Name: Walking the Camino de Santiago
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.3 (6 reviews)

Walking the Camino de Santiago Trip Notes

Ways to Travel: Self-Guided Holidays
Destination: Spain
Programmes: Walking & Trekking
Activity Level:
3 out of 7 - Moderate
11 Days: Flight Inclusive
11 Days: Land Only
Ages: 12+
Trip Code: W10CS

Trip Overview

The Camino de Santiago de Compostela is one of the world’s oldest pilgrimage routes, and in 1987 was declared the first European Culture Route.

The Spanish Camino de Santiago is one of THE most ancient walking routes in the world. Ever since the 9th century, the French Way has led thousands of pilgrims on an 800km journey across northern Spain, winding 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. The route then builds to a spectacular finale at Santiago de Compostela’s majestic Baroque cathedral, the last resting place of St James the apostle.

Your walk begins in Leon and, in keeping with the pilgrimage route, you walk daily along farm tracks, paths and country lanes, enjoying sociable lunches in restaurants en route. You’ll stay in an astonishingly diverse range of properties including restored parish houses, converted water mills and stylish farmhouses, all packed with period features. We’ve 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 with your fellow pilgrims en route is incredibly rewarding.

Everyone on the Camino has a Pilgrim Passport that can be stamped in bars, hotels and churches along the way to qualify for a certificate from the official Pilgrim Office in Santiago. 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!’).

At a Glance

10 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

Highlights

Follow one of the most ancient pilgrimage routes in the world!
Stay in converted water mills, hilltop monasteries and stylish farmhouses
Soaring cathedrals, Roman bridges, country chapels and thatched Galician villages
Poppy-sprinkled wheat fields, orchid-rich water meadows, pine-scented woodland

Is This Trip for You?

This is a moderate walking holiday because of the distance covered each day rather than the altitude change or the terrain. There is lots of classic Galician countryside to enjoy, rural paths and hamlets with cafes and restaurants for pilgrims along the route. Walks on this holiday are on village streets, country lanes, farm tracks and rural paths. Walking days are approximately 5-6 hours with ascents up to 700m (2400feet) and may involve some scrambling. You should be used to walking all day.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There may be others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. You are provided with route notes for each day, which begin with an overview of the walk and advice on lunch, followed by detailed instructions. The route notes contain a 24 hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the hotels are normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

Group

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. A local agent/representative is on hand to assist you and will meet you at the beginning of the week to go through the route notes and point out particular places of interest. Your luggage is transferred from point to point and route notes and maps are provided. The route notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number. In an emergency, the local representative is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

Please note: the walking and luggage transfers that are included in this tour are subject to at least 2 people (in total) booked on the departure. A supplement (payable in advance) to cover these transfers and sole occupancy of a room will apply if only 1 person is travelling on any departure date.

Adult min age: 12

Itinerary

Land Only

Start City: Leon
End City: Santiago de Compostela

Flight Inclusive

Start City: London
End City: London

Land Only 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

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

Distance covered: 12mi (19km)

Activity hours: 4

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

Distance covered: 9mi (15km)

Activity hours: 5