Duration:

10 Days / 9 Nights

Distance:

107 km / 66.5 mi

Difficulty:

Low

Start / End

Madrid - Santiago

2017:
2450 €

Single room supplement: +450 €

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El Camino Walking Tour - Light-paced!

Our classic Buen Camino Lite is designed to walk the last hundred kilometers necessary to obtain the Compostela certificate from Sarria in 8 short stages, averaging just 13 kilometers (8 miles) per day. We use some of our extra free time in the afternoons for wonderful visits and workshops to really immerse yourselves in the culture of Galicia and live a truly unique experience. Along the Way we will enjoy the charm of authentic Galician rural manors, which have been personally selected by us for their great hospitality and service. A classic Camino walking tour for any ages - anybody can walk the Camino.

Meals

All breakfasts and dinners are included in this tour. We have carefully selected the included meals so you can have a taste of the most typical, most delicious, local cuisine. Most lunches are not included to provide more flexibility during the day and so you can experiment on your own. You can stop and eat something along the way, or have lunch at the end of the daily stage.

Vegetarians, vegans, or those with a special diet (eg. gluten-free) can always find suitable options. Just let us know beforehand and we will be happy to accommodate your needs.

Accommodation

All of our accommodations are hand-picked to give you the best possible experience on our camino walking tour. We will stay in charming Galician manors, usually located in rural areas, that used to be the homes of important people in the community in the past such as kings or noblemen. They form part of the cultural experience. Usually they are located in privileged areas surrounded with green, peaceful scenery. All our accommodations have a private en suite bathrooms. You can be sure to receive personalized attention and excellent service from the owners, who will make you feel more than at home.

Walking

On our el Camino walking tour we want you to walk at your own pace. There is no one you have to follow or walk with, but our guides are available for you at any time. We have meeting points along the way where our support vehicle will be waiting with snacks, fruit and water and to make sure everything is OK. We also offer assistance for any unexpected circumstances or simply to relieve muscular pain or cure blisters.
Don’t worry about getting lost! The yellow arrows will always guide the way. Moreover, on the Camino you are never alone. If you do not want to keep walking for any reason, you can hop on the support vehicle or be taken back to the hotel. After the daily walk, and after we’ve all had lunch we will head back to the hotel where we can shower, freshen up and have a much-deserved rest.

Before and After

Before: Our Camino walking tour starts in the city of Madrid, where most international flights arrive. We recommend arriving at least one day before the starting date. Take advantage of our exclusive rate at the 5-star Paseo del Prado hotel where we meet the first day in Madrid. We also offer authentic, exciting experiences in Madrid and its surroundings!

After: Our tour ends in Santiago de Compostela on the last day at around 1:00 pm. Transportation back to Madrid is NOT included. We also offer optional add-on activities like our recommended one-day trip to Finisterre or visits to other regions of Galicia.

Flying back to Madrid is a convenient option, there are many daily flights that cover the 1-hour journey to Madrid. You can also return by train, which takes approximately 6 hours. You can book online or through your travel agency.

Means and Assistance

Vehicle and guide

A vehicle and guide for logistical support will be available during the entire route. It shall be of help not only for the pilgrims in transit but for the transport of luggage and to cover any other needs that might arise along the way. It will have fruits, snacks, water, medicine, first aid kits and everything necessary for unexpected situations.

Luggage transferred

The luggage will be transferred from one hotel to the next using the support vehicle. For the walk you can take a small/medium backpack for a camera, water bottle, and personal belongings. You can use the one we provide, or bring your own.

Mobile phones

Mobile phones with a spanish line will be handed out for the period of the tour for every 2 or 3 pilgrims. This will allow you to communicate with the driver or guides for any reason at all times. The number can also be given to family members back home to receive phone calls.

Packing list

We will send you a packing list with recommendations on what to bring along on your trip, along with a ‘Guide to Your Camino’ which answers questions regarding laundry, tip, and other useful topics.

Dates:

  • Sep 04 - Sep 13, 17
  • Sep 10 - Sep 19, 17
  • Sep 19 - Sep 28, 17
  • Sep 28 - Oct 07, 17
  • Oct 06 - Oct 15, 17
  • Oct 17 - Oct 26, 17
  • May 03 - May 12, 18
  • May 16 - May 25, 18
  • Jun 04 - Jun 13, 18
  • Jun 19 - Jun 28, 18
  • Sep 06 - Sep 15, 18
  • Sep 18 - Sep 27, 18
  • Sep 23 - Oct 02, 18
  • Oct 14 - Oct 23, 18

El Camino Walking Tour includes:

  • Private Van Support & Luggage transfer
  • All breakfasts, drinks and snacks
  • Mobile phones with a Spanish line
  • Pilgrims' Kit
  • Travel insurance for the entire tour
  • Guaranteed BOTAFUMEIRO ritual (Santiago only)
  • Carefully selected en suite accommodation
  • English-speaking guide assistance
  • Informational program and route map
  • Photos of your Camino
  • Farewell dinner and surprise
  • Value added Tax (VAT)
  • Trasportation from Madrid
  • Welcome lunch in Castrillo de los Polvazares
  • All Dinners
  • Guided visit in Arzua's honey museum
  • Spanish omelette workshop
  • Artisanal cheese making workshop
  • Guided visit in Santiago

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1

Meet in Madrid
Drive to Sarria with Visits

At 8:30am, we will meet at the NH Paseo del Prado Hotel lobby in Madrid. From here the group will be transferred on our private vehicle to the city of Sarria. We will visit the amazing city of Astorga followed by a lovelyl welcome lunch at Castrillo de los Polvazares.
Finally before arriving in Sarria, we will visit the town of O'Cebreiro, which marks the beginning of the Camino de Santiago in Galicia.

Night in Sarria.

Day 2

Peruscallo - Portomarín
13.5 km / 8.4 mi

We start our Camino today!

Along this stage we will come across the towns of Ferreiros, A Parrocha and Portomarín where we will be delighted by fabulous monuments such as the Romanesque portico at the church of Ferreiros, the fortified church of St. Nicholas in Portomarín and the legendary 100 km marker. We will also have the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful view of the Miño river valley right outside Vilacha.

Night in Sarria.

Day 3

Portomarín - Airexe
17.5 km / 10.9 mi


Today's journey will take us through the towns of Portomarín, Gonzar, Ventas de Narón and Ligonde until we reach Airexe. We will have the opportunity to visit the church of "Vilar de Donas", considered to be one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture on the Camino.

Night in Palas de Rei.

Day 4

Airexe - O Coto
16.2 km / 10 mi

Most of today's stage will be through beautiful forest paths passing by the towns of Palas de Rei, where we can admire the Romanesque portico of the church of San Tirso, San Xulián and Casanova before finally reaching the hamlet of O Coto. We will enjoy a wonderful traditional workshop where we will learn to make local artisanal organic cheese. Afterwards we will be able to sample our delicious creations.

Night in Palas de Rei.

Day 5

O Coto - Boente
12.3 km / 7.6 mi

Today we will cross the border that divides the provinces of Lugo and La Coruña via an ancient roman road. We will enjoy true jewels of the Camino such as the church of "La virgen de las nieves" in the town of Furelos and the churches of Sancti Spiritus and Santa Maria de Melide in Melide, a town famous for its octopus which we can sample in one of its "Pulperías" (restaurants specialising in octopus). Today we might also visit a 14th century castle in the town of Pambre.

Night in Arzúa.

Day 6

Boente - Calzada
14.3 km / 8.9 mi


Today's walk will take us through the lovely towns of Castañeda, Ribadiso, Arzúa and Preguntoño, all very closely linked to the history of the Camino. In Arzúa we can see the beautiful chapel of "La Magdalena" built in gothic style in the 14th century. We'll enjoy some of Arzúa's delicious cheese which was awarded Denomination of Origin. After our walk we will visit Arzua's honey museum, where we will learn about the life and work of the bee, one of our ecosystem's most important insects.

Night in Arzúa

Day 7

Calzada - Pedrouzo
13.5 km / 8.5 mi

Our stage for this day will take us to the villages of Salceda, O Empalme, Santa Irene and A Rua to finally arrive in the town of Pedrouzo. Along the journey we will have the opportunity to see the hermitage of St. Irene and its baroque fountain whose water is said to have curative properties.

Night in Lavacolla.

Day 8

Pedrouzo - Monte de Gozo
15.1 km / 9.4 mi


Today's stage will take us mainly through wooded areas and forests until we finally reach Lavacolla, the place where the purification ritual needed to arrive in Santiago was performed in ancient times. We will end our walk in Monte do Gozo (Mount of Joy) where we can enjoy a marvelous panoramic view of Santiago in which we will be able to make out our final destination: Santiago de Compostela's Cathedral.

Night in Lavacolla.

Day 9

Monte do Gozo - Santiago de Compostela
4.8 km / 2.9 mi

Today is our journey's most exciting day!
We will make our way to our final destination: Santiago's Cathedral. We are scheduled to arrive in Santiago before 12:00 pm, so that those who wish to attend the pilgrim’s mass and perform any pilgrim rituals like hugging the Apostle Santiago can do so. In the evening, we will have a wonderful farewell surprise accompanied by a delicious dinner to celebrate our arrival.

Night in Santiago de Compostela.

Day 10

Guided visit of Santiago.
End of tour.

In the morning we will enjoy a guided visit through Santiago focused on the old city, where we will recall the history of the city and the pilgrimage to Santiago through its main monuments, squares and streets. During the visit we will enter the Cathedral where, in addition to its history and evolution, well-known traditions will be explained. We will also enjoy an exclusive visit to the Cathedral's roof to enjoy the most spectacular view of the city. Our tour comes to an end at about 1 pm.
Your Camino through life begins!

OPTIONAL

Full-day Trip to Finisterre
Not Included in Price

You will need to extend your stay in Santiago by one or two nights to join this trip.
You meet your local guide in Santiago and, in our private van, head towards Muros, one of the most beautiful coastal towns in Spain, making a short stop in Alto de Paxareiras until we reach Ézaro & head to the famous Finisterre lighthouse. After breaking for lunch in Finisterre, we will drive back to Santiago.

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Have more questions?
What size are the groups?

Our groups are generally 8 to 15 people. We prefer to keep our groups under 15 people, although…

Will we have Internet/WiFi?

Most of our accommodations have internet access (WiFi). About 30 days before your trip you will receive a list of all the accommodation names and details in which we will confirm where you will have WiFi.