HOW TO HAVE A LUXURY CAMINO EXPERIENCE (WITHOUT BOOKING A TOUR OR LOSING THE MAGIC.
You don’t have to rough it to find meaning on the Camino de Santiago.
Contrary to popular belief, the Camino de Santiago doesn’t have to mean snoring bunkbeds, soggy laundry, and shared bathrooms. While there’s beauty in simplicity, there’s also something deeply nourishing about adding small touches of indulgence to your pilgrimage — not because you’re avoiding the experience, but because you’re romancing it.
If you want to feel the freedom of the trail but also sleep in a crisp-sheeted bed from time to time, here’s how to have a luxury Camino — no pricey tour required.
1/ Book a proper dinner
It doesn’t have to be Michelin-starred (although there are some fabulous Michelin star restaurants on the Camino), but at some point, find a restaurant on the fancier side, a good wine list, and a place where someone brings you an amuse-bouche you didn’t ask for.
Put your feet under a linen-covered table and stay a while. You’re still a pilgrim — you’re just one who appreciates the finer things.
2/ Stay somewhere special now and then
A boutique hotel in a restored monastery. A little guesthouse with local textiles and balcony views. A parador with thick robes and quiet hallways.
It’s amazing how much joy one great bed can bring in the middle of a long walk. These nights don’t have to be the norm — but scatter a few in your journey, and it changes everything.
You can find our guide to the best luxury hotels on the Camino de Santiago here.
3/ Find a spa, or at least a hot tub
Your muscles are doing good work. Give them a break. Some cities (Pamplona, Burgos, Ourense) have excellent thermal baths or hotel spas, and even a simple whirlpool soak can lift your spirits.
Check ahead — some rural hotels even have small wellness areas tucked away. Or, at the very least a swimming pool! There’s nothing like the feeling of weightlessness when your entire body hurts.
4/Walk from city to city instead of doing the whole thing
You can still have a Camino experience without walking the entire route – make it your own.
San Sebastián to Bilbao. Granada to Córdoba. Porto to Coimbra. These are cultural gems with excellent food, dramatic scenery, and enough trail between them to feel earned — without the pressure to do 800km in one go.
Spend a few days in each city before and after you’re walking – this way, it can feel a little more luxurious.
5/ Use a luggage transfer service
It’s one of the easiest ways to lighten your day. You’ll still walk the same path, but you won’t be digging your clothes out of a 10kg sack every night. There are loads of luggage transfer companies on the Camino – expect to pay around €6 per day.
Bonus: it frees up space for that one “just-in-case” outfit you’ll definitely want later.
6/Seek out proper laundry
Yes, sink-washing your underwear is part of the classic Camino aesthetic, but there comes a time when you just want your clothes actually clean. Pop into a laundrette, find a café nearby, and enjoy a relaxed hour while your socks tumble into freshness. Or, pick an albergue with proper laundry facilities -there are plenty!
7/ Sit over your morning coffee for as long as you want
Some mornings you’ll want to rush off with the sunrise crowd. Other times, linger. Read your book. Listen to a podcast. Watch the town wake up. The Camino isn’t just about walking — it’s about noticing, and this is a great way to start.
8/ Write it down
You don’t need a leather-bound journal – just a little notebook is fine. But taking time each day to write — even a few lines — turns ordinary moments into something you’ll remember. A small ritual that helps you actually feel what’s happening, rather than just ticking off distances.
9/ Pack something that isn’t hiking gear
One nice dress. A linen shirt. Flat sandals. Just one thing you’d wear to dinner in a normal life. When you arrive in a city and want to explore without looking like you’ve just emerged from a tent, you’ll be glad you brought it.
10/ Pack a couple of tiny luxuries
Think cashmere socks for bedtime, a silk pillowcase, your favourite face oil decanted into a miniature bottle. These take up barely any space but feel like a small act of self-care after a long day on the road.
11/ Let someone plan the route for you
You can absolutely map it all yourself — but if you’d rather focus on the walking and resting part, consider getting a custom itinerary from someone who knows the trail. (We do this at Lotus Eaters Travel). It’s still your Camino — just with fewer logistical headaches.
12/ Order something more interesting than the house wine
We love a pilgrim menu, but the wine is usually an afterthought. You’re in wine country — ask for a local recommendation or a glass of something special. It’s an easy way to elevate a meal without spending much more.
13/ Visit a vineyard if you can
Walking through La Rioja? Or through the vineyards on the Camino Portuguese route? Take an afternoon and go wine tasting. You’ll remember those moments — the view from the terrace on a hot day — long after you’ve forgotten which village came next.
14/ Explore a city like a tourist
Museums, cathedrals, gallery cafés, riverside strolls. You’re not just a pilgrim — you’re also a traveller in one of the most culturally rich corners of Europe. Give yourself permission to wander without your backpack. It’ll feel like a holiday in the middle of an adventure.
Tip: take shorter walking days into cities, so that you have time to explore.
15/Better yet, take a rest day
Not for chores. Not to get ahead. Just a full day off. Sleep in. Have a long lunch. Go for an aimless walk. It’s the difference between rushing through your Camino and actually absorbing it.
You can find our ideas for the best rest days on the Camino here.
16/ Romanticise it. That’s the whole point
You’re walking across a country. That’s wild and beautiful and kind of mad. So wear something that makes you feel good. Light a candle when you journal. Take a photo of the sky every morning. Fall a little bit in love with the life you’re living — even if just for a few weeks.
Would you like us to plan your walk for you?
Embark on a journey of a lifetime with Lotus Eaters Travel Planning, where we turn your dream of long-distance walking into a meticulously planned reality.
Our passion for exploration, love for diverse cultures, and commitment to providing an unparalleled experience drive us to offer personalized consultation services for some of the world’s most iconic walking trails
Written by Emma
Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.
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