my books don't include hurting feet, blisters, carrying backpacks, heat exhaustion ... For cheap holidays I would go elsewhere ... Buen Camino, SY

It's all relative-- my holiday definition includes hurting feet, packpacks, exhaustion.

 

[clearskiescamino]

Organise it y0urself and make it your own Camino. You'll enjoy it more!

 

[marbuck]

OK. Holiday was a poor choice of words. But if it so hard and difficult why are you all going back for several Camino's?

 

[Felipe]

I also noticed the "H" word.
I supposed you were meaning, as in old English, "haligdæg" "holy day, consecrated day, religious anniversary".
No objection to that.