Guided vs. Self-Guided Caminos

[Phantom2Pilot]

I have walked a number of caminos in Spain and long-distance routes elsewhere. Because I value solitude very highly when I walk and enjoy the freedom to change my plans at will I would never dream of joining a guided tour. Walking the Spanish Caminos - and most especially the Camino Frances - is such a straightforward business that I cannot see what benefit there is to to justify the extra cost and the restrictions which a pre-arranged guided tour would entail. Unless a person is a very inexperienced and anxious traveller there seems little to gain.

Thanks for your insight. That’s pretty much how I am inclined to feel and may go solo without joining a tour.

 

[Robo]

I can relate......So looking forward to 800 kms with my dearly beloved next year...........
It will be 'character building'
I reckon walking a Camino with a spouse must be on a par with teaching them to drive......
Not for the faint hearted

I see this old thread got a new comment..........

On reading my post of 2017. I can report that:

1. We made the 800 kms together.
2. We are still married.
3. But we have agreed that we will not walk a Camino together again unless it's a short one! (like 150 kms max!)
4. We would prefer to stay married............

 

[Bradypus]

But we have agreed that we will not walk a Camino together again unless it's a short one! (like 150 kms max!)

My wife likes long distance walking too. A couple of short Caminos. John O'Groats to Lands End. Chunks of the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage. But she walks very slowly compared to me, walks shorter days and is far more picky about where she sleeps. We would very quickly get exasperated by each other's preferences and a compromise would satisfy neither of us. So we walk different routes and times solo.