22 DAYS - 19 DAYS WALKING
Refuge Orrison
Our 22-day "Best of Both' will consist of walking over 360km of the three most scenic sections of the Camino Frances, and visiting a few other interesting places in between.
We walk in spring and autumn. In spring, the wildflowers are spectacular, everything is green and bursting with new life. The large white and black European stork are raising their young in huge nests on top of every church tower and steeple. Autumn is harvest time with brambles laden with black berries, plump figs, chestnuts and grapes heavy on the vines.
Stage one:
The group will meet in St Jean Pied de Port - St John at the Foot of the Pass - an ancient pilgrim town on the border between France and Spain. (Transport can be arranged from Pamplona). We will shop in the cobbled Rue de la Citadel and follow in the footsteps of medieval pilgrims, from the 15th C Porte St-Jacques over the river to the Porte d'Espagne.
The following day we will walk 8 km to the Auberge Orisson where we will have a short rest or even lunch. We will be transported back to St Jean and will resume our walk from Orisson the next day. Today's walk is a steep, hard climb on a narrow tarred road.
On our second day we'll complete the climb, covering 17km to the monastery complex of Roncesvalles. The Abbey of Roncesvalles has been providing spiritual and physical support to pilgrims for over 1000 years. Those choosing to start their walk from Roncesvalles will join the group here.
We will walk for 9 days from St Jean Pied de Port to Logroño, capital of La Rioja, meandering through lush vineyards and farms on tracks and Roman Roads, staying in ancient, historic villages. (This is the end of the first section of our walk)
Stage two:
From Logroño we will travel to Burgos where will stay close to the UNESCO-listed Gothic Cathedral. The next day we will travel to León in Castilla y León where we will spend the night. The cathedral here boasts the best stained glass windows in Europe. In the morning we will take a bus to the Roman, walled town of Astorga. Here we can visit a chocolate factory and the Museo de los Caminos which is housed in the Palacio Episcopal - known by most people as the "Gaudi Palace."
From Astorga to Rabanal and into the mountains we will walk through some of the most spectacular landscape on the Camino Frances. Following an ancient tradition we will leave our stones, brought from home, at the base of the enigmatic Cruz de Ferro - the Iron Cross - before visiting Manjarin, one of the most famous traditional pilgrim shelters on the Camino. We continue to the beautiful towns of Molinaseca and Ponferrada - home of a massive Templar castle.
From Molinaseca we have an option to do a side trip to Las Medulas, a spectacular World Heritage landscape in what was the most important gold mining area in the Roman Empire. We will walk through the stunning El Bierzo vineyards to Villafranca del Bierzo. Our transport will take us to the mountain-top, listed village of O Cebreiro for morning tea. There we will see the Holy Grail and Celtic 'polozzas' (thatched houses) then on to Samos for the last 128km of our walk. This will qualify you
to earn the coveted pilgrim's certificate in Santiago.
Stage three:
In Celtic Galicia, the path takes us through rural farms surrounded by dry stone walls, corridors of Eucalyptus forests and charming hamlets and villages. When we reach Santiago you will collect your well-earned Compostela, hug the saint above the altar and celebrate at the Pilgrim's Mass in the stunning Santiago Cathedral.
There is an option to travel to Finisterre - the End of the World - to watch the sun set over the Atlantic - sharing a tapas picnic with your Camino buddies! A fitting ending to your magical Camino.
You will only have to register and pay your first deposit 6 months before the start of the walk but, to put your name down please complete the relevant reservation form below and return it to us. Space is limited and the groups fill quickly.
Reserve a place
© amaWalkers Camino (Pty) Ltd
We walk in spring and autumn. In spring, the wildflowers are spectacular, everything is green and bursting with new life. The large white and black European stork are raising their young in huge nests on top of every church tower and steeple. Autumn is harvest time with brambles laden with black berries, plump figs, chestnuts and grapes heavy on the vines.
Stage one:
The group will meet in St Jean Pied de Port - St John at the Foot of the Pass - an ancient pilgrim town on the border between France and Spain. (Transport can be arranged from Pamplona). We will shop in the cobbled Rue de la Citadel and follow in the footsteps of medieval pilgrims, from the 15th C Porte St-Jacques over the river to the Porte d'Espagne.
The following day we will walk 8 km to the Auberge Orisson where we will have a short rest or even lunch. We will be transported back to St Jean and will resume our walk from Orisson the next day. Today's walk is a steep, hard climb on a narrow tarred road.
On our second day we'll complete the climb, covering 17km to the monastery complex of Roncesvalles. The Abbey of Roncesvalles has been providing spiritual and physical support to pilgrims for over 1000 years. Those choosing to start their walk from Roncesvalles will join the group here.
We will walk for 9 days from St Jean Pied de Port to Logroño, capital of La Rioja, meandering through lush vineyards and farms on tracks and Roman Roads, staying in ancient, historic villages. (This is the end of the first section of our walk)
Stage two:
From Logroño we will travel to Burgos where will stay close to the UNESCO-listed Gothic Cathedral. The next day we will travel to León in Castilla y León where we will spend the night. The cathedral here boasts the best stained glass windows in Europe. In the morning we will take a bus to the Roman, walled town of Astorga. Here we can visit a chocolate factory and the Museo de los Caminos which is housed in the Palacio Episcopal - known by most people as the "Gaudi Palace."
From Astorga to Rabanal and into the mountains we will walk through some of the most spectacular landscape on the Camino Frances. Following an ancient tradition we will leave our stones, brought from home, at the base of the enigmatic Cruz de Ferro - the Iron Cross - before visiting Manjarin, one of the most famous traditional pilgrim shelters on the Camino. We continue to the beautiful towns of Molinaseca and Ponferrada - home of a massive Templar castle.
From Molinaseca we have an option to do a side trip to Las Medulas, a spectacular World Heritage landscape in what was the most important gold mining area in the Roman Empire. We will walk through the stunning El Bierzo vineyards to Villafranca del Bierzo. Our transport will take us to the mountain-top, listed village of O Cebreiro for morning tea. There we will see the Holy Grail and Celtic 'polozzas' (thatched houses) then on to Samos for the last 128km of our walk. This will qualify you
to earn the coveted pilgrim's certificate in Santiago.
Stage three:
In Celtic Galicia, the path takes us through rural farms surrounded by dry stone walls, corridors of Eucalyptus forests and charming hamlets and villages. When we reach Santiago you will collect your well-earned Compostela, hug the saint above the altar and celebrate at the Pilgrim's Mass in the stunning Santiago Cathedral.
There is an option to travel to Finisterre - the End of the World - to watch the sun set over the Atlantic - sharing a tapas picnic with your Camino buddies! A fitting ending to your magical Camino.
You will only have to register and pay your first deposit 6 months before the start of the walk but, to put your name down please complete the relevant reservation form below and return it to us. Space is limited and the groups fill quickly.
Reserve a place
© amaWalkers Camino (Pty) Ltd
