2026 Contemplative Walking Retreat for 7 Days Along the Le Puy (Camino de Santiago) Pilgrimage Path
2026 Contemplative Walking Retreat for 7 Days Along the Le Puy (Camino de Santiago) Pilgrimage Path
Le Puy-en-Velay, France
Up to 4 in group
Sep 4 - 12, 2026
Retreat Highlights
- 2026 Contemplative Walking Retreat
- 7 days of walking / 8 nights
- Friday afternoon, September 4 (arrival) - Saturday morning, September 12 (completion), 2026
- The route will include a section of the ancient Le Puy Camino (Via Podiensis) through rural France
- The pace will be gentle walking (9-15 miles / 15–24 km daily), with space for personal rest and reflection
- Limited to 4 participants and guided by Jeffrey Keefer, Ph.D.—Camino pilgrim, EcoSpiritual Guide, university chaplain, and educator.
About this Retreat
Your Guides
Educational Consultant & EcoSpiritual Guide | 5x Camino Pilgrim | Guiding seekers through contemplative walking as spiritual practice. Supporting nature-minded individuals in moving from digital overwhelm to grounded, lasting presence.
You can learn more about through my Substack https://jeffreykeefer.substack.com/ retreat website https://www.walkingthroughnature.com/ or personal website https://jeffreykeefer.com/
Details of this retreat
Begin in the afternoon in Le Puy-en-Velay and complete your journey in Conques, France. Includes 7 days of walking and 8 nights of accommodation. We’ll walk a breathtaking section of the Le Puy Camino—part of the ancient Via Podiensis, a historic pilgrimage route in rural southern France. This path follows the GR 65, one of Europe’s most beautiful long-distance walking trails. We’ll walk 9–15 miles (15–24 km) per day at a gentle, personal pace. This retreat prioritizes presence over speed—there is no need to “keep up.” The group's rhythm is spacious and supportive. Limited to just 4 participants for intimacy, reflection, and depth. The retreat is lovingly guided by Jeffrey Keefer, Ph.D.—Camino pilgrim, EcoSpiritual Guide, university chaplain, and educator.
Schedule
Morning intentions — We begin each day by reflecting on and setting our intentions and eco-spiritual theme for the day (stillness, thresholds, resilience, gratitude, belonging, etc.) and silence.
Walking — 8–12 km through forests, fields, villages, or plateaus at our own pace, knowing we are near others but with permission to walk in silent reflection, as it feels right to us.
Midday pause — Rest, simple meal, quiet reflection, either on our own or with one another or other walkers, as it feels right to us.
Walking — 8–12 km walking again on our own or with others, as it feels right to us, until we reach our destination for the night.
Evening sharing — Meal at or near our accommodation, journaling, optional conversation, or guided silence.
Walking — 8–12 km through forests, fields, villages, or plateaus at our own pace, knowing we are near others but with permission to walk in silent reflection, as it feels right to us.
Midday pause — Rest, simple meal, quiet reflection, either on our own or with one another or other walkers, as it feels right to us.
Walking — 8–12 km walking again on our own or with others, as it feels right to us, until we reach our destination for the night.
Evening sharing — Meal at or near our accommodation, journaling, optional conversation, or guided silence.
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change
Getting Here
Walking Through Nature, Le Puy-en-Velay, France
Directions
This contemplative walking retreat will begin in Le Puy, France and end in Conques, France. Most people will fly in through Paris and then take a train to the start. They will then leave Conques via a taxi and take trains back to Paris. Assistance will be provided to help participants in this planning.
Accommodation
This includes individual accommodations (to allow for personal reflection and silence) in small hotels, private gites, and chambre d'hotes, one night each in Le Puy-en-Velay, Saint-Privat-d'Allier, Aumont-Aubrac, Montgros, Saint-Chély-d'Aubrac, Espalion, Campuac, and Conques
Program Price
Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi
Spa
Sauna
Pool
Towels
Free Parking
Kitchen
Tour Assistance
Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea
Cafe
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Yoga Studio
Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent
You’ve felt the call of stillness—the desire to step away from the noise of our daily lives—and into presence. We all need quiet time to ourselves, yet with constant work, commitments, political pressures, and daily busyness, it is difficult, if not impossible, to do without taking intentional time away. We will walk approximately 90 miles over 7 days in this contemplative walking retreat along the the first section of the ancient Le Puy Camino (Via Podiensis, GR 65) through rural France.
Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
8 breakfasts and 6 dinners (featuring local produce and regional specialties).
What's Included
- 8 nights single-occupancy lodging in simple, comfortable pilgrim inns
- 8 breakfasts and 6 dinners (featuring local produce and regional specialties)
- Bag (luggage) transfer between locations each day
- One bus transfer along the route (Day 2)
- Daily spiritual guidance and morning contemplative walk prompts
- Optional evening group reflections
- Optional spiritual direction/guidance (no additional fee—this is included)
- Maps, route highlights, and preparation materials
- The knowledge that you’ll walk in your own silence but not walk alone, as Jeffrey will also walk along the path as a fellow contemplative walker
- Preparatory videos and meetings to help you feel ready and answer any questions, including how to get to our starting point and home from the end
What's Not Included
- Airfare and travel to Le Puy-en-Velay, France
- Travel from Conques, France
- 2 dinners (one in a town with multiple options, one in a town with a 2-star Michelin restaurant if you want to splurge)
- Lunches (suggested picnics along the path)
- Personal effects, communication, and travel insurance (required)
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