Walking the Camino de Santiago - Solo Tour

Walking the Camino de Santiago - Solo Tour

Ancient churches, Gaudi-designed architecture and Rioja vineyards. Discover all of this and more on a series of walks which take you to charming towns and cities located on the Pilgrim's Road to Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain.

What's Included:

• Just You Holiday Director as your host & Specialist Local Guide
• Return flights
• 7 nights in 3 & 4-star hotels
• A guaranteed twin or double room of your own
• 13 included meals: 7 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 4 dinners including a welcome drink & farewell dinner

• Overseas transfers, other transportation & porterage

  Highlights:

• Walk through vineyards & villages in Spain’s Basque Country
• Visit medieval Navarrete
• Santa Maria La Real monastery
• Stop at Santo Domingo de la Calzada
• Walk through the Campos de Castilla area
• Discover medieval Leon
• Visit Gaudi House & Bishops Palace in -Astorga
• Drive to the Bierzo highlands region, to start a walk at la Cruz de Ferro
• Enjoy a traditional lunch in the pretty village of Molinaseca
• Explore the Celtic town of O Cebreiro
• Visit Monte de Gozo
• Pick a seashell at Fisterra – the symbol of the pilgrim

Operator: Just You

Day 1: UK - Bilbao

Today, you fly to Bilbao, the largest city in Spain's Basque Country.

Day 2: Puente la Reina - Laguardia

Today, we'll head to medieval Puente La Reina, the meeting point of the Jaca Pilgrim Road and the French Way. We can admire the 12th century church of Santa María de Eunate in the vicinity, before beginning our walk along the Camino de Santiago. Passing though vineyards and rural countryside until we reach Puente La Reina, where lunch is included. Our tour then takes us to the La Rioja wine region for an included wine tasting in one of the renowned bodegas, before arriving to our hotel in Laguardia. With some time to explore this medieval village before dinner.

Day 3: Laguardia - Burgos

Our first stop today is at Navarrete, a town built in the 12th century by the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, which offers wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. Then we drive to Najera and visit its stunning Santa Maria La Real monastery before starting todays walk that takes us through more vineyards of La Rioja. We'll continue by road to Santo Domingo de la Calzada, an important stopping point for pilgrims. On arrival in Burgos, where we stay tonight, you can join an optional guided tour which features some of the highlights of the old town, amongst them the magnificent Gothic cathedral.

Day 4: Burgos - Astorga

After breakfast we'll embark on today's walk, which takes us to the Campos de Castilla area, known as the 'breadbasket' of Spain due to its cereal production. The canal we'll follow was built for transportation of this commodity and a highlight will be its locks, which allow for a 14-metre drop in terrain. In the town of Frómista, we'll have free time for lunch before then driving on to León, where a walking tour is included, to explore the old town and cathedral. Our hotel tonight is in Astorga.

Day 5: Astorga

This morning we'll admire the Gaudi House and Bishop's Palace of Astorga. Then we'll drive to the highlands of the Bierzo region, where we'll start our walk at la Cruz de Ferro, the famous landmark 'Iron Cross'. After a traditional lunch in Molinaseca, we'll drive to our hotel in Astorga.

Day 6: Astorga - Santiago de Compostela

We'll reach our goal of Santiago de Compostela today. First, we'll make a stop at the Celtic town of O Cebreiro. One of the most picturesque villages on the Way of St James, we'll pause to admire its pre-Romanesque church and round stone houses. There's time for lunch in Samos, a small hamlet with a fascinating monastery that can be visited

We'll then drive to Melide and shortly after walk a nice, wooded section of the Camino before driving to Monte de Gozo, or the Mount of Joy, which is the first point at which pilgrims can view Santiago de Compostela after their long journey. From here we will drive to our hotel, our base for the next 2 evenings.

Day 7: Santiago de Compostela

This morning we'll head to Fisterra, a historic fishing port where pilgrims would bathe in the sea to purify their souls and collect a scallop shell – the symbol of pilgrims. On a short stroll around the lighthouse here, see if you can collect a shell to take home as a wonderful souvenir of your trip.

This afternoon, why not join our optional guided tour of Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia, with its porticoed streets lined by granite architecture. We'll also visit the local market and we will have the opportunity to attend the pilgrim mass.

This evening, we will gather as a group and head to a traditional Galician restaurant for a farewell dinner.

Day 8: Santiago de Compostela - UK

We'll transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.