Walking the Camino de Santiago

Location: Bilbao

Today, you fly to Bilbao, the largest city in Spain's Basque Country.

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Hotel Barcelo Nervion Bilbao

Meals: Dinner

Location: Puente La Reina, Santa María de Eunate, La Rioja, Laguardia

Walk 6km - 3.73 miles – 2 hours <br/> <br/>Today, we'll head to medieval Puente La Reina, the meeting point of the Jaca Pilgrim Road and the French Way. We can admire the 12th century church of Santa María de Eunate in the vicinity, before beginning our walk along the Camino de Santiago. Passing though vineyards and rural countryside until we reach Puente La Reina, where lunch is included. Our tour then takes us to the La Rioja wine region for an included wine tasting in one of the renowned bodegas, before arriving to our hotel in Laguardia. With some time to explore this medieval village before dinner

Accommodation Name: Hotel Silken Villa de Laguardia

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Location: Navarrete, Najera, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, Burgos

Walk 5.5km - 3.4 miles – 90 minutes <br/> <br/>Our first stop today is at Navarrete, a town built in the 12th century by the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, which offers wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. Then we drive to Najera and visit its stunning Santa Maria La Real monastery before starting todays walk that takes us through more vineyards of La Rioja. We'll continue by road to Santo Domingo de la Calzada, an important stopping point for pilgrims. On arrival in Burgos, where we stay tonight, you can join an optional guided tour which features some of the highlights of the old town, amongst them the magnificent Gothic cathedral.

Accommodation Name: Hotel Silken Gran Teatro

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Location: Burgos, Campos de Castilla, Frómista, León, Astorga

Walk 6km - 3.73 miles – 90 minutes <br/> <br/>After breakfast we'll embark on today's walk, which takes us to the Campos de Castilla area, known as the 'breadbasket' of Spain due to its cereal production. The canal we'll follow was built for transportation of this commodity and a highlight will be its locks, which allow for a 14-metre drop in terrain. In the town of Frómista, we'll have free time for lunch before then driving on to León, where a walking tour is included, to explore the old town and cathedral. Our hotel tonight is in Astorga.

Accommodation Name: Astur Plaza Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Location: Astorga, Cruz de Ferro, Molinaseca

Walk 5km - 3.4 miles – 90 minutes <br/> <br/> This morning we'll admire the Gaudi House and Bishop's Palace of Astorga. Then we'll drive to the highlands of the Bierzo region, where we'll start our walk at la Cruz de Ferro, the famous landmark 'Iron Cross'. After a traditional lunch in Molinaseca, we'll drive to our hotel in Astorga.

Accommodation Name: Astur Plaza Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Location: O Cebreiro, Samos, Melide, Monte de Gozo, Santiago de Compostela

Walk 6km - 3.73 miles – 90 minutes <br/> <br/>We'll reach our goal of Santiago de Compostela today. First, we'll make a stop at the Celtic town of O Cebreiro. One of the most picturesque villages on the Way of St James, we'll pause to admire its pre-Romanesque church and round stone houses. There's time for lunch in Samos, a small hamlet with a fascinating monastery that can be visited <br/> <br/>We'll then drive to Melide and shortly after walk a nice, wooded section of the Camino before driving to Monte de Gozo, or the Mount of Joy, which is the first point at which pilgrims can view Santiago de Compostela after their long journey. From here we will drive to our hotel, our base for the next 2 evenings.

Accommodation Name: Hotel Gelmirez

Meals: Breakfast

Location: Fisterra, Santiago de Compostela

Walk 2km - 1.24 miles – 30 minutes <br/> <br/> This morning we'll head to Fisterra, a historic fishing port where pilgrims would bathe in the sea to purify their souls and collect a scallop shell – the symbol of pilgrims. On a short stroll around the lighthouse here, see if you can collect a shell to take home as a wonderful souvenir of your trip. <br/> <br/>This afternoon, why not join our optional guided tour of Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia, with its porticoed streets lined by granite architecture. We'll also visit the local market and we will have the opportunity to attend the pilgrim mass. <br/> <br/>This evening, we will gather as a group and head to a traditional Galician restaurant for a farewell dinner.

Accommodation Name: Hotel Gelmirez

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Location: Santiago de Compostela

We'll transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

Meals: Breakfast