Itinerary Expand all Leon to Santiago de Compostela Day 1 Start Leon. Arrive at your historic hotel in the heart of Leon. There are masses of restaurants and tapas bars on your doorstep, so we've left the choice up to you for dinner tonight.Comfortable Hotel Day 2 Trek from Cruz de Ferro to Molinaseca. Your day starts with a guided tour of Leon's magnificent gothic Cathedral which is often called the 'House of Light' and a visit to the Basilica of San Isidoro, one of the most important Romanesque churches in Spain and resting place of Leon's mediaeval monarchs. You will then receive your pilgrims passport. We then provide a transfer (1hr) to Cruz de Ferro, the highest point on the Camino, marked by a pre-Roman cross. The Camino winds downhill through fragrant pines where once the Knights Templar protected pilgrims from bandit attack. A path lined with wild chestnuts, cherries, peppers and fennel leads to riverside Molinaseca, known to be one of the most beautiful villages on the Camino. Two options: Distance 8km/5mi, approx. 2 hours walking or 19km/12mi, approx. 4 hours walking.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 3 Ascend the Rio Valcarce Valley to O'Cebreiro; sunset viewpoint. After a short transfer (30 mins), you ascend the Rio Valcarce valley, climbing into moody oak woods strung with lichen and strewn with early purple orchid. O Cebreiro is a 11th Century village in the heart of the Cordillera Cantabrica. Walk to the viewpoint above the village for a perfect sunset and views over four ranges of hills then return along the narrow, cobbled streets, past traditional thatched houses known as pallozas. Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 4 Walk between villages overlooking the Monastery of Samos; continue to Sarria. After a short transfer we drop you off at Triacastela. As the Camino meanders between heather-clad villages overlooking the Monastery of Samos, you can hear the bells ringing. On reaching Sarria - the antiques capital of Galicia, you'll be whisked to Javier and Raquel's elegant country rectory (10 mins), complete with chapel and al fresco dining patio area. Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 5 Head up the Celerio Valley; descend into Portomarin. A Roman bridge leads out of Sarria up the Celerio Valley, where you'll traverse the hamlets of the southern flank of the Sierra del Paramo. Descend into Portomarin - the original village was drowned by the Belesar Reservoir, and some remains still shimmer below the surface! Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 6 Walk up Torres Valley to the delightfully rural farmhouse at Lestedo. Drop into Portomarin's church then follow the Torres stream, passing between cornfields lined with ox-eye daisies. Stamp your Pilgrim Passport in country churches dedicated to the Order of St James before arriving at your beautifully restored rectory. Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 7 Hike to O'Coto via Palas del Rei. Country lanes lead past fortified farmhouses into the hillside town of Palas de Rei (Palace of the King) as you enter the province of A Coruna. You'll pass typical, raised Galician granaries, and chickens scamper across narrow streets as you enter vineyards, with views east to the Montes del Vacaloura. Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 8 Leave hamlet of O'Coto; walk to Arzua. Today's first stop is Melide - a thriving country town where tavernas brim with locals enjoying Galician seafood in specialist pulperias (octopus restaurants). Drop into the Romanesque church to admire the frescoes, before lanes lined with bright yellow celandine bring you into the lively market town of Arzua. Continue on to your elegant manor house, surrounded by tranquil countryside, just outside the town. Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 9 From Arzua walk to a converted watermill in Rua. Arzua's colonnaded streets lead into open country where local farmers wear berets as they tend vines and build haystacks with pitch forks. Your route rises and falls through river valleys, crossing rushing streams. This evening you can marvel at Javier's breathtaking converted water mill, where original machinery has been turned into spectacular period features. Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 10 Walk to Santiago via Monte do Gozo; visit the cathedral. Excitement mounts as you set off towards Monte do Gozo (Mount of Joy), where pilgrims of old caught their first glimpse of the spires of Santiago. On reaching Santiago's historic centre, congratulations are everywhere as a steady stream of pilgrims reach their journey's end below the cathedral's spectacular Baroque facade. Drop into the Pilgrim Office to collect your certificate if you wish, before checking into our historic hotel near the old marketplace - still a riot of colour! Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 11 End Santiago de Compostela. Enjoy Santiago and the cathedral before taking a taxi to the airport (pay locally approx 15 euro). Alternatively, stay on for extra nights to explore this beautiful historic city. Walking through the old streets of Santiago is a fantastic way to spend your time here, with Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque buildings lining the old town's streets and plazas. Meals included: Breakfast
Spain No visa required for British passport holders. For further Brexit travel advice please visit https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/brexit-advice-for-travellers
Hotels You'll stay in a diverse range of properties including converted watermills, stylish farmhouses and a restored parish house - all of them packed with period features. Please feel free to ask us for more detail about where you'll stay. Room Upgrades:Room upgrades may be available on request for a supplement on the final night; prices start from an additional £10 per person per night (based on 2 people sharing) – please enquire at the time of booking for further details and prices. Upgrades available at select hotels only (not for the entire duration of the tour). All prices are based on 2 persons sharing, so if there is an odd number of people travelling in your party or you are travelling alone, there will be a compulsory supplement for a single room for the tour duration. For a solo traveller there is an additional charge to cover transfer costs.
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Reviewed October 2018 Mark Walmsley Trip: Headwater - Self-Guided Walking on the Camino de Santiago Huh? This was a very well organized trip that my wife and I greatly enjoyed. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Apart from meeting some wonderful people, the walk into Santiago de Compostela was awesome. What did you think of your group leader? Did not have a group leader. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be aware that there are some mighty hills to contend with. Also, because on some days the proprietor of the accommodation needed to come and pick you up due to the fact that the accommodation was well away from the Camino, there was often a long wait after completing the days walk/bike. A bit of a drag when all you want is a hot shower and a beer. Is there anything else you would like to add? We would definitely used Exodus again. Well organized and good value.
Reviewed October 2018 Marjorie Barnes Trip: Headwater - Self-Guided Walking on the Camino de Santiago SELF GUIDED CAMINO A fantastic trip with easy to follow detailed notes. No map really required. The accommodation and transfers arranged by Headwater were first class. Blessed with great weather. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The second day of walking going to O Cebreiro. The mountain scenery was stunning. Also the most wonderful groups of people met along the way. What did you think of your group leader? N/A Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Don't pay 30 Euros for a taxi from Madrid airport to Charmartin Rail Station. If you have your rail ticket to Leon then just go by free shuttle bus to Terminal 4, use the machines and get a free rail transfer to Charmartin. Staff are at the machines to help if you get stuck. Is there anything else you would like to add? Get to Santiago de Compostela Cathedral early as it becomes very busy. Be prepared to queue a long time in the office for your certificate/Compostela. Self guided was a great experience to be thoroughly recommended.
Reviewed May 2017 Ann Evans Trip: Headwater - Self-Guided Walking on the Camino de Santiago Great walk We will remember the comaradery on the trail, the different accommodation every night. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? When the priest in Leon cathedral blessed us before we started walking, he was very personal to us all. What did you think of your group leader? We did not have a group leader it was self guided. The notes were not always adequate. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? If you can have local maps. Is there anything else you would like to add? Follow the Camino signs if in doubt.aa
Reviewed October 2016 Carolyn Francis Trip: Headwater - Self-Guided Walking on the Camino de Santiago Self guided walk on the Camino The service provided by Exodus was excellent. I would book with the company again. Luggage was efficiently moved each day and transfers were timed quite well. My only critique would be that daily instructions might be too detailed. In some cases it would be good to just say follow the Camino markers until......... Accommodation was fantastic at almost each location. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? It was amazing to meet so many people on the walk - from all over the world and of all ages. That alone is very inspirational. What did you think of your group leader? N/A Do you have any advice for potential travellers? If you have a long walk planned in a day - do as much as you can before noon so you can travel more easily in the afternoon. It takes a couple of days to find your dad wn walking rhythm and then it becomes easier. If it is warm , make sure to drink lots of water. Is there anything else you would like to add? Thanks for the excellent organization.
Reviewed August 2016 Sarah Lanchbury Trip: Headwater - Self-Guided Walking on the Camino de Santiago Camino di Santiago This was a great trip! We wanted to spend some time walking in Spain and this seemed like a good way to do it. Starting in Leon and visiting the city was a good start, taking in some bars and restaurants in the sunshine. We had a great tour of the town with Blanca, our guide, who showed us round the cathedral and other places of interest. Having our own guide really helped to find out more about this city. We opted for the short walk on the first day, which was a good decision as it was so hot that day. From Day 2 onwards, we enjoyed beautiful walking through the Galician countryside - hills and valleys to begin with, then more rolling countryside for the next few days, with lots of woodland paths and good shade. The weather was very kind to us - warm with nice breezes - ideal walking conditions. We stayed in a variety of places - all lovely rooms, and good service overall. There some beautiful historic buildings with thick granite walls, reminding us of the history of this walk and the millions of pilgrims who have travelled this route for a thousand years! The trip notes were very good, though it is easy to find your way with so many sign posts and yellow arrows to follow. We could always find somewhere to eat or drink when we needed to, and found some delightful quirky hostelries along the way. I think the route is ideal - taking in Leon to start the trip and using taxis to miss out the mundane parts of walking out of Leon made sense for us - also, having a slightly shorter day's walking in the middle of the trip helped us to catch up physically. I would recommend this trip to anyone who would like to walk part of the Camino - I feel like I have been on an interesting journey as well as completing a physical challenge which I thought I might not manage! We had a great time! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Sunset at O Cebreiro Romanesque churches Galician countryside Local food - cheese, ham, bread, wine etc. Visiting the cathedral at Santiago Sense of achievement of completing such a long journey! I loved our room at Pazo Santa Maria! O Muino Mill and Casa de la Somoza were also nice. Food at Rectoral de Goian was excellent. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Make sure you break in your boots! Take a wide brimmed hat. Remember to stamp your pilgrim's passport!
Reviewed April 2016 Keith Good Trip: Headwater - Self-Guided Walking on the Camino de Santiago Camino April 2016 We took the trip that started from Leon and finished at the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. Though I walked with my brother-in-law, each evening we met up in the hotel with two delightful UK couples on the same trip. The walking was not demanding to experienced walkers, though the weather in early April was varied. The Camino route is not through top quality scenery all the way; it's a pilgrim route ! Most of the hotels were either excellent or very good. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Arriving at hilltop O Cebreiro in snow and seeing the C11 chapel there. Arriving soaked at the hotel in Arzua, and getting a really warm welcome. Lining up in the office in Santiago for my certificate with walkers from numerous countries. What did you think of your group leader? Not applicable Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Make sure your footwear is suitable. Is there anything else you would like to add? Though the route guide (indeed all the paperwork) is excellent, we did get briefly lost in a couple of towns.
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