IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ST. JAMES
08 Day small group walking tour
On Request from May - October
DAY 1 LEON
The tour begins in Leon for a short orientation meeting. Afterwards we head out on a walking tour of the centre of León where we'll visit, among other sights, the beautiful Gothic cathedral and the Royal Basilica of San Isidoro.
This will be followed by a tapas lunch in one of the city's many lively bars. We'll have time to rest in our hotel before enjoying a tasting of local wines and embutidos (cold cuts) in a local tavern. Overnight Leon.
DAY 2 LEON - PONFERRADA
Breakfast. The journey begins with a drive to the Puente de Orbigo, an imposing medieval bridge on the Camino that features in knight's legends. From there we'll drive into the Roman town of Astorga, founded in 14 BCE by the Emperor Octavian, and one of the main points on the Camino Francés - the branch of the Camino taken by pilgrims from France. Our walk today (20 kms) begin just near the picturesque little village of Rabanal del Camino, from where we climb up to the Cruz de Ferro (Iron Cross - at 1500m the highest point on the Camino) and then descend arriving eventually in the the town of Molinaseca from where we'll be driven to the Hotel Bierzo Plaza in the centre of Ponferrada. Dinner will be in a local restaurant, a town favourite and we'll enjoy a wine tasting with wines from the Bierzo region. Dinner and Overnight Ponferrada.
DAY 3 PONFERRADA - SARRIA
After breakfast we shuttle to Cacabelos where we can sample some local wine and enjoy a local specialty: empanadas. We then drive to Villafranca del Bierzo, an old town which posseses one of the most important Romanesque churches along the Camino: the Church of Santiago. The nearby town of Ambasmestas is the starting point for our walk (13 kms), as we leave behind Castilla y León and enter into Galicia. The walk ends at the old Celtic village of O'Cebreiro, a short drive to our hotel, the Casa Caxigueiro, outside Sarria. That evening we'll visit the Benedictine Monastery at Samos, where there's the chance to join the monks at evening prayers. Tonight's dinner at the hotel includes a cooking demonstration from the owners. Dinner and Overnight Sarria.
DAY 4 SARRIA - PORTOMARIN
Breakfast. Our hotel is on the Camino itself, so today we walk out of the front door and begin our 22 kms walk to the town of Portomarín. Today's route takes us through some gorgeous rural areas of Galicia, long-abandoned towns, and probably the most attractive scenery along the entire Camino. We end our walk in the new town of Portomarín which sits above a reservoir, the waters of which cover the old settlement. Tonight we'll enjoy the warm hospitality of our host Mario, together with great food and wine, at the Casa Santa Mariña. Dinner and Overnight Portomarín.
DAY 5 PORTOMARIN - SANTA MARIA DE CASTAÑEDA
Breakfast. We begin another beautiful walk today of 26 kms in the town of Ventas de Narón. Here, the Camino leaves the mountains behind, and this section runs through the Miño valley, through native woods of native oaks and chestnuts, passing a succession of villages of great interest such as Palas de Rei and Coto. We eventually arrive at Melide, once an important intersection in the Roman Via Traiana. This afternoon we can relax by the hotel pool, have a drink on the terrace, or rest our weary feet. Dinner and Overnight Santa María de Castañeda.
DAY 6 SANTA MARIA DE CASTAÑEDA - ARZUA
Breakfast. Again the walk begins on the doorstep of our hotel and takes us over some delightful countryside some 25 kms to the hamlet of Salceda. The simple church in Boente is worth a visit, then pause in Arzúa to sample its famous wine and a chat with the locals, followed by a pleasant walk to Salceda. From here we have another short shuttle to our historic hotel, the Casa Brandariz, which dates back to 1523. Dinner and Overnight Arzua.
DAY 7 ARZUA- SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
Breakfast. The final stretch into Santiago de Compostela begins today! We will end our pilgrimage in front of the magnificent Cathedral of Santiago. But first we have a lovely walk through eucalyptus forests, over medieval bridges as we slowly weave our way through its ancient streets to the glorious Plaza del Obradoiro - the final destination for all pilgrims. After soaking in the atmosphere and sense of achievement, it's but a short walk to our final night's accommodation, the intimate and homely Hotel La Herradura, for a chance to rest and get ready for a memorable dinner and evening on the town. Dinner and Overnight Santiago de Compostela.
DAY 8 SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
After a leisurely breakfast we'll be taken by a local expert guide on a fascinating two hour visit through historic Santiago. The highlight of this is likely to be the Cathedral, the largest Romanesque church in Spain and one of the largest in Europe. At 12 noon we will bid farewell to our travelling companions as the tour ends.
END ITINERARY
Walking levels:
The walks are generally to be considered as "Easy-to-Moderate", provided you are accustomed to walking/hiking. Some prior hiking experience is beneficial but anyone in good physical condition will have no problems with the walks.
Distances:
This trip is rated moderate with some challenging stretches. We cover about 22 kms per day (14 miles), which amounts to 5-7 hours of walking per day, but there are options to do fewer miles and the trip may be van supported (please ask us about this if it is of concern).
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Iberia has charmed travellers for centuries, but it was not until the early19th century that the first romantics brought Spain into world recognition. Richard Ford along with many others of his time, describing the country as a 'land of miracles, anomalies and contradictions'.
Spain today embodies all of the contrasts of yesteryear. With its rich and varied culture and language, Spain's 17 autonomous regions offer many unexpected architectural, geographical, cultural, gastronomic and climatic differences; all contributing to the many delights and pleasures of the visitor.
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| Self Drive Tours: | A GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE IN NORTHERN SPAIN -- ROMANTIC ANDALUCIA -- WORLD HERITAGE ENCOUNTER |
| Fully Escorted Tours: | ANDALUCIA AND MEDITERRANEAN COAST -- ANDALUCIA AND MOROCCO -- ANDALUCIA AND TOLEDO -- CASTILLA, PORTUGAL AND ANDALUCIA -- GREEN SPAIN -- NORTH OF SPAIN -- SALAMANCA AND PORTUGAL |
| Small Group Tours: | GOURMET SPAIN |
| Tours with Private driver: | SEVILLA AND THE WHITE VILLAGES OF ANDALUCIA -- SEVILLA, CORDOBA AND GRANADA |
| Walking Tours: | EL CAMINO DEL NORTE -- EL CAMINO PRIMITIVO -- SHORT BREAK PICOS DE EUROPA -- THE ALPUJARRAS - MOORISH SPLENDOUR -- WALKING THE PICOS DE EUROPA |
| Unique Spain: | BARCELONA AND ORGANIC WINE IN THE PENEDÈS -- BARCELONA AND THE MEDIEVAL VILLAGES OF CATALONIA -- A GOURMET'S GRANADA -- BARCELONA AND THE GENIUS OF DALI -- GRANADA -ORIGINS OF FLAMENCO -- SEVILLA AND THE PUEBLOS BLANCOS - A CULINARY ENCOUNTER -- THE MOORISH LEGACY IN GRANADA |
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IBERTOURS is the sole GSA in Australia and New Zealand for the Great Train Journeys of Spain. These marvellous journeys attend to the needs of the traveller who is keen to savour the travel delights of yesteryear and who is enticed by the notion of a special journey by rail.
"El Transcantabrico" explores the rugged mountains and seascape of the northern coast in an 08 day gastronomic adventure. There are 2 very special and itineraries to select.
The "Espreso de la Robla" takes one on an enjoyable 4 day regional rail experience between Bilbao and Leon, as well as Gijon and Santiago de Compostela.
The legendary "Al Andalus" returns in 2012 in a luxurious 6 day adventure through historical Andalucia, from Sevilla to Sevilla, visiting Cordoba, Granada and Jerez along the way.
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EL EXPRESO DE LA ROBLA | EL TRANSCANTABRICO - 8 DAY JOURNEY AL ANDALUS
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The concept of utilising these unique establishments as selected accommodation for tourism goes back to 1926, when the royal tourist commissioner, the Marques of Vega-Inclan, sought Royal Approval for the extraordinarily far sighted idea of setting up State run Paradores as lodgings for nature lovers and hunters around the country.
Rustic and Rural Spain with Rusticae
Rusticae is a network of boutique properties and guesthouses that are often old farms, mills and homes, transformed into small hotels. Rusticae has currently has over 160 hotels spread across Spain, Portugal, France and Argentina divided into two main types of accommodation, Metropoli and Tradition.
The Metropoli range incorporates a selection of small, boutique hotels inside major cities including Sevilla, Granada, Cordoba, Palma de Mallorca and Bilbao.
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There are around 140 of these properties in Spain alone and each possesses its own individual charm and style, reflecting the history and traditions of the region and its people.
Spanish Hotels
Stopovers can include 2 and 3 night packages in all major cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, and San Sebastian, plus many other smaller regional cities such as Granada, Toledo, Segovia, Salamanca, Santiago de Compostela and so on... In fact, with our extensive experience and contacts we can develop stopover packages for almost any city or town in the Iberian Triangle, for any length of time, to suit your requirements. Here are some examples...
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