The Caminos of Santiago, Northern Spain

Starting in Bilbao, we take a drive up into the foothills of the Spanish Pyrenees to Roncesvalles, the traditional start point of the Camino in Spain. The landscape is one of lovely small villages set in the rolling pastures and forests of the Basque Pyrenees. Over the course of the day, you gradually descend through villages and woodland towards the village of Zubiri where you end today's walk.

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At the end of your walk, you are picked up for the short drive to your hotel in the heart of the old city of Pamplona. Take time this evening to stroll around the heart of the city with your guides, following the route of the encierro, also known as the running of the bulls, made so famous by Hemingway. Tonight enjoy a welcome dinner in a local restaurant.

A short transfer from Pamplona brings you to the start point of today's walk. As you are now moving away from the mountains, the terrain changes to open, rolling landscapes punctuated by villages rich in history, including Puente de la Reina, one of the prettiest villages along the entire Camino. Cross Medieval and Roman bridges, passing olive groves and small vineyards as you continue your journey along the Camino towards the hill top village of Cirauqui.

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At the end of today's walk, you transfer around an hour to the Rioja area where we visit one of the famous wineries before settling in the Parador of the historical town of Santo Domingo do la Calzada.

Start the day with a one-hour transfer to the start point of today's walk in the Montes de Oca. In the olden days, the traverse of the Montes de Oca was one of the most feared pilgrimage stretches due to bandits. Follow a wide track through the forest until you reach the beautiful monastery built by San Juan de Ortega to offer support to pilgrims.

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Today's route finishes near Atapuerca, arguably the most important archaeological site on Earth. At the site, 1 million years of human presence are being excavated, the oldest evidence of humans in Western Europe. Stay in the heart of Burgos, famous for its enormous Gothic cathedral and excellent food. Enjoy an early evening cathedral and city tour with our local guide before dinner. There is also a fantastic museum in Burgos which contains the world's most extensive hominid collection and an exhibit on Human Evolution.

From the old town of Castrojeriz, set off across the Tierra de Campos with its huge grain fields and enormous skies. The landscape is dotted with small villages and impressive churches with nesting storks. This is deep Spain and leaves you with a fantastic sense of the vast emptiness of central Spain. 

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Spend the night in the town of Leon, where you can enjoy the famous stained glass windows of its gothic Cathedral and the lively bars and restaurants of El Humedo quarter.

From Leon, transfer north into the Cantabrian range to hike down into the Liebana valley, admiring the high vertical peaks of the Picos de Europa as you follow the Camino Vadiniense. This route was historically used to visit the important relics that were hidden in the Liebana Valley in the 8th century, to keep them from the Muslims conquering the Peninsula from the South.

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The Picos de Europa is the first National Park established in Spain in 1918 and a unique reserve of wildlife and traditional farming culture. Walk past mountain pastures and beech forests to arrive in Fuente De,a remote setting deep in the mountains. From here, a short transfer will deliver you to your cozy, family-run hotel. 

Walk on three different Caminos in one day. Start the day walking along the Camino Vadiniense, traversing forests, pastures and villages under the towering Picos de Europa. Close to the town of Potes, you reach the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liebana, where the famous relics of the Lignum Crucis have been kept since the 8th century. From this point you join the Camino Lebaniego to finish your walk in the historic town of Potes.

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Enjoy a walk around its cobbled streets and bridges and refresh yourself before your transfer to the Cantabrian Coast. Settle for the night in the picturesque fishing town of Llanes, one of the loveliest villages along the Camino del Norte and an excellent place to dine on seafood at one of numerous restaurants.

Enjoy a relaxed morning in Llanes with time for an early morning stroll along the Medieval town and port before taking the local narrow gauge train for 10 km to the village of Pendueles. From here, walk back to Llanes along the Northern Camino de Santiago, past small villages and enjoying great views of the roughed Cantabrian coastline, following the path along high cliffs and past coves of white sand ideal for a quick dip! In the evening, explore the great dining options in town, ranging from local fish and seafood places to Michelin-starred restaurants. 

Today we travel south across the Cantabrian range towards Leon to start hiking to the town of Astorga. Your starting point is the village of Orbigo, you traverse holm oak forests and open fields. 

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In Astorga, you meet another historic path of Iberia as you reach the Via de la Plata, a branch of the pilgrimage which comes up from Seville following an old Roman road. In Roman times, Astorga was the administrative center of a region rich with gold deposits. As early as the 3rd century, the town was a bishopric and this rich history is evidenced today by the sheer number of important religious buildings built here through the ages. Of particular note is the Episcopal Palace, designed by Anton Gaudi.

Prepare yourself for a big change in scenery as you cross into the lush greenery of Galicia, home to the city of Santiago. The walk today is relatively short, but all uphill, as you walk out of the region of Leon. At the top of the hill is the village of O'Cebreiro, rich in Camino history and site of one of the oldest inns on the walk. It's been serving meals to pilgrims since the 9th century, so how could we pass up a warm lunch?

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After lunch, we travel to the next hotel in the town of Lugo. An important stop on the Northern Camino, Lugo is famous for its fully preserved Roman wall circling the city center.

It is a short drive to the town of Sarria, where you will begin your walk. In this town many pilgrims gather, as this is the start point for those completing a shorter version of the Camino. The path follows ancient trails passing small hamlets and magic "corredoiras", the traditional Galician pathways lined with oak and chestnut trees. You also enjoy views of the wide open countryside.

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At the end of your morning walk, you travel by road to Santiago to stop at the Monte do Gozo and hike into town to reach the Cathedral. Take in the atmosphere in the Plaza del Obradoiro, watching as pilgrims finish their long journey, and celebrate yours. Settle into your prestigious Parador and get ready for a very special farewell dinner.

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Today you'll receive your

Walking Connection - Camino de Santiago Completion Certificate

signed by your guides and host, and witnessed by your fellow walkers.

Santiago is a very special city. Resolutely and obviously Spanish, it has also welcomed visitors for millennia, so has a relaxed cosmopolitan feel, which is otherwise difficult to come by in Spain. The city is always full of pilgrims who are delighted to have just arrived, so it is hard not to be infected by their positive energy. Take your time visiting the world-famous cathedral, linger in a local market, or browse a fascinating mmuseum. This a free day for you to enjoy and contemplate your life's journey that brought you here.

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