| Join our small group cultural walking tours of the Camino de Santiago in Spain! |
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| Price from 1450 EUR /person |
| Phone: US Tollfree 1-866-698-756 |
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| PHOTOS (move your mouse over the thumbnails to view the image above) |
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Day 1 - Madrid to O'Cebreiro
In the morning, we meet the group in Madrid and drive up to Galicia, stopping along the way for lunch to have our orientation meeting. Afterwards, we stretch our legs a bit and do a short walk to the mountain top town of O'Cebreiro, where we are rewarded with the breath-taking views of the valleys below. Before our home cooked dinner, we visit the tiny church of Santa Maria and are introduced to the first of many miracles that we will learn this week linked to the Camino. | Day 2 - Sarria to Portomarin
With our boots and scallop shells on, we shuttle down to the market town of Sarria, located 114km from Santiago, where we begin our Camino de Santiago. On our way to Portomarin, we walk by the 100km marker, a milestone (or kmstone!) for the millions of pilgrims who have traversed this same spot during the last millennium. As we approach Portomarin, we see the 12th-century Church of San Juan, an interesting fortified church that stands guard over the banks of the River Miño. | Day 3 - Portomarin to Palas de Rei
We start our day with a gentle climb out of the river valley and pass through typical Galician villages, decorated with their raised corncribs and the occasional carved granite cross that marks the way to Santiago. Continuing west, we walk through the first of many eucalyptus forests along the Camino and work our way into Palas de Rei. We've finished our longest day, and what better way to reward ourselves than a glass of Galicia's light Albariño white wine! | Day 4 - Palas de Rei to Melide
Following the now very familiar yellow arrows, we ramble up and down gentle rolling hills along quiet footpaths. Little has changed in this quiet corner of Spain, and the peaceful rural environment of local farmers tending to their lazy cattle in stone houses accompany us back to another time. We quickly arrive back to the present in the bustling market town of Melide, where tender octopus, pulpo, is still boiled in large copper kettles on the street. | Day 5 - Melide to Arzua
Half way to our destination, we leave Melide and on small country roads we wind our way across the Galician countryside. Along the way, our journey is filled with tiny churches dating back to the 12th and 14th-century dedicated to Santiago and Santa Maria. Once in Arzua, we should take advantage to try some of the famous local cow cheese or perhaps a bit of empanada, a light crusty pastry filled with either beef or tuna. | Day 6 - Arzua to Arca
Today we continue to enjoy the wonderful scenery of the Galician countryside and charming atmosphere of tiny 3-house villages. Get a feel for the people and greet a local villager with a “Buenos dias” or “Hola”. You'll see how these quiet and reserved people, quickly wish you well on your journey to Santiago. On this trek, you are no longer a tourist but a pilgrim! Almost there... | Day 7 - Arca to Santiago
One week, one hundred kilometers, and we have arrived to Santiago de Compostela. Congratulations! You are going to love this magical city filled with fantastic monuments and with a lively buzz from the international pilgrims and university students that fill its medieval streets. After performing the traditional pilgrim rituals in the Cathedral, we head to our hotel and get ready for our evening celebratory dinner!
| Day 8 - Santiago
On Sunday morning, our local historian gives us a closer look at the amazing Cathedral that has seen so many transformations since the original chapel built in the 9th-century. After the tour, we sadly say our last "buen camino" as we leave you at the Cathedral in time for the pilgrims' mass at noon. |
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| Duration:
8 days - Starts at:
10.00 am - Finishes at: 12.00 pm |
| Finishing point: Santiago de Compostela |
| Payment Types:
Credit Cards, Wire Transfer |
| We speak:
Spanish, English |
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| Inclusions: |
- 7 Nights hotel accomodation
- All meals - minus 1 dinner.
- Guided visit of Santiago with local historian
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What's Included
Guides / Owners: Either Lola or Alex (or both!) will accompany the group for the duration of the tour. When specified, local art historians will join us to provide further insights of the specific monument / museum that we visit.
Limited Group Sizes: Fresco Tours are in small groups to ensure that you receive the individual attention that you deserve. We want to be able to treat each of our clients with a personal touch and we limit the groups to a maximum of 12 participants.
Meals: Food speaks volumes about a culture and we love to eat! During our walk days, when possible, we prepare gourmet picnics, using the freshest of local ingredients and selecting the tastiest recipes of the region. Dinners are celebrated in restaurants chosen not only for their menu, but also their atmosphere and service. All breakfast, lunches and dinners (minus one dinner, where we encourage you to sample the local cuisine on your own) are included.
Support Vehicle: Your walks will be accompanied by a support vehicle that will be there to provide you assistance when the route permits. The possibility of shorter routes and pick-up options will be explained on a daily basis.
Ground transportation: All ground transportation between the designated starting and finishing point of your Fresco Tour is provided. We will help facilitate information for your travel arrangements prior to and after the tour start and finish.
Luggage transfer: Your luggage will be transported between hotels. Due to space restrictions, each participant is limited to one medium-sized piece and a small carry-on bag.
Taxes: As per European Union tax laws, a 16% VAT (value-added-tax) has been applied to the price of our Tours. |
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- Alex and Lola, thank you both for the great photos and my beautiful sea shell, which I wear with earned distinction as a veteran peregrina. My experience with the Camino far exceeded my hopes and expectations, made all the better by Fresco Tours' thoughtful arrangements - thank you both again. I have recommended Fresco Tours to my family and friends. I really do hope to do this again, from Burgos next time, if not the French border! Ciao for now!
Nancy from California, USA
Camino de Santiago Tour, July 2006 |
- We hope that you arrived home safely. It was an unforgettable week for us. Thank you very much for the kindness and endearment you should us along the Camino de Santiago. It was an incredible experience! We really enjoyed the knowledgeable Margarina and afterwards we went to the pilgrims' mass at noon. We just returned from listening to vespers (thanks Alex for the tip) and it has been a relaxing day. Thanks again!
Isabel & Makena from Virginia, USA and PERU
Camino de Santiago Tour, July 2006
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- Hi Alex / Lola, I wish the UK was as sunny as Spain!! Just want to once again thank you both for an amazing experience. As I said, it would not have been quite the experience if the hosts were not who they were! For me, just having the security of knowing everything was taken care of made it so easy. Anyway, will keep in touch and we definitely will cross paths again. Lots of love to you both!
Lynn from the UK / BERMUDA
Camino de Santiago Tour, July 2006 |
- Thanks so much for all your ideas on what to see in Bilbao. We went to most of the shopping areas, including the old city, which was very enjoyable. Bilbao is a beautiful city, one that left us wishing we had spent more time there instead of Paris.
Thanks, also, for the all the fun conversation while we walked the Camino; I had an absolutely amazing time, I won't be forgetting it or adjusting completely back to normal life for a long time. Good luck on the rest of your tours this summer!
Bill, Greta & Eme from Calgary, CANADA
Camino de Santiago Tour, May 2006 |
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