Short answer: YES!
You can walk the Camino de Santiago on a guided tour, with a certified guide, a small group of fellow pilgrims, and all the logistics arranged before you land in Spain.
At Follow the Camino, our 2027 guided departures run on three routes: the last 100 km of the Camino Francés (Sarria to Santiago), the Camino Portugués from Tui, and the Portuguese Coastal Way from Oia. Each one lasts 9 days, and some dates are women-only.
That’s the quick version. The longer one is worth reading if you’re still deciding whether a guided Camino is right for you, because it really depends on how you want to feel on the way.
Why so many pilgrims ask this question
Most people who write to us about guided tours aren’t worried about the walking itself. They’re worried about the in-between moments. Arriving in a small Galician town at 4 pm and not knowing where to eat. Feeling a blister start on day two with nobody to ask. Walking alone for hours when what you really wanted was to share the experience with someone.
The Camino is well marked and welcoming, and thousands of people walk it independently every year. But “you can do it alone” and “you want to do it alone” are two very different things. A guided tour exists for the second group: people who want the meaning of the Camino without carrying every decision on their own shoulders.
What a guided Camino tour actually includes
When you join one of our guided group tours, this is what’s taken care of:
- An experienced, bilingual Camino guide. All our guides are Follow the Camino certified and accompany the group in both Spanish and English. You can meet some of our guides here.
- Hand-picked accommodation every night, booked in advance, so there’s always a room waiting for you.
- Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel. You walk with a light daypack; your suitcase travels by van.
- 24/7 on-call support for anything unexpected, on top of your guide.
- Your pilgrim pack, including the pilgrim passport (credencial) you’ll stamp along the way to request your Compostela in Santiago.
- One vegetarian meal during your multi-day tour, part of our sustainability commitment.
In short, we take care of the logistics so you can focus on walking and on the people around you.
How a guided Camino day works
This is the part that surprises people most: a guided Camino is not a group march. You walk at your own pace during the day. Some pilgrims like to stay close to the guide and ask questions about the villages and churches; others walk ahead in silence and meet the group later. Both are completely fine.
What the group shares are the fixed points: meals, overnight stops, and the arrival in Santiago. Your guide gives structure, not pressure. They’re also your first point of contact if something goes wrong, whether that’s a sore knee, a lost item or simply a hard day.
Guided vs self-guided Camino: which one suits you?
We organize both, so we can be honest about the differences. Neither is “better.” They suit different people.
| Guided group tour | Self-guided tour | Private guided group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who walks with you | A certified guide + a small group of pilgrims | You, your partner or friends | Your own group + a guide we add for you |
| Dates | Fixed departure dates | You choose the dates | You choose the dates |
| Accommodation & luggage | Included | Included | Included |
| 24/7 support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Solo travellers, first-timers, people who want company | Independent walkers who like flexibility | Families, parishes, charities, friend groups |
A guided tour tends to be the right choice if any of these sound like you:
- It’s your first Camino and you’d feel calmer with someone who knows the route.
- You’re travelling solo but you don’t want to walk alone.
- You’d like to hear the stories behind the places, not just pass through them.
- You’re a woman travelling on your own and you’d feel more at ease in a women-only group.
- You want to arrive in Santiago with people who shared the same road.
If you prefer total freedom over your dates and pace, our self-guided Camino tours might suit you better.
Our 2027 guided tours on the Camino de Santiago
2027 is a Holy Year (Año Santo Compostelano), because the feast of Saint James on 25 July falls on a Sunday. Holy Years bring more pilgrims to the Camino, and with them more demand for accommodation, which is one more reason many people choose a guided tour with everything booked in advance.
These are our guided tours for 2027:
Good to know: our guided tours are guaranteed from a minimum of eight people. If a departure doesn’t reach that number, the tour continues as self-guided and we refund the price of the guide. You can reserve your 2027 Holy Year Camino with a 20% deposit
Women-only guided Camino tours
Several of our 2027 departures are for women only, on both the Camino Francés and the Portuguese Coastal Way. We created them because many women told us the same thing: they wanted to walk the Camino, they didn’t want to walk it alone, and they’d feel more comfortable sharing the road with other women.
You’ll have the same guide, the same hand-picked stays and the same support. The difference is the group itself, and for many pilgrims that’s what makes the Camino feel possible.
Can I organize a private guided group?
Yes. If you’re travelling with family, friends, a parish, a school or a charity, we can build a private Camino around your group and add a guide to any group booking. Our Camino de Santiago group tours include:
- A personal Camino Specialist who helps you with route planning from the first call
- Flexible payment: individual, sub-group or full group
- Accommodation matched to your group’s comfort level
- Luggage transfers, breakfasts and any other meals you choose
- Personalized Camino packs with pilgrim passports and route details
- 24/7 emergency support during the journey
We also have dedicated options for religious groups, charity Caminos and EduCamino school tours.
Before you book: a few practical tips
- Book early for 2027. Holy Years are busy, especially in May, June and September.
- Train a little beforehand. Walking 12 to 20 km a day for several days in a row is easier if your body already knows what it feels like. Our blog on how long the Camino de Santiago is helps you picture the distances.
- Pack light. Your luggage travels by van, but you’ll carry a daypack every day. Our Camino packing list covers the essentials.
- Check the weather for your month. Galicia is green for a reason. Our Camino weather map shows what to expect.
- Bring some cash. Most towns have ATMs and accept cards, but small village bars sometimes only take cash.
Still comparing options? Read our guide to the 5 best guided group tours on the Camino de Santiago, based on what our pilgrims book most.
Walk the Camino with someone by your side
The Camino changes people, but it doesn’t ask you to do it alone. With a guided tour, the route is planned, your room is waiting, and there’s always someone who knows the way. All that’s left for you is to walk, and to let the Camino do the rest.
