A caravan is a literal journey, but since nothing in The Alchemist is without symbolic meaning, it is also imbued with figurative significance. In many ways, the caravan is a symbol of life's journey from a place of ignorance and desire to a place of knowledge and accomplishment.

When Santiago joins the caravan in Tangier, he knows little about the Soul of the World, but he has a desire to discover it on the way to achieving his Personal Legend. As the camel driver tells Santiago:

once you go into the desert, there is no going back. And when you can't go back, you have to worry about the best way to go forward.

This is the path of the caravan, and it is also the path of one seeking their Personal Legend. For Santiago, there is no turning back. He has begun to be awakened to the Soul of the World. Now that he is on that journey, he could never return to his life as a shepherd back in Spain. Despite the danger and uncertainty that await him on this path, he can only move forward.

The caravan is also a metaphor for the safety and security that comes from being with other people. While Santiago's journey is his to make, he cannot do it alone. While it is true that achieving one's Personal Legend is up to the individual, it would be folly to try to do so without help. Just as it would be dangerous, if not impossible, to cross the desert alone, one must seek help in the support of other knowledgable people to walk one's life path.