Camino Frances

CAMINO FRANCES
From St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela

2019 Camino Frances Bookings open in July 2018

May 2019
September 2019

16 days

On your May or September 16-day Camino you will walk almost 250 km of the three most scenic sections of the Camino Frances, averaging 20 km (12.5 miles) per day. The longest day is 25.6km (16 miles).

We walk in spring (May/June) and autumn (September). 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 all in season.

Stage one: 5 days

Day 1: The group meets 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. This is a rest day to rid you of jet-lag and prepare you for the next 16 days. There will be an orientation with your Group Leader in the evening where you will be given your goodie bag.

Day 2 : We will walk 8 km to the Auberge Orisson where we will have a short rest or even lunch. You can either walk back to St Jean or taxis can be arranged. (amaWalkers will pay).
Why don't we sleep over?
The auberge only sleeps 18 people in a dormitory with bunk beds, or 6 two-person tents outback that can be cold even in summer! The walk to Roncesvalles is a steep, hard climb and we like to break it up into two days.

Day 3: A taxi will take us back to Orisson to resume our walk to Roncesvalles completing the climb to the Pass (steeply up and steeply down) 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.

Day 4: Today is a roller-coaster through beech woods and forests to Zubiri.

Day 5 : We walk to Pamplona, the first large city on the route. .

Stage two: 5 days
Day 1: From Pamplona we will travel by train to Burgos where will stay close to the UNESCO-listed Gothic Cathedral.

Day 2: The next day we will travel by bus to León in Castilla y León where you will visit the cathedral which boasts the best stained glass windows in Europe.

Day 3: We will take a bus to the Roman, walled town of Astorga. home of the Palacio Episcopal - known by most people as the "Gaudi Palace."
As we walk from Astorga to Rabanal and into the mountains we will walk through some of the most spectacular landscape on the Camino Frances.

Day 4: After Rabanal, we will follow  an ancient tradition and 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 El Acebo.

Day 5: Today we walk to Ponferrada where we will visit a massive Templar castle.

Stage 3: 6 days
Day 1: Our hired bus and driver will take us to the mountaintop, listed village of O Cebreiro for breakfast.. There we will see the home of the Holy Grail and Celtic 'polozzas', thatched houses then on to Samos for a 14.5km (9 miles) walk to Sarria. If you prefer, you can continue with the bus to Sarria.

Day 2: From Sarria you will walk for 5 days to Santiago, thereby earning the coveted pilgrim's certificate in Santiago. 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.
If you would prefer to spend two nights in Santiago, there is an option to travel to Finisterre - the End of the World - on day two, a fitting ending to your magical Camino

Note: Extra nights can be arranged at the start and the end of your Camino.

The September itinerary - 16 days and 250 km