| Cost From: | $3495 |
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| Length: | 8 days |
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| Activity: | Hiking / Trekking, Cultural Adventures |
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| Difficulty: |
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The trip was the perfect mix of culture, hiking and cuisine with a truly outstanding leader.J. Clark—Campbell PA
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El Camino de Santiago—the Way of St. James—traces a thousand-year-old route to the Holy City of Santiago through some of Europe’s most beautiful scenery, from the ancient kingdom of Castile to green, mystical Galicia, a romantic hidden corner of Spain alive with legends and Celtic heritage. Our journey hikes the most spectacular sections of this long-distance footpath, following Castile’s sunny country lanes marked with the scallop shell, the symbol of St. James, and Galicia’s trails through mist-shrouded forests of giant gnarled oaks. All along the way, we relish Romanesque settings redolent with the air of pilgrimage and enjoy the comfort of historic inns and splendid paradors, including the 5-star Hostal dos Reis Católicos in Santiago.
$3495 (11-15 members)
$3895 (5-10 members)
Single supplement: $350
Prices are for 2010 dates
May 14-21, 2010 Beatriz Gutierrez
Marian Gibert
Jun 18-25, 2010 Beatriz Gutierrez
Marian Gibert
Sep 3-10, 2010 Beatriz Gutierrez
Marian Gibert
Reading list, click here.
We meet in historic Burgos and start our hike above the remote village of Hontanas, where we begin to see the trail markers of el camino—signs displaying stylized yellow scallop shells, the symbol of St. James, with star-rays pointing the way. We follow el camino through the Castilian landscape to the 14th century ruins of the Monasterio de San Anton and then to Fromista, a key pilgrim stop since the days of the Codex Calixtinus. After exploring the engaging medieval city of León, we continue to the walled city of Astorga, where we hike to the hamlet of Castrillo de los Polvazares and further to our charming hotel, nestled in an old stone village on the pilgrim path.
Today we enter rural Galicia and the cultural transition is dramatic—now we begin to hear the ancient Galician tongue, Gallego. We climb paths through woodlands and across dramatic moors of heather and Scotch broom, typical of the wild Galician landscape. Our trail brings us to the famous Cruz de Hierro, an iron cross atop Monte Irago and one of the most emblematic spots on the pilgrim trail. Our accommodation is the peaceful Parador de Villafranca in one of the prettiest towns on the pilgrim route, the 11th century hamlet of Villafranca del Bierzo.
Our hike brings us to the mystical village of O’Ceibreiro, whose tiny church has a chalice linked in legend with the Holy Grail. The next day we hike gently rolling terrain to the whitewashed village of Portomarín. En route we pass through some of the most beautiful stretches of the entire pilgrim trail, with jewel-green fields, ancient stone walls, and shepherds tending their herds. One overnight is in a handsome 17th century manor house set in the splendid countryside.
We continue through gorgeous Galician scenery, hiking through hamlets and farms flanked by ancient grain silos built of granite. Our first sight of Santiago, a beautiful medieval city of golden granite, is from a classic overlook above town. We explore this sacred city, and in the extraordinary twin-towered limestone Cathedral of Santiago, have a chance to attend the noon pilgrim mass and see the enormous traditional incense burner, the botafumeiro, swung from the ceiling over the assembled crowd. Overnight in a sumptuous parador. Depart on Day 8.
This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure
