Pilgrim's Way
Ancient Trails and Paradors of Northern Spain’s camino de santiago
Trip Details at-a-Glance
| Cost From: | $3495 see pricing |
|---|---|
| Length: | 8 days |
| Arrive: | Burgos, Spain |
| Depart: | Santiago de Compostela, Spain |
| Lodging: | 7 nights inns, manor houses, and paradors |
| Meals: | All breakfasts, dinners, and 1 lunch included |
| Activity: | Hiking / Trekking, Cultural Adventures |
| Trip Level: |
6 hiking days on easy to moderate trails, some steep sections, 3-6 hours a day, van support
|
Highlights
- Hike the best of Europe’s most revered pilgrimage route
- Charming and historic hotels and inns, including some of Spain’s finest paradors
- Majestic Santiago de Compostela, one of the world’s holy cities
The trip was the perfect mix of culture, hiking and cuisine with a truly outstanding leader.Joseph C.—Campbell PA
Choosing the Right Trip
We work hard to help you choose the right trip for you, paying attention to your individual interests, abilities, and needs. If you have questions about the level of comfort or any of the activities described in this itinerary, please contact us.
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References
We are proud to have an exceptionally high rate of repeat travelers. For more information, we would be happy to put you in touch with a client who has traveled with us.
Email Area ManagerDeparture Notes
Once you have signed up on the trip, we send a complete packing list, relevant health information, and required travel documents.
Resources
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.
Departures & Leaders
Sep 3-10, 2010
Jun 3-10, 2011
Sep 9-16, 2011
Tour Costs
Prices are for 2011
$3495 (11-15 members)
$3895 (5-10 members)
Single supplement: $285
more on pricing
Tour Cost Includes:
- expert leadership of a Wilderness Travel Trip Leader and local guides
- accommodations in hotels, small comfortable inns, and parador
- welcome and farewell dinners, and other meals as indicated in the Full Trip Brochure
- ground transportation throughout from meeting until departure
Tour Cost Does Not Include:
International airfare, hotel transfers to/from airports, any meals not specified in the Full Trip Brochure, wine at dinner (except at welcome and farewell dinners), airport departure taxes, optional tipping or gratuities to leaders or staff, additional hotel nights that may be necessary due to airline schedule changes or other factors; pre-trip expense of medical immunizations (if any), travel insurance or passports; and other expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.).Our Trip Leaders
Here are the Trip Leaders scheduled for this journey (please note that leader assignments are subject to change).
Marian Gibert has been a world traveler from a young age. She was born in Bilbao, Spain, grew up in Venezuela, and later lived and studied in Britain. She has also lived and worked in the Swiss Alps, picking up the Swiss-German and French languages along with her fluent English. Marian is a hiker, ...
Click here for a full bio and list of all upcoming trips
Beatriz Gutierrez, a native of Galicia, attended the University of Santiago de Compostela and earned a degree in design from the art school in La Coruna. In the early 1980s, she moved to a village in the Alpujarras to indulge her passions for hiking and writing (she is still working on a novel). ...
Click here for a full bio and list of all upcoming trips
Client Comments
The trip was the perfect mix of culture, hiking and cuisine with a truly outstanding leader.Joseph C., Campbell PA
A very interesting hiking trip with lots of history and legend attached to it. Great guides and good food made for another memorable WT adventure.Johanna T., La Jolla, CA
I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the Trip Leaders were a very positive part of the trip.Denice W., Portland OR
This was a most enjoyable experience! Everyone had a great time.Linda G., Wilton, CT
Would do it again!Ken B., Gig Harbor, WA
What a fabulous experience We loved the trip. The guides were well prepared and extremely knowledgeable.Ann and John L., Beaverton OR
Loved this trip! It was great, every minute of it. Wonderful hotels, and loved the picnics.Julie A., Little Rock AK
It was a fascinating and inspiring trip. We would recommend it highly.Judith S., Chevy Chase MD
I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the guides were a very positive part of the trip.Denise W., Portland OR
This was just what I like in a trip—being out and about in the countryside and towns. The Trip Leaders were exceptional in having local cuisine and wines arranged at our meals. I really enjoyed the variety of hotel accommodations.Jon D., Montgomery, AL
This was my very first WT experience and it far exceeded my expectations. Exceptional value!Marjorie G., Montgomery, AL




