The French Way Premiun

Spain

COME AND ENJOY. Vibrant street life, lovely weather, and all the confort and facilities you expect.

Historical

The Camino grew in popularity in the Middle Ages, and it became one of the most popular Christian pilgrimages

From 3.500

An exclusive experience on the French Way to Santiago

Explore the magnificent landscapes, spectacular architecture, and all the culture of this historic pilgrimage route that is the Camino de Santiago Francés!

Much more than a trip, a dream for lovers of gastronomy and history!

Camino de Santiago, World Heritage, Medieval route, Inspirational paths, Wine regions, Local producers, Tapas tours, Experiences with sommeliers, Romanesque art, Exclusive accommodations, Michelin stars, National Paradores ..

The French Way is the Jacobean itinerary with the most historical tradition and is the one most recognised internationally.

LORENZO MERIN

Our Camino expert!!

DATES & AVAILIBILITY

May 2nd 2023 - May 14th 2023                    Fully Booked   3.500€

October 10th 2023 - October 22nd 2023     Available    3.500€

Single Supplement + 640€

INFORMATION

Groups           Customized 8 -16

Start/Finish  Pick up from Madrid. Walking from León - Santiago -Finisterre.

Duration        13 Days

Difficulty       Moderate

Price              Per person - twin share

We are sure you will be happy with the accommodation we have hand-picked to give you the best possible experience. Paradores, Boutique hotels or Manor Houses set in townships along the way, surrounded in nature to compliment your Camino. They generally offer home-cooking meals using local or home-grown produce. Each accommodation has en-suite bathrooms for your privacy. You will be welcomed by the owners who are renowned for their hospitality.

You walk your Camino at your own pace, and you can choose to walk alone or with others as you wish. You will be provided with maps and a briefing of the terrain before you begin each day’s walk. Along the Way, you will also be guided by the yellow arrows, so you need not worry about getting lost. We have meeting points along the day's walk where our support vehicle will be waiting with snacks, fruit and water and to make sure everything is OK. If along the Way, you do not want to keep walking for any reason, you can hop on the support vehicle for a rest and re-commence when you feel up to it.

  • Camino de Santiago
  • World Heritage
  • Medieval route
  • Inspirational walks
  • Wine regions
  • Local producers
  • Romanesque art
  • Exclusive accommodation
  • Delicius gastronomy
  • National Paradors

ITINERARY:

Day 1: Madrid.

We will meet at our hotel in Madrid at 1:00 pm with our team of guides, who will accompany us on our trip. Here we will make our introductions, share an overview of the tour, before we leave for a panoramic tour of the capital of Spain by bus. During this visit we will show you the most emblematic places of the city and we will walk through its historic centre. After the visit, we will enjoy a welcome dinner in a carefully selected restaurant, and continue getting to know each other before the beginning of our journey. Return to the hotel and lodging.

Day 2: León

Breakfast and our departure towards León. City of Roman foundation, and one of the key points of interest of the French Way, it is home to a great historical-artistic wealth, as well as being the nominated Gastronomic Capital 2018. Here we will enjoy a magnificent meal in a popular restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the historic centre on foot with a local guide to discover its Cathedral, the Basilica of San Isidoro and its well-known Palacio de Botines, designed by the great architect Gaudí. We will finish the visit with a private organ concert in the Gothic Cathedral – this is without a doubt a spectacular start for our Camino. Dinner at your own leisure, enabling you to explore the culinary delights of this fine city. Accommodation overnight at the hotel

Day 3: Astorga

Today we will walk our first stage on the French Way of St. James. We will make a brief stop to visit Hospital de Órbigo, its Puente del Paso Honroso and the history of Don Suero de Quiñones, after which we will start the stage until the Santo Toribio cruise (12km). Once finished, and pause to recover your strength, we will enjoy the typical lunch of the area in Castrillo de los Polvázares, at its famous Cocido Maragato. After lunch we will stay in the historic city of Astorga. In the afternoon, accompanied by a local guide we will take a stroll to see its Roman walls, the Cathedral and the Bishop's Palace, designed by Gaudí and which houses the Museum of the Roads. Dinner at your own lesuire.

Day 4: Ponferrada

Our stage today will take us to the highest point of the French Way, La Cruz de Ferro, where for centuries, pilgrims perform the ritual of depositing a stone brought from its place of origin at the foot of this Cross. We enter the Bierzo region, walking from Foncebadón to the beautiful village of El Acebo (11km). Lunch at Molinaseca at Casa Ramón. After lunch, we will make a stop at the Templar Castle of Ponferrada. We will then venture on to our accommodation, a charming hotel surrounded by vineyards, where after relaxing, we will enjoy a visit to the vineyard, with a tasting of wines and enjoying typical products of Bierzo.

Day 5: Monforte de Lemos

We leave in the direction of Galicia, to begin our stage in the village of La Faba, in the mountain of Los Ancares, up to O Cebreiro (8 km). We will visit his pre- Romanesque church of the ninth century, where we will learn about the history of the Chalice of the Miracle. From O Cebreiro, we travel along the road by bus, through beautiful mountain landscapes and charming Galician villages to the Monastery of Samos, one of the oldest in Galicia and of great importance for centuries. After lunch at a quaint restaurant, we will venture on to the region of the Ribeira Sacra, a place of passage of another of the Ways to Santiago. Dinner at our hotel and overnight lodging.

Day 6: Ribeira Sacra

We will dedicate this day, to get to know the Ribeira Sacra and the canyons of the river Sil. We will visit a typical winery, where we will taste its delicious wines, fruit of the so-called ``heroic vintage``, due to the difficulty of growing and harvesting the grapes on the steep slopes. We will enjoy a magnificent lunch and a cruise through the Sil canyons, by private boat, from which we will admire the incredible natural beauty of this Galician region. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Monforte.

Day 7: Lugo

In the morning we will put on our boots, to walk from the outskirts of Sarria to Vilachá (11km), through beautiful paths and villages where we will see the way of life of its people. In Portomarin we will have time to visit the Church of San Nicolás, from the 12th century. Lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch we will travel to the capital of the province, Lugo, where we will visit its 3rd century Roman Wall, (World Heritage site), as well as the Cathedral and experience the lively atmosphere of this city. We will enjoy an exclusive tapas tour through its medieval village. Accommodation in the centrally located hotel.

Day 8: Palas de Rey

Today's stage will take us from the village of Gonzár to Airexe (10 km), where we will visit Castro de Castromaior, an ancient Celtic settlement and the Templar Chapel of María Magdalena, in Ventas de Marón. Next, we will visit another Romanesque jewel of the Camino de Santiago, the church of Villar de Donas, with its tombstones of Knights of the Order of Santiago. Eating our lunch today in a fabulous rural restaurant; one of the best rural restaurants in Spain. This afternoon we will learn first-hand about the production of the famous Arzua Ulloa cheese. There, in this traditional village, we will make cheese with our own hands! Return to Lugo. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 9: Melide

Our steps take us today, to another beautiful stretch of road from San Xulian do Camiño to Melide (11 km). We will walk among chestnut and oak forests that will take us to one of the capitals of the octopus of Galicia, where we will taste this delicacy in one of its typical restaurants. After lunch, we will go to our accommodation in a Galician country house, where we will enjoy a relaxing afternoon with the option of enjoying a massage, or simply relaxing by the pool or gardens. Dinner at our lodging.

Day 10: Monte do Gozo

On this day we will walk to the very gates of Santiago de Compostela! Leaving from Pedrouzo, journeying on to Lavacolla (10 km). We will visit the Monte do Gozo, a place from which we will see the towers of the Cathedral and feel the emotion that so many millions of pilgrims have experienced for centuries when they see the longed-for goal. Eating lunch in our carefully selected restaurant, we move, without leaving the Monte do Gozo, to our accommodation. In the afternoon we will have a Cooking Class in this fine establishment. We will be taught by an exceptional cook, with dinner included.

Day 11: Santiago

Finally, our big day arrives, the arrival in Santiago. Departing from Monte do Gozo, we will travel the last 5 kilometres to reach the Cathedral and attend the Pilgrim's Mass, after which we will admire the flight of the famous Botafumeiro, (whenever it is operational). Then we will arrive as medieval pilgrims to our lodging in the Parador de los Reyes Católicos, in the beautiful Plaza del Obradoiro. We will enjoy a free afternoon to explore this World Heritage city. At night, we will have a very special farewell dinner full of surprises – and you will receive a Certificate of visit to the Cathedral issued by the Cathedral Chapter. Accommodation at the Parador.

Day 12: Finisterre

After breakfast, we will have a tour of the historical centre on foot with a local guide, to get to know the corners and the history of this Holy City created around the Sepulchre of the Apostle. We will finish this tour with a visit to the roofs of the Cathedral, where we will learn about the secrets of the construction of this magnificent temple that took centuries to complete. After these visits, we will journey to the perfect epilogue of our pilgrimage, Finisterre - the end of the world baptized by the Romans and that today is the final goal of many pilgrims, who continue walking until the end of the world known in antiquity. We will have a lunch in the port of Finisterre, with the best products from the Galician coasts. After lunch we will visit the lighthouse, its cliffs and the famous 0 (zero) kilometre marker of the Camino de Santiago. Before returning to Santiago, we will make another brief stop in Muxía, another Jacobean landmark, with its Sanctuary of the Virgin of La Barca, who appeared to Santiago on a stone boat in the sea when he was preaching on Iberian lands. Return to Santiago and accommodation at the Parador.

Day 13: Santiago

Time for farewells. Buen Camino!

WHAT DO WE INCLUDE?

Transport

PRIVATE BUS . LUGGAGE TRANSFER.

Guides

BILINGUAL GUIDES. 24H ASSISTANCE

Accomodation

SELECTED ACCOMMODATIONS. PARADORES.

Meals

BREAKFAST . MEALS AND DINNERS (*) . SNACKS AND FRUITS. WINE TASTES

ActIvities

TRIP IN CATAMARAN. GUIDED VISITS TO HISTORICAL SITES .

Insurance & More

TRAVEL INSURANCE . MAPS & INFO. PILGRIM KIT. PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTFOLIO

OPTIONAL INCLUSIONS

EXTRA NIGHTS

AIRPORT TRANSFERS

DAYTRIPS

NOT INCLUDED

SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT

INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL FLIGHTS

TRAIN & BUS TICKETS

DRINKS

GUEST STORIES

James Fair. Oct 19

This was a fantastic trip with lots of free time to explore the cities on your own. The local transport used was extremely good and the included activities, particularly the tapas and the Camino walk, were excellent.

Susan and Dave. May19

A great trip, with a wonderful group of fellow travellers. Incredibly well lead by Helder. Enabled an opportunity to get to know a little about Spain and to appreciate the diverse nature and history of the country.

HOW TO BOOK?

On Line: Book Now

E- mail : [email protected]

Phone : + 34 633 317 697

PAYMENT METHODS

Wire Transfer

Secure Payment: Visa, MasterCard, PayPal

We will respond to your enquiries within 24 hours

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