This 8-day walking tour begins on the border of Galicia in the fertile valley of El Bierzo and climbs to the small Celtic village of O'Cebriero. Our daily hiking pace is 10 to 14 miles along marked footpaths, rolling hills and through ancient villages
This tour guarantees the Compostela--the pilgrim's diploma. We cover the final 120- kilometers of the Camino walking from inn to inn, always with the van trailing close behind for those who wish to relax a bit. All accommodations are owner-operated, country manor houses that ensure a high standard of quality and service. All breakfasts, 5 lunches and 6 dinners including local wines are included in the tour price. Group is limited to 14
See example of an 8 day trip here
Please contact us for dates, prices, and availability.
Email: hiking@russelltours.com
Phone: 860 767-1670
We also offer self guided hikes in Spain
See more information and a sample of an 8 day drip below
Camino Sampler for an 8-day trip.
Day 1 Ponferrada.
Ambasmestas One of our representatives will greet you at bus/train station in Ponferrada in the late afternoon (5 PM) on Day 1 of the tour. After a visit of the Knights Templars Castle in Ponferrada we’ll drive to a point on the Camino and start our walk. Plan to walk between 5 and 10 kilometres this first evening.
Dinner will follow a group organizational meeting at hotel.
Day 2—Samos or Sarria.
Today is one of the Camino’s most beautiful walks as we cross the border from Castilla y Leon into green Galicia and the Ancares mountain range. This 13 kilometer climb from the hamlet of Ambasmestas will be the most challenging hiking day of our pilgrimage, but memorable as we reach the high Celtic village of O’Cebreiro. Here we visit pre- Roman style dwellings with thatched roofs, a restored pre-Romanesque chapel and pilgrim hospice dating back to the 9th c. At almost 4000 ft. this village is famous for several miracles. The most famous being that the Holy Grail from which Christ drank from at the last supper was hidden here. Later in the day we drop into the Torobio River valley basin to the town of Triacastela, where pilgrims would pick up a stone to be used in the construction of the cathedral in Santiago. We slumber in for the night a Casa Rural near the Samos Monastery. (10-20K) (B= breakfast L= lunch D=dinner)
Day 3-- Sarria.
Our morning starts out the front door of our CR (casa rural). From there, we continue along the Camino to the
town of Sarria where we have can enjoy a glass of wine along the river walk. There is an option of visiting another monastery
and the15th c. watchtower at the top of the hill. Our hotel is located in the town center. (10-15 K) (B D )
Day 4—Sarria.
We begin the final 100-K of the Camino. More of the well-marked paths will take us through the lush green countryside where farmers are still working hard in the fields or driving their cattle to another pasture to graze. Lunch will be in Portomarin where a large medieval church was reconstructed stone by stone in the 1960’s to make way for a reservoir, damming the Rio Miño for agricultural and recreational purposes. We return for a second nights rest in our comfortable hotel. (10-20-K) (B L)
Day 5—Arzua.
Our walk from Portomarin this morning will be along a country road leading us to Palas de Rei, Palas of the
King, named after an 8th century Visigoth king. After a visit of the tiny 12th c. chapel, we drive to a restored farmhouse
near Arzua, with an extensive manicured garden. This is the place where the Camino del Norte meets the Camino
Frances. (12-24K) (B L D)
Day 6—Arzua.
In the morning, we return to Palas de Rei to continue our walk along the Camino through small villages with numerous religious crosses, small chapels and tall Galician corncribs. Before our group picnic in Casteñeda, we suggest you to stop in the town of Melide at the famous Pulporia to sample one of Galicias specialties—Pulpo Gallegosteamed octopus prepared by the locals and enjoyed by pilgrims! After lunch, we continue our walk to Arzua where its dairy industry is famous for the creamy cow cheese, Tetilla , made in the shape of a women’s breast. We sleep a second night at our lovely farmhouse in the countryside near Arzua. (12-24K) (B D)
Day 7 - Touro (B&B off Camino).
From Arzua, our journey is dotted with small hamlets hidden amongst tall
eucalyptus trees and behind moss covered stone walls. Villages named Rua, Calzada and Calle all refer to the word
road, recognizing that the pilgrimage road has been leading pilgrims to Santiago for centuries through these tiny
villages. We end our day of walking at the Kilometer 15 marker in the hamlet of Amenal . (25 K.) ( B L D)
Day 8-- Santiago de Compostela.
Today, we take to the trail one last time. One of the villages worth noting is Lavacolla, a place where pilgrims would
wash themselves in the shallow stream before entering Santiago. En route, just 4-kilometers before Santiago, is
Monte del Gozo, Mount Joy, our first glimpse of the towers of the cathedral. Tradition claims that if you were the first
one in your group to sight the church towers, you could officially change your name to King (Rey, Leroy, Le Roi).
(B)
Once in the city of Santiago, you will be greeted by a local tour guide to explore the richness of the cathedral and
participate in the rituals of this ancient burial place where millions of pilgrims from all over the world have walked to
for one thousand years. At that point, our guides will depart. (12 K)
*This itinerary may change slightly due to accommodation availability, rain, festivals and spontaneous side trips.
** After each day’s description, you will see two numbers indicating the amount of walking we cover. We are flexible in
the amount you walk. We have the van to assist in whatever amount you would like to cover on this pilgrimage. The
higher of the two numbers,(12-25 K for example), is the typical, maximum amount we cover in a day. The small
number is with van support. This is not an endurance race, nor a competition. Please be respectful of all the different
paces and walks of life that come together on this group trip.
*** On the second half of this tour, we have the advantage of staying several nights in one hotel.
****This Camino Sampler trip may join our Camino Long Walk trip on their 7th day, or may parallel this other group
of Russell Tour pilgrims.
We average between 10-15 miles per day. A lot depends on the group dynamics and how much you would like to walk. I encourage people to ride in the van if their feet are feeling fatigued or to walk more miles if they have the energy. Most pilgrims walking the trail independently walk 15 miles a day with a heavy pack. Our tours have the luxury of a fully supported van, which carries our baggage and carries us the extra mile when needed.
What kind of hotels do we use ?
We use beautifully restored farm houses known as Casa Rurales, and
family run Pazos, Galician manor homes and hotels. They are located along the Camino de Santiago situated in
small towns and villages, away from the large cities. All rooms have private baths. The smaller inns have no
phone or TV in the room.
Meals- All breakfasts are included. Breakfast in Spain tends to be very light. 4 lunches & 6 dinners are
included. We prepare light and healthy picnics-weather permitting. In Sarria, your guides will recommend
several different places to eat
We cam a;sp supply you with travel information for the train and bus
services. Many people fly to Madrid and take the bus. Many people opt to sleep in the small city of Leon prior to
the tour. There are several bus connections, which will take you to Ponferrada from Madrid or Leon.
For train travel information within Spain, contact http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros For bus service, contact www.alsa.es Or rent a car from your arrival city and leave it in Ponferrada before meeting the group.
Most people fly from Santiago to Madrid. Check with
your travel agent and purchase your return ticket from Santiago before leaving the USA. OR take a train or bus
(see above).
Equipment: The hikes are not fancy. We will supply you with an equipment list of basic items to pack. You are
limited to one bag weighing 30-lbs and one-day pack to hold items such as your camera, rain gear and water
bottle. Hiking boots will be your most important piece of equipment. Please be sure they are well broken in and
that you have proper socks before arriving in Spain.
Spending Money: Most expenses are already built into our trips. Meals, on the days when you eat
on your own, and snacks and beverages at the cafes and stores are additional. Most people travel with an ATM
card. Money machines are everywhere in Spain but be sure you know your PIN number (not letters) before
departing the US. Do not travel with TRAVELLERS CHECKS as the banking hours are held at odd times.
What is the average age of the group ?
The average age of the hiker on our tours is 50 years old during the spring and fall months but younger during the summer months. Most trips are a mix of a 40/60 ratio of men to women. We have taken school groups where the age range is 13-20 years old. With an eager heart and a mind full of curiosities, any age is able to walk the Camino.
What about Gratuity for local guides.
We have a very hard workding saff the service industry has one goal, to please the traveler, a gratuity is much appreciated by the staff
members at the end of the tour. As a general guideline, people tip around 10 Euros per day, per guide.
What is the terrain like?
The trails are well marked with yellow arrows and the scallop shell tile. There are some long, slow climbs through farming areas but not Himalayan or Rocky Mountain like terrain. The paths are well worn and are not difficult. We walk along a lot of secondary farming roads, paths through vineyards, beech and chestnut forests and old country roads. Single Supplement: Some people would like to be matched with a roommate. We can’t guarantee a match but will try to place you with someone if there are any requests. The price will vary depending on single or double occupancy per person for this eight-day trip.
References:
We would be delighted to share with you some references of former clients who have walked
with us. If you would like to contact any former participants, let us know by calling us at the phone listed at the top of this page