By Wheelchair on the Camino: From Sarria to Santiago

In 2012 Babett made a pilgrimage in a wheelchair along the last roughly 110 kilometres of the Camino from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela – made possible in part by many helpful fellow pilgrims. Afterwards she carried on to Cape Finisterre.

Don’t dream your life, live your dream!

The Camino is by no means impossible for people in wheelchairs. Quite the opposite! Completely free of space and time, it opens up the chance to experience limits and to overcome them, despite the many bumps that nature brings with it. Reaching your goal of Santiago makes up for all the pain and effort.

If you decide to undertake a pilgrimage, you should be well prepared mentally. That way, many things that simply come up along the way can be handled almost by themselves.

Even at the greatest exertion, there is always time to enjoy a beautiful, varied landscape, again and again crossed by forests, mountains, rivers and idyllic little villages.

For all the beauty of the way, quite a few sections would simply have been impossible in a wheelchair without the help of many kind fellow pilgrims. Everything you need for and on the way simply turns up. Hard to believe, but true. Otherwise we would never have managed 110 km – from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela.

Once you have reached your longed-for goal of Santiago, you should definitely visit the cathedral. Mass in the cathedral is also an experience that stays with you. To relax or simply wind down the day, it’s worth visiting one of the many cosy cafés and restaurants in Santiago.

On to Cape Finisterre

Even though for most pilgrims Santiago de Compostela marks the end of an indescribable time and journey, I wanted to carry on to Cape Finisterre as a beautiful conclusion to my journey. When you reach the cape, you reach the last milestone of the way, and a wonderful view opens up that simply makes you forget everything.

So if you really want to, almost anything is possible. Even with a physical disability, a pilgrimage on the Camino is doable, even though it isn’t barrier-free. It was simply an indescribable experience that many people should be able to have and that will always stay in my memory.

Yours, Babett!

The route in Camino Ninja

You’ll find the Camino Francés, on whose last section from Sarria to Santiago Babett travelled, with stages, map and accommodation in Camino Ninja: Camino Francés.