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Camino de Santiago, Spain
Please, note! This Tour is no longer offered
by InfoHub. Find similar tours here.
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 13
day(s)
Group Size: 8
- 18
people
Destination(s):
Spain
Specialty Categories:
Bicycle Touring
Season: May - September
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: Yes
Minimum Per Person Price: 1950 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 2375 US Dollar (USD)
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The Camino de Santiago is one of the two or three best journey's in the world." James Michener. Our most popular tour for good reason.
Your Itinerary
Day 1:
Arrive to Pamplona. Dinner at the famous Cafe Iruna and then overnight at the same hotel that Hemmingway stayed in.
(D)
Day 2:
Pamplona to Estella [25 miles] Leaving Pamplona we’ll climb towards the foothills of the Sierra del Perdon, reaching Puenta la Reina, with its famous Romanesque bridge and charming town. We’ll spend the night in Estella, near the beautiful 12th century Palace of the Kings of Navarre.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 3:
Estella to Logrono [29 miles] We’ll start the day with a stop at the winemakers ‘Bodega Irache’, where a free-flowing wine fountain welcomes thirsty pilgrims. Our ride takes us through vineyards and past castles before crossing the great Puente de Piedra into Logrono, a bustling town with an interesting history, architectural jewels, cafes and music. Our hotel is in a beautifully renovated historical building with all amenities.
(B) (L)
Day 4:
Logrono to Santa Domingo de la Calzada [28 miles] Our goal today is to reach a town long linked to the pilgrimage. The town’s namesake, St. Dominic, was a hermit who devoted his life to helping pilgrims on their way to Santiago. Among other deeds, he built a pilgrims bridge, hospital and much of the medieval road (which we ride) that still survives from the 11th century. The other reason we stop here is to stay at the extraordinary Parador Hotel that is one of Spain’s best.
(B) (D)
Day 5:
Santa Domingo de la Calzada to Burgos [42 miles] The riding today is superb through bell heather on rolling trail. Lunch will be provided today in San Juan de Ortega; on the afternoon’s ride we’ll count stork nests in the bell towers along the route. Arriving in Burgos, we’ll visit the Gothic Cathedral, one of the most outstanding artistic monuments in Spain. After dinner, for those wanting a little night life, there are plenty of tapas bars and clubs to tempt you!
(B)
Day 6:
Burgos to Carrion de las Condes [50 miles] The riding through most of the Castilian stages is on more level terrain allowing us to comfortably cover more distance. Although no less beautiful, the scenery changes dramatically through this region. We’ll have lunch today in the curious town of Hontanas, where the barman drinks wine in a most unusual way. Our destination, Carrion de las Condes makes for a relaxing town, between the bustling cities (and nightlife) of Burgos and Leon.
(B) (L)
Day 7:
Carrion de las Condes to Leon [55 miles] Although one of our longer days, the gentle grade should allow us to take our time and enjoy the ride. We’ll provide a picnic lunch at a beautiful site on the river Esla in Mansilla de las Mulas; afterwards we’ll continue into Leon with its impressive monuments including the 13 C Cathedral. We’ll organize a walking tour here, finishing with a visit to a wine bodega. Our hotel for tonight is located in the historical district, steps from the cities best shopping and restaurants.
(B) (D)
Day 8:
Leon [rest day] We will have a local guide show you the many treasures of Leon, followed by a picnic lunch in a fabulous park in the city center.
(B) (D)
Day 9:
Leon to Astorga / Rabanal el Camino [29 miles] Today is an easier day, with a recommended lunch in Hospital del Orbigo only 2 hours ride away; afterwards we’ll continue on to Astorga which at one time boasted 21 pilgrim’s hospitals, clearly revealing its importance on the camino. For Epicureans, Astorga is also known for mantecadas, one of the famous delicacies in Spanish pastrymaking. Our hotel for the evening, Hotel Gaudi faces an impressive castle designed by the famed architect Antonio Gaudi.
(B) (D)
Day 10:
Astorga to Villafranca [46 miles] Our route today will begin with a visit to Castrillo de los Polvares, a town immortalized by the writer Concha Espina in her novel The Maragato Sphinx, a portrait of the village and its centuries-old customs. Just before lunch we’ll reach the Cruz de Ferro, one of the most symbolic monuments along the pilgrims’ route. Whenever pilgrims add a stone to the pile they become part of an ancient tradition; the Romans called these stone heaps, ‘mounts of Mercury’ after the god of travelers. In Ponferrada, you can visit the impressive Templar Castle, one of the oldest and finest examples of Spanish military architecture. We’ll finish the day in Villafranca, one of the most attractive towns on the camino. Our hotel for tonight is in former monastery from the 17th-century, restored into a hotel and one of our favourites of the trip.
(B) (D)
Day 11:
Villafranca to Samos [43 miles]
From Villafranca, you will climb through unspoiled countryside of heather and broom, pines, chestnuts and oaks enjoying a magnificent view over the Valcarce valley up to El Cebreiro, famous for its ‘pallozas’, straw-roofed dwellings. In Samos we visit a monastery that is one of the most impressive of the route and enjoy evening vespers before dinner.
(B) (D)
Day 12:
Samos to Leboreiro [31 miles] Leaving Samos, we’ll reach the noble town of Sarria with its Monastery of La Magdelena and its hospitable Mercedarian monks. We’ll have lunch in Portomarin, and then enjoy some of the best biking of the camino on rolling terrain arriving to Leboreiro; we’ll be treated to a medieval feast and spend the night at a most charming inn.
(B) (D)
Day 13:
Leboreiro to Santiago de Compostella [35 miles] We start this day with crossings of medieval bridges at Disicabo and at Furelos before reaching Melide, particularly rich in pre-Roman remains. Then we’ll pass many small hamlets hidden among eucalyptus trees before reaching the environs of Santiago. Your adrenaline will surge as you make your way through Santiago itself, packed with reminders of the pilgrimage. Nothing quite prepares you though, for arriving at the Cathedral itself, where you can share in the sense that pilgrims have felt since time immemorial. Our final night’s hotel, perhaps Spain’s finest (and reputed to be the world’s oldest hotel) sits majestically adjacent to the Cathedral. Enjoy.
(B) (D)
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Spain
Bicycle Touring
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