What if your next trip could change you?
What happens when ticking sights off a checklist stops being enough — when you start craving something deeper from your travels but can’t quite name what it is?
In this episode, I reflects on the shift from checklist tourism to transformational travel: the idea that the most unforgettable trips aren’t measured by the landmarks you see, but by the people you meet and the way they quietly change you. At the heart of it is the Camino de Santiago — a 1,200-year-old pilgrimage that draws walkers from 183 countries, open to every faith, age, and ability.
Along the way, I share the stories that have stayed with me: a chance conversation on a train, the retired couple who took me in when I first moved to Asheville, the stranger who taught me that accepting a gift is itself a gift, and the numerous Caminos I’ve now walked—alone and with others. I dig into the lessons the trail keeps teaching — gratitude, slowing down, simplifying, and the surprising art of talking to strangers — and why the Camino doesn’t always give you what you want, but it gives you what you need.
Love of Hiking Isn’t Required. . .
I hated gyms.
I had rarely hiked.
I didn’t know how to use hiking poles.
I didn’t own dry-wicking clothes.
Yet something told me a 500-mile walk across Spain was a good idea.
Enjoy Part 1 of my Camino story.
More Camino Conversations
To see other Camino Conversations videos (including interviews with those who have done various routes), click here for the archive.
Join us live here on Substack every Wednesday at 11am.
🥾Ready to start planning your Camino?
Rebecca Weston
Camino Planning & Preparation Guide (for People 45+)
Rebecca@TheCaminoCalls.com
Your Camino adventure should feel exciting, not stressful — here are some ways I can help you get ready:
Watch Camino Conversations for practical tips and advice from my guests who have done the Camino (or more than one!).
🗓️ Camino Planning Session (60 min): Get answers to your top questions and a notes doc created during our call.
📞 Full Camino Experience: 6 coaching calls with detailed notes to plan your trip with confidence and ease.
🥾 Walk With Rebecca: 7-day hybrid Camino walks — 3 days guided, 4 days independent, private rooms, preparation classes, and optional check-ins. Click here to be the first to be notified about my next trip.Rebecca Weston is an American who walked her first Camino in 2012.
About me: I’ve walked more than a dozen Caminos since my first in 2012. I’ve spent many days volunteering along the trail, and if I’m not walking one now, I’m planning the next—and would love nothing more than to help you plan yours, too.
