Following St James' Way, Self-Guided Walking

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13 Days from

USD 3,349

Walking & Trekking

Ways to Travel :

Self-Guided Holidays

Activity :

Walking & Trekking

Activity Levels :

3 out of 7 - Moderate

Ages :

12+

Trip Code :

W12CS

Walk the Way of St James to Santiago de Compostela.

One of the most ancient walking routes in the world, the Spanish Camino de Santiago is popular with walkers from all over the world, who come to follow in the footsteps of travellers from the 9th century onwards. The 800km journey across northern Spain has led thousands of pilgrims on a winding route from the Pyrenees across the wheat fields of old Castile to pass through Leon, the seat of Spanish Kings, full of soaring cathedrals and hushed convents, before entering Galicia. As you reach Santiago de Compostela's majestic Baroque cathedral, your route comes to a spectacular finale at the resting place of the Apostle St James.

On this 12-night trip, you'll begin your walking in Leon - you'll spend two nights here, giving you ample chance to explore the historic city and its fabulous architecture. From here, in keeping with the pilgrimage route, you'll walk daily along farm tracks, paths and country lanes, enjoying sociable lunches in restaurants en route. Remember to have your Pilgrim Passport stamped in bars, hotels and churches along the way to qualify for a certificate from the official Pilgrim Office in Santiago. After you've reached your journey's end, you'll spend two nights in UNESCO-listed Santiago de Compostela so you can explore the city's old town, and its Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque buildings. You can even choose to attend the special Pilgrim Mass at 12 noon.

You'll stay in an astonishingly diverse range of properties including restored parish houses, converted water mills and stylish farmhouses, all of them packed with period features. We have included transfers after breakfast on the first three walking days, after which you'll walk all the way to Santiago. The sense of achievement on arrival is immense, and sharing in this tradition is incredibly rewarding.

Along with your Pilgrim Passport you'll notice a profound and heart-warming camaraderie with other walkers, as day by day you fall in and out of step with people from all over the world, some of whom have been walking for months covering hundreds of miles! You'll also find complete strangers cheering you on and wishing you 'Buen Camino!' ('Enjoy your walk!').

Highlights

A spectacular walk along one of the most famous UNESCO pilgrimage routes in the world
Two nights in beautiful Leon - great historical and architectural heritage, and in Santiago de Compostela - a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Excellent variety of accommodation: converted water mills, restored parish houses, stylish farmhouses
Poppy sprinkled wheat fields, orchid rich water meadows, pine-scented woodland

Key Information

12 nights in 2 to 4-star hotels
9 days point-to-point walking
Altitude max. 1300m, average 700m
Self-guided holiday. Min age 12 yrs

Countries visited: Spain

What's Included

All buffet breakfasts and 7 dinners
All accommodation (see accommodation section)
Route notes
Standard Madrid to León rail ticket (if booking flight inclusive)
Pilgrim Passport to record your adventure en-route

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request - compulsory supplement)
Solo traveller supplement (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)
Visas or vaccinations
Travel to/from the start/end points
Standard Madrid to León rail ticket (if booking land only)

9 Days of Walking & Trekking

Pace:

Approximately 5-6 hours walking per day

Terrain:

Low altitude; good paths with some steep ascents

Day 3

19 km / 11.8 miles

Day 4

15 km / 9.3 miles

Day 5

18 km / 11.2 miles

Day 6

23 km / 14.3 miles

Day 7

21 km / 13 miles

Day 8

14 km / 8.7 miles

Day 9

21 km / 13 miles

Day 10

19 km / 11.8 miles

Day 11

21 km / 13 miles

Responsible Travel

At Exodus we believe in the power of Responsible Travel.

Every time we travel, we are part of a global movement that creates jobs, builds more sustainable societies, encourages cultural understanding and safeguards common natural and cultural heritage. To learn more about what Responsible Travel means to Exodus click here…

Itinerary

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

Today, you are free to explore Leon which is famous for its historical and architectural heritage, perhaps visit the Casa Botines, a creation of the famous Antoni Gaudi or the Museum of Contemporary Art (MUSAC) which is also is a superb example of modern architecture.

Meals Included: Breakfast

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

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