Pilgrim's Way

El Camino de Santiago—the Way of St. James—traces a thousand-year-old route to the Holy City of Santiago de Compostela through some of Europe’s most beautiful landscapes, 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. Along the way, we relish Romanesque architecture 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.

Itinerary at a Glance

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

Days 1-2
Burgos / Leon / Astorga

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. After hiking el camino through the Castilian landscape to Castrojeriz, a classic pilgrim town, we head to the medieval city of León. Continuing to the walled city of Astorga, we hike to our charming hotel, nestled in an old stone village on the pilgrim path.

Days 3-5
Villafranca del Bierzo / O’Ceibreiro / Portomarin

Entering rural Galicia, we climb paths through woodlands and across dramatic moors of heather and Scotch broom, characteristic of the wild Galician landscape. The next day we hike to the mystical Celtic village of O’Ceibreiro, whose tiny church has a chalice linked in legend with the Holy Grail. Some of the most beautiful stretches of the entire pilgrim trail—jewel-green fields, ancient stone walls, and meadows where shepherds tend their herds—await us as we head to the whitewashed village of Portomarin.

Days 6-8
La Coruoa / Santiago de Compostela

A hike through gorgeous Galician scenery brings us through hamlets and farms flanked by ancient grain silos. 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, have a chance to attend the noon pilgrim mass and see the enormous traditional incense burner, the botafumeiro, swing from the ceiling over the assembled crowd. Depart on Day 8.

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

What the Trip is Like

This trip is rated Level 3, Moderate. The trip involves 3-8 hours of hiking daily. Trip participants carry a daypack only, as luggage is transported by vehicle between overnight stops. Your feet should be fully prepared for the hikes—you should be accustomed to walking in sturdy, well broken-in hiking boots. Lunches are enjoyed in cafes along the way, incorporating local foods including cheeses, fresh vegetables, salamis, copa and ham, fresh fruit, and delicious bread. Please note that it is not possible to create alternative hiking or touring programs on any given day. For trip members who are not up for walking on certain days, there is the possibility of skipping the hike and continuing to the next stop in the van. On two nights (Days 3 and 7), we enjoy overnights in beautiful paradors, historic buildings of distinguished architecture that have been transformed into luxurious hotels.

Explanation of Trip Levels