Following the way

Walking stage: Saint Jean – Thibault Cross – Roncesvalles (15,6 to 6,3 miles)

We move to the nearby Saint Jean Pied du Port, the starting point of the Camino for thousands of pilgrims from France where we will take a short walking tour of the town, visiting the first locations where the movie was filmed, such as the bar where Tom and Jost met each other, the Church of Notre Dame and of course the Pilgrim´s Oficce where we will be able to collect our french credential that we will use together with the spanish one, collecting the stamps along our stages to Santiago., living the atmosphere and the pilgrim excitement together with those who, like us, will cross the Pyrenees on foot, starting their adventure of 800 kilometers (500 miles).

Today we start our Camino in the most mythical stage of the French Way, the Napoleon Route to Roncesvalles. For those willing to face the full stage to Spain, as we arrive walking again to our accommodation, we give you the possibility of walking the full distance. We leave Saint Jean on foot following in Tom’s footsteps through the famous Notre Dame Gate and Rue d’Espagne. We will go up in our transport, saving the hardest part of the ascent, with stops to admire the impressive landscapes that the French Pyrenees offers. For those wanting to cut this stage, we begin our walk of 10 kilometers (6.3 miles) and that will take us to Roncesvalles, crossing the border on foot with Spain. Stage of medium difficulty. We will walk accompanied by our guide and without haste (Estimated time of about 4 hours on foot, picnic lunch included) enjoying one of the most beautiful and spectacular stages of the Camino.

Walking stage: Roncesvalles – Alto de Erro (11,5 miles)

Those who want can go on to Zubiri and its famous bridge, where they will be picked up on our way to Pamplona, as we will stop there to admire this great spot.

Already gathered at Alto de Erro and with our transport, on the way to Pamplona, we will make a stop at the Bridge of Rage in Zubiri, where the scene of Tom’s backpack falling into the river was filmed. Our stage on foot today, through the Navarrese Pyrenees, will take us through Alto de Mezquiriz, where Tom deposits part of Daniel’s ashes to Alto de Erro. We will enjoy Pamplona and after settling in our central hotel and resting, we will make a visit to the city center with a local guide, ending with a glass of wine in the same place where the scene of Tom and Jost’s confusion between Tapas and Pintxos was filmed … beautiful and fun walk where we will also get to know this city famous for its «Running of the bulls” in the well-known San Fermín festivals and which are internationally known thanks to Ernest Hemingway. Dinner is not included. The guide always will suggest an interesting and typical «pintxos” tour through the city center to which all our pilgrims are invited to join together with our expert local guide.

Accommodation in 4**** hotel in the historical center of Pamplona.

Walking stage: Cizur Menor – Eunate (13,5 miles)

Departure from the hotel in our vehicle to the starting point of our walk. Today your stage on foot will be 13,5 miles from the outskirts of Pamplona through the Church where Tom and Jost (Don Quixote and Sancho Panza) meet Sara (Dulcinea) to the Church of Santa María de Eunate. We will ascend the famous Alto del Perdón « Where the Path of the Wind joins the Path of the Stars » with its well-known monument to the pilgrims and where Tom again deposits Daniel’s ashes. Today we will enjoy a light lunch (included) at a traditional pilgrims’ hostel before walking the last kilometers to one of the architectural jewels of the French Way, the Hermitage of Santa Maria de Eunate. Once reunited, we continue the Camino with our transport to the nearby town of Puente la Reina, where the Aragonese Way and the Roncesvalles Way converge and is now the only French Way.

We will visit the famous Church of the Crucifix, the Church of Santiago and we will finish our short walk in one of the symbols of the Camino de Santiago, the 12th-century bridge and symbol of the APOC (American Pilgrims on the Camino). It is exciting to cross this bridge that has been facilitating the passage of pilgrims for 900 years and that gives to this beautiful town its name. Arrival in Logroño and accommodation in a central 4**** hotel. Dinner not included. Before dinner the guide will make a walking tour of the city center where we will see the police station where Tom was arrested as well as the pilgrims’ hostel and other locations from the film along with the rest of the city’s outstanding monuments, offering the possibility to dine again based on tapas in the famous Laurel Street in the capital of La Rioja (One of the most famous tapas places in Spain, worthy to be known).

Arrival in Logroño and accommodation in a central 4**** hotel.

Dinner not included

Walking stage: Najera – Santo Domingo de la Calzada (13,2 miles)

We could not pass through La Rioja without experiencing (not with the same results) the excellence of its wines and landscape. We start the day driving to the beautiful town of Nájera, walking along the Monastery of Santa Maria la Real, to later walk through vineyards and cereal fields to the town of Santo Domingo de la Calzada. Once reunited in Santo Domingo de la Calzada, and after resting in our acommodation we will visit its Cathedral with its famous chicken coop, walls, the pilgrims’ hostel from the 12th century today transformed into a Parador and relax in this typical pilgrimVillage. Dinner in our beautiful hotel Included. Parador or country house.

Walking stage: – Villafranca de Montes de Oca – Agés (10 miles)

Departure in our transport to the point of the Camino where we will begin our stage today, the Village of Villafranca. We will walk through the Montes de Oca, the last forests before reaching the Meseta (Flatlands), to the Monastery of San Juan de Ortega, a place full of history that houses one of the most beautiful Romanesque chapitel in Spain. Arrival to Agés and time for a light lunch (Included) After the walk we will move to Burgos. This is the city where the episode of Tom and the group with the gypsies and the theft of his backpack takes place. Let’s not expect to find that atmosphere of bonfires and dances in the streets of this city. But we will visit the locations where the main scenes were filmed, very close to the main monuments that interest the pilgrim. Accommodation at the hotel. After resting, we will visit the city with a local guide to see its main monuments, as well as the different filming locations of THE WAY. Dinner included in a typical Castilian restaurant closely related to the movie “THE WAY”.

Accommodation in 4**** stars in the historical center of Burgos.

Walking stage: Castrojeriz – Itero de la Vega (7,2 miles)

We will drive to our starting point for our stage on foot. Today we will know the central section of the French Way, which crosses the Meseta (Plateau), for some the most difficult part of the Camino, but for others the most special due to its solitude and infinite spaces. We will walk 11 km / 7,2 miles through the landscapes of the cereal fields. At the end of the walk, we will arrive at a restaurant where we will have a light lunch (Not included). After lunch, we will continue the route to León. Arrival in León and accommodation. After resting in our hotel we will have a visit to the historic center of León by the hand of a local guide. From its beautiful Gothic cathedral to the Palacio de Botines, the work of the famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi Today our dinner is really special, since we will enjoy a very special meal at the Parador de San Marcos, the luxurious hotel where our protagonists stay at the invitation of Tom. A historic building, former pilgrims’ hostel in the Middle Ages.

Accomodation in Leon: Hotel 4**** in the city center.

Walking stage: Astorga – Rabanal del Camino (12,8 ml)

Today we start the day with a brief stop at Puente Órbigo to see the longest medieval bridge in Europe, which has been crossed by pilgrims for 1,000 years. We continue to Astorga, an important town on the French Way, where we will start our walk at the foot of at its Roman walls, the Cathedral and the Episcopal Palace, also designed by Antoni Gaudi. We start our ascent to the famous Iron Cross arriving at the cozy village of Rabanal del Camino (Picnic lunch on the way). We will attend a very special mass at its Romanesque church. After resting we will enjoy a dinner in a typical restaurant at the foot of the Camino in a traditional pilgrim’s hostel.

Night in Rabanal del Camino.

Walking stage: Rabanal – El Acebo (11 ml)

After breakfast, we start the final ascend to Foncebadón and from there walk to the highest point in our pilgrimage,to the mythical Cruz de Ferro (Iron Cross). From the Cross, we will descend to the beautiful town of El Acebo from where we will drive to the village of Molinaseca for lunch (Included), one of the most beautiful on the Camino, and walk through its beautiful streets and get to know its Roman Bridge.

After lunch, we will drive through Ponferrada and its famous Templar Castle and will arrive at the historic Village of Villafranca del Bierzo, at the entrance of Galicia, and get ready for the well-known ascent to O Cebreiro the next day.

Accommodation and Dinner at the hotel 4**** (included)

Walking stage: Herrerias – O Cebreiro (6 miles)

Today again, following the footsteps of the protagonists of our trip, we continue our Way to finally reach Galicia, the last stage of our journey. We head towards the famous O’Cebreiro, the entrance to Galicia on the French Way, where we will discover once again some Hollywood tricks with some of the scenes from the movie THE WAY. Our path on foot today begins in Herrerias, from where we will go up to O Cebreiro passing through the entrance marker to Galicia. Upon arrival in O Cebreiro we will have a visit to this village, of Celtic origin, to see its typical constructions, the pallozas and the Church of Santa Maria la Real de O Cebreiro, the place of the famous miracle of the chalice and undoubtedly one of the most special sites for the pilgrims in the whole Camino. Lunch at O Cebreiro (Included). We continue with our transport to the city of Lugo from where we will walk the last 100 kilometers (70 miles) to Santiago. Arrival in Lugo and time to rest before visiting the historical center and its three world heritage sites by UNESCO, The Cathedral, the Roman Walls (The best preserved in Europe) and the Camino Primitivo itself.

Walking stage: Lugo – Ferreira (15 miles)

After breakfast, we will start the first stage of our Camino. We do not have to pack our suitcases today, as we will be returning to our hotel for another night. We leave Lugo from the Cathedral, crossing the walls through the Puerta de Santiago (St James’ Door) and descending to the Roman Bridge of Lugo, which crosses the River Miño. We leave Lugo behind and continue through local roads and sections of trails, crossing several villages, without great difficulties or slopes, until we reach San Roman da Retorta, the end of our stage. In Ferreira we will enjoy lunch (included) before taking our transport back to Lugo. On the way back to the hotel, we will make a brief stop to visit the Church of Santa Eulalia da Boveda. This monument is classified «Unicum«, that is, there is no other like it. This 3rd century Roman temple was converted into a church but its original paintings and the original structure, as it was when it was dedicated to the Goddess Cibeles, was preserved. We want to share the experience of being in this unique space, that has known different expressions of worship over the centuries. Return to Lugo and free time to rest at the hotel. Dinner not included (Many options in the oldtown to discover another treasure of Lugo, its culinary. Night in Lugo. Hotel 4****

Walking stage: Ferreira – Melide (12,5 ml)

This morning we start our walk from the Roman bridge of Ferreira, in a gentle climb towards the hill of the Sierra de Careon, which is the border between the provinces of Lugo and A Coruña. We will enjoy beautiful views from these heights before starting a gentle descent towards Melide. It is here that the Camino Primitivo connects with the Camino Frances. Famous for its octopus, we cannot pass through Melide without stopping for lunch at one of its most famous Pulperias to taste this Galician specialty (Lunch included, with more options available for those who do not like the octopus).

After lunch, we will drive to our accommodation in a traditional country house, a Galician Pazo, for the next two nights. Dinner at the accommodation.

Walking stage: Melide – Salceda (15 ml)

Our first full stage on the Camino Frances begins with some ups and downs, passing over the beautiful church of Boente and the bridge of Ribadiso, to the town of Arzua. This large town is famous for its cheese which has designation of origin status. Passing by the Church of Santiago, we leave Arzua to walk along tracks and paths, through forests and past some special villages that will catch our attention. Another very beautiful stage where we will begin to notice the larger numbers of pilgrims walking along the Camino Frances. Arrival in Salceda and lunch (Included) Today we will drive back to our accommodation in Melide area, to our country house, old house, beautifully restored, surrounded by gardens and a swimming pool where you can rest after another day on the way. Dinner and accommodation in Melide.

Walking stage: Salceda – Monte do Gozo (13,5 ml)

We are going to enjoy our last «long« stage on the Camino, which takes us up to the gates of Santiago. Again, we will alternate between trails and local roads, crossing through small villages and rural places with both cultivated eucalyptus forests and native Galician woodlands. After skirting the airport and passing by the Church of San Paio we will arrive at Lavacolla, a beautiful spot to rest before concluding our stage in Villamaior, less than 6 miles from our goal. Another stage to enjoy the company of our fellow pilgrims and those friends that we will undoubtedly have met on previous days. We will walk to our accommodation, on the outskirts of Santiago. Dinner and accommodation in a country house or hotel 4****

The big day has finally arrived! Our efforts will have brought us to the holy city of Santiago de Compostela! We start our walk from Monte del Gozo (Mount of joy). It is from here that we will have our first view of the towers of the Cathedral. As we experience the joy that so many millions of pilgrims have felt for more than a thousand years, we will understand its name. Entering the outskirts of the city, walking together, and crossing the Porta do Camiño we will soon arrive at the splendid Plaza del Obradoiro. Here we will share emotions and sensations with all the pilgrims that we will find there; pilgrims who have come from all the Caminos, countries and distances that we can imagine…all adopted into one big Pilgrim Family !!!! From the Plaza we will head into the Cathedral to attend the Pilgrim’s Mass. It is celebrated every day at 12 o’clock. Undoubtedly, there will be moments of great significance and emotion. Botafumeiro (Incense ceremony) granted and reserved benches att the Cathedral. After mass, the guide will accompany us to our accommodation, close to the Cathedral. Free afternoon to eat in the lively restaurants and taverns and to shop and stroll through its historic streets until it is time to meet again to enjoy an unforgettable farewell dinner in Santiago. This will be a very special dinner, in a very special place, full of surprises and emotions. It is here that you will receive your Compostela, the certificate issued by the Cathedral, certifying your pilgrimage on foot to Santiago de Compostela. Dinner and accommodation in Santiago. Hotel Monumento San Francisco****sup

Today, the long days of walking are over, but our Way is not… In the morning we will take a guided tour of the historic center of Santiago accompanied by an expert local guide. They will tell us all the secrets and stories that this world heritage city has accumulated over the centuries. At the end of the visit, we will take our transport to follow again in the footsteps of thousands of pilgrims who continue their Way to Finisterre, the end of the world, as named by the Romans. We will visit its well-known lighthouse and its zero kilometer marker for the Camino de Santiago. It’s a magical place, by the sea, where, according to tradition, the pilgrims burned their old clothes as a symbol of regeneration. We will enjoy a delicious seafood lunch (Included) in the port of Finisterre before continuing our excursion to Muxia, another special place in Jacobean history. Here tradition tells us that the Virgin Mary appeared to Santiago, who was going through a moment of weakness in his preaching in Roman Hispania. She appeared on a stone boat encouraging him to continue his evangelical work. We will visit the Santuario da Virxe da Barca, the church that commemorates this appearance, which faces the rough waters of the Costa de la Muerte (Death Coast). An unforgettable epilogue for our tour of the Camino de Santiago. Return to Compostela and free time for dinner (Not included) Night in Santiago. Hotel Monumento San Francisco****sup

Breakfast and end of our services (Transfers to the airport or train station included). At this point, it will not be a goodbye, but a «see you later», because we are already pilgrims in Santiago, and surely life and the Camino will reunite us one day.

BUEN CAMINO ALWAYS !!!!