Itinerary:
Day 1 – Arrive in Tralee for orientation
Day 2 – Walk from Tralee to Camp (19 km)
Day 3 – Camp to Annascaul (17 km)
Day 4 – Annascaul to Dingle (22 km)
Day 5 – Dingle to Dunquin (23 km)
Day 6 – Dunquin to Feohanagh (21 km)
Day 7 – Feohanagh to Cloghane (25 km)
Day 8 – Cloghane to Castlegregory (27 km)
Day 9 – Castlegregory to Tralee (29 km)
Day 10 – Departure
Daily Rhythm:
The program will focus on creating an environment for reflection in order to deepen your connection with God. This retreat is open to people of every demographic. A typical day will look like this:
Morning: Pilgrims usually rise shortly after daybreak to enjoy the crisp morning air. We will begin the day with a short facilitated meditation on the inspirational theme for the day followed by an orientation for the hike ahead. Breakfast will then be on your own, based on your own needs and desired departure time. The morning will be spent walking, with rests and lunch along the way.
Afternoon: After walking 4-6 hours (averaging 25 km each day), you will arrive at your overnight destination sometime in early to mid-afternoon. Everyone is permitted to walk at their own pace, with or without a companion. Afternoons will be spent showering, resting, journaling or doing laundry. Before dinner, you will have the opportunity to debrief the day with the group over drinks, if desired.
Evening: You may choose to eat dinner with our cohort, a smaller group, or on your own. Afterward, there will be an optional brief meditation before bedtime.
The program above describes a typical day and the opportunities that will be available to you. While we hope you will participate in some of the group sessions to enrich the experience of others, it is not required because we realize that every person’s pilgrimage is unique. Each person comes with different questions, hopes and needs. We want to respect and honor where each person is at. The intent of the program is to provide a basic rhythm that pilgrims can follow as desired.
The Dingle Way
The Dingle Way, which is a segment of the greater Wild Atlantic Way, snakes around the peninsula through breathtaking landscapes. The first three days consists of the Kerry Camino, the path pilgrims would walk in order to catch a boat in the harbor town of Dingle to Santiago de Compostela. From Tralee to the town of Dingle, the trail enjoys fantastic views of the ocean. The route passes through Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) areas, making it a wonderful place to discover authentic Irish culture and music.
After Dingle you will continue along The Dingle Way and enjoy stunning landscapes with breathtaking views over the Atlantic Ocean. The terrain is greatly varied from coastal paths to gentle mountain trails and is accessible to those with basic fitness. The route is also full of important cultural and historic sights from Celtic Ogham stones to Fahan Beehive huts, ring forts and dolmens, standing stones, and holy wells. But not all is lost to history; cozy pubs and friendly locals bring history to life.
As you follow this trail you will not only be walking in the footsteps of pilgrims, you will be traveling through an area which was home to St Brendan, also known as Brendan the Navigator. In the early 6th century, he used this part of the country as a base from which he set sail to spread the word of God along the coasts of Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Brittany.
This trip is in development. Let us know you’re interested!
