Where to Escape the Camino Crowds?

 

Ancient bridge. Cáceres‎. Photo © Chris Raven

If you love travel and hiking, you will more than likely have heard of The Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James), a network of pilgrims' ways that lead to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain. The Camino Francés is the most popular route, which starts at the French border in the Pyrenees. Overcrowded in recent years, many tourists have begun to seek less visited stretches of the trail to enjoy. For a great introduction to a walk on an off the beaten track stretch of the trail check out the story 'Into Spain's Wild West', one of ten stories of adventure in the new book 'Hike, Drive, Stayin' Alive!' by The Raven Brothers, Chris and Simon Raven. Out of shape and unprepared, the authors of the cult travel book 'Driving the Trans-Siberian' attempt to hike 75km in two days between the ancient fortified cities of Cáceres‎ and Merida. Not always getting it right, the travel writing duo hobble, curse and fight across cattle country as they traverse the ancient Silver Way “Via de la Plata" through the heart of the Extremadura, a tough land that is home to the notorious fighting bull.

Not a fan of rowing boats? Fear not. The fifth book by The Raven Brothers covers ten inspiring stories of adventure from across the globe, and signals a return to Simon and Chris writing “buttock clenching” comedy. 

‘Hike, Drive, Stayin’ Alive!’ by The Raven Brothers is out now! Order your copy from Amazon or your favourite book retailer worldwide.

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Hike, Drive, Stayin' Alive!

by The Raven Brothers

On Amazon >

Out of shape and unprepared, The Raven Brothers return to the road in a collection of ten quests to travel to their dream destinations against all odds! After two decades pioneering new routes across the globe, you would expect the authors of 'Driving the Trans-Siberian' to be hotshot explorers, with a sixth sense and an ability to survive in almost any situation. Think again! With virtually zero knowledge of the workings of the internal combustion engine and very limited skills of wilderness survival, Simon and Chris struggle into their hiking boots and power across three continents by river, tarmac and trail.

Venture to the top of Norway, cruise the road to Damascus, hike the Camino trail into Spain’s Wild West, row the Ganges, explore Frida Kahlo’s world in Mexico City, hangout with the dead in Sicily’s eerie catacombs, crawl deep inside Bolivia’s notorious silver mine, seek lions in Gujarat, wellness in Berlin and journey into the Naga Hills where tribal kings still rule.

Noted by Lonely Planet for their talent to portray an “accurate view of what to expect”, 'Hike, Drive, Stayin’ Alive!' signals a return to the duo writing “buttock clenching” travel comedy with the first in a series of candid stories of adventure by The Raven Brothers.