Best of Galicia Camino

13 Days

Join one of our pilgrimages:

TRIP DATES AVAILABILITY PRICE SPACE LEFT
May 21, 2024 - June 2, 2024 Available $1,800.00
12 Available

Choose your own dates and walk a self-guided pilgrimage.

Reconnect with yourself along this Best of Galicia Camino!

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Are you ready? Are you being called? Clear your mind and be inspired. As we walk through villages, enjoy the local food, engage in conversation with the locals, and be a part of this ancient journey, you will feel the power of the Camino.

Join us as we travel this prayerful path. The best of Galicia.  We will walk approximately 206 km, 128 miles from beautiful Leon to Santiago de Compostela. This pilgrimage includes transfers and walking, which will allow you to see the best of the Galician Camino!

This journey for the soul, which we will embark on, is the same journey that millions of pilgrims have walked before us.

Are you ready to make your Deposit?

Want to walk on your own? Let us help you plan your perfect Camino! Check out our self-guided page for more information.  Self-Guided Camino.  Or contact us and we can give you a personal quote.

The itinerary and more details are below our PDF Flyer, print the flyer for easy viewing!

BestofGaliciaItinerary by mmaddox7

Overview

We will walk approximately 206 km, 128 miles from beautiful Leon to Santiago de Compostela. We have designed this pilgrimage to cover the best of Galicia. You will be able to see all the important sites along this stretch of the Camino de Santiago. 

Along the route, we will enjoy a spiritual Camino, with its beautiful Galician culture in food and atmosphere. This is the northwestern route of the Camino Frances, the most popular of all the Camino routes. At the end of this walk, you will receive your “Compostela, (El Camino Certificate, Pilgrims passport). The Camino de Santiago is a life-changing experience for many and is always an adventure of a lifetime.

Even within the group, we encourage you to take the opportunity to be alone with yourself. The journey is yours to experience. Each of us is on our own journey. Part of the beauty of the Camino is walking no matter what, in the rain or the sun. This allows us to experience the Camino, to take what is given to us, and to endure and be thankful every step of the way.

Highlights:

  • We begin our days with prayer time. Which then allows you to walk and reflect on your thoughts. Everyone walks at their own pace. You will find yourself having alone time amid lovely moments of laughter with your fellow pilgrims. In the evenings, we will gather and have a prayer together. And perhaps share a thought or two. This pilgrimage is also a retreat for your soul. Prayer, reflection, and share time! Buen Camino!
  • As you walk the Camino, you will be walking with people from all over the world. All will be heading to the same place. We want this pilgrimage to be your very own, to be a journey that enlightens and enriches your spirit.  We are all simply fellow pilgrims. We strive to give you the pilgrimage you need, the pilgrimage that your soul is searching for. 
  • Charming villages with pretty churches. 
  • The outstanding local cuisine, the friendliness of the locals, and the rolling countryside all combine to create a truly unforgettable experience of rural Spain.
  • We strive to give you an affordable Camino tour. We hope you carry your pack and will help you in planning and packing before departure. But if you wish to carry only a day pack, we can arrange daily door-to-door baggage transfer for an extra charge. 
  • Relax no need to worry about details, we have that covered. All you need to do is walk!

The days and distances described in this itinerary may be modified for circumstances beyond our control.

Itinerary

Make your way to Madrid, we will meet in Madrid on Sept 12, 2022

If you need help making this arrangement, we would be happy to help you!

We will meet at the airport and make our way to Leon. A great city with much to see. Enjoy the afternoon to rest and explore.

"León is a city in Spain and capital of the province of the same name. It is on the Way of St. James and has a vast cultural, historical and architectural heritage. Some of the city's most prominent historical buildings are the Cathedral, one of the finest examples of French-style classic Gothic architecture in Spain, the Basilica of San Isidoro, one of the most important Romanesque churches in Spain and the resting place of León's medieval monarchs, the Monastery of San Marcos, an example of plateresque and Renaissance Spanish architecture, and the Casa Botines, a Modernist creation of the architect Antoni Gaudí. An example of modern architecture is the city's Museum of Contemporary Art (MUSAC)." source: https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Le%C3%B3n_(Spain)

Breakfast and then the morning to explore Leon. You are on your own, see what you are being called to see. We will supply you with information and places which are a must to see. After lunch, we will make our way to Astorga for a quick stop and on to Rabanal del Camino.

Rabanal del Camino is one of my favorite villages along the Camino. This will be our resting place before making our way over the mountain, Monte Irago, in the morning.

Rest up, tomorrow we will start walking.

At all times of the year, an early start will be chilly, so it is worth having your fleece out as you start walking. The panorama views in the mountains are beautiful.

Today is a day that many pilgrims hope to be lighter, both physically and spiritually. The Cruz del Ferro is an iron cross on top of a 5-meter wooden pole. Many pilgrims bring a stone from home to leave with the many thousands of stones already there. Leaving a stone is the sign of leaving behind a burden, or letting go of something in your life.

Today we have a nice stroll of 6 miles into Ponferrada. We will leave early so you will have a few hours to explore Ponferrada, don't miss the Templars Castle. After we have enjoyed some time in Ponferrada and lunch, we will be transferred to Samos, with a quick stop in O'Cebreiro a quaint Celtic village!

Samos is known for having one of the oldest Benedictine Monasteries in all of Spain, an important symbol of Galician culture. We will be staying close to the Monastery, you may visit and participate in the evening celebrations of Mass with the Monks.

You may wish to revisit the monastery for morning prayers before we start our walk! Today is a short walk, call it a partial rest day, as we saunter into Sarria. We will have a few hours of lush beautiful rolling hills ahead of us.

Prepare yourself for the crowds, this is where most people start the last 100 km walk.

At this stage of our journey, we will cross the 100 km mark to Santiago. It is a beautiful walk with smooth hills which run through dense vegetation and passes through many small villages, typical of this part of Galicia.

Portomarin dates back to the Roman Ages and was an important halt along the route in the Middle Ages. Due to the creation of a dam in 1962, the Old Portomarin is currently underneath the Mino River and many of the old buildings were moved. One of these buildings which were moved brick by brick was the Church of St. John of Jerusalem. This church was set along the route In Medieval Times, to protect the tomb of Santiago.

After the steep downhill along Portomarin main street and then a gentle uphill around Monte San Antonio, the rest of the day is easy going through the rolling countryside.

A continuously hilly stage. Nice short day, we should make our way into Melide just in time for lunch. Melide is home to the famous Galician dish, 'Pulpo á Feira', a must along the Camino. Time to try the Pulpo!

We are still in the province of Lugo as we enter Melide. This is the town where the French Way (the busiest) and Primitivo Way (the oldest) routes meet, a crucial point along the Camino. Please make note of the old roads as we enter Melide. These roads date back to the fourteenth century and are some of the oldest in the region of Galicia.

Another nice short day as we make our way to Arzua.
We will leave the Lugo province and enter the province of A Coruna today. Going up and down hills through vegetation makes up most of this stage. We will also cross the beautiful, medieval bridge over the Iso River to Ribadiso. Just a little further up the way is Arzua. This is where the Camino del Norte joins the Camino and where we will rest for the night!

Today we will enter the fragrant eucalyptus groves on natural pathways with good shade. We have breathtaking scenery as we walk largely on a level path with just 3 shallow river valleys. We end with a climb around the Alto de Santa Irene.

As we enjoy our last night before entering Santiago, you will notice the joy and the energy surrounding the pilgrims! The pilgrims are excited and they all know tomorrow is the big day of entering Santiago. Though they have traveled a long distance, they are not tired and weary, the excitement and anticipation are overwhelming. Our Lord and St. James have guided their paths and the pilgrims share this joy with others.

We will start before daylight today. The long-awaited, final stage!! Only the uphill climb to Monte do Gozo presents any real resistance, and this feels a lot easier on the legs due to the fact that we are so close to the Santiago Cathedral. The entrance to the city along the road does not affect the mood of the pilgrim who has finally arrived in La Plaza del Obradoiro!! You may wish to attend the pilgrim's Mass today in the evening. Botafumeiro could be used during this Mass.

After we have rested in the Plaza, we will head to our resting place. This is your day, so follow your heart and your feet. Rest, Mass, and dinner.

You will awaken in the beautiful city of Santiago, breathe it in, and relax. You have made it.

Today will be another chance to attend a pilgrim's Mass and have a chance to see the Botafumeiro swing. You will have time to explore this beautiful city. Just make sure you enter the Cathedral and make your way to the tradition of hugging the shining statue of St. James. After the embrace, enter the crypt where Saint James relics are kept. Thank him for your safe travels!

As you take in the Cathedral, make note that it is formed with Galician granite. It is one of the finest architectural examples in Europe. It encompasses Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque styles.

We will have our breakfast and then make our way for our tour to Finisterre.

A Guided tour by an outside company. Back by 5 with time for dinner and exploring Santiago.

We will travel along the Costa da Morte on a full-day tour from Santiago de Compostela. Visit Cape Finisterre, go to the villages of Muros and Muxía, and see the waterfall in Ézaro. Along the way, learn about the history and culture of the Galician region.

Say our goodbyes as we head home or more traveling!

Buen Camino!

We will fly back to Madrid, which is included in the price. Once in Madrid, you can continue your adventure or maybe you are ready to fly home!

Includes:

  • Pre-departure information including planning and packing suggestions.
  • Phone time with Mary.
  • Guide/Spiritual Coach accompanying the group
  • Pre-Training support
  • Private transfer from Madrid to Leon
  • Nights in double rooms, single occupancy add $250.
  • Luggage transfer
  • The Way of St. James devotional
  • Pilgrims passport
  • Daily Breakfast
  • Private Tour in Santiago

Doesn't Include:

  • Traveler’s insurance or trip cancellation insurance.​
  • Tips for Guides/Drivers
  • Airfare to and from Europe. All flights need to fly into Madrid. (We will give you all the information you need to make these arrangements correctly).
  • The flight out of Santiago
  • Lunch and Dinners
Where will we be staying along the Camino?

All of our accommodations are carefully selected. We want you to experience the true Camino, for this reason we try to stay on the Camino or close to it. We try to provide charming and quaint rural farmhouses when available. These are similar to bed and breakfasts. Some nights we use hotels. These hotels are up to our standards and are quaint and locally run and owned. It is a good mix and you will be surrounded by fellow pilgrims along the Way!

How do I prepare for the Camino?

Preparing for a walk is the hardest part. First the mental preparation with all of its concerns and worries. Then the physical concerns, if you can walk any distance you can walk the Camino. After the mental is the prayerful side of preparation. Please pray about your decision, if you are meant to walk you will know it. In your heart, in your thoughts. You will feel the pull of The Camino!

First step, please contact us so we can answer all your questions. We want to discuss all the details. We want to help answer all questions about transportation to and from the pilgrimage.

All you need to do is walk, we will take care of the rest. This pilgrimage is fully guided, from beginning to end we will be there. No need to worry, we have you in our hands.

All our guides started off as a pilgrim as well. We have returned to the camino for years, to help others experience this amazing pilgrimage. We want to share this journey with others and we strive to give you an affordable amazing pilgrimage.
Please visit our How fit do I need to be page for more information.

Should I carry my pack or transfer it?

This is completely up to you. Only you know your physical capability of carrying a pack. My only suggestion is if the reason you want to transfer is to have more clothing than you are missing an important part of the Camino. We should strip ourselves of the comforts of home so we may grow and learn. If health and age are your reason to transfer your bag then my suggestion is to transfer your bag but still pack light. Please check out our Trail info and packing tip page.

You can send your enquiry via the form below.

Best of Galicia Camino
From $1,800.00
/ Guided Pilgrimages
From $1,200.00
/ Self Guided Pilgrimages

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