A Taste of the Camino: Porto to Bilbao

A tangled maze of medieval walls and contemporary architecture hugging the banks of the mighty Rio Douro – our journey across the Camino will begin in the evocative Portuguese city of Porto.

After we've settled into our hotel we'll get to know one another better over a sumptuous welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Here's to the adventure ahead! Stay: Catalonia Porto Hotel (or similar) (D)

After breakfast this morning, we'll board the mini-coach and leisurely make our way to picturesque Viana Do Castelo. Spend some time soaking up the magnificent views over the attractive riverfront and incredible neo-Byzantine Templo do Sagrado Coração de Jesus, before we continue to Ponte de Lima to see the ancient bridge (first constructed by the Romans in 1 AD). One of the oldest towns in Portugal, Ponte de Lima is a charmingly photogenic town located on the banks of the Lima River.

We'll enjoy some free time this afternoon exploring the historic centre dotted with quaint cafes, vibrant flower gardens and sunny plazas at our leisure. Later, we'll continue to Santiago de Compostela – where we'll have the evening to explore the handsome city centre or relax at our hand-picked hotel. Stay: Gran Hotel Los Abetos (or similar) (B)

The final stop on the famous Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail and alleged burial site of Saint James – Santiago de Compostela is steeped in fascinating history. We'll have the opportunity to delve deeper into this city's rich heritage and admire the magnificent stone architecture of the Old Town on a locally guided walking tour – taking in the likes of Plaza del Obradoiro, the Palacio de Raxoi and the Cathedral de Santiago as we go. Then: the rest of the afternoon is ours to explore at our own pace.

This evening, we'll be free to indulge in some exquisite local seafood and savour the flavours of traditional Galician cuisine at a restaurant of our choosing. Stay: Gran Hotel Los Abetos (or similar) (B)

Today, we'll continue our journey to Ponferrada where we'll pay a visit to the impressive Castillo de los Templarios (Templars Castle). We'll travel back in time as we wander the walls of this giant fortress – built in 1178 to protect the pilgrims on their road to Santiago de Compostela. Following our visit, we'll venture into the city centre to enjoy lunch at our leisure.

Continuing our journey into northern Castilla, we'll arrive at our final stop of the day: León. This evening, we'll enjoy some free time to seek out a local eatery amid the city's picturesque old quarter or relax at our hotel. Stay: NH Collection Plaza Mayor (or similar) (B)

This morning, we'll leave the metropolis of León behind and journey into the mesmerising Picos de Europa National Park. Located in the Cantabrian Mountains, this vast expanse of towering snow-capped peaks and deep green valleys is an evocative sight to behold – and we'll enjoy many opportunities to take in the breathtaking views as we make our way to Parador de Fuente Dé.

Once here, we'll savour an included lunch and enjoy more panoramic photo opportunities with a cable car ride to the Aliva viewpoint. After a spectacular day of exploring, we'll end our day in Santillana del Mar – where a final tantalising group meal awaits. Stay: Santillana Hotel (or similar) (B/L/D)