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must in Spain |
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Several
years ago the European Union
designated the Camino de Santiago
a Prime Tourist Route. Truth
is, the EU is about a thousand
years behind the times: pilgrims
have been following the Saint
James Way, under the Milky Way,
since the late 11th century,
travelling to Santiago for various
reasons. People still do the
pilgrimage for religious reasons,
but it’s also become one
of the most popular ways of
discovering the beauty of northern
Spain.
Depending on the number of
kilometres you want to do each
day, you may choose to start
your guided Camino in either
Burgos, the former capital of
Castile, or in León,
with its splendid cathedral
and atmospheric old quarter.
Both tours can be completed
in a week, giving you the chance
to experience the historical
and environmental diversity
of one of Spain’s least-visited
regions.
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Itinerary |
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Day
1 BURGOS
After meeting you at your
hotel (or at the airport,
if they’ll be arriving
that morning,) we’ll
travel to the city of Burgos,
founded in 884 and one of
the key communities along
the Camino de Santiago.
After fitting the bikes
and having a chance to walk
around the city, we’ll
have dinner in a restaurant
facing the Cathedral. We’ll
also get our Pilgrim Credentials
– the all-important
document that shows our
pilgrim progress –
at the main pilgrim hostel
in Burgos. Get ready to
get holy and rolling!. |
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Day
2 Carrión de los
Condes
43
km. 150 mts. gradient
After breakfast we’ll
take the van and head to
the village of Castrojeriz,
where we’ll begin
the day’s cycling.
We’ll cross the twelfth-century
Fitero bridge, which guided
pilgrims across the Pisuerga
River; head through Frómista,
with its Spanish Romanesque
architecture; and go through
several other charming villages
before stopping for the
evening in Carrión
de los Condes. Carrión
is the final resting place
of Saint Zoilus (Zolio in
Spanish), who was executed
at Cordoba under Emperor
Diocletian (r. 284-305).
His relics have been enshrined,
along with those of nineteen
other martyrs, in the twelfth-century
Renaissance Benedictine
monastery of San Zoilo de
Carrion. |
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Day
3 Léon
43
km. 125 mts. flat with up
hills terrain.
From Carrión de los
Condes, we’ll ride
to the town of Sahagún.
Known as the “Spanish
Cluny” for its association
with King Alfonso the Sixth,
who worked to reform the
Church in Castile. Considering
its small size, Sahagún
contains some of the most
important Arab-influenced
churches in Castile. After
having lunch in Sahagún,
we’ll travel by van
to the historic city of
León, founded in
68BC and home to the cathedral
with the most beautiful
stained glass windows in
Spain. We’ll spend
the late afternoon visiting
the cathedral, wandering
around the atmospheric streets
of the Barrio Húmedo
(renowned for some of the
best tapas bars in Castile). |
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Day
4 Villafranca
35
km. 800 mts. descent.
The serious climbing begins
after our van transfer from
León to Astorga.
After visiting Astorga’s
cathedral, pilgrim’s
hospital and Episcopal Palace
(designed and built by Antoni
Gaudí) we’ll
take to the road and ride
to the highest point on
the Camino a gradual climb
of 800 metres/2,624 feet.
Of course, the great part
about that is the 12 kilometre
downhill ride that follows
as we head into the town
of Ponferrada! After visiting
the Templar Castle in Ponferrada,
we’ll travel by van
to the town of Villafranca
del Bierzo, where we’ll
stay in a converted monastery. |
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Day
5 Portomarín
60
km. A long descent and rolly
terrain.
Though the climb on Day
four is the highest on the
Camino, it isn’t necessarily
the toughest – Camino
fanatics all agree that
the worst climb is the ascent
to O Cebreiro, which we’ll
do by minivan. After visiting
the restored village and
its mountaintop chapel (with
astounding views if the
skies are clear) we’ll
get on the bikes and enjoy
the 23 kilometre-long descent
into Triacastela. We’ll
ride through (and visit)
the Monastery of Saint Julian
in Samos, and follow back
country roads through pine
and eucalyptus forests through
to Sarria (where we’ll
break for lunch) and Portomarín,
which sits on the banks
of the Miño River
and which was moved and
rebuilt in the mid-50s to
make way for a power dam.
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Day
6 Santiago Compostela
38 km. 200 mts. gradient
(ascent)
The final day of the tour
is short but stiff. After
a quick van transfer to
the town of Arzúa,
we’ll bike the final
kilometres through rolling
countryside, past the Lavacolla
hill (where pilgrims would
tidy themselves up before
reaching Santiago) and the
Monte do Gozo, where, in
medieval times, pilgrims
would catch their first
glimpses of the Cathedral
of Santiago. From there
it’s a quick ride
into Santiago itself, where
we’ll wind through
the narrow streets to reach
the Praza do Obradoiro,
home of both the Cathedral
of Santiago and the Parador,
the former Palace of the
Catholic Kings. In the evening
we’ll have a fairwell
dinner and a walk through
the lamplit streets of the
Old Town. |
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Day
7 Departure
After breakfast, w'll return
to Madrid by van. |
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PRICE 2010 (EURO):
1675
€ in hotels 4*-3*
190 € single
supplement |
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DAYS/NIGHTS:
7
d / 6 n
LEVEL:
Medium-Advanced
DATES
2010 (Sundays):
March
28
April
17 (Sat)
May 9 and 22 (Sat)
June 13 and 27
Julio 3 (Sat) and 19*(Mon)
*Special
Holy Year departure
Aug 28 (Sat)
Sept 26
Oct 9 (Sat)
INCLUDED:
Accommodation,
breakfast, dinners, lunches,
luggage transfers, transfers
on the trip, quality touring
bike (road bike optional),
guide and insurance.
NOT
INCLUDED:
OPTIONS:
- Return from Santiago
by plane.
SUPPORTED
TOUR
MINIMUM GROUP 4 PERSONS
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- The friendship along
the way with all pilgrims.
- The Cathedral and atmospheric
streets of the city of
León.
- Riding along gorgeous
paths through ancient
oak forests.
- Replenishing your energy
with local cuisine and
wine.
- The thousand-year-old
ritual of congratulating
yourself on your achievement
in front of the Cathedral. |
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