In praise of Groups

RAW Travel’s core business has changed over the years, from where we once exclusively ran group adventures to now predominantly self -guided. Many people have apprehensions about joining a group trip, but are pleasantly surprised at how much they enjoy it once they do! So we thought we’d explore what makes group trips great and what you can expect.

Every RAW Travel journey begins in a familiar way. A flight. A train. A bus winding towards a trailhead. But something shifts once you start walking. Whether it is the Camino stretching across Spain or the ancient stone paths of the Kumano Kōdō, the rhythm is the same. Footsteps settle. Breath evens out. Conversations rise and fall. The landscape begins to lead.

What often surprises people is how naturally the group becomes part of the journey. There is no pressure to perform or fit in. Simply moving together creates connection. Snacks are shared. Stories surface. There is the occasional groan on a steep climb and the quiet satisfaction of reaching the top together. Across every destination, the group becomes a moving support system, steady and unspoken.

Many travellers tell us that walking in a group makes everything feel easier, safer and more enjoyable, particularly in places like the Alps. A large part of that confidence comes from the guides. They read the mountains before the weather turns. They choose the right route for the day, adjust the pace without fuss and notice when someone needs a quiet check-in. Their presence removes uncertainty. You are not second-guessing decisions or scanning the sky with worry. You are free to focus on the walking itself.

There is also a practical side that travellers may not talk about openly, but always appreciate. Travelling as part of a group makes complex journeys more accessible. Mountain huts, transfers, luggage logistics, local guides and meals quickly add up when organised alone. Shared arrangements reduce cost, simplify planning and open doors to places and experiences that are often difficult or expensive to access independently.

Safety adds another layer of reassurance. Mountain environments are spectacular, but unpredictable. Weather can change quickly. Trails can become slippery, exposed or confusing in the wrong conditions. Having an experienced guide who knows the terrain, the forecasts and the alternatives removes the weight of decision-making. You are not hoping you have read the signs correctly. You are walking with someone who has been here before and knows what to do when conditions change.

Over time, people realise that the landscape was only part of the experience. The other part was feeling supported. By guides who knew exactly what they were doing. By a group that shared the effort. By a structure that made the journey feel achievable rather than daunting.

Group travel also creates space for connection in unexpected ways. People arrive carrying the usual noise of everyday life, work, routines, responsibilities, the constant pull of being reachable. After a few kilometres, that noise begins to fade. The steady movement, shared effort and absence of distractions create room for conversations that do not usually surface at home.

Travellers arrive with different fitness levels, expectations and reasons for being there. Some are experienced walkers. Some are nervous. Some are travelling solo for the first time. On the trail, those differences soften. People learn from one another, encourage each other and celebrate small wins together. The walk becomes less about individual performance and more about shared progress.

Each trail has its own character. On the Camino, it is the familiar faces you meet again and again, turning long days into something communal. On the Kumano Kōdō, it is the quiet encouragement on the climbs and the shared calm of the forest. In every place, the group shapes how the journey is experienced.

Evenings deepen that sense of connection. A meal in a Japanese minshuku. Tapas in a Camino bar. Long tables in mountain huts. Conversations that begin with the day’s walk and end somewhere entirely unexpected. Tired in the best possible way, the group sits together, the day complete.

By the time the journey ends, the kilometres matter less than the people you walked them with. You reach the final village, shrine or trail’s end and realise the group has become part of the landscape of the trip. The thing that made the harder moments manageable and the best moments unforgettable.

Review after review reflects the same themes. Gratitude. Connection. A shared sense of achievement. Every RAW Travel journey is different, but it is the shared experience that gives each one its depth. The trail gives you the scenery. The guide gives you confidence. The group gives the journey its meaning and lasting connections  with new friends that can often lead to other trips together.