Welcome to Hooked on walking holidays and our walking holiday in Spain. This particular hiking vacation in Spain is along the Saint James Way to Santiago. This highly popular pilgrim walk to Santiago can be covered in either our 7 night self guided tour or our 14 night self guided tour graded at level 2-3. Each daily stage along the Saint James Way is around he 12.5-15.6 miles or 20-25 km distance. This self guided tour of the Camino De Santiago starts from Leon for the 14 night tour and from Sarria for the 7 night tour.

 Available daily March - October
Level 2-3 self guided tour

León-Santiago 14 nights / 12 walking days / 282 km
Sarria-Santiago 7 nights / 5 walking days 114 km

Day 1 Arrival in León
Arrival into the historic city of Leon, try and arrive early to give your self a chance to explore the fortified city. 

Day 2 Leon - Villadangos – Astorga 26 km
Today you first have a private transfer to Villadangos. Then you walk through a region called Maragateria which is a very traditional regional area of Leon. The day is flat until Toribio then a descent and climb to Astorga. Terrain down 100m up 70m.

Day 3 Astorga – Rabanal 20 km
Today you leave the flatter lands behind of Maragateria and enter the Montes de Leon massif. You will climb up to 1150m at Rabanal a small mountain village. The Pilgrim experience has really taken over this lovely village. Terrain up 300m

Day 4 Rabanal – Molinaseca 24 km
This is one of the most beautiful days, mountain landscape, wonderful views and abandoned villages. Molinaseca your destination is a little village located at the entrance  of a large valley. Terrain up 400m down 900m.

Day 5 Molinaseca – Villafranca 31 km
Today you pass the Castle  of the Templars, an old fortress the Knights of the Temple turned into a reference point on the Camino during the times of massive pilgrimage to Santiago. You must stop to take a look. Terrain down 100m 

Day 6 Villafranca – O Cebreiro 28 km
One of the highlights today is your destination with its little white round houses with thatched roofs - pallozas and its history with he Holy Grail. The town with its cobbled stone streets take pilgrims back to the medieval times. Terrain up 700m

Day 7 O Cebreiro – Triacastela 21 km
A nice day through lush green valleys and little hamlets. Terrain up 100m down 700m

Day 8 Triacastela – Sarria 18 km ( Day 1 Arrival on 7 night tour)
Still the mountains are with us with the climb through to Sarria through the Sarria valley. There are two options today of the same distance one via road and the other along the river. Sarria it is higher part has some very nice old quarters. Terrain up 300m down 500m 

Day 2 or 9 Sarria – Portomarín 22 km
Now more of a rolling landscape with the high mountains behind you. Portomarin is famous for its production of Orujo a strong alcoholic spirit similar to Grappa. Terrain up 200m down 300m

Day 3 or 10 Portomarín – Palas de Rei 24 km
A fabulous climb to the Sierra of Ligonde marked by oaks and pine trees. Terrain up 350m down 140m

Day 4 or 11 Palas de Rei – Arzúa 29 km
A long day but not so hard with a gentle decline. Pass through Melide with its interesting old quarter. Arzua is well known for its cheese production Terrain down 200m

Day 5 or 12 Arzúa – Rúa 20 km
A flat day through agricultural pastures along the final stretches of the Camino  Terrain Flat

Day 6 or 13 Rúa – Santiago de Compostela 19 km
This is the key stage of the Camino as you at last reach Santiago after leaving behind a variety of landscapes , people and experiences. Santiago is unquestionably one of the most culturally rich Spanish cities. The Cathedral is one of the great gems of Romanesque architecture and the old quarter is a must to look at. Terrain up 50m down 100m

Day 7 or 14 Santiago
Your day to look around, take your signed passport to the Cathedral and receive your certificate for completing the walk

Day 8 or 15 Departing day from Santiago

Difficulty: Day-walks of 6 to 8 hours , distances average out around 25 km per day
Accommodation: Small traditional hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfast , you have an option to stay in a Spanish Parador on the nights in Leon and Santiago, please ask for prices.

2012 Prices

How to get there
By plane to Madrid then by train to Leon , or to Oviedo airport and by train / bus to Leon , by plane to Santiago and the by bus or private transfer to Sarria
Ideal Holiday Extensions : Santiago

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Cycling Holidays in Spain

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