SECTION II: Burgos to Astorga, Spain — September 16 - 30, 2026

Camino de Santiago - The Inner & Outer Journey

Experience this pilgrimage journey with women who value connection and clarity. The Work of Byron Katie offers space for truth, healing, and inspiring community.

Reserve Your Place

“I came to the Camino to find deeper. lasting peace. I was reminded on the Camino that I can have whatever level of peace I choose. It's up to me to claim it.

I was also looking to challenge my beliefs about what is possible for me physically. I found greater strength than I knew possible, which was buoyed by the grace and kindness of my HHJ sisters.”

- Dana, San Diego, CA

Trip Overview

This pilgrimage, which has found its way onto many travel bucket lists, is a profound opportunity to experience a transformative inner and outer journey. It is not just a physical journey, but a deeply personal one, offering space for spiritual growth, connection with fellow women, and a renewed sense of self.

The Camino de Santiago is a world-renowned pilgrimage trod by spiritual seekers for more than 1,000 years. With its stunning landscapes, medieval villages, castles and Roman ruins, walking the Way of St. James offers a unique opportunity to connect with ancient culture and meet like-minded people from around the world—all while experiencing a deeply meaningful inner journey.

Many embark on the Camino with a question or desire for clarity. Immersing oneself for 14 days in this inspiring setting with a single focus to reach a destination has a way of quieting the mind and allowing inner wisdom to surface. It is a time for slower-paced reflection far from the responsibilities of daily life.

You'll be encouraged to allow yourself solo time while you walk, journal, and spend part of each day in silence. You will enjoy the support of the fabulous women on the trip and the beautiful framework that The Work of Byron Katie gives for inner inquiry and connected conversation with others.

We will journey 180 miles along the first section of the Way of St. James, starting in St. Jean Pied de Port, France, and ending in Burgos, Spain. The route begins with two days of crossing the stunning Pyrenees Mountains. This section of the Camino offers pilgrims opportunities for quiet reflection as it leads through peaceful, less crowded towns. Participants should have a moderate level of fitness, as well as some training in long-distance walking before joining the trip.

We encourage you to invite a traveling partner, or come alone and meet wonderful new friends along the Way! People of all ages and experience can embrace this journey. Join us for this empowering and enriching experience, designed to nourish the body, mind and soul.

2027 Itinerary

  • Broken tiles arranged in a triangular shape on the ground, surrounded by dirt, sticks, and small rocks; one tile has artistic writing and colorful designs; a person's feet and shoes are visible at the bottom.

    Pre-Trip

    Growth is at the heart of our journey together. We invite you to read A Thousand Names for Joy by Byron Katie, a beautiful foundation for reflection and meaningful conversation along ‘The Way’.

    Before departure, we’ll gather on Zoom to connect, review logistics, and share intentions. You’re also invited to join Camino host and Certified Facilitator of ‘The Work’, Aileen Cheatham, for an optional three-session online workshop — included with your trip — to explore the book, practice ‘The Work’, and prepare for the journey ahead.

  • The Gothic-style Cathedral of Santa Maria with spires and a rose window, located outside with people walking and sitting at tables on the plaza, under partly cloudy skies.

    September 16-17 – Arrival & Welcome

    Travel through the European city of your choice (we recommend Madrid) and take a train to Burgos, Spain. This historic Castilian city, famed for its Gothic cathedral, medieval streets, and deep ties to the Camino de Santiago, is where our journey begins.

    On the 17th, you’ll have time to acclimate before we gather for a group welcome and dinner later that evening.

  • Two hikers walking along the El Camino de Santiago trail in a rural landscape with golden fields, distant farm buildings, and a cloudy sky.

    September 18-29 – Walk 'The Way'

    Key highlights along this middle route include:

    - Hornillos del Camino & Castrojeriz — timeless villages that feel lifted straight from medieval Spain.

    - The town of Frómista, where the Romanesque Church of San Martín welcomes travelers with its simple beauty.

    - Carrión de los Condes, once a center of monastic learning and hospitality, hosts us for a night in its monastery.

    - Sahagún, known as the “Cradle of Mudéjar,” where Christian and Moorish artistry meet.

    - The grand arrival into León, its soaring cathedral windows filling the sanctuary with radiant light. We include a day off in this city so you can take it all in!

    - Astorga, a city of Roman origins crowned by Gaudí’s Episcopal Palace — a fitting end to this chapter of the Camino.

  • A collection of wooden and ceramic walking sticks and tools in front of a stone church and trees, with a person walking toward the church entrance on a clear, sunny day.

    September 30 – Departure

    After breakfast, you may relax with a hotel massage and explore Astorga’s cathedral and Gaudí Palace before departing by train.

    Or continue on with us for another three days to Ponferrada!

    Wherever your journey ends, take with you memories of new friends, breathtaking landscapes, and the insights gained along ‘The Way’ — your Life Camino has just begun!

  • A stone bridge over water with a reflection, a church with a tower in a town, and green hills in the background.

    Sept 30-Oct 3 – ADD ON Optional 3-Days

    Enjoy this breathtaking walk through Rabanal, up and over the Cruz de Ferro — the Camino’s highest pass — to the charming riverside town of Molinaseca, then onward to Ponferrada. You’ll have time to explore Ponferrada’s Templar castle before departing by train on October 3rd.

  • Group of five women smiling and standing together outdoors in front of a colorful graffiti wall, dressed in casual and hiking attire, some holding hiking poles and backpacks.

    Continued Community

    We will host a group reunion to share highlights and further reflection after we get home. There will also be opportunities to continue to practice The Work of Byron Katie and  to stay in touch through the new Honest Heart Journeys Community hosted online.

    The adventure doesn’t end here—there’s more to discover, explore, and grow into together. We hope you’ll join your Honest Heart sisters on a future trip!

Highlights

Two hikers walking on a dirt path through green fields and vineyards toward a hilltop town with a church and buildings.

The Heart of the Camino

We will walk the French Way starting in the historic town of St. Jean Pied de Port to the vibrant city of Burgos. This is a particularly picturesque portion of the Camino once walked by Christians following the remains of St. James to Santiago de Compostela.

Collection of seashell necklaces hanging on a blue wooden wall.

The Inner Work

Trip host Aileen Cheatham will offer opportunities to experience the power of The Work of Byron Katie throughout the journey. Our focus on this Camino will be the body and any stressful thoughts related to it. Whether you're questioning body image, identity, aging, health, or physical limitations, inquiry offers a simple yet profound way to find peace.

A Community of Belonging

We invite you to shed the masks and labels you wear in everyday life and let them be replaced by open, natural, and joyous connection. Practicing inquiry and journaling are supportive ways to move through what may be arising and to deepen your connection with yourself and others.

The Experience

A group of smiling women hikers walking on a cobblestone street in a historic village, wearing outdoor gear and carrying backpacks.

We Host Your Journey

We’ll take care of your accommodations and luggage transfers and offer helpful guidance along the way, while you enjoy the freedom to make your own choices. Stay attuned to yourself—choosing your pace, route, companions, and pauses as you wish. Each day invites you to plan as much or as little as you like—or simply follow the yellow arrows, trusting the freedom and magic of the Camino to guide you.

Book cover titled "A Thousand Names for Joy" by Byron Katie with Stephen Mitchell, featuring a smiling elderly woman with short gray hair, wearing a teal satin blouse, resting her chin on her hand.

Our Trip Book

A Thousand Names for Joy, is a book by Byron Katie (with Stephen Mitchell) that illustrates her teachings drawing inspiration from passages from the Tao Te Ching. It offers a series of reflections, real-life stories, and dialogues that illustrate how questioning stressful thoughts leads to inner peace and freedom. Through everyday examples — parenting, illness, conflict, relationships — Katie shows how life becomes joyful and effortless when we stop arguing with reality and meet the present moment with acceptance and love.

Two women trail walking on a rocky dirt path surrounded by dense green foliage and bushes, wearing hats, backpacks, and outdoor gear.

Activities

Participants should have a good level of fitness. Expect to walk between 12–15 miles each day at your own pace. Take time to pause for rest, enjoy a café con leche, or simply delight in the way. The rhythm of the Camino offers you the freedom to balance challenge with moments of reflection, self-care, and contemplation. If ever needed, transfers to the next town are available. Remember – walking will be your main activity on the Camino, and you have all day to accomplish it!

Group of women sitting around a large wooden table in a cozy room, engaged in a discussion. Some have notebooks, water bottles, and other items in front of them.

Gathering in Sisterhood

Each pilgrim receives a workbook and blank journal for daily reflection, exercises, and guided inquiry. Optional gatherings throughout the journey provide space to share insights, realizations, and support one another’s process. Pre-trip and follow-up workshops will offer additional guidance in using ‘The Work’ on the Camino.

A woman with a backpack and roller suitcase stands outside a stone building with teal doors and windows on a sunny day.
A woman sitting at an outdoor restaurant table cutting into a rectangular cheese pizza with a woman and a man sitting behind her at a table. There are two glasses of dark red beverages on the table.

Accommodations

We stay in small hotels or country homes selected for comfort and local character. Luggage transfers are provided, and a local English-speaking operator supports any urgent needs along the way.

Cuisine

The Spanish love to eat well! Restaurants along the way often offer farm-to-table options and local desserts. Every town offers a hearty 3-course ‘pilgrim’s fare’ dinner. Our trip includes breakfast everyday and 4 dinners. You are free to plan your own lunches and the rest of your meals. There will be opportunities to pack a sandwich or snack at breakfast to tuck into your day pack. You can also purchase lunch, snacks or coffee in stores along ‘The Way’.

*Recommended budget 30–40USD per day.

A scenic landscape featuring a dirt path winding through a wide field, with the sunset casting a warm glow on the grassy land and a sky filled with dark and orange clouds.

Weather

September is a beautiful month on the Camino, with mild, pleasant temperatures (high 60s to low 80s °F). The trails are a little calmer after the summer rush, yet still filled with the vibrant energy of pilgrims from across the globe.

A woman with a ponytail secured by a black hair tie, wearing a sleeveless black top, carries a large green hiking backpack decorated with seashells, badges, and ribbons, walking down a hallway with a patterned carpet and beige walls.

Packing Tips

Keep comfort in mind. Pack light hiking boots or trail runners, wool or synthetic socks, rain gear, quick-dry clothing, and a small day pack.

Luggage transfers are included for one small or medium suitcase (45 lbs max).

*A detailed packing guide will be provided.

Your Hosts

A woman with shoulder-length light brown hair and blue eyes smiling, wearing a patterned blouse against a plain white background.

Aileen Cheatham

Camino & Community Host

Meet
A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a pink blouse and jeans, sitting on decorated outdoor stairs with butterfly and flower designs, smiling at the camera.

Jennifer Dale

Founder, Visionary & Host

Meet

    • Optional pre-trip workshop on The Work of Byron Katie

    • 14 nights of lodging including a hearty breakfast

    • Four group dinners

    • Luggage transfers between lodging

    • Curriculum workshop booklet

    • HHJ blank journal & pen

    • Pilgrim Passport

    • Trip Group Calls: 1 pre-trip welcome call & 3 workshop sessions on the trip book and The Work of Byron Katie; 1 post-trip group reconnection call

    • Transportation to Burgos, Spain

    • Transportation from Astorga or Ponferrada, Spain

    • Trip insurance (travel medical required)

    • Formal, private facilitation with Aileen

    • All lunches and some dinners (for your flexibility). Please budget $30-40/day for lunch and incidentals

    • Alcohol

Three hikers walking down a dirt trail through a rural landscape with vineyards, rolling hills, and mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Camino de Santiago - The Inner & Outer Journey

Walk the Camino from Burgos to Astorga — combining pilgrimage, community, and The Work of Byron Katie.

Book Your Spot

Burgos to Astorga — Sept 16-30

Double Occupancy

Single Occupancy

3875 USD

4725 USD

Medieval castle with stone walls, towers, and flags under a cloudy sky, surrounded by green grass.

3-day Add-On

Astorga to Ponferrada — Sept 30-Oct 3

Double Occupancy

Single Occupancy

445 USD

575 USD

Reserve Your Place
Questions? Schedule a Call

FAQS

  • Reserve your spot through our website, which links you to our WeTravel registration platform. We require a $500 minimum deposit with full payment due 180 days prior to the departure date. We welcome payments via credit card or debit with a flexible payment schedule.

    Please keep your WeTravel reservation confirmation email to access your individual account information any time through the ‘Manage Your Booking’ button at the bottom. Everything regarding your trip – guest survey, waiver forms, visa/passport uploads, planning guide, etc. – lives here.

    If you have ANY questions, we'd love to talk with you! Reach out any time through our Contact page.

  • If a cancellation is made prior to 180 days before the trip date, the entire deposit will be refunded except for a $500 per person service charge.

    Itineraries are subject to change depending on weather, availability of activities, unforeseen circumstances, emergencies, etc. It is highly unlikely that we will cancel a trip, but we do reserve the right to cancel due to weather, natural disasters, emergencies or a lack of sufficient reservations. If we cancel a trip, a full refund of the trip deposit and any final payment will be given.

    Notification of cancellation must be received in writing via email to info@honestheartjourneys.com.

  • HHJ requires that you obtain travel insurance in case of unexpected medical circumstances. We also highly recommend you obtain cancellation insurance.

    We want you to make a decision that meets your needs. If you don’t already have your own insurance source, you can now book insurance directly on WeTravel registration platform.

  • Once your registration is complete and your trip is paid in full, you’ll receive a detailed Planning Guide designed to support your preparation. This includes:

    • A complete day-by-day Itinerary

    • A curated Packing List tailored to your destination

    • Hotel and Lodging information

    • Important Travel Tips and Logistics

    • An introduction to our selected Trip Book and related resources

    • Additional materials to help you feel confident and prepared

    At this time, we’ll also collect your emergency contact details, travel insurance information, and require signed release forms to ensure your safety and the smooth coordination of our journey together.

  • This year’s Camino journey along the French Way begins in Burgos, Spain and concludes in either Astorga or Ponferrada. We recommend flying into Madrid and taking the Renfe train to Burgos for your arrival. After the trip, you can easily book your return train to Madrid through Renfe from either Astorga or Ponferrada.

  • Please check your passport well in advance of your departure date to ensure:

    • It was issued within the last 10 years

    • It remains valid for at least three months after your planned departure from the destination (six months recommended)

    No visa is required for U.S. passport holders traveling to this destination.

  • We curate our gatherings to support deep connection, clarity, and authentic joy within our sisterhood. In service of this, alcohol is not part of our shared group experiences. Guests are always free to make personal choices outside of scheduled activities.

Group of smiling women and children posing outdoors in front of a tan wall with a cactus plant and a sign that reads 'PROJECT SOAR,' some women wearing headscarves, some wearing hats.

Building Relationships Around the World

Whenever possible, we partner with sustainable and women-led companies who care deeply for their communities and environments. We also support organizations within the regions we visit, fostering relationships that extend beyond a single journey. Together, these connections help cultivate a growing global sisterhood rooted in respect and shared purpose.