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8 Days / 7 Nights
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ITINERARY MAP
Total bicycling distance of the tour
322 kms (201 miles)
DAY 1:
MADRID - BURGOS
- Our clients will be greeted at the
airport or hotel at the agreed time.
- From there we travel by minibus to Burgos
- transit time approximately 2 1/2 hours.
- En-route stop for for a light lunch on the
way to Burgos.
- Upon arrival there will be time for a
stroll around the city, visiting the
cathedral and collect our Pilgrim's
Passports by bike. Dating back to 884,
Burgos rises from the banks of the Rio
Arlanzón, and is one of the most outstanding
examples of Spain's gothic architecture. The
cathedral is the third largest in Spain
after Toledo and Seville. This is one of the
most important cities along the Camino and
is the point of departure for our tour.
Located in front of the main gate to the
city, the Arch of Santa Maria, our hotel, NH
Palacio de la Merced, was formerly a convent
dating back to the 16th century.
- Dinner in town at the well-known
restaurant Pancho, serving tapas and
typical Castillian cuisine, accompanied by a
glass of good regional wine.
- Overnight in Burgos
L, D
DAY 2:
BURGOS - CARRION DE LOS CONDES
86kms (53 miles) flat & rolling terrain.
- Breakfast
- We leave Burgos cycling towards the
villages of Hontanas, Castrojeriz and
Boadilla del Camino.
- We pass the famous 12th century bridge of
Fitero crossing the river Pisuerga.
- After lunch in Hontanas we continue
cycling to Fromista with its church
dedicated to San Martin and one of the
finest examples of the Spanish Romanesque
style.
- We pass through more charming villages
before arriving in Carrion. This town is
home to three national monuments, including
the Iglesia de Santiago, with one of the
best examples of Romanesque sculpture. The
monastery's cloister is a jewel of the
Renaissance style.
- Here, we spend the night and have supper
in the Hotel Real Monasterio de San Zoilo,
associated with the order of Cluny.
- Overnight in Carrion de los Condes
B, L, D
DAY 3:
CARRION DE LOS CONDES - LEON
48kms (30 miles) flat and rolling
terrain.
- Breakfast
- Bicycling start after breakfast, we head
for Sahagún, pausing at some small villages
along the way
- After lunching there, we take the minibus
to arrive at the mediaeval city of Leon,
founded in the year 68 a.d. staying at the
magnificent Hotel Parador Hostal San Marcos,
with its splendid Renaissance facade, a
convent and pilgrims' hospital dating back
to the 16th century.
- We will have ample time to stroll around
this ancient city and visit its impressive
gothic cathedral boasting 125 unique stained
glass windows.
- We will dine at the Parador which offers
an excellent choice of the regional cuisine,
after visiting the Barrio Humedo in the old
part of the city.
- Overnight in Leon
B, L, D
DAY 4:
LEON - VILLAFRANCA DEL BIERZO
65-85kms (40-53 miles) uphill and descent.
- Breakfast
- Morning departure by minibus towards
Astorga, the point of confluence of two
original Pilgrim routes, the Camino Frances,
and the Via de la Plata (the Roman route).
- Here, we visit the cathedral, the
pilgrim´s hospital and A. Gaudi´s Episcopal
Palace which is a pilgrims museum.
- From Astorga, we drive on to Rabanal where
we remount our cycles and begin an uphill
climb, to reach the Cruz de Ferro (Iron
Cross) followed by a long descent towards
the territory known as El Bierzo, stopping
for a hearty farmhouse lunch at El Acebo, a
charming mountain village. El Bierzo is a
fertile basin surrounded by mountains and
abundant in fruit orchards, one of the most
important fruticultural centres of Spain.
- After visiting the main city of Ponferrada
and its dominating Templar Castle, we
proceed to Villafranca where we spend the
night at the Hotel Parador Villafranca del
Bierzo. The whole town is considered a
historic and artistic monument. It was
created to give refuge and sanctuary to the
pilgrims before initiating the most
difficult part of their pilgrimage.
- The Parador offers us luxurious
accommodation and an excellent dinner.
- Overnight in Villafranca del Bierzo
B, D
DAY 5:
VILLAFRANCA DEL BIERZO - PORTOMARIN
60-80kms (38-50 miles) A long descent and
rolling terrain.
- Breakfast
- From our hotel we will cycle approx. 18
miles to La Herreria where we decide whether
we want to tackle the steepest climb on the
"Camino" to O'Cebreiro. This is a real
challenge, but for those who prefer, our
minibus is there to take care of you.
- At the summit, we will enjoy exceptional
views into Galicia accompanied by a a hearty
lunch of regional specialties.
- Our cycling route will start some miles
further on at Monte de Poio, taking us
through Atlantic forests, scattered with
small villages, finally stopping in the
village of Sarría.
- From there, we will take the minibus along
the Mino valley and arrive at the day's end
at Portomarín.
- This village once belonged to the Templar
Knights' order of San Juan de Jerusalem but
now lies covered by the waters of the dam.
We will be lodged at the Posada de
Portomarin in the new village overlooking
the reservoir and the green valley of the
Miño river.
- Overnight in Portomarin
B, L
DAY 6:
SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
40kms (28 miles) rolling terrain
- Breakfast
- The minibus will provide our
transportation as far as Arzua, where we
will be bicycling the last 28 miles. These
are the hardest, as we are faced with
repeated, but modest uphill climbs. but they
are also the miles we bicycle in the spirit
of completion of a journey that so many
pilgrims have followed in the past, and will
continue following in the future.
- The Façade of Glory -Portico de la Gloria-
awaits us. Crossing the Plaza de Obradoiro
we dismount our bicycles, and shake hands
and embrace each other to celebrate our
journey`s completion and adventures.
Santiago de Compostela, in the middle ages,
the third most important city of Pilgrimage
after Jersualem and Rome, attracts pilgrims
from all over the world. Thousands of
travelers come to visit its treasures each
year. The now luxurious Parador, once a
pilgrim´s hospital, was built by the
Catholic Kings in 1501. It is adjacent to
the Cathedral, in the Obradoiro Square which
is the final meeting point for all roads
that lead to Santiago.
- It's time to pay homage to St James and
get our final passport stamps at the
pilgrimage office to obtain the La
Compostelana certificate.
- Our accommodation is at the 5 star hotel
Palacio del Carmen or at the Parador Hostal
Reyes Catolicos, and we dine later at the
Parador restaurant.
B, D
DAY 7:
MADRID
- Breakfast
- After breakfast, we return to Madrid by
minibus, pausing for lunch around mid-day.
- The approximate transit time is 7 hours.
- Our Evening on arrival at Madrid is free.
- Overnight in Madrid
B
DAY 8: MADRID
- Breakfast
- Transfer to airport or your own departure
arrangements if you continue your trip
- !Hasta pronto y Buen Camino!
B
END OF TOUR SERVICES
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of
three state-run Paradores on the bicycle route, two are very
luxurious and the other hotels are of superior quality with a special
charm. Savor the best of Spanish cuisine, traditional to the regions
and accompanied by excellent wines from La Rioja and Ribera del
Duero regions. The mini bus will transport us to the starting points of each
stage of our tour and we will cycle through the most interesting parts of our
route.
We had a fabulous time on the Camino de Santiago! Everything worked as
it should have and all contact we had with anyone associated with
EATours was very friendly, very helpful and totally professional. You
can be sure that we will be passing the word. A real pleasure... 
