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Walking the Camino de Santiago
8 Days Starting in Bilbao and ending in Santiago de Compostela
Visiting: Bilbao, Puente La Reina – Gares, Laguardia, Navarrete, Nájera, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, Burgos, Frómista, León, Astorga, Molinaseca, Ponferrada, O Cebreiro, Portomarín, Monte do Gozo, Santiago de Compostela, Fisterra, Municipality of Santiago de Compostela
Tour operator:
Tour code:
SESCA
Specialist Group:
Singles Solo
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
15 - 30
Physical rating:
Medium, Active
Age range:
18-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans, Please make us aware of any specific dietary requests
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Ancient churches, Gaudi-designed architecture and Rioja vineyards. Discover all of this and more on a series of walks which take you to charming towns and cities located on the Pilgrim's Road to Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Uk - Bilbao
Location: Bilbao
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Barcelo Nervion Bilbao
Meals Included: Dinner
Today, you fly to Bilbao, the largest city in Spain's Basque Country.
Day 2 : Puente La Reina - Laguardia
Location: Puente La Reina – Gares, Laguardia
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Silken Villa de Laguardia
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Walk 6km - 3.73 miles – 2 hours
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 by minibus to the 'wine fountain' at the Monastery of Irache, and onto the La Rioja wine region for a wine tasting in in one of the reknowned bodegas, before arriving to our hotel in Laguardia.
Day 3 : Laguardia - Burgos
Location: Laguardia, Navarrete, Nájera, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, Burgos
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Silken Gran Teatro
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Walk 5.5km - 3.4 miles – 90 minutes
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 start todays walk taking 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.
Day 4 : Burgos - Astorga
Location: Burgos, Frómista, León, Astorga
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Astur Plaza Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Walk 6km - 3.73 miles – 90 minutes
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 (aprox. 2 hrs). Our hotel tonight is in Astorga.
Day 5 : Astorga
Location: Astorga, Molinaseca, Ponferrada
Accommodation: Hotel, Hotel
Accommodation Name: Astur Plaza Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Breakfast
Walk 5km - 3.4 miles – 90 minutes
This morning we'll admire the Gaudi Palace and Bishop's Palace of Astorga. Then we'll drive to Castrillo de los Polvazares, a wonderful medieval village kept in a time capsule. After a short visit we will 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 the Templer Castle in Ponferrada before returning to our hotel in Astorga .
Day 6 : Astorga - Santiago De Compostela
Location: O Cebreiro, Portomarín, Monte do Gozo, Santiago de Compostela
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Lux Hotel Santiago
Meals Included: Breakfast
Walk 6km - 3.73 miles – 90 minutes
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 the riverside town of Portomarín – whose historic buildings were rescued stone by stone when it flooded and moved to allow for a dam to be built on the Miño River.
We'll then drive to to Lavacolla, a place some 6 miles before Santiago where pilgrims in the past would change into their best cloth, for the final stage of their pilgrimage. We walk from here 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.
Day 7 : Santiago De Compostela
Location: Fisterra, Municipality of Santiago de Compostela
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Lux Hotel Santiago
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Walk 2km - 1.24 miles – 30 minutes
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.
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.
This evening, we will gather as a group and head to a traditional Galician restaurant for a farewell dinner.
Day 8 : Santiago De Compostela - Uk
Location: Municipality of Santiago de Compostela
Meals Included: Breakfast
We'll transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
What's Included
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Return flights from London
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A guaranteed twin or double room of your own
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Accommodation
7 nights in 3 & 4-star hotels
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Meals
13 included meals: 7 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 4 dinners including a welcome drink & farewell dinner
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Overseas transfers, other transportation & porterage
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Just You Holiday Director as your host & Specialist Local Guide
What's Not Included
Excursions Included
- Walk through vineyards & villages in Spain’s Basque country
- Stop at Irache Monastery and enjoy wine fl owing from the local winery fountain
- Winery visit & tasting
- Visit medieval Navarrete
- Stop at Santo Domingo de la Calzada
- Walk through the Campos de Castilla area
- Visit Astorga’s cathedral
- Walk through the highlands of northern Spain
- Enjoy a traditional lunch in the pretty village of Molinaseca
- Visit Ponferrada’s Knights Templar Castle
- Explore the Celtic town of O Cebreiro
- Walk from the Mount of Joy to Santiago de Compostela
- Pick a seashell at Fisterra – the symbol of the pilgrim
Accommodation
- Hotel Ercilla
- Hotel Los Agustinos
- Hotel Rice Bulevar
- The Rice Bulevar is a 3- star hotel that enjoys a central location in the San Augustin district in Burgos. The hotel provides views of the cathedral and Burgos city, and is perfect for those exploring the Way of St James. The hotel has an onsite restaurant and coffee shop. Guest bedrooms are are modern and fuctional with high celings, sound proof and bright. Bedrooms have private facilities, TV, air conditioning and heating.
- Hotel Conde Luna
- Hotel Aroi Bierzo Plaza
- Hotel Gelmirez
Optional Excursions
- Tour of Burgos
- Discover medieval Leon
- Tour of Santiago de Compostela and attend Pilgrim Mass
Check out our Q&As
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Yes, Overseas transfers, other transportation & porterage
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
No
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
No and your own room is guaranteed!
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
Yes
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Are flights included in this tour?
Yes, Return flights from London
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
As detailed in the itinerary
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Yes
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
All the people in your group will be solo travellers and will share your sense of adventure and passion for travel. There’s usually a good mix of ages too, so you’ll meet a variety of solo travellers who have more, or in some cases less, life experience. We find the overall mix of people really adds to the whole experience and there are certainly plenty of l
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
A few years ago we set up Just You Cares, a programme that gives back to some of the places we love. We have always believed in taking care of the communities we visit, and have taken the time to really get to know the local people and understand the challenges they face. Some of our holidays give our Customers the chance to see how the money from their trips has been spent.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
At Just You, we are committed to operating our business operations responsibly, with integrity and always act ethically in all our business dealings and relationships. We are committed to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure slavery and human trafficking does not take place in our own business or in any of our supply chains
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If we can accommodate a change in date - we will always do our best to help you. Just pick up the phone and ask one of our friendly advisors - just make sure you have your booking number to hand.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes, and all of our accommodation providers will be working to the very highest standards of hygiene – you already always enjoy a private room of your own on all of our trips, all of our partners will be guided by local government operational standards of hygiene and the new protocols we have issued to them.
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Will I eat alone?
We find there’s always a social element to dining, so you’ll never eat alone, unless you want to! Every holiday includes a welcome get-together, all breakfasts and many other meals. When a meal is not included we find travellers meet and dine together.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
No, given the nature of our holidays, it is not possible to join the tour once it has departed.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Just You has been operating solo holidays for more than 15 years.
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Am I guaranteed a room of my own?
Of course, you’ll always have a twin or double room all to yourself. It’s great to have that space to relax and reflect at the end of the day. In some hotels you can also pay a little extra to upgrade for more space or a lovely sea view.
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What is the typical age range on a Just You holiday?
Typically, our customers are solo travellers in their 40s, 50s and 60s, but it’s quite possible you could meet 20-year-olds or 70-year-olds (or anyone in between)... After all, age is just a number!
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
We have received the World Travel and Tourism Councils (WTTC) Safe Travels stamp, which recognises businesses and destinations worldwide that have adopted a new set of global protocols to support the return of 'Safe Travel' around the world. The 'Safe Travels' stamp provides you, with assurance and peace of mind that we have implemented enhanced health and hygiene prprotocols on all holidays.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Once you book, you will receive a confirmation invoice within 7 days, prior to departure, we will send you further information to help prepare for your trip.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Just You is exclusively for solo travellers, every tour includes a twin or double room of your own, with no single supplement.
Reviews from Travellers on this Tour
Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Just You requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 84 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of just you charges.
Up to 75 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Book with Confidence
When you book your holiday with Just You, you can have complete peace of mind. Your money is 100% protected through our Independent Trust Fund, any money you pay to us is held by them & governed by 3rd?party trustees. It is also a condition of our ATOL license and is regularly monitored by the Civil Aviation Authority. We don’t receive any money until after you’ve come back from your holiday – so your money is 100% protected no matter what. If you have any questions you can speak to one of our friendly and knowledgeable holiday advisors.