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Trip Style
Walking & Trekking
Budget
Affordable
Pace
Leisurely
Trip Code
W12CS
Overview
Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on Exodus 13 Day Following St James' Way, Self-Guided Walking. One of the most ancient walking routes in the world, the Spanish Camino de Santiago is popular with walkers from all over the world, who come to follow in the footsteps of travellers from the 9th century onwards. The 800km journey across northern Spain has led thousands of pilgrims on a winding route from the Pyrenees across the wheat fields of old Castile to pass through Leon, the seat of Spanish Kings, full of soaring cathedrals and hushed convents, before entering Galicia. As you reach Santiago...read more de Compostela's majestic Baroque cathedral, your route comes to a spectacular finale at the resting place of the Apostle St James.
On this 12-night trip, you'll begin your walking in Leon - you'll spend two nights here, giving you ample chance to explore the historic city and its fabulous architecture. From here, in keeping with the pilgrimage route, you'll walk daily along farm tracks, paths and country lanes, enjoying sociable lunches in restaurants en route. Remember to have your Pilgrim Passport stamped in bars, hotels and churches along the way to qualify for a certificate from the official Pilgrim Office in Santiago. After you've reached your journey's end, you'll spend two nights in UNESCO-listed Santiago de Compostela so you can explore the city's old town, and its Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque buildings. You can even choose to attend the special Pilgrim Mass at 12 noon.
You'll stay in an astonishingly diverse range of properties including restored parish houses, converted water mills and stylish farmhouses, all of them packed with period features. We have included transfers after breakfast on the first three walking days, after which you'll walk all the way to Santiago. The sense of achievement on arrival is immense, and sharing in this tradition is incredibly rewarding.
Along with your Pilgrim Passport you'll notice a profound and heart-warming camaraderie with other walkers, as day by day you fall in and out of step with people from all over the world, some of whom have been walking for months covering hundreds of miles! You'll also find complete strangers cheering you on and wishing you 'Buen Camino!' ('Enjoy your walk!').
On this 12-night trip, you'll begin your walking in Leon - you'll spend two nights here, giving you ample chance to explore the historic city and its fabulous architecture. From here, in keeping with the pilgrimage route, you'll walk daily along farm tracks, paths and country lanes, enjoying sociable lunches in restaurants en route. Remember to have your Pilgrim Passport stamped in bars, hotels and churches along the way to qualify for a certificate from the official Pilgrim Office in Santiago. After you've reached your journey's end, you'll spend two nights in UNESCO-listed Santiago de Compostela so you can explore the city's old town, and its Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque buildings. You can even choose to attend the special Pilgrim Mass at 12 noon.
You'll stay in an astonishingly diverse range of properties including restored parish houses, converted water mills and stylish farmhouses, all of them packed with period features. We have included transfers after breakfast on the first three walking days, after which you'll walk all the way to Santiago. The sense of achievement on arrival is immense, and sharing in this tradition is incredibly rewarding.
Along with your Pilgrim Passport you'll notice a profound and heart-warming camaraderie with other walkers, as day by day you fall in and out of step with people from all over the world, some of whom have been walking for months covering hundreds of miles! You'll also find complete strangers cheering you on and wishing you 'Buen Camino!' ('Enjoy your walk!').
Itinerary
Arrive at your historic hotel in the heart of Leon. There are masses of restaurants and tapas bars on your doorstep, so we've left the choice up to you for dinner tonight. Stay: Comfortable Hotel.
Today, you are free to explore Leon which is famous for its historical and architectural heritage, perhaps visit the Casa Botines, a creation of the famous Antoni Gaudi or the Museum of Contemporary Art (MUSAC) which is also is a superb example of modern architecture (B).
Your day starts with a guided tour of Leon's magnificent gothic Cathedral which is often called the 'House of Light' and a visit to the Basilica of San Isidoro, one of the most important Romanesque churches in Spain and resting place of Leon's mediaeval monarchs. You will then receive your pilgrims passport.
We then provide a transfer (1hr) to Cruz de Ferro, the highest point on the Camino, marked by a pre-Roman cross. The Camino winds downhill through fragrant pines where once the Knights Templar protected pilgrims from bandit attack. A path lined with wild chestnuts, cherries, peppers and fennel leads to riverside Molinaseca, known to be one of the most beautiful villages on the Camino. Two options: Distance 8km/5mi, approx. 2 hours walking or 19km/12mi, approx. 4 hours walking. Stay: Comfortable Hotel (B).
After a short transfer (30 mins), you ascend the Rio Valcarce valley, climbing into moody oak woods strung with lichen and strewn with early purple orchid. O Cebreiro is a 11th Century village in the heart of the Cordillera Cantabrica. Walk to the viewpoint above the village for a perfect sunset and views over four ranges of hills then return along the narrow, cobbled streets, past traditional thatched houses known as pallozas. Stay: Comfortable Hotel (B/D).
After a short transfer we drop you off at Triacastela. As the Camino meanders between heather-clad villages overlooking the Monastery of Samos, you can hear the bells ringing. On reaching Sarria - the antiques capital of Galicia, you'll be whisked to Javier and Raquel's elegant country rectory (10 mins), complete with chapel and al fresco dining patio area. Stay: Comfortable Hotel (B/D).
A Roman bridge leads out of Sarria up the Celerio Valley, where you'll traverse the hamlets of the southern flank of the Sierra del Paramo. Descend into Portomarin - the original village was drowned by the Belesar Reservoir, and some remains still shimmer below the surface! Comfortable Hotel (B/D).
Drop into Portomarin's church then follow the Torres stream, passing between cornfields lined with ox-eye daisies. Stamp your Pilgrim Passport in country churches dedicated to the Order of St James before arriving at your beautifully restored rectory. Stay: Comfortable Hotel (B/D).
Country lanes lead past fortified farmhouses into the hillside town of Palas de Rei (Palace of the King) as you enter the province of A Coruna. You'll pass typical, raised Galician granaries, and chickens scamper across narrow streets as you enter vineyards, with views east to the Montes del Vacaloura. Stay: Comfortable Hotel (B/D).
Today's first stop is Melide - a thriving country town where tavernas brim with locals enjoying Galician seafood in specialist pulperias (octopus restaurants). Drop into the Romanesque church to admire the frescoes, before lanes lined with bright yellow celandine bring you into the lively market town of Arzua. Continue on to your elegant manor house, surrounded by tranquil countryside, just outside the town. Stay: Comfortable Hotel (B/D).
Arzua's colonnaded streets lead into open country where local farmers wear berets as they tend vines and build haystacks with pitch forks. Your route rises and falls through river valleys, crossing rushing streams. This evening you can marvel at Javier's breathtaking converted water mill, where original machinery has been turned into spectacular period features. Stay: Comfortable Hotel (B/D).
Excitement mounts as you set off towards Monte do Gozo (Mount of Joy), where pilgrims of old caught their first glimpse of the spires of Santiago. On reaching Santiago's historic centre, congratulations are everywhere as a steady stream of pilgrims reach their journey's end below the cathedral's spectacular Baroque facade. Drop into the Pilgrim Office to collect your certificate if you wish, before checking into our historic hotel near the old marketplace - still a riot of colour! Comfortable Hotel (B).
You can choose to attend the Pilgrim Mass (at 12 noon) before exploring this beautiful city. The old town has Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque buildings and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The oldest monuments are grouped around the tomb of St James and the cathedral, which contains the remarkable Portico de la Gloria (B).
Enjoy Santiago and the cathedral before taking a taxi to the airport (pay locally approx 15 euro). Alternatively, stay on for extra nights to explore this beautiful historic city. Walking through the old streets of Santiago is a fantastic way to spend your time here, with Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque buildings lining the old town's streets and plazas (B).
Trip Inclusions
- A spectacular walk along one of the most famous UNESCO pilgrimage routes in the world
- Two nights in beautiful Leon - great historical and architectural heritage, and in Santiago de Compostela - a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Excellent variety of accommodation: converted water mills, restored parish houses, stylish farmhouses
- Poppy sprinkled wheat fields, orchid rich water meadows, pine-scented woodland
- 12 nights in 2 to 4-star hotels
- 9 days point-to-point walking
- All buffet breakfasts and 7 dinners
- Route notes
- Standard Madrid to León rail ticket (if booking flight inclusive)
- Pilgrim Passport to record your adventure en-route
- Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified.
- Flights not specified are not included
- Altitude max. 1300m, average 700m
About Exodus Travels
Hit the trails with Exodus - from challenging peaks to leisurely coastal and countryside walks. Read more
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Accommodation with Personality
Wherever possible, Exodus chooses properties that are locally owned and that reflect the area you are visiting. Read more
Prices & Dates
There are currently no departures available on this trip. Either it's the end of the season and new departures will be released shortly, or this itinerary has been changed and will no longer continue. Feel free to contact us for information about when next seasons dates will be released or click here to view the general release dates for all destinations.
Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices and trip information are correct at the time at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Exodus. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Exodus. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices and trip information are correct at the time at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Exodus. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Exodus. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
