ITINERARY | HIGHLIGHTS | WEATHER | ACCOMMODATION & ADDITIONAL INFO

The Best of the Pilgrim Route 2008 (Guided)

Burgos to Santiago de Compostela
Guided Walking and Sightseeing

14 days, 13 nights, 9 days walking, departing 6 SEPTEMBER 2008
The Best of the Pilgrim Route offers a great taste of the Pilgrim route.
It takes in the great pilgrim centres - Burgos and Leon - and the changing landscape as you walk from the Meseta (the high plateau of tableland near Burgos) down through the rolling countryside into the flat plains of Leon and then up again to the Montes de Leon, noted for several abandoned villages. The camino continues through this deserted landscape reaching the highest point of the route at Cruz de Fierro (1504m) before it enters the mountainous area of El Bierzo known for its fertile valleys and good wine. Then the landscape changes from chestnut forests to open countryside before reaching the lush green countryside of Galicia at El Cebreiro for the final stretch of the pilgrim route into Santiago de Compostela.

In order to qualify for the Pilgrimage Certificate the pilgrim must walk
the last 100 kms of the route into Santiago without breaking the journey
(i.e. no taxi shortcuts etc.). The best of' route has incorporated this
into the itinerary yet allows you to enjoy the great sights as well along
the way.

You will be accompanied throughout by a walking guide and also by a guest lecturer who will walk with you. The guest lecturer will be Dr Steve Blake. Before taking early retirement in March 2006 Steve was curator and Museum & Collections Manager at Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum. He is a Fellow of the Museums Association and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. His great passion is medieval history and architecture, especially churches and the whole subject of medieval pilgrimage. To pursue these interests, he has travelled extensively within Britain and Europe and has walked large parts of the pilgrim routes throughout Europe and especially the Royal French Way to Santiago de Compostela.

PRICE

PER PERSON based on 2 people sharing: £1450.00. Single room supplement: £125. It is possible to join the group at stages along the Camino - please ask for information.

INCLUDED

13 nights accommodation with breakfast, dinner in a mixture of
hotels – three star where available. In some of the smaller towns there is
no great choice of hotels – all rooms with private bathroom

Transport of luggage between stops

Transfers as outlined in the programme

Guide and guest lecturer (minimum of 10 persons for guest lecturer)

NOT INCLUDED

Flights and train tickets to Burgos or from Santiago de Compostela, drinks, lunches, gratuities for guides, entrance fees

Departure dates: 6th SEPTEMBER 2008

To book email: walking@star.co.uk
T: (44) (0)1242 254353

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ITINERARY

 

Day 1: Burgos - capital of Castille with splendid Gothic Cathedral and
Santiago chapel and many important buildings.
Meet guides and group. Dinner in restaurant in centre of the city.

Day 2: Burgos / Castrojeriz
The morning is spent exploring Burgos and then in the afternoon there is a
transfer to Castrojeriz - this small town was built by the Romans and was
an important place for pilgrims in former times - with several hospitals
for pilgrims. Today it is a nice place to stay with three interesting
churches and a good view of the ruins of the Alcazar on the hill above the
town.
Dinner and overnight

Day 3: Castrojeriz to Fromista - 15 miles
The first walk along the Pilgrim route is 15 miles to the small town of
Fromista with Romanesque Church in centre of town (now deconsecrated) and
one of the best preserved National Monuments to the Camino. The main
church is the 15th Century Church of San Pedro.
Dinner and overnight

Day 4: transfer to Leon – guided tour of Leon and then the rest of the day
is free to explore this wonderful city. The three most important monuments
are the 13th c cathedral in French Gothic style with marvellous stained
glass windows, the Basilica of San Isidoro and the Romanesque church of
San Marcos, formerly an important pilgrim hospital and now a parador. The
Casa de las Bottines by Gaudi is now a bank.
Dinner and overnight

Day 5: Transfer to the longest Pilgrim bridge in Spain crossing the river
Orbigo at Hospital de Orbigo - it is 204 metres long and has 20 arches -
from where it is just over 10 miles walk to Astorga. Astorga is the junction
of two of the major Pilgrim routes - the Camino Frances and the Via de la
Plata. In Astorga you will find the Bishop's palace built by Gaudi, the
pilgrim museum and the beautiful Gothic cathedral along with several other
interesting churches.
Overnight and dinner in a hotel in Astorga.

Day 6: Transfer to Rabanal del Camino and walk Rabanal to Ponferrada -
18.75 miles.
After about 4 miles you come to the small deserted village of Foncebadon
where the hermit Gaucelmo built a hospital, church and hospice for
pilgrims in the 12th century - however the remains are all that is seen
today along with several ruined houses. A mile further along the route you
come to Cruz de Ferro (1504m) with fantastic views on a clear day. It is
traditional to take a stone from home and add it to the pile. From here
the route is all downhill as far as Ponferrada. After another mile you
will walk through another nearly abandoned village and after about 5 miles
will come to the village of El Acebo which formerly had a pilgrim hospital
- today it has a long narrow street with attractive old houses with
overhanging balconies and a church.
Dinner and overnight Ponferrada

Day 7: Ponferrada is a large town - with an old and a new town.
The small historic part of the town has a 13th century castle built by the
Knights Templar, the 16th C basilica of Nuestra Senora de la Encina (Our
Lady of the Evergreen Oak) and in the suburbs there is the 10th C church
of Santo Tomas de Ollas. There is time to visit Ponferrada before
transferring to Villafranca del Bierzo - here the Iglesia de Santiago was
previously the point where pilgrims who were too weak or ill to continue
to Santiago were able to obtain the same indulgences had they continued
their pilgrimage. There are a number of other interesting churches in the
town.
Dinner and overnight Villafranca.

Day 8: Villafranca to El Cebreiro - 18 miles
The walk between Villafranca and El Cebreiro is a strenuous walk and you
should set out early - there are mountains and a stiff climb but in the
end it is worth the effort and at the end of the day you stay in a very
atmospheric hostel opposite the Church. El Cebreiro is a tiny village with
lots of 'pallozas' (round wooden dwellings of Celtic origin). The Church
contains relics and a 12th C statue of the Virgin who inclined her head
after a miracle took place in the 16th Century.
Dinner and overnight El Cebreiro

Day 9: Transfer to Sarria, a modern town with an old section - walk Sarria
to Portomarin - 14.5 miles
The walk between Sarria and Portomarin is one of the quietest and most
peaceful of the Camino. During the summer there are plenty of places for
lunch and drinks along the way.
Dinner and overnight in Portmarin

Day 10: Walk Portomarin to Palas de Rei - 15.5 miles
There are several miles of road walking along this stretch but the roads
are quiet and you pass through some small villages - i.e. the Romanesque
Church of Santa Maria in Gonzar is 5 miles into the walk. There is a
lovely Galician cemetery church in Ligonde which is about another 3 miles.
Dinner and overnight in Palas de Rei.

Day 11: Palas do Rei - Arzua - 18 miles
The route takes you to Melide about 4 miles from Palas - this is a
pleasant town with a former monastery Church Santci Spiritu, along with a
pilgrim hospital and the Church of San Pedro and the church of Santa Maria
as you leave the town.
Dinner and overnight in hotel in the small town of Arzua.

Day 12: Arzua - Lavacolla - 17.5 miles
The route continues to the small village of Lavacolla where traditionally
pilgrims used to cleanse themselves before the final walk into Santiago de
Compostela.
Dinner and overnight Lavacola

Day 13: Lavacolla - Santiago de Compostela - 4.5 miles
The final day's walk is short so the pilgrims can arrive in the Plaza de
Obradoiro and enter the Cathedral by midday when the pilgrims are blessed.
Afterwards collect the well earned certificate and enjoy this wonderful
city.
Farewell dinner in city restaurant, overnight in hotel in centre of city.

Day 14: departure after breakfast.

DIFFICULTY OF WALK

moderate

GROUP SIZE

minimum 6, maximum 16

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HIGHLIGHTS

If you have done this walk before, we would like to hear of your personal highlights. Mail Us

WEATHER

Click here to view the weather forecast Link courtesy of uk met office

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ACCOMMODATION & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

ACCOMMODATION
Hotels in rooms with private bathrooms.

GETTING THERE There is a train station in Burgos with excellent links to Madrid (about 4 hours by train). There are also small airports close by, some served by budget airlines – please ask for information.

WHAT TO TAKE:

Walking boots and walking socks (with a change of socks in rucksack),
rucksack/day pack, water bottle, insect repellent, sunglasses, sun hat,
sun block/cream, compass, torch, mobile phone, container for sandwiches
and a first-aid kit.

 

INSURANCE

We recommend that you take out appropriate holiday insurance covering you against illness, injury, and loss or damage to luggage. This insurance should also cover the possibility of your having to cancel your holiday for whatever reason.

To book, contact worldwalks  at:
email:walking@star.co.uk
T: (44) (0)1242 254353

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