Awaken Coach Training Retreat
Optional Mini Pilgrimage
June 7 - 11, 2025
Gift yourself with a guided mini pilgrimage
(3 days walking + 1 day in the Valley of Silence)
Pilgrimage as a rite of passage
This is your opportunity to extend your retreat and experience the Camino! This mini pilgrimage is open only to the Awaken Coach Training Retreat participants to ensure an intimate experience.
Leaving from the doorstep of the retreat centre, you will encounter one of the most beautiful stretches of the Camino, steeped in history, symbol and legend. The walking will be gentle and spacious, at your own pace, yet framed within a story and a structure. Expertly curated, this guided walk will provide you with the experience of pilgrimage as a rite of passage. See further details in the schedule below.
Schedule
Includes overnight stays in guesthouses along the Way.
Pilgrimage Day 1 ~ Sat 7th.
Flores del Camino ~ Rabanal 14km - average walking time 3h - 250m / 800ft up
From the very start, as you leave Flores and pass through the lovely villages of Santa Catalina and El Ganso, you’ll be accompanied by Camino symbols, the labyrinth and the goose. You will cross a threshold, from a flat landscape to a gentle climb. Your destination for the day is the charming village of Rabanal, with more than a thousand years of history linked to the Visigoths and Templars.
In the evening, you will experience the pilgrims’ blessings & vespers, still chanted by the monks in the atmospheric 12th century Romanesque church.
Pilgrimage Day 2 ~ Sun 8th.
Rabanal ~ El Acebo 17km - average walking time 3h30 - 400m / 1,300ft up then 400m / 1,300ft down
At this meaningful point on your journey, you will reach the highest point on the Camino: Cruz del Ferro, a gentle place of letting go for pilgrims. Here, you are invited to participate in the tradition of symbolically leaving a stone from home.
As you pass the mountains of León, you will discover breath-taking views over the Bierzo region. Your destination of the day is the charming mountain hamlet of El Acebo with its distinctive architectural style.
The day will end at dusk as you watch the sunset over the the extensive Bierzo plain from a purposeful viewing point in the village.
Pilgrimage Day 3 ~ Mon 9th.
El Acebo ~ Molinaseca 8km - average walking time 1h45 - 550m / 1,800ft down
You will descend the mountain to reach the charming village of Molinaseca situated by a tranquil river. After having lunch there, we will make our way by car to the nearby Peñalba de Santiago. Nested within the breathtaking Valley of Silence, Peñalba is our highly symbolic pilgrimage destination. It is known for its exquisite 10th century Mozarabic church with solstitial alignments.
Pilgrimage Day 4 ~ Tue 10th.
Retreat day at Peñalba de Santiago in the Valley of Silence
The valley gained its name because a hermit lived there in silent contemplation. At sunrise you will make the circular journey around the Valley to and from the hermit’s cave. For the rest of the day we will end our time in purposeful retreat, we will explore further through myth and meaning in preparation for your return home.
Departure Day ~ Wed 11th.
Morning departure by taxi from Peñalba to Madrid
Drop off at Madrid Airport at 1pm (under normal traffic circumstances)
(Also the possibility to be dropped off in Astorga)
About your guide
Basia Goodwin is an experienced retreat facilitator and a passionate pilgrimage guide. With over 20 years of experience of the Camino, Basia teaches on pilgrimage as rite of passage and guides transformational journeys. Basia is the co-founder of Flores del Camino and is dedicated to crafting space for purposeful journeys.
What’s included
Accommodation
You will be accommodated in individual bedrooms with private bathrooms. Please note however that in the busier times of the pilgrimage season, there is a small chance that a couple of people may have to share a room, although we will do our best efforts to secure individual rooms for all.
Food
Dinner & breakfast provided. The dinner provided in a restaurant will be a “pilgrim’s menu”, which is typically a three course meal with wine and water. Please note that you will need to pay for any special menus and additional drinks. Lunch is not provided as you will be on the path walking at your own rhythm. You will find shops, cafés and restaurants in the lovely village stops along the Way.
Transport back to Astorga and Madrid
Transfer back to Madrid Airport by taxi or private bus on the last day, with the possibility to be also dropped off in Astorga. Estimated arrival at Madrid airport T4 is 1pm (under normal traffic circumstances).
What’s not included
Lunches.
Insurance. We do not provide any insurance. It is your responsibility to contract travel and health insurance.
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Optional Mini Pilgrimage
June 7 - 11, 2025
1,590€