Spain: Best of the Classic Camino de Santiago
10–12 days in June 2027
Led by Jason Ripley P ’22, Associate Professor of Religion, and Amy Ripley, P ’22
Walk a bit of the Camino de Santiago, or Way of Saint James, a medieval pilgrimage route stretching from France to the Atlantic Ocean. We’ll stick to Spain, intersecting along the way with history, cultures, foods, religion, and more.
This tour is distinctive to St. Olaf!
Expand the Overview to the right for more information on what we’ll see, do, and learn.
Perhaps the most famous walking route in history is the Camino de Santiago – also called the Way of Saint James in English – a medieval pilgrimage route in Spain that leads to the tomb of the Apostle Saint James the Greater. Originating in the 9th century, it is Europe’s oldest and best known pilgrimage route, walked by over 250,000 pilgrims each year since the 12th century.
Pilgrimage is travel with purpose, and it incorporates many dimensions: spiritual reflection, physical challenge, cultural exploration, and more. Many seek space for personal growth and reflection, to experience simplicity, and to connect with community. The St. Olaf Camino welcomes every purpose and orientation to religion and spirituality, inviting rich conversations and connections while we walk, eat, and rest. Jason and Amy will help to nourish our journeys together, with readings and discussions exploring the mental and physical dimensions of pilgrimage.
Traversing the Spanish countryside from the French border all the way to the Atlantic Ocean, the Way crosses scenic landscapes and passes through dozens of historic towns and villages. Around 500 miles in length, normally it takes between 30 and 40 days to walk the entire route.
Our tour operator, Go Get Lost, has found some of the best sections of the route, pieced them together with stays at unique, upscale 3, 4, and 5 star inns and properties along the way, and added local tours, amazing meals, wine tastings and some free time to explore the towns we pass through.
In addition to our faculty leaders, we’ll have full-time local guides and a support vehicle when you want to ride instead of walk. Best of all, on our journey we’ll enjoy not only our Ole community, but the camaraderie of pilgrims from all over the world!
We’re finalizing the details … please check back!
You’ll be able to view – and print or download if you wish – the most up-to-date itinerary here.
Our intention with each tour is to provide an itinerary that introduces you to key elements related to your destination or the educational theme, while also providing some free time for you to pursue your own interests or have some down time. The balance can vary from day to day, and from tour to tour.
You’ll get the most out of study travel if you research what to do during your free time. This allows you to reap the benefits of group travel, while also customizing the tour to your interests and activity level. Read more about How to Be an Independent Group Traveler.
Prof. Jason Ripley is an associate professor of Religion and chair of the Religion Department, teaching classes in biblical studies, theology, literature, and pilgrimage since starting at St. Olaf in 2004. His scholarly work centers on the Gospel of John and the letters of Paul, with a particular emphasis on how they engage, critique, and offer alternatives to various aspects of Roman imperialism (especially related to notions of power and constructions of gender). His current research is a project comparing John’s Jesus and Plato’s Socrates in their visions of life, death, the afterlife, truth, irony, and love.
Dr. Amy Ripley is a family practice physician and mother of two sons. A native of Sioux Falls, SD, she earned her MD at the University of South Dakota School of Medicine and completed her residency at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, MN. She subsequently worked for nearly 20 years at the Allina Clinic in Northfield, MN, where she delivered numerous babies and provided full-spectrum care for families. She is currently the medical director at HealthFinders, a community health clinic serving uninsured patients in Rice County, MN. Amy is passionate about health and wellness, both for herself and the community, and she is excited to share the benefits to mental and physical health that hiking the Camino provides!
Jason and Amy have led numerous study abroad courses while at St. Olaf. In addition to interim programs to Greece and Turkey, Jason and Amy led Global Semester in 2017, followed by the Religion, Politics, and Society Semester in Jerusalem and Athens in 2023. They will also be leading Global Semester again in 2026, with a focus on “pilgrimages of purpose” that explores how communities in Costa Rica, South Africa, Namibia, and Japan construct individual and communal visions of life’s meanings and purposes. They are extremely excited to continue these explorations of pilgrimage on perhaps the most iconic pilgrimage of all–the Camino de Santiago!
When not traveling abroad or visiting their adult sons in Utah and Wisconsin, Jason and Amy love native plant gardening, cooking (Jason)/eating (Amy), and hiking/walking (both).
Expect a moving experience in Spain!
Movement between cities will be by air-conditioned private motor coach. Movement within each city and at cultural/historic sites will be on foot, requiring a lot of walking and standing, often over uneven ground.
To fully partake in this tour, you should have good balance, and be capable of walking several miles a day, climbing stairs that may not have handrails, keeping pace with an active group of travelers on long days of traveling, dealing with the emotional highs and lows that can occur when experiencing a different culture, and being a considerate member of the group (prompt, courteous and flexible). You always have the option of skipping a group activity you think will be too strenuous and remaining back at the hotel or on our private bus.
Any participant who has demonstrated an inability, in the opinion of the tour leader, of keeping up with the group or of safely participating in program activities may be prohibited from participating in certain activities.
You will be responsible for carrying your own luggage throughout the tour. Traveling lightly is highly recommended.
Hotels will be tourist class (four-star or superior rating) with private bathrooms and English-speaking staff.
You should plan on seeing your family physician or a travel doctor at least four to six weeks prior to departure, preferably earlier, to talk about routine vaccinations. For more information on travel health, visit cdc.gov or who.int.
The tour price is PENDING. We’ll update this section soon!
Inclusions and exclusions vary by tour, so please read the following information carefully.
Inclusions: discussions led by Jason Ripley; full time tour manager for the duration of the tour; accommodations, meals, entrance fees, and activities listed in the itinerary; ferry and private motor coach transfers (except airport transfers on arrival and departure); non-alcoholic beverages with meals; gratuities for all local guides, drivers, and meals; and some limited medical coverage while overseas.
Exclusions: Airfare to and from Spain is not included. Participants are solely responsible for all expenses not specifically included in the tour fee. Examples of excluded expenses are: international airfare; airport transfers; any passport and visa fees; any recommended immunizations or vaccinations; alcoholic beverages; laundry, dry cleaning, phone charges, room service or other items of a personal nature; expenses incurred during free time or non-group activities; and any meals not specifically included on the tour itinerary.
This schedule is TENTATIVE and will be based on payments St. Olaf College must make to tour vendors to guarantee group rates. We highly recommend that you purchase additional trip cancellation insurance at the time of registration to recover your payments should you need to withdraw from the tour.
Deposit due: $500 upon registration
Refund if you cancel: $475 if you cancel on or before July 14, 2026. If the deposit is made after July 14, 2026 there is no refund.
Interim payment due: $3,000 on July 15, 2026
Refund if you cancel: $1,500 if you cancel on or before March 14, 2027
Balance due: March 15, 2027
Refund if you cancel: None, unless the tour is full and your place can be resold
Cancellations must be in writing.
Read the Terms & Conditions (in draft stage) and Release & Waiver.
Review the latest information on recommended immunizations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Check your passport: ensure that it has at least 6 months’ validity past the tour end date (or your return date, if you decide to extend your stay overseas) and at least one blank page.
Look at the International Travel section of the U.S. State Department, including Before You Go, Country Information, While Abroad, and Emergencies.
Take time to Prepare for your adventure by checking out a variety of resources, including frequently asked questions, general health information, included travel insurance, a safety overview, and more.
Hold the dates of June 1–9, 2026, but do not book non-refundable airfare until we can confirm that the tour is a go. Meanwhile, please see our tips on Booking Your Flights.
This tour needs a minimum of 12 travelers by January 15, 2027 in order to go. But don’t wait until then to register – it could fill much sooner! And, the earlier we get to 12 travelers, the sooner we can call the tour a go.
If the tour is a go and spaces remain available, registration will close on March 15, 2027.
Registration is likely to open in January 2026. Please check back! Meanwhile …
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