About Me
My name is Viktor Vadász.
I am an experienced hiker and
a professional coach.
I walked my first Camino from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela in the summer of 2009, which was followed by several other walks in all seasons and on different routes. I walked more than 2,800 km on the Camino.
I have always been an enthusiastic hiker. I have walked the GR20 in Corsica, the National Blue Trail in Hungary, and I climbed Kilimanjaro. During the years I tried out different backpacks, shoes, clothes and equipment and experimented with ultralight gear.
I was born in Hungary in 1979. After finishing law school in Budapest, I started working in the Hungarian judiciary. For more than 13 years I was a judge in Budapest dealing with criminal cases; for 2 years I was directing the Hungarian Academy of Justice, the national training institution for Hungarian judges and court staff. In 2021, I moved to Germany, where currently I am the Director of Programmes at the Academy of European Law, an international foundation providing training on European law for legal professionals.
The Camino has provided me with so much, and I wish to give back by helping others discover how transformative this journey can be in their lives.
About the Camino
The Camino de Santiago is a network of pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the Apostle James in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, where his remains are buried.
Pilgrims walk its routes as a means of spiritual reflection or retreat for personal growth, though the Camino is also popular among hikers, cyclists, and organised tour groups.
This pilgrimage originated in the early 9th century following the discovery of the relics of the Apostle James, becoming a significant route for mediaeval Christianity from the 10th century on. The Camino de Santiago is one of the three great pilgrimages of Christianity, alongside those to Jerusalem and the Via Francigena leading to Rome. In 1987, the Camino was declared the first Cultural Route of the Council of Europe.
To obtain the official certificate (the Compostela), you must walk 100 km (63 miles) on foot or the last 200 km (126 miles) by bike or horse. All routes are clearly marked with yellow arrows or a yellow shell on a blue background.
Since 2013, the Camino has become more popular and attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims each year. The number of pilgrims has doubled in the past decade. In 2025, Santiago de Compostela welcomed a record-breaking number over half a million pilgrims who finished the pilgrimage and received an official certificate from the Pilgrims’ Office.
ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF WALKING
Walking the Camino gives tremendous opportunities to transform, heal and find answers to life’s questions.
People who are experiencing difficulties in life can benefit greatly from walking, especially long, mindful walks. Exercise has a big effect on the chemistry of the brain: it releases endorphins, which can make you feel better and less depressed. Walking also helps control cortisol, the stress hormone.
Furthermore, walking raises the levels of two neurotransmitters, dopamine and serotonin, that are very important for controlling mood. Walking has a calming effect on the nervous system because of the way it moves. This steady, repetitive movement activates the parasympathetic nervous system and helps calm down brain patterns that are too active, like those that cause rumination, constant worrying, and negative thinking.
Walking in nature breaks up negative thought patterns by taking people out of their usual surroundings and putting them in a new, dynamic sensory environment. Many people say that after about 20 to 30 minutes of walking in nature, their minds start to calm down. Studies have shown that being around trees, landscapes, and the sky can help with depression and anxiety. This is known as “green therapy”.
You can build your confidence back up by setting and reaching small daily goals, like getting to the next town or stop. The Camino is a beautiful place with old, man-made paths that connect people and make them feel like they belong and are part of something bigger.