The Way of Saint James,
Walking El Camino de Santiago
October 3 - 18, 2006

El Camino de Santiago is a 100-year old route of pilgrimage through the peaceful hills of Northern Spain. Since the mid-9th century, millions of pilgrims have travelled this route from the French border to the city of Santiago de Campostela – the site of the purported tomb of St James the Apostle. Our 16-day tour covers roughly 124km (80 miles) of el camino by foot and road, with accommodations in quaint country inns, time in Bilbao to visit the Guggenheim Museum, and stops in San Sebastian and Pamplona, a beautiful city dating back to Roman times. Romanesque architecture, fortified villages, Gothic cathedrals, quaint inns, great wines and regional cuisines combine with wonderfully scenic walks to make this tour an experience to remember. To make use of the smaller, quaint hotel properties en route, and to maintain a certain intimacy with the tour, the group size is limited to 16 plus a Tour Leader. The tour runs in May, off the peak season and outside the hottest period of the year. The activity level is rated as ‘moderate’ and involves country hiking over varied terrain for 3-7 hours each day, with several well-spaced non-walking days included in the itinerary. Hiking takes place regardless of the weather, and the itinerary will change only if conditions become ‘extreme’.