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Particulars

Trip Dates:

2012
Classic:
May 7-21
May 25-Jun 8
Aug 24-Sep 7
 
Regular:
May 14-21
Jun 1-8
August 31- Sept 7

2013
Classic:
May 6-20
May 24-Jun 7
Aug 23-Sep 6
 
Regular:
May 13-20
May 31-Jun 7
August 30- Sept 6

Self-guided and custom trips also available and can start any day. Call or email for details.

 

Trip Size:

8-16 participants

Total Days:

Classic: 15 days/ 14 nights

Regular: 8 days/ 7 nights

Arrive/Depart:

Pamplona/Santiago Leon/Santiago

Accommodations:

Hotel Europa, Pamplona

Hotel San Andres, Estella

Hotel Marques de Viejo, Logrono

Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada

Hotel Norte y Londres, Burgos

Hotel Real Monestery San Zolio, Carrion de las Condes

La Posada Regia, Leon

La Posada Gaspar, Rabanal del Camino

Parador de Villafranca

Hotel Alfonso IX, Sarria

Casa Bianca, Leboreiro

Hotel Costa Vella, Santiago de Compostella

Activity Level:

Moderate to challenging

25-55 miles daily van supported

Terrain:

Rolling to hilly, choice of paved or un-paved route

Cost:

Land Cost (current year):
Classic: US $3450 Includes 15B/5L/10D

Regular: US $2250 includes 7B/2L/5D

Single Supplement:
Classic: US $425

Regular: US $300

Bike Rental:
Classic: US $280

Regular: US$160

 

Camino de Santiago, Biking

Classic: Pamplona to Santiago de Compostella

Regular: Leon to Santiago de Compostella

For any traveler interested in history, art, & culture, the Camino de Santiago certainly ranks as one of the most spectacular trips in the world today. From the 10th Century to the present day, pilgrims have come (by foot and now bicycle) from near and far to experience this enigma of Spain.

For riders of this trail, you can choose between a paved or off-road route as it threads its way across Spain. The scenery is breathtaking with lots of cultural and historical sights along the way.

For those with the time, we highly recommend that you consider our Classic route; we maintain that this journey has the potential to change your life (in good ways). For those wishing a shorter journey we also offer the Regular trip beginning in Leon. On both trips we stay in the best hotels available, ranging from traditional inns to luxurious paradors.

Only Great Explorations:

• Small groups, extraordinary guides, and authentic experiences.
• Cooking course with a local chef will be a trip highlight.
• Wine tasting at the esteemed Bodega Irache in Estella.
• Order off the menu at restaurants you won't find in guidebooks.
• A moment you will never forget: receiving your Compostella in historic Santiago at journey's end- felicidades.
• We design and operate our own trips so there are only good surprises.

 

Itinerary

Getting there:
Pamplona: You can reach Pamplona through Madrid, Bilboa or Vitoria.

CLASSIC DAY 1:
Pamplona - Our tour starts in Pamplona. Your hotel is included on arrival day into Pamplona and we'll be meeting at 7:00 pm for orientation and a night of tapas. We stay in a 3-star hotel in the historical center.

DAY 2:

Roncesvalles to Pamplona, 26 miles (42 km)

After breakfast we'll transfer to Roncesvalles, the traditional start of the pilgrimage, to begin our journey. This first day's ride is almost all downhill. We'll finish the day with a walking tour of historical Pamplona with a local guide before dinner at our favourite restaurant in town.

DAY 3:
Pamplona to Estella, 25 miles (40 km)
Leaving Pamplona we’ll climb towards the foothills of the Sierra del Perdon, reaching Puenta la Reina, with its famous Romanesque bridge and charming town. We’ll spend the night in Estella, near the beautiful 12th century Palace of the Kings of Navarre.

DAY4:
Estella to Logrono, 29 miles (43 km)
We’ll start the day with a stop at the winemakers ‘Bodega Irache’, where a free-flowing wine fountain welcomes thirsty pilgrims. Our ride takes us through vineyards and past castles before crossing the great Puente de Piedra into Logrono, a bustling town with an interesting history, architectural jewels, cafes and music. Our hotel is in a beautifully renovated historical building with all amenities.

DAY 5:

Logrono to Santa Domingo de la Calzada, 28 miles (45 km)
Our goal today is to reach a town long linked to the pilgrimage. The town’s namesake, St. Dominic, was a hermit who devoted his life to helping pilgrims on their way to Santiago. Among other deeds, he built a pilgrim's bridge, hospital and much of the medieval road (which we ride) that still survives from the 11th century. The other reason we stop here is to stay at the extraordinary Parador Sata Domingo de la Calzada Hotel - one of Spain’s best.

DAY 6:

Santa Domingo de la Calzada to Burgos, 42 miles (67 km)
The riding today is superb through bell heather on rolling trail. Lunch will be provided today in San Juan de Ortega; on the afternoon’s ride we’ll count stork nests in the bell towers along the route. Arriving in Burgos, we’ll visit the Gothic Cathedral, one of the most outstanding artistic monuments in Spain. After dinner, for those wanting a little night life, there are plenty of tapas bars and clubs to tempt you!

DAY 7:

Burgos to Carrion de las Condes, 50 miles (80 km)
The riding through most of the Castilian stages is on more level terrain allowing us to comfortably cover more distance. Although no less beautiful, the scenery changes dramatically through this region. We’ll have lunch today in the curious town of Hontanas, where the barman drinks wine in a most unusual way. Our destination, Carrion de las Condes makes for a relaxing town, between the bustling cities of Burgos and Leon.

DAY 8:

Carrion de las Condes to Leon, 55 miles (88 km)

Although one of our longer days, the gentle grade should allow us to take our time and enjoy the ride. We’ll provide a picnic lunch at a beautiful site on the river Esla in Mansilla de las Mulas; afterwards we’ll continue into Leon with its impressive monuments including the 13 C Cathedral. We’ll organize a walking tour here, finishing with a visit to a wine bodega. Our 3-star hotel for tonight is located in the historical district, steps from the cities best shopping and restaurants.

 

REGULAR (SHORT) TRIP: For those beginning in Leon, you can make your way from Madrid by flight, train or coach. Your accommodation on Friday is included in your trip. You will have a full day in Leon to see the sights and rest from your flight before beginning cycling the following day.

DAY 9 / DAY 2: We will have a local guide show you the many treasures of Leon, followed by a picnic lunch in a fabulous park in the city center.

DAY 10 / DAY 3:

Leon to Rabanal del Camino, 39 miles (63 km)
Riding out of Leon we’ll visit Hospital del Orbigo arriving in time for lunch in Astorga. For Epicureans, Astorga is known for mantecadas, one of the famous delicacies in Spanish pastrymaking. We’ll overnight in Rabanal del Camino, one of the more famous pilgrimage sites along the trail staying in a beautiful posada.

DAY 11 / DAY 4:

Rabanal to Villafranca, 36 miles (58 km)
Our route today will begin with a visit to Castrillo de los Polvares, a town immortalized by the writer Concha Espina in her novel The Maragato Sphinx, a portrait of the village and its centuries-old customs. Just before lunch we’ll reach the Cruz de Ferro, one of the most symbolic monuments along the pilgrims’ route. Whenever pilgrims add a stone to the pile they become part of an ancient tradition; the Romans called these stone heaps, ‘mounts of Mercury’ after the god of travelers. In Ponferrada, you can visit the impressive Templar Castle, one of the oldest and finest examples of Spanish military architecture. We’ll finish the day in Villafranca, one of the most attractive towns on the camino. Our hotel for tonight is in a 3-star parador hotel.

DAY 12 / DAY 5:

Villafranca to Sarria, 43 miles (69 km)
From Villafranca, you will climb through unspoiled countryside of heather and broom, pines, chestnuts and oaks enjoying a magnificent view over the Valcarce valley up to El Cebreiro, famous for its pallozas, straw-roofed dwellings. In Samos we visit a monastery before continuing on to Sarria and its Monastery of La Magdelena and its hospitable Mercedarian monks.

DAY 13 / DAY 6:

Sarria to Leboreiro, 35 miles (56 km)

From Sarria, the terrain changes again, as you find yourself in a rural part of the country with people living much as they did centuries ago. We’ll have lunch in Portomarin, and then enjoy some of the best biking of the camino on rolling terrain arriving to Leboreiro; we’ll be treated to a medieval feast and spend the night at a most charming inn.

DAY 14 / DAY 7:

Leboreiro to Santiago de Compostella, 35 miles (56 km)

We start this day with crossings of medieval bridges at Disicabo and Furelos before reaching Melide, particularly rich in pre-Roman remains. We’ll pass many small hamlets hidden among eucalyptus trees before reaching the environs of Santiago. Your adrenaline will surge as you make your way through Santiago itself, packed with vestiges of the pilgrimage. Nothing quite prepares you though, for arriving at the Cathedral itself, where you can share in the sense that pilgrims have felt since time immemorial. We’ll stay at one of the finest hotels in the city located just 200 meters from the Cathedral. Enjoy.

DAY 15: We recommend a leisurely last day and leave time for those who wish to do last minute shopping or time to explore the monuments of Santiago. For those that are heading back to Madrid, there are flight, train and bus connections (with special fares for pilgrims).