Planning a camino with ChatGPT?

I was surprised in the last year how many people told me:

• I came on this route because ChatGPT suggested it to me based upon the amount of time and budget or any requirements I had

• I planned the whole route with AI, and booked accommodations upon it's recommendation.

Planning a Camino used to involve guidebooks, forums, and long evenings comparing routes on maps. Today, many pilgrims open a laptop, type a few questions, and suddenly have a full itinerary, packing list, and philosophical life advice.

Yes, you can now plan your journey to Santiago de Compostela with ChatGPT.

But is that a blessing… or a slightly overenthusiastic digital pilgrim walking beside you?

Though I don't like the idea of planning everything with it, as AI collects information from different sources and a lot of times this can be incorrect (usually the distances are different than in reality), there are some aspects where it can be certainly helpful.

The positive side: your 24/7 Camino companion

1. Instant answers (no guidebook required)

Wondering how long the Camino Francés takes? Or whether the Camino Portugués is less crowded?

Instead of diving into 15 blog posts and a Reddit thread from 2013, you just ask, and boom, you have a clear answer. It’s like having a Camino expert… who never gets tired, never judges your questions, and never says, “just Google it.”

2. Personalized planning (finally!)

Everyone walks the Camino differently: fast vs slow, social vs solo, budget vs comfort. ChatGPT can adapt your plan based on:

• your fitness level

• how many days you have

• your preferred route

Want a 10-day itinerary? Done. Want a reflective, slow-paced journey with café stops? Also done. It’s basically the opposite of one-size-fits-all guidebooks.

BUT!!! Always check the details on relevant sites (Gronze, Camino Ninja) or with the help of someone who have experience, because you don't want to get surprised by walking 30 kms instead of 23 to your next destination.

3. Packing lists that (mostly) make sense

You can ask for a Camino packing list and get something practical:

• lightweight gear

• blister care

• essentials only

And perhaps most importantly, it will repeatedly remind you: “Don’t overpack.” (You might still overpack. But now you’ll feel slightly guilty about it.)

For exact personalized list ask a professional, who knows how to reduce the weight and size of your backpack without leaveing anything essential (for you) items at home.

4. It helps reduce anxiety

Before starting, most pilgrims worry about:

• getting lost

• not being fit enough

• where to sleep

Having a clear plan - even a flexible one - makes the journey feel more manageable.

ChatGPT doesn’t just give information; it gives reassurance. And sometimes, that’s exactly what first-time pilgrims need. Don't forget to double check the informations before booking anything ahead.

5. It’s great for inspiration

Ask anything slightly philosophical and suddenly your Camino plan turns into a life reflection:

“Why do people walk the Camino?", “What will I learn from walking alone?”

You came for logistics…You stayed for existential insight.

You can make a diary tailored to your needs if you ask AI to write out question based upon your reason for the walk. That's a good way to end your days with some journaling.

The negative side: when AI gets a little too confident

1. It can make the Camino feel overplanned

The Camino is not meant to be perfectly optimized. Some of the best moments happen when you take a wrong turn, you stay in a random village, you meet someone unexpected. If you follow a strict AI-generated itinerary, you risk turning a pilgrimage into a checklist. And the Camino has a funny way of ignoring plans anyway.

The Camino is also about learning to adapt to different scenarios in life, change of plans, opening up to new people, having difficulties with a lost luggage, etc.

2. It doesn’t always capture reality

ChatGPT can tell you average walking distances, typical stages, popular routes. But it doesn’t feel your blisters on day 4, the heat on the Meseta, the emotional weight of walking alone. It knows the facts, but not the fatigue. So if anything happens (and believe me something will), then your perfect plan will immediately go out the window.

3. Overconfidence is contagious

ChatGPT sounds very sure of itself. Even when suggesting distances that are “doable” (in theory and not based upon your real day to day physical condition), schedules that assume perfect weather, plans that ignore your personal limits. You might think:“Great, I’ll walk 30 km every day!” And on day 3 you are negotiating with your feet. Test yourself before starting, know your limits, walk more and practice with your backpack, so you can feel what the extra weight means to your body.

4. It can’t replace human stories

The Camino is built on shared experiences:

• stories from other pilgrims

• advice from hospitaleros

• random conversations over dinner

AI can summarize these, but it can’t replicate the feeling of hearing them firsthand. And sometimes, those stories matter more than the plan.

5. You might miss the magic of not knowing

Part of the Camino’s charm is uncertainty:

• Where will I sleep tonight?

• Who will I meet?

• How far will I go?

If everything is pre-planned, you remove some of that mystery and learning how to go with the flow. Believe me it will give you a more flexible thinking even after returning home, and makes you more efficient in making quick decisions.

So, should you plan your Camino with ChatGPT?

Yes, but not completely. Use it to:

• understand routes better, but always check the maps, distances, elevations for the sections to be sure that everything is correct and in align with your abilities.

• build a rough plan

• prepare mentally and physically

• collect information about interesting places to visit on the different sections.

But once you start walking, allow yourself to:

• change plans

• slow down

• get lost (just a little)

Planning your Camino with ChatGPT is a bit like walking with a very knowledgeable companion who, always has answers, never gets tired, occasionally overestimates your abilities. It’s helpful, it’s efficient it’s sometimes slightly unrealistic.

But in the end, no matter how you plan it, the Camino doesn’t happen on a screen. It happens step by step, somewhere between uncertainty and discovery, on the road to Santiago de Compostela.

Hope these facts get you in the mood for your next adventure, and you found some useful information.  If you still need more details or build up confidence and courage for the planning and start of your journey, don't hesitate to contact me or email me, I'm happy to help.

You can also find me on social media with more useful advice and travel pictures at @wander.with.dora name. Contact me for a free call on wanderwithdora@gmail.com 

Safe travels everyone.