France | Camino de Santiago
Experience the scenic splendour, the magnificent Romanesque architecture and the cultural history of this ancient pilgrim's route across Northern Spain. Walk the most fascinating and scenic sections of the trail from high in the Pyrenees through stunning beech forests and wooded valleys, across the vineyards of Rioja, the high tablelands of Castilla y Leon and the beautiful verdant hills of Galicia to our final destination Santiago de Compostela. We stay in charming hotels and historic paradors and enjoy a diversity of delicious food and wine across each region. This is a walk of outstanding cultural and historical significance and great natural beauty. Its acclaim includes being declared the First European Cultural Itinerary by the Council of Europe in 1987 and Santiago de Compostela as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993.
| Duration: | 15 Days |
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| Tour Code: | ITW501 |
| Trip Style: | Superior - 4 star |
| Departure Dates: | 06 May 2012, 23 Sep 2012 |
| Price: | $6,980 |
| Places you'll visit: |
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| Highlights: |
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Ideal for Solo Travellers
This small-group tour combines active travel with fabulous food and wine - and is suitable for solo travellers. You have the chance to slow down and acquaint yourself with the people, culture and natural beauty of the area you are travelling in, and you will be travelling with like minded people.
Trip Details
GROUP SIZE: 12 max.
Day 1
10am pickup from hotels in Bilbao. Our 3-4 hours bus journey takes us to St Jean de Pied Port where we spend our first night. This lovely French town with its ancient cobbled old town is the capital of Lower Navarra. This is the last stop in France for pilgrims crossing the Pyrennes en route to Santiago.
Overnight in St Jean de Pied Port. (LD)
Day 2 - 17 kilometres, 5-6 hours
Today we trace the ancient pilgrim's route along an old roman road that once connected Astorga to Bordeaux. The walk has some significant ascents but the overwhelming scenic grandeur makes this a memorable day. We arrive in Roncesvalles the first stop for pilgrims when they entered Spain from France. Legend says that Charlemagne's army, led by his nephew Roland, was defeated here in 778 which was later immortalised in the medieval poem "The Song of Roland".
Overnight near Roncesvalles. (BLD)
Day 3 - 13 kilometres
From Roncesvalles we commence our walk towards Zubiri through the beautiful lower regions of the Pyrenees Mountains. We walk through beechforest, charming villages and lovely open farmland. We end our walk near Erro. Bus transfer to Pamplona.
Overnight in Pamplona. (BL)
Day 4 - 18 kilometres
Transfer from Pamplona to the small village of Zariquiegui for today's walk to Puenta La Reina. This is a lovely walk through rolling countryside with some delightful views back towards Pamplona and the Pyrenees. We make a short detour to the fascinating octagonal Romanesque church of Eunate before arriving in Puenta La Reina. This excellently preserved village with its lovely location on the banks of the River Agra, is highly evocative of the early days of the pilgrimage and the town has been built up alongside the old pilgrim's route.
Lunch in Puenta La Reina. We leave Puenta La Reina over the famous Romanesque bridge the town is named after (The Queen's Bridge). We walk through gentle open countryside, vineyards, and small medieval villages and along a path, which is still laid with some of its original Roman stones. A walk for today ends in Cirauqui. We then transfer to the beautiful town of Laguardia in the heart of the Rioja wine region.
Overnight Laguardia. (BL)
Day 5
Today we have time to explore the beautiful town of Laguardia and take a side trip to the Frank Gehry designed winery for a guided tour. We also visit the stunning 16th Century monastery of San Millan de laCogolla and take a relaxed walk in the beautiful surrounding countryside.
Overnight Laguardia. (BLD)
Day 6 - 12 kilometres
Today we walk from Villa Franca Montes de Orca, which stands at the edge of the Montes de Orca, a forested mountainous region that, historically, was one of the most dangerous sections for pilgrims during the Middle Ages. A steep path leads up through trees and meadows where we enjoy a magnificent panorama over forests to distant mountain peaks. Finally we come to a clearing and the church of San Juan de Ortega. Transfer to Burgos.
Overnight in Burgos. (BL)
Day 7 - 9 kilometres
Morning free to explore Burgos. It's magnificent Gothic cathedral is the third largest in Spain and its heritage as the city of El Cid, the part historical, part mythical hero of the Christian Reconquest of Spain make it a fascinating city to explore. We depart Burgos and transfer to near Hontanas where we commence our walk through the meseta or high tablelands of this remote region towards Castrojeriz. Transfer to Leon.
Overnight Leon. (BL)
Day 8
Free day to explore Leon. This elegant and graceful city has many impressive medieval buildings including its superb cathedral with its spectacular stained glass. The royal pantheon of San Isidoro is one of the first and finest Romanesque buildings in Spain and contains important frescoes and sculptures. The wide and treelined boulevards and paths along the river make Leon a lovely city to relax and wander in.
Overnight Leon. (B)
Day 9 - 25 kilometres
Today we follow the Camino from near Astorga across the Maragateria and towards Monte Irago and the Iron Cross where traditionally pilgrims have placed a stone at the base of the Cross. The terrain is dramatic and wild and it is regarded as one of the most spectacular sections of the walk. We end our walk near the small village of Molineseca.
Overnight in Molineseca. (BL)
Day 10 - 12 kilometres
Today we walk through a variety of terrain from chestnut groves, orchards and open hills until we finally pass into the enchanting region of Galicia. This region has a strong Celtic legacy from the 6th Century BC and this influence is still felt in the local music, architecture and legends. Our final destination is O'Cebreiro the mountain top hamlet with its stunning vistas and quaint Celtic dwellings called palloza.
Overnight O Cebreiro. (BLD)
Day 11 - 20 kilometres
Our walk from O'Cebriero towards Sarria is initially along the mountain ridge before we begin the gradual descent along country lanes into a landscape studded with farms, villages and small land holdings.
Overnight Sarria. (BL)
Day 12 - 17 kilometres
Today the walk along the Camino from just outside Sarria to Portomarin, passes through 23 hamlet and winds its way along dirt, stone and sealed lanes. We walk through gentle undulating countryside, past pristine streams, chestnut stands and green pastures until our final descent to the banks of the River Mino and across the bridge to Portomarin.
Overnight Portomarin. (BL)
Day 13 - 20 kilometres
Transfer to Vilar de Donas the former monastery church of the Order of Santiago located in a quiet rural setting west of Portomarin. The church is one of the most outstanding examples of Galician Romanesque style along the way and also retains some important frescoes from the 15th century. From here we continue on the Camino along country lanes and through sleepy hamlets. We pass through eucalyptus forests and oak groves.
Overnight near Rua. (BLD)
Day 14 - 20 kilometres
From Rua the Camino passes through eucalyptus forests before continuing to San Marcos, Monte de Gozo and finally Santiago de Compostella. This city founded on myth and legend is unquestionably one of the most beautiful and intact in Spain.
Overnight Santiago de Compostella. (BLD)
Day 15
The tour ends after breakfast.
Inclusions
- All land travel from your Bilbao hotel until your Santiago de Compostela hotel
- Exclusive and handpicked hotel and villa accommodation with breakfast for 14 nights
- Lunch and dinner at authentic cafes, bars and restaurants where indicated (L) (D)
- Entrance and tour fees
- Bilingual walking guide
What's Not Included
- Airport pick-ups and drop offs
- Tips to local staff
Terms & Conditions
Click here for our Terms & Conditions
For more information, availability and pricing and options, please contact our expert travel specialists at Inspired Travel Worldwide on (02) 9449 8598 or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.
