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Camino de Santiago / Camino Francés: Highlights of León & the Final 150 km

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11822
10 Days, 9 Nights
Max People : 14
Iberian Adventures > Destinations > Self Guided Trips > Camino de Santiago / Camino Francés: Highlights of León & the Final 150 km
Tour Details

A Self-Guided Trip. 10 Days, 9 Nights, with 7 days walking.

This popular itinerary covers the last 155 km / 96 miles of the Camino Frances, starting the pilgrimage from the town of O’Cebreiro – 1st town on the Way in Galicia, taking 7 days of walking to reach Santiago de Compostela. This section of the Way includes the “final 100 km of the Camino”, the minimum distance required to qualify for the famous Compostela certificate. What makes our trip so special is that it also allows you to experience some of the completely different culture and environment of Castilla y León and the transition towards Galicia, normally only available to those who start walking much further away!

After a first night in historic León, you’ll transfer in our private taxi, following the Camino to Villafranca del Bierzo for your 2nd night. En-route there will be stops at the main highlights, such as Astorga, Castrillo de los Polvazares, Cruz de Ferro and Ponferrada, as well as options to walk some short but attractive sections of the historic route. On Day 3, a short transfer up to the mountain-top village of O’Cebreiro to start walking all the way to Santiago.

Duration:

10 Days, 9 Nights

Meeting Point:

León

Several daily connections from Madrid and Barcelona by air, rail or bus

Ending Point:

Santiago de Compostela

Several daily connections to Madrid, Barcelona and certain European cities by air, as well as rail connections to Madrid and other cities

Difficulty & Terrain:

C – Although the terrain is very easy, we classify this as “Moderate”, due to length of walks with constant short ups and downs, averaging just over 22 km / 13.8 mi daily. For most people this would be about 5 to 6 hours.

Accommodations:

In León and Santiago we use quality 3* or 4* hotels in great locations in the pedestrian-only zones of the old cities. In rural areas, we use the best available, mostly 2* to 3* or equivalent, small family-run hotels and inns. All properties have en-suite bathrooms and are personally chosen for their comfort, character, location and overall quality, with a preference for stylishly restored historic buildings. Good food is also a must! 

Start Dates:

Any day from March 1 to October 31

Minimum Group size:

2

Price:

Contact us to request a price for your custom or private group!

Price includes:

9 nights accommodation

9 breakfasts, 4 dinners with local wine and bottled water. Other nights to explore on your own.

Custom-written, detailed daily route instructions, hotel contact information, local maps of León, Villafranca del Bierzo, Sarria and Santiago

All luggage transfer between O’Cebreiro and Santiago.

Private taxi transfers on Days 2 and 3.

Local English-speaking Iberian Adventures contact

Extra nights in León:

An extra night in León is recommended if you have time, especially if you’ve just arrived from overseas, to get over jet-lag etc. León is a wonderful historic city with plenty to see and great eating options ranging from a myriad of tapas bars to excellent restaurants offering fine cuisine.

Extra nights in Santiago:

At least 1 extra night in Santiago is highly recommended – in fact it is compulsory in our view! On needs time to properly experience this magical city, pulsating with a special energy that is unique on the planet! There is plenty to see and endless eating options ranging from tapas to superb restaurants offering the finest cuisine and opportunities to savour Galicia’s excellent regional wines and so forth.

Optional Self-guided excursion in Finisterre:

Approx. 200 euros per group of up to 4 – available only if staying at least 1 extra day and night in Santiago. Includes transport, hiking notes & map and lunch reservations in Finisterre town, at a great restaurant overlooking the port. This is a great morning hike following “pagan” pilgrimage trails to the lighthouse at the tip of the cape and is a wonderful way to end your time on the Camino!

Optional walking tours with licensed local guides:

You can book this service when reserving & paying for your trip or we can arrange it for you and you pay the guides directly in cash. Approximate rates are:

León: 140 euros per group

Santiago: 150 euros per group

Transfer Day 2:

León to Villafranca del Bierzo

With a flexible departure time, the route follows the Camino de Santiago and includes scheduled stops at several sites of interest, as well as allowing you the option to walk up to 3 short but attractive sections of the Camino.

Total driving time: 2 hours + stops & optional walks

Stops during transfer: Astorga – the city’s illustrious patrimony include numerous Roman ruins, a Gothic cathedral and Catalán architect Antonio Gaudí’s Neo-Gothic Bishop’s Palace; Castrillo de los Povazares is one of Spain’s best preserved medieval villages. Cruz de Ferro is an emblematic iron cross atop Mt. Irago(1504m), with an enormous mound of stones, placed by pilgrims at its base; Ponferrada’s castle is one of Spain’s finest, built by the order of the Knights Templar.

Walks on the Camino en-route: these will be described in your daily route notes.

Transfer Day 3:

Villafranca del Bierzo to O’Cebreiro

Total driving time: 25 minutes

Highlights

León – one of Spain’s great historic cities, home to some of Europe’s greatest masterpieces of Gothic art and a wonderful pilgrim’s atmosphere, its old quarter is perfect for strolling and enjoying tapas and the excellent local wine.

Astorga – crossroads of the Via de la Plata and Camino de Santiago, the city’s illustrious patrimony include numerous Roman ruins, a Gothic cathedral and Catalán architect Antonio Gaudí’s Neo-Gothic Bishop’s Palace.

Castrillo de los Polvazares – one of Spain’s most beautiful and well-preserved medieval villages, it is the symbol of the area in western León province known as La Maragatería.

Cruz de Ferro – emblematic iron cross called “cruz de ferro”, emerging from and enormous mound of stones, placed by countless pilgrims at its base.

Villafranca del Bierzo – considered the “gateway to Galicia”, the last major town before the Way begins the arduous ascent to cross the Leon-Galicia border, it has a wealth of historic buildings, including several churches, a castle, a monastery, a convent and plenty of noble homes.

O’Cebreiro an emblematic hilltop stone village with curious pre-Roman thatch-roofed dwellings called pallozas. The chapel is the site of one of the Camino’s most famous legends.

Santiago de Compostela  – one of the world’s great historic cities, its ancient granite-clad old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Home to Galicia’s regional government, one of Europe’s oldest universities and the magnificent cathedral that has drawn millions over the centuries like a magnet, it virtually buzzes with a unique energy and is a fascinating place to explore.

Itinerary

Day 1León

Independent arrival in León. Explore on your own.

Overnight: a comfortable 3* hotel in a renovated historical building in the heart of historic quarter, just steps from the great cathedral.

Day 2Transfer from León to Villafranca del Bierzo (with stops & walks en-route)

Explore more of León in the morning then transfer to Villafranca del Bierzo by private taxi with scheduled stops at several sites of interest along the Camino, as well as allowing you the option to walk 3 short but attractive sections of the Camino.

Overnight: in Villafranca del Bierzo, in a 3* equivalent historic inn.

Day 3O’Cebreiro to Triacastela.

Explore the many historic sights of Villafranca in the morning, then a short transfer to the fascinating hilltop stone village of O’Cebreiro to begin an An exhilarating walk with great views. 1st 8.5 km are more or less level, up high at over 1300 m / 4265 ft. The last 13 km are practically all downhill, through pastureland and forest with many sections on lovely corredoiras – typically narrow and often shady Galician country paths linking meadows and villages.

Approximate walking distance: 21.2 km / 13.2 mi.
Overnight: in Triacastela, in a family-run 1* inn.

Day 4Triacastela to Sarria

You’ll have to choose from a shorter and a longer option today, both through lush green countryside, depending on whether or not you want to visit the Benedictine monastery at Samos, one of the oldest in Christendom.

Approximate walking distance: 18.5 – 25 km / 11.5 – 15.5 mi.
Overnight: in Sarria, a comfortable modern 1* – 3* hotel.

Day 5Sarría to Portomarín

Today’s walk may be the most beautiful of the entire pilgrimage, through verdant forests, grassy meadows, fertile orchards and simple stone-built hamlets to Portomarín, perched on the banks of the Miño, one of Galicia’s great rivers.

Walk: 21.5 km / 13.3 mi.
Overnight: a former “parador”, this 3* traditional-style country hotel is the best in Portomarín.

Day 6Portomarín to Palas de Rei

The Way continues on through lush Galician countryside to Palas de Rei. If time allows, take a short detour to visit one of Spain’s most outstanding Romanesque churches at nearby Vilar de Donas, classified as a national monument.

Approximate walking distance: 24.3 km / 15 mi.
Overnight: family run inn near Palas de Rei.

Day 7Palas de Rei to Castañeda

Rolling green landscapes, dotted with cows, stonewalls and tiny Romanesque churches on your way to Melide, famed for its Pulpo a la Feira – tender morsels of boiled octopus drenched in virgin olive oil, sea salt and paprika. An especially enchanting stretch of forest trail leads to the tiny hamlet of Castañeda.

Approximate walking distance: 22.8 km / 14.2 mi
Overnight: a highlight of the trip is this 18th century “Pazo”- a traditional granite-built Galican manor near Castañeda.

Day 8Castañeda to Pino

More pretty rolling terrain as ancient paths and country lanes lead through vegetable patches, fields and oak groves, then pine and eucalyptus woods.

Approximate walking distance: 23 km / 14.3 mi
Overnight: a family run inn set in a typical Galician landscape

Day 9Pino to Santiago

Quiet lanes and forest paths wend through increasingly populated countryside until you reach the Monte del Gozo—“Mount of Joy”, so named for the emotion of those who were rewarded with their first view of the cathedral spires. Now downhill, in the footsteps of millions before you, until the magical moment of arrival at the impressive cathedral in the Plaza del Obradoiro – Santiago’s grandiose central square.

Walk: 22 km / 13.7 mi
Overnight: located in the old quarter just steps from the magnificent Obradoiro square and the Cathedral, our standard hotel is a comfortable 4 *property in the refurbished wing of a working Franciscan monastery,and is consistently rated one of the city’s best.

Day 10Departure (or stay an extra day or more)

Don’t forget the 12:00 noon mass at the cathedral for pilgrims arriving the previous day! If you’re flying out, most flights out of Santiago leave in mid-afternoon, so you’ll have time for the 20 minute transfer to the Santiago international airport.

NOTE: If you aren’t in a hurry we definitely recommend you stay at least 2 nights in Santiago to fully enjoy and experience this magical city. Then…if there’s time and you want to see more of the area or another part of Spain, consider hiring a car and driving from Santiago along the coast to Bilbao, across the country to Madrid or Barcelona, Andalusia, etc. We can help you to plan your itinerary. Ask us!

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