Sylvia, I wanted to write and thank you once again for the wonderful organisation that went into our via Francigena. It seemed perfectly organised. I was sitting in bed last night, reading the notes that I had made and getting a clearer picture of the names of the different places that we visited and stayed in. It was very good and now that the memory of the heat is fading a bit, the lovely and special moments and memories are coming back.
The walk over the Alps was, for me, the highlight of the walk and it was that, that I described, when I wrote to friends and family from England. Their response to my detailed description of our walk over
the Swiss Alps was lovely.
I know that Jenny also worked so hard to arrange everything so well, so please thank her as well.
B&C Mason - VF Group One 2016
The walk over the Alps was, for me, the highlight of the walk and it was that, that I described, when I wrote to friends and family from England. Their response to my detailed description of our walk over
the Swiss Alps was lovely.
I know that Jenny also worked so hard to arrange everything so well, so please thank her as well.
B&C Mason - VF Group One 2016
Tom and I really had a wonderful walk with you and the rest of the group. I think about it all the time and with such great appreciation for all that you did to make it such a fantastic experience. Everything was so perfect and seamless. You and Jenny did an incredible job of booking the most amazing and unique accommodations. I loved them all. The luggage transfers were impeccable and the guiding superb even when the way markers were a bit sketchy. Thank you so much for all that you did and it was a lot!!! Most of all thank you for your positive attitude through the thick of having to lead a group of such diverse individuals. I really came to love and appreciate everyone of them and I miss them. They were such a wonderful part of the trip. You are my hero! The VF left a mark on me in a very positive way. It was challenging but so, so beautiful. I feel so privileged to have been able to do it and especially with you. I’ll remember it and you always with such great love and affection. Thank you so much for putting it all together and for making the journey such a memorable one. So what’s next? Words can’t express how much the whole walk meant to me and I know it was because of you. You’re the bomb! Lots of love always. T&N O Neil, USA - VF Group one 2016
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From the very beginning, my contact with Sylvia Nilsen and AmaWalkers was a very positive one; I knew I was in good hands as Sylvia answered my emails promptly and was very reassuring about my main concern: namely crossing the Pyrenees. I was impressed and signed up from the other side of the world, Sydney, Australia.
The accommodation ranged from budget to standard to superior - all carefully chosen for their variety, location and hospitality of the hosts. In Arzúa, for example, we stayed on a farm, Casa Vaamonde, where we woke up to the gentle sounds of Ramón's dairy cows. Ramón, our host, pampered us with a home cooked meal as well as collecting us from Ribadiso after a 26+km walk in the warm Spanish sun. Such gracious hospitality and personalised service!!
I especially enjoyed seeing the many medieval chapels and churches and was secretly connecting to my "inner Templar". I absolutely agree with a comment I read somewhere that walking the Camino is like walking through an outdoor medieval museum. Of course the scenery was spectacular too.
Our group leader, Jon, was very helpful - we were well supported with info about the terrain, weather, historical sights, food etc. I was then free to walk the 20+ km every day without any stress, knowing I had a clean bed and shower waiting for me.
It's been said that we don't walk the Camino, the Camino walks us! So true! Those shells and yellow arrows were always there to guide us in the right direction. As in our daily life, we're given shells and yellow arrows to guide our next step... we just have to stay in the moment to see these signs.
Mariyam, Sydney, Australia Sept 2015
The accommodation ranged from budget to standard to superior - all carefully chosen for their variety, location and hospitality of the hosts. In Arzúa, for example, we stayed on a farm, Casa Vaamonde, where we woke up to the gentle sounds of Ramón's dairy cows. Ramón, our host, pampered us with a home cooked meal as well as collecting us from Ribadiso after a 26+km walk in the warm Spanish sun. Such gracious hospitality and personalised service!!
I especially enjoyed seeing the many medieval chapels and churches and was secretly connecting to my "inner Templar". I absolutely agree with a comment I read somewhere that walking the Camino is like walking through an outdoor medieval museum. Of course the scenery was spectacular too.
Our group leader, Jon, was very helpful - we were well supported with info about the terrain, weather, historical sights, food etc. I was then free to walk the 20+ km every day without any stress, knowing I had a clean bed and shower waiting for me.
It's been said that we don't walk the Camino, the Camino walks us! So true! Those shells and yellow arrows were always there to guide us in the right direction. As in our daily life, we're given shells and yellow arrows to guide our next step... we just have to stay in the moment to see these signs.
Mariyam, Sydney, Australia Sept 2015
It’s been a few days since I returned from Madrid but a piece of my heart will always be in Spain. The Camino was such an amazing experience. I found it so enriching and one-of-a-kind experience. I loved every minute of it, blisters and all.
I must commend you for an excellent job done with the organising, logistics and accommodation. I am still amazed at how seamless and hassle free everything was for us from the travelling on buses to the accommodation. Thank you for your great organisation in this regard.
I met wonderful people and our group was so lovely. We had great laughs, story-telling sessions and walks together. I really enjoyed everyone’s company. As for the team leader, Theresa was incredible. Her overwhelming kindness towards each and every one of us helped get us through those tough moments on the Camino. From advice and help with blisters, to answering questions about the route, Theresa was always there with a smile on her face and ready to help. Although in the background, Zuretha was as kind and helpful. Together they made the trip so pleasant and enjoyable.
As for the accommodation, I was really impressed with the standard of accommodation. I was expecting to rough it up for three weeks and was pleasantly surprised by the wonderful accommodation each night. Excellent job Syl and thanks again for your attention to detail and ensuring we stayed in such lovely accommodation.
I would highly recommend your company and tours in the future!
Thanks again for organising such an amazing trip. AC - Cape Town - 2015
I must commend you for an excellent job done with the organising, logistics and accommodation. I am still amazed at how seamless and hassle free everything was for us from the travelling on buses to the accommodation. Thank you for your great organisation in this regard.
I met wonderful people and our group was so lovely. We had great laughs, story-telling sessions and walks together. I really enjoyed everyone’s company. As for the team leader, Theresa was incredible. Her overwhelming kindness towards each and every one of us helped get us through those tough moments on the Camino. From advice and help with blisters, to answering questions about the route, Theresa was always there with a smile on her face and ready to help. Although in the background, Zuretha was as kind and helpful. Together they made the trip so pleasant and enjoyable.
As for the accommodation, I was really impressed with the standard of accommodation. I was expecting to rough it up for three weeks and was pleasantly surprised by the wonderful accommodation each night. Excellent job Syl and thanks again for your attention to detail and ensuring we stayed in such lovely accommodation.
I would highly recommend your company and tours in the future!
Thanks again for organising such an amazing trip. AC - Cape Town - 2015
Dear amaWalkers,
Thanks for a spectacular Camino experience. It was because of your thoughtfulness, expertise, and thorough planning that I (and I think our whole group) had an amazing trip.
I chose amaWalkers because of the consistently knowledgeable, helpful, and reasonable comments made by Syl on the many Facebook Camino groups I have followed since I decided to go on the Camino. Her approach, also included in her books, is consistently one of "it's your Camino; do what works for you, and here are some suggestions you may want to consider."
This wise mentality permeated every aspect of the itinerary for our trip, from the two-day crossing of the Pyrenees, to the choice of lodgings, to the town maps that explained how to reach the lodgings the amenities the lodgings provided (that washing machine icon was especially welcome!), and finally to the arrival in Santiago in time to witness the Friday night Mass and the swinging of the Botafumeiro. Each stage of the journey was thoughtfully planned and was manageable for all members of our group that ranged in age from 30 to 79.
Our group leader, Theresa, embodied the thoughtfulness and expertise of amaWalkers. She and Zuretha are experienced Camino walkers, but, more importantly, they are kind and caring people who always were mindful both of the common good as well as the needs of each walker. They helped with blisters, luggage, farmacias, phones, shoe replacements, restaurant recommendations, and more. They told us what terrain to expect on each stage, and they made sure at the end of each day's walk that everyone was OK. In short, the leadership was amazing.
As a teacher I have taken both students and adults on international trips, but I have never experienced a group like this one, for there were no complainers and no nay-sayers among us (excluding this author, who can complain a great deal). Even in pain, these group members remained positive.
In short, because of the wisdom of amaWalkers, this trip exceeded my expectations in every way. I plan to return to the Camino, but I know that this experience can never be replicated. To paraphrase Dr. Suess, I won't cry because it's over, but smile because it happened.
Thanks for everything,
Jan McG (Canada)
Thanks for a spectacular Camino experience. It was because of your thoughtfulness, expertise, and thorough planning that I (and I think our whole group) had an amazing trip.
I chose amaWalkers because of the consistently knowledgeable, helpful, and reasonable comments made by Syl on the many Facebook Camino groups I have followed since I decided to go on the Camino. Her approach, also included in her books, is consistently one of "it's your Camino; do what works for you, and here are some suggestions you may want to consider."
This wise mentality permeated every aspect of the itinerary for our trip, from the two-day crossing of the Pyrenees, to the choice of lodgings, to the town maps that explained how to reach the lodgings the amenities the lodgings provided (that washing machine icon was especially welcome!), and finally to the arrival in Santiago in time to witness the Friday night Mass and the swinging of the Botafumeiro. Each stage of the journey was thoughtfully planned and was manageable for all members of our group that ranged in age from 30 to 79.
Our group leader, Theresa, embodied the thoughtfulness and expertise of amaWalkers. She and Zuretha are experienced Camino walkers, but, more importantly, they are kind and caring people who always were mindful both of the common good as well as the needs of each walker. They helped with blisters, luggage, farmacias, phones, shoe replacements, restaurant recommendations, and more. They told us what terrain to expect on each stage, and they made sure at the end of each day's walk that everyone was OK. In short, the leadership was amazing.
As a teacher I have taken both students and adults on international trips, but I have never experienced a group like this one, for there were no complainers and no nay-sayers among us (excluding this author, who can complain a great deal). Even in pain, these group members remained positive.
In short, because of the wisdom of amaWalkers, this trip exceeded my expectations in every way. I plan to return to the Camino, but I know that this experience can never be replicated. To paraphrase Dr. Suess, I won't cry because it's over, but smile because it happened.
Thanks for everything,
Jan McG (Canada)
A very well organized trip with no hitches. The two travel days in the middle were perfectly timed after a long, 10 days hiking. Sight-seeing in the larger cities was a highlight. The combination of mountains, vineyards, cereal fields, forests and farmlands was just right. We would recommend this walk to anybody interested in walking a Camino.
Barbara and Charles M - retired
I had an amazing adventure, thanks in good part to my great companions, and our extraordinary guide Sylvia.Her organisation made it possible to walk out every day with no care in the world other than to get tothe next night's accommodation - what a tremendous sense of freedom that engendered. Not having to worry about what day it was, or where we were going to or had come from was a gift beyond price. Sylvia has a passion for the Camino, bringing with it a huge depth of knowledge of the trail and its history.In a former life I think she must have been a mason who worked on one or more of the churches and cathedrals on the route! She also has the ability to make everyone feel special, from her fellow pilgrims to the shopkeepers and taxi drivers who we met on the way. These gifts smoothed the way
for us, added a richness to the tapestry of northern Spain and made the trip unforgettable. Bell R
What a privilege and honour to be led on this walk by Sylvia Nilsen, author of Your Camino. Daily we are blown away not only by the path we´re on, but by Syl´s unbelievable knowledge of the routes, the history (wow! this route is steeped in history) the people and places - Syl truly is an unending font of knowledge and passion on all things Camino - the Camino Oracle. We are reminded daily that this is our Camino, so at dinner, Syl informally briefs us on the day ahead, in order that we can take off on our own daily and walk our Camino our way. Another gift is Syl´s graciousness - she is truly amazing - I doubt we would have had as many privileges along the way if we didn´t have Sylvia to smooth the way. Syl, thanks for your encouragement daily in reminding us this is our Camino and setting us up for a great adventure. Jill S
Thanks so much to all of you that put up with my young ignorance for 10 days hahaha it was great fun. i wont lie, when i heard who i was gonna be on the trip with - i thought 'oh god' loads of older people. i thought it was gonna be one of those trips that i would be counting down the days till i could leave and speak to people of my own age. but my goodness how wong was i!! i had such a great time it blew my mind. Sil i'm not kidding when i say that the tip was the highlight of my travels i often find my mind drifting off to the view of Pamplona from the top of that mountain. i cant wait to have another crack at the camino. Brian L - gap year student
© amaWalkers Camino (Pty) Ltd
Barbara and Charles M - retired
I had an amazing adventure, thanks in good part to my great companions, and our extraordinary guide Sylvia.Her organisation made it possible to walk out every day with no care in the world other than to get tothe next night's accommodation - what a tremendous sense of freedom that engendered. Not having to worry about what day it was, or where we were going to or had come from was a gift beyond price. Sylvia has a passion for the Camino, bringing with it a huge depth of knowledge of the trail and its history.In a former life I think she must have been a mason who worked on one or more of the churches and cathedrals on the route! She also has the ability to make everyone feel special, from her fellow pilgrims to the shopkeepers and taxi drivers who we met on the way. These gifts smoothed the way
for us, added a richness to the tapestry of northern Spain and made the trip unforgettable. Bell R
What a privilege and honour to be led on this walk by Sylvia Nilsen, author of Your Camino. Daily we are blown away not only by the path we´re on, but by Syl´s unbelievable knowledge of the routes, the history (wow! this route is steeped in history) the people and places - Syl truly is an unending font of knowledge and passion on all things Camino - the Camino Oracle. We are reminded daily that this is our Camino, so at dinner, Syl informally briefs us on the day ahead, in order that we can take off on our own daily and walk our Camino our way. Another gift is Syl´s graciousness - she is truly amazing - I doubt we would have had as many privileges along the way if we didn´t have Sylvia to smooth the way. Syl, thanks for your encouragement daily in reminding us this is our Camino and setting us up for a great adventure. Jill S
Thanks so much to all of you that put up with my young ignorance for 10 days hahaha it was great fun. i wont lie, when i heard who i was gonna be on the trip with - i thought 'oh god' loads of older people. i thought it was gonna be one of those trips that i would be counting down the days till i could leave and speak to people of my own age. but my goodness how wong was i!! i had such a great time it blew my mind. Sil i'm not kidding when i say that the tip was the highlight of my travels i often find my mind drifting off to the view of Pamplona from the top of that mountain. i cant wait to have another crack at the camino. Brian L - gap year student
© amaWalkers Camino (Pty) Ltd
