Travel Tip

Before the tour starts, spend a few nights in Bilbao. Among many hotels are hotel NH, hotel Domine and hotel Tayko.

We meet at 10.00 at Bilbao airport and drive along the Spanish northern coast stopping for a tour and pintxos in San Sebastian. We then continue to St Etienne to check into our hotel and enjoy a leisurely stroll around the town’s medieval streets and up to the citadel where you can view the Pyrenees. After collecting our pilgrim passports we get together for a lovely welcome dinner.

Overnight: St Etienne de Baigorri 

Meals: Pintxos / Lunch / Dinner

We begin El Camino de Santiago tracing the steps of ancient pilgrims, heading up into the Pyrenees for breathtaking views and our first picnic. After lunch we cross over the Spanish border and descend into one of the oldest and most important stops on the Camino, the 11th century monastery of Roncesvalles. Here the Basques defeated the rear guard of Charlemagne’s army, spawning the famous epic poem of chivalry “La Chanson de Roland”.

Walk: 5.5h/18km (3h/10km option) Elev. +1400m/-600m

Overnight: Roncevalles

Meals: Breakfast /Picnic / Dinner

Walk out of the front door of your hotel in Roncevalles and make your way to Zubiri. From here a short drive takes us to the ancient city of Pamplona, which with its Fiesta de San Fermin and beautiful architecture has captured the eye of many artists. Enjoy a pleasant relaxing walk around the city following the route of the famous running of the bulls and tracing Hemingway’s footsteps. 

Walk: 6h/22km (4h/13km option) 

Overnight: Pamplona 

Meals: Breakfast / Picnic / Dinner

Today we step into the region of Rioja, home to Spain’s finest and most renowned wine. We walk through gently rolling hills and vineyards towards the beautiful town of St Domingo de La Calzada. Admire its enchanting cathedral and spend a relaxing evening in the towns streets busy with many pilgrims. 

Walk: (4h/14km)

Overnight: Santo Domingo de la Calzada

Meals: Breakfast / Picnic / Dinner

We leave St Domingo and move on along a quiet mountain path through oak and pine woods and emerge in St. Juan de Ortega. After lunch we walk on to the quaint village of Ages, before driving on to Burgos. After some time to freshen up in our hotel in Burgos, visit the spectacular Cathedral before meeting up to share our experiences over dinner. 

Walk: (3.5h/13km) (Elev. +/-400m) 

Overnight: Burgos 

Meals: Breakfast / Picnic / Dinner

Today we experience life in the heart of Castilla y Leon, walking through the Mesetas and small, slow paced villages. This plateau region 800m above sea level is entirely covered in cereal crops which form endless horizons broken only by the occasional view of a bell tower in the distance. Pilgrims walk along this path for many days and have been known to describe these endless silent stretches as the most thought provoking and spiritual of the whole Camino. We enter the picturesque streets of Leon with time to enjoy the city and its many streets, boutiques and squares. 

Walk: 5h/18km (3.5h/13km option)

Overnight: Leon

Meals: Breakfast / Picnic / Dinner

Our day starts crossing over the longest and best preserved medieval bridge in Spain, the Puente de Obrigo where we walk through the town of Hospital de Obrigo. Our walk takes us across open countryside to our destination city, Astorga. Enjoy a free afternoon to stroll among the different periods of architecture existing in perfect harmony- ancient Roman walls, a gothic cathedral and the modern Gaudi Palace – contrasting and complimenting one another.

Walk: 5h/17km (4h/13km option)

Overnight: Astorga

Meals: Breakfast / Picnic / Dinner

One of our favourite walks of El Camino de Santiago! We head up into the mountains, over the pass of Irago and through the beautiful villages of Rabanal del Camino and Foncebadon and descend a winding pass through Ponferrada where there is a ruined ancient Castle of the Knights Templar. This ancient order was devoted to protecting pilgrims along the way and preserving the true spirituality of the Camino. We spend our evening and dinner relaxing in Villafranca tasting some excellent Bierzo wines.

Walk: 6.5h/20km (4h/15km option) (Elev. +/- 500m)

Overnight: Villafranca del Bierzo

Meals: Breakfast / Picnic / Dinner

We leave Villafranca del Bierzo to walk on El Camino from Las Herrerias and head up into the high mountains of Galicia to famous O’ Cebreiro Here still standing is one of the oldest surviving churches associated with the Camino, the Iglesia de Santa Maria Real, dating as far back as the 9th century. We continue to the famous Pilgrim’s statue after lunch and then return to spend another evening in the beautiful town of Villafranca.

Walk: 6h/15km (4h/10km option) (Elev. +550/-50m)

Overnight: Villafranca del Bierzo

Meals: Breakfast / Picnic 

Today we walk through the beautiful hills and forest of Galicia, past traditional farming villages to the town of Portomarin which sits on the hillside overlooking a spectacular river. Relax and enjoy the slow pace of the streets, take your time to reflect on what you have lived and the personal aspects of the Camino. Tomorrow we shall arrive in Santiago de Compostela! 

Walk: 4.5h/16km (Elev. +/-200m) 

Overnight: Lugo 

Meals: Breakfast / Picnic / Dinner

We enter the city of Santiago de Compostela, home to the shrines of St. James, the raison d’etre of El Camino de Santiago. The final leg of our pilgrimage starts in Monte del Gozo and from here we descend into the streets of the city. We arrive in the Praza Obradorio and Cathedral in time for the 12.00 am mass to see the swinging of the famous Botafumiero, giant incense burner. You are free to explore the city and shop in its many streets. 

Walk: 1.5h/5km 

Overnight: Santiago de Compostela 

Meals: Breakfast

Our journey does not end here, as true pilgrims we must continue to Finisterre and the lighthouse at the end of the world. We walk into Finisterre along a spectacular, 2km stretch of the Playa de Langosteira beach and head on a further 3km to the famous lighthouse. Here, having lunch in the lighthouse, staring over the ocean, our pilgrimage ends. From this point we can go no further! We return to spend another evening in Santiago. 

Walk: 2h/7km 

Overnight: Santiago de Compostela 

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Departure at 9.00 from our hotel to Santiago airport. Alternatively, you can make your own way at your leisure. The airport is very near by, and only a 20 min taxi ride.

Meals: Breakfast