Signature: Walking Spain's Camino de Santiago

Signature: Walking Spain's Camino de Santiago

• Trip code: 474X025
• Dauer: 9
• Stil: National Geographic Signature

One of the world's great pilgrimage routes, the Camino de Santiago has drawn travellers for over a thousand years — and the pull is as powerful as ever. This expedition walks its ancient paths through Basque country, the vineyards of La Rioja, and the rolling hills of Galicia, culminating in the sacred silence of Santiago de Compostela.

Übersicht

Accommodation

Hotel (8 nights)

Checklist

Documents:
• Flight info (required) (Printouts of e-tickets may be required at the border)
• Insurance info (required) (With photocopies)
• Passport (required) (With photocopies)
• Vouchers and pre-departure information (required)
• Visas or vaccination certificates (With photocopies)

Essentials:
• Toiletries (required) (Shampoo, bodywash, soap, etc.)
• Binoculars (optional)
• Camera (With extra memory cards and batteries)
• Cash, credit and debit cards
• Day pack (Used for daily excursions or short overnights)
• Ear plugs
• First-aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, whistle, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, bandaids/plasters, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, water purification tablets or drops, insect repellent, sewing kit, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)
• Flashlight/torch (Headlamps are ideal)
• Fleece top/sweater
• Footwear
• Hat
• Headphones (Noise-cancelling recommended)
• Locks for bags
• Long pants/jeans
• Moneybelt
• Outlet adapter
• Personal entertainment (Reading and writing materials, cards, music player, etc.)
• Reusable water bottle
• Shirts/t-shirts
• Sleepwear
• Small travel towel
• Sunglasses
• Swimwear
• Watch and alarm clock
• Waterproof backpack cover
• Windproof rain jacket

Health & Safety:
• Face masks (Clients will be only be required to wear a face mask where it is mandated by local regulations.)
• Hand sanitizer
• Pen (Please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)

Smart Dress:
• Smart outfit (For evenings out)

Warm Weather:
• Sandals/flip-flops
• Shorts/skirts (Longer shorts/skirts are recommended)
• Sturdy water shoes/sandals
• Sun hat/bandana
• Swimwear

Group Size Notes

Max. 22, Avg. 16

Highlights

Experience the majesty of Santiago Cathedral during a private after-hours tour with an ecclesiastical historian, Journey to the rugged cliffs of Cabo Fisterra and Muxia where the ancient world once ended as Westernmost Tip of Spain, Explore a historic Rioja winery featuring designs by Gustave Eiffel, Visit the Guruzu Social Kitchen where every dish supports fair wages and training for marginalised communities

Introduction

One of the world's great pilgrimage routes, the Camino de Santiago has drawn travellers for over a thousand years — and the pull is as powerful as ever. This expedition walks its ancient paths through Basque country, the vineyards of La Rioja, and the rolling hills of Galicia, culminating in the sacred silence of Santiago de Compostela

Meals Included

8 Frühstück, 6 Mittagessen, 7 Abendessen

Meal Budget

Plane USD90-120 für nicht inbegriffene Mahlzeiten ein

Optional Activities

Keine optionale Aktivitäten

Start / Finish

Bilbao nach Santiago de Compostela

Transport

Private Vehicle, Walking

What's Included

Dein Welcome-Moment: Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group, Bilbao
Dein Welcome-Moment: Welcome Meeting at Guruzu, Bilbao
Dein Foodie-Moment: Private Wine Tasting and Lunch at CVNE Winery, Haro
Signature Moment: Private After Hours Tour of Santiago Cathedral, Santiago de Compostela. Arrival and departure transfers. Orientation Walk of Bilbao. Guided Tour of Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao. Hike Itero de la Vega - Frómista. Hike Sahagún to Bercianos del Real Camino. Guided Tour of Leon. Hike Hospital de Órbigo to Crucero de Santo Toribio. Lunch at La Peseta in Crucero. Guided Tour of Villafranca del Bierzo. Hike Las Herrerias to O Cebreiro. Guided Visit Monastery of Samos. Hike San Paio to Santiago de Compostela. Visit to Muros. Visit to Muxia. Walk to Lighthouse Fisterra. Engaging Discussions with the National Geographic Expedition Expert Throughout. Porterage at hotels and when getting on and off of vehicles. Tips are included for all activities, meals and porterage, except for your Expedition Leader. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Group Leader

National Geographic Expedition Leader and National Geographic Expedition Expert throughout

Internationale Flüge

No, international flights are generally not included in the price of your tour.

However, on some combo tours travelling between two different countries, international flights are included as part of the itinerary and price of the tour. Please speak to your GCO or booking agent for further details.

In addition, check-in times and baggage allowances/restrictions vary by airline and can change at any time. For the most up-to-date information for your flight, please contact your airline. We recommend checking in online in advance to avoid potential delays at the airport

Minimum Age

Um ohne Begleitperson mit G Adventures zu reisen, musst du mindestens 18 Jahre alt sein. Das Mindestalter für Kinder in Begleitung eines Erziehungsberechtigten (über 21) beträgt 12 Jahre

Itinerary

Day 1 Bilbao

Welcome to the Basque Country. Your expedition begins in Bilbao, a city that seamlessly blends avant-garde design with deep-rooted tradition. You are met and transferred to your hotel to settle in before heading to a local community social enterprise. Here, join your National Geographic Expedition Leader, National Geographic Expedition Expert for a presentation illuminating the history and cultural significance of the pilgrimage ahead. After, gather with your fellow travellers for a welcome dinner, marking the start of your Spanish exploration with a celebration of vibrant Basque flavours and local hospitality

Day 2 Bilbao/Burgos

Begin the morning with an orientation walk through Bilbao’s main highlights, culminating at the iconic Guggenheim Museum for a private guided tour of its contemporary masterpieces. Later, leave the city behind and travel into the heart of the La Rioja wine region. In the charming town of Haro, inhale the scent of aging oak as you visit a renowned winery for a guided tour of its historic vineyards and cellars. Enjoy a curated wine tasting followed by a delicious local lunch before continuing your journey to the historic city of Burgos, where the evening is yours to explore at your own pace

Day 3 Burgos/Carrión de los Condes

The Camino begins in Itero de la Vega and continues onto Frómista, where the rhythm of the trail asserts itself almost immediately — a steady, meditative pace across la Meseta, the vast central plateau that has tested and transformed pilgrims for centuries. The landscape here is austere and quietly beautiful, the horizon impossibly wide. Pass the ancient Roman fountain at Boadilla del Campo and follow the serene waters of the Canal of Castile, an 18th-century feat of engineering that still carries boats through the breadth of the plateau. The day's walking spans four hours of ancestral path before arriving in Carrión de los Condes, where a night within the thick stone walls of a historic monastery provides a shelter as old as the pilgrimage itself.

Trail Detail: 14 km (9 mi) | 4h | + 45 m (148 ft) / - 45 m (148 ft) ascent/descent | Moderate

Day 4 Carrión de los Condes/Leon

Set off from the medieval city of Sahagún, heading west through the quiet village of Bercianos del Real Camino. After a three-hour hike, drive to the elegant city of León. After lunch in town, spend the afternoon with a local guide discovering the city’s historic treasures, standing in awe before the remarkable cathedral and its gallery of over 100 luminous stained-glass windows. The city's pulse is vibrant yet grounded in antiquity. This evening, enjoy time on your own before retreating to a spectacular Renaissance convent, where the grand architecture provides a serene backdrop for your overnight stay.

Trail Detail: 10.2 km (6.3 mi) | 2.30h | + 100 m (330 ft) / - 100 m (330 ft) ascent/descent | Moderate

Day 5 Leon/Villafranca del Bierzo

Your morning hike begins at a storied Roman bridge in Hospital de Órbigo. Follow winding country roads to El Crucero de Santo Toribio, a stone cross that has guided pilgrims for centuries, offering sweeping views of the trail. In Astorga, enjoy a well-deserved lunch at a local institution before exploring the town’s eclectic architecture, from Gothic churches to a palace designed by Antoni Gaudí. Continue west into the lush landscapes of Villafranca del Bierzo. Meet a local guide for an afternoon walk through the town’s historic streets before gathering for a group dinner to share stories of the day’s five-hour trek.

Trail Detail: 12 km (8 mi) | 3.30h | + 195 m (640 ft) / - 100 m (330 ft) ascent/descent | Moderate

Day 6 Villafranca del Bierzo/Lugo

Galicia announces itself with hills rolling in deep, saturated green. The walking trail narrows into forest paths and ancient switchbacks, past thatched stone houses and villages seemingly unchanged for centuries. The ascent to O Cebreiro rewards with one of the Camino's most affecting sights: the oldest intact church on the route, its interior worn smooth by generations of pilgrims. Descend toward the 6th-century Samos Monastery — one of the oldest in the western world — its vast, silent cloister a reminder of the spiritual ambition that has shaped this landscape for fifteen centuries. The night is spent within the walls of a Benedictine monastery in Monforte de Lemos.

Trail Detail: 8.2 km (5.3 mi) | 3h | + 630 m (2,000 ft) / - 0 m (0 ft) ascent/descent | Challenging

Day 7 Lugo/Santiago de Compostela

Travel to San Paio to begin the final leg of your journey toward Santiago. From the heights of Monte del Gozo, catch your first emotional glimpse of the cathedral's striking towers on the horizon. Walk into the heart of the city to Plaza do Obradoiro, the triumphant endpoint of the pilgrimage route. After an eight-mile hike, celebrate with a well-deserved local lunch in the bustling city centre. Check into your beautiful hotel to rest your legs and soak in the atmosphere of this holy city. The afternoon is yours to wander the medieval streets or simply watch the modern pilgrims arrive at the journey's end.

Trail Detail: 12.5 km (8 mi) | 3.30h | + 202 m (663 ft) / - 276 m (906 ft) ascent/descent | Moderate

Day 8 Santiago de Compostela

Journey to the dramatic Atlantic coast to visit Cabo Fisterra and Muxia, the westernmost tip of Spain. For many, this "end of the world" is the true spiritual conclusion of the Camino. Walk to the lighthouse, feeling the ocean spray and the powerful energy of the cliffs before a local lunch in town. Return to Santiago for a calm afternoon of reflection. After a farewell dinner, experience a private night visit to the Cathedral of Santiago. Led by an art historian, explore the hushed, moonlit nave and learn the deep secrets of this Galician masterpiece in near-total silence.

Trail Detail: 2.4 km (1.3 mi) | 1.30h | + 0 m ( 0 ft) / - 100 m (300 ft) ascent/descent | Easy

Day 9 Santiago de Compostela

After a final breakfast in the heart of Galicia, take a moment to reflect on the miles walked and the ancient history witnessed. Your expedition to the Camino concludes today. You will be transferred to the airport for your flight home, carrying with you the spirit of the trail and the enduring memories of Spain’s historic pilgrim path

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Bilbao

Day 2 Bilbao/Burgos

Day 3 Burgos/Carrión de los Condes

Day 4 Carrión de los Condes/Leon

Day 5 Leon/Villafranca del Bierzo

Day 6 Villafranca del Bierzo/Lugo

Day 7 Lugo/Santiago de Compostela

Day 8 Santiago de Compostela

Day 9 Santiago de Compostela