Day 1.

Arrive at Bilbao. Transfer to our centrally located hotel. Overnight Bilbao (5*).

Day 2.

We visit the world famous Guggenheim museum before departing for the great monastery of Nájera. A short early evening walk takes us to Azofra and from there to our overnight stop in Santo Domingo de la Calzada (4*).

Day 3.

We visit the ancient shrine of Santo Domingo de la Calzada, scene of a famous miracle of the road before continuing to the edge of the Oca mountains from where we walk to the shrine of San Juan de Ortega, with its beautiful Romanesque church and ruined monastery. In the afternoon we continue by road to Burgos where we visit the great Carthusian monastery of Miraflores and the magnificent gothic cathedral. Overnight Burgos (4*).

Day 4.

Ride from Burgos and then walk through the evocative landscape of the great plains of Castile. Our walk leads us over the meseta from Castrojeriz, once a great town of the Camino, to the frontier with the ancient kingdom of León. After lunch we drive to visit some of the architectural gems of the trip: the Romanesque church of Frómista and the early Moorish influence of the churches at Sahagún. This evening we arrive at León where we stay in the ancient convent and traditional resting place of pilgrims the Hospedería de San Marcos, now a five star parador. Overnight León (5*).

Day 5.

Free day in the magnificent city of León which contains great art and architecture from across the ages. The pantheon of the kings boasts perhaps the finest medieval frescoes in Europe, remarkably preserved and still in their original setting. The Gothic cathedral is the purest example of the style in Spain and the stained glass rivals that of Chartres. There is even an excellent modernist building by the great Catalán architect Gaudí. Overnight León (5*).

Day 6.

Ride to Astorga with its bishop’s palace by Gaudí and cathedral. From the León mountains we walk through wild scenery to Molinaseca. Continue to Ponferrada, home of the Knights Templar, with its lumbering castle and then on to Villafranca, where we stay in the parador. Overnight Villafranca (3*).

Day 7.

We visit the ancient town of Villafranca del Bierzo and then walk from near Villafranca to the tiny village of O Cebreiro and the border with Galicia. Cebreiro is reputed to be the hiding place of the Holy Grail and the inspiration for Wagner’s opera Parsifal. Today it is an atmospheric stop on the Camino with its ninth century granite church and ancient inn. In the afternoon we continue by road and on foot to Portomarín (3*).

Day 8.

Our goal is near as we visit the ancient home of the knights of Saint James at Vilar de Donas before walking the most interesting sections of the Camino to the unsurpassed medieval city of Santiago de Compostela (5*).

Day 9.

Free day in Santiago. There is plenty of time to get to know the magnificent cathedral, the finest example of both Romanesque and Baroque art in Spain. Other highlights include the fifteenth century hospital now the glorious five star hotel Los Reyes Católicos where we stay. Overnight Santiago de Compostela (5*).

Day 10.

Travel to Santiago airport for flight connections home.

The accommodation on this trip is excellent with fine old castles and grand paradors.

Bilbao 5* - Santo Domingo 4* - Burgos 4* - Leon 5* - Villafranca 3* - Portomarin 3* - Santiago 5*

Maximum number of walkers 16.

Average hours walked 4.

Average miles per day 7.5.