Description
Day 1
Welcome to Madrid
The adventure begins when you arrive in Madrid, where your guide and driver will be waiting to take you to the city. Depending on your arrival time, you will have a city guide at your disposal to take you around the most emblematic points of the city. In the evening, dinner and accommodation in one of the most exclusive hotels in the Spanish capital.
Day 2
Madrid, Pamplona
In the morning we will travel to Pamplona on one of the comfortable high-speed trains that connect Madrid with the north of the Iberian Peninsula. After arriving at our destination, we will tour the city with an expert local guide, getting to know its most relevant and well-known corners, where the world-famous Sanfermines are celebrated. We will enjoy its gastronomy, have free time in the afternoon and finish the day with a pintxo route for dinner and accommodation in an exclusive hotel in the city centre.
Day 3
Roncesvalles, Puente la Reina, Elciego
On our first stage of the Camino we will travel to Roncesvalles, the traditional starting point of the French Way. Here, at the foot of its magnificent abbey, walkers and pilgrims arriving from the Cize passes along Napoleon's route have been welcomed here for centuries.
From this village in the Pyrenees mountain range we will set off on foot towards the Basque-Navarre town of Bizkarreta-Gerendiain. Our driver will be there waiting for us to take us to the beautiful town of Puente la Reina, where we will have a fantastic gastronomic experience.
After lunch, a pleasant visit to the history of this important medieval town and transfer to Elciego, where one of the most exclusive wineries of La Rioja wines is located: Marqués de Riscal. There we will get to know its vineyards, its magnificent gastronomic offer, its relaxing spa and its impressive rooms, designed for the best rest.
Day 4
Nájera, Santo Domingo, Burgos
For our second stage of the French Way we will travel from Elciego to the medieval town of Nájera, one of the great urban centres of the Camino in its origins. There we will begin our 15 km walk to Cirueña, a small village that has one of the most beautiful Gothic façades of the rural architecture of the Camino.
In Cirueña we will take the vehicle again and drive to Santo Domingo de la Calzada, where we will visit its cathedral and enjoy the typical Castilian gastronomy. In the afternoon, a short drive to Burgos, historical capital of the kingdom of Castile, and time to rest until late in the evening, when we will take a guided tour of its historic centre and its imposing Gothic cathedral, one of the most beautiful in Spain.
Majestic interior of the transept in Burgos Cathedral
Day 5
Castrojeriz, Sahagún, León
For our third stage of the French Way we leave Burgos in the direction of Castrojeriz. At the foot of the hill where the original settlement of the village stood, we will start walking towards Itero de la Vega, in a stage that takes us to the vast landscapes dominated by the cereal fields of Castile. After covering the 11 km that separate the two towns, we will travel by car to Sahagún to visit the striking church of San Tirso and, from there, to León, a city of Roman origin and home to several of the great monuments that have made the French Route the great European cultural route. We will visit the city, its cathedral and the Royal Collegiate Church of San Isidoro, justly known as the "Sistine Chapel" of Romanesque art. We will end the day in one of the most exclusive accommodations in the city.
Day 6
Cruz de Ferro, Molinaseca, Canedo
Halfway along our route from Roncesvalles to Santiago de Compostela we will arrive today at one of the most emblematic points of the Camino. In the morning, we will leave León in the direction of Foncebadón, leaving the Castilian plains to enter the areas of the Montes de León and Bierzo. From Foncebadón we will ascend to the so-called Cruz de Ferro, one of the most magical places on the route, and descend towards the mountain village of El Acebo. Our vehicle will pick us up there to take us to the beautiful village of Molinaseca, a perfect place to have lunch and recharge our batteries. In the afternoon, transfer to the Canedo Palace, in the heart of El Bierzo, where we will enjoy a unique accommodation surrounded by vineyards and designed for the best rest.
Day 7
O Cebreiro, Samos, Lugo
On this day we will leave the Bierzo region behind to ascend through the Os Ancares mountain range to the mythical village of O Cebreiro, the gateway to Galicia and whose small 10th century church holds, according to legend, the Holy Grail.
From there we will approach Triacastela, where we will begin our 13 km walk along a bucolic path on the banks of the river Oribio that will take us to Samos. In this town stands one of the most impressive abbeys in the Iberian Peninsula. We will visit it with its monks and then continue on to Lugo.
Before retiring to rest in our exclusive hotel, our guide will take us through its historical centre of Roman origin, its walled city, a World Heritage Site, and its beautiful cathedral.
Day 8
PortomarÃn, Melide, Arzúa
The eighth day of the route will take us back to the Camino to walk the stretch between PortomarÃn and Vendas de Narón. We will visit the fortress church of San Nicolás, rescued stone by stone from the reservoir at the foot of Belesar, and after the stage, we will travel to Melide to enjoy one of the most typical dishes of the Camino de Santiago in Galicia and, in general, of the famous Galician gastronomy: octopus á feira.
In the afternoon, we will travel to a traditional rural palace in Arzúa, the perfect place to rest, taste the local designation of origin cheeses and recharge our batteries for the last stage that awaits us the next day.
Pulpo á feira, one of the most typical delicacies of Galicia and the Way of St. James.
Day 9
Monte do Gozo, Santiago de Compostela
We finally reach the last stage that will take us to the gates of the holy city. A quick shuttle will drop us off at Monte do Gozo and from there, with our sights set on the towers of the cathedral, we will head towards our goal. The route, shorter than on previous days, will allow us to arrive at the cathedral in time to participate in the daily mass dedicated to the pilgrims and to see the spectacular flight of the botafumeiro, the giant censer that has become a symbol of Santiago and its route.
In the afternoon, guided tour of the city and the interior of the cathedral, in search of its secrets, its roofs and the famous Portico de la Gloria before retiring to rest in our monumental hotel.
Day 10
Fisterra and Costa da Morte
It is not possible to travel the entire north of the Iberian Peninsula and leave without visiting the magnificent balcony overlooking the ocean that the Romans called "the end of the world". In a guided tour we will leave Santiago de Compostela behind to, during the day, get to know the most magical places of the Costa da Morte, also intimately linked to the Way of St. James. Extra night in Santiago with dinner at Tafona do Peregrino (Michelin star). The following day, flight to Madrid and end of services.
Day 11
Santiago, Madrid, End of services
After breakfast, transfer to the airport and flight to Madrid for stopover. Optional extra nights in Madrid.
ACCOMMODATION
Relais & Chateau Heritages *****
One of the most outstanding hotels in Madrid, right in the centre of the Spanish capital.
Hotel La Perla *****
In the heart of Pamplona, the city of the Sanfermines, to enjoy the essence of the city.
Hotel Marqués de Riscal *****
Unique architecture surrounded by the splendid vineyards of its winery, one of the most exclusive in La Rioja.
Hotel Landa *****
The best hotel in the city of Burgos, historic capital of the kingdom of Castile and León.
Parador de San Marcos *****
The former monastery of San Marcos de León converted into an exclusive hotel in the heart of the old city.
Canedo Palace *****
An old rural palace restored to offer the best experience of the Bierzo region.
Pazo de Orbán *****
Right in the centre of the Roman city of Lugo, a stone's throw from the city walls and its lively streets.
Pazo de Brandeso & Country Club
Old manor house restored to offer the most exclusive stay surrounded by nature.
Parador Hostal Reis Católicos *****
The old pilgrims' hospital that the Catholic Monarchs built in the Plaza del Obradoiro.
EXPERIENCES
Small towns and villages that seem suspended in time to remind us that the Camino has been there for centuries.
Full board in the most authentic and renowned restaurants on the Camino, pintxo and tapas tours and tastings of traditional products.
Experiences centred on the great wines grown in La Rioja, El Bierzo and Galicia, with guided tastings.
Expert guides to discover the great monumental sites of the Camino: Burgos, León, Molinaseca, Samos, Santiago de Compostela and more.
Short stages, perfectly balanced with the best rest, so that the journey is a pleasure of disconnection and tranquillity.
Incredible landscapes to explore on foot or to look out over them, saving each image in your mind's eye and recalling them time and time again.
SERVICES & PRICES
5260 €
+ variables of guide and vehicle with driver
- Variable Road Guide: 4.580 € / gpo.
- Variable Support Vehicle: 6.867 € / gpo.
- Individual Supplement: 1.330 € / p.
Price per person in a double room for a trip of 2 to 6 persons and 10 nights.
Special net prices for partner agencies
Services including in this programme:
- Premium accommodation Pazos, Paradors and 4* and 5* hotels
- Camino Guide and companion to accompany travellers during each tour and as an accompanying guide for visits, experiences and arrangements. The cost varies depending on the number of travellers.
- Gastronomy Selected restaurants on the route (full board) and tastings: pintxos in Pamplona, Marqués de Riscal winery, Palacio de Canedo, D. O. Arzúa-Ulloa cheeses.Â
- Guided tours with official guide in Madrid (subject to timetable), Pamplona, Burgos, León, Samos, Santiago de Compostela and Costa da Morte.
- Luxury vehicle High-end 5+1 seater van with driver, available to travellers for the route, transfers and visits. The cost varies according to the number of passengers.
- Spa sessions subject to availability of accommodation.
- Pilgrim's credential and Compostela.
- Madrid-Pamplona high-speed train.
- Business class flight Santiago-Madrid.
- Travel and cancellation insurance.
- 24-hour on-road assistance for incidents.
- VAT and other taxes
Services not included in this programme:
- Extras in hotels and restaurants.
- Breakfast on the day of departure, dinner on the day of departure and lunch on both days.
- Any other service not specified in the section "Services included".