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ItineraryDay 1: Sunday May 11- Arrive to Ponferrada
Ponferrada boasts the Templar Castle. A castle that Fernando the Second of Spain donated to the city to protect pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. For centuries this castle housed and protected travelers just like you. Please note: For those walkers who would like to ease their jet lag we recommend they arrive early. Please note early accommodation costs are not included in the total cost but our trek coordinator will be happy to make accommodation arrangements for you. Day 2: Monday May 12 Today we will begin our walk from the breathtaking village of Ponferrada to Villafranca del Bierzo. In the center of this town we find the church of Santiago. This 12th Century Romanesque Temple would house and care for any pilgrims that fell sick along their journey. If a pilgrim was too ill to continue they could receive the same absolution at the temple of Villa Franca del Bierzo as they would have at Santiago de Compostela. Tonight we shall eat our first group meal together as we rest in preparation for the next 8 days of walking through the Spanish country side. Walk Ponferrada to Villa Franca del Bierzo (23 kms), Sleep Villa Franca del Bierzo Day 3: Tuesday May 13 The mountain top town of O'Cebreiro is a beautiful city 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 are linked to the Camino de Santiago. Walk Villafranca del Bierzo to O'Cebreiro (28 kms), Sleep O'Cebreiro Day 4: Wednesday May 14 With our boots and scallop shells on, we head out the front door of our hotel and get our first glimpses of the green Galician countryside. Our day starts with a steady climb to the Alto do Poio, the highest point of the Camino de Santiago in Galicia. After a stamp and a coffee, we start our decent (make sure your toenails are trimmed!) down to the town of Triacastela, named after the 3 castles that once stood watch over the village. After we finish our walk for the day we hop into the van to reach our accommodation for the evening. Walk O'Cebreiro to Triacastela (21 kms), Sleep Triacastela Day 5: Thursday May 15
Walk Triacastela to Sarria (24 kms), Sleep Sarria. Day 6: Friday May 16 Leaving Sarria, we should take in the views from atop of the city and keep an eye out for the ruins of Celtic Castros hiding in the vegetation along the Camino de Santiago. On our way to Porto Marin, 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 Porto Marin, we see the 12th-century Church of San Juan, an interesting fortified church that stands guard over the banks of the River Mi�o. Walk Sarria to Porto Marin (22 kms), Sleep Porto Marin Day 7: Saturday May 17 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 de Santiago and work our way into Palas de Rei. We've finished a long day, and what better way to reward ourselves than a glass of Galician's light Albari�o white wine! Walk Porto Marin to Palas de Rei (25 kms), Sleep Palas de Rei. Day 8: Sunday May 18 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 accompanies 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. We continue on small country roads and 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. Walk Palas de Rei to Arzua (30 kms), Sleep Arzua Day 9: Monday May 19
Walk Arzua to Arca (19 kms), Sleep Arca Day 10: Tuesday May 20 9 days, 200 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 will head to our hotel and get ready for dinner! Walk Arca to Santiago de Compostela (19 KMs), Sleep Santiago Day 11: Wednesday May 21 After breakfast, 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. You will have the rest of the day to enjoy Santiago's caf�'s, 12 renowned museums, the famed Mercada de Abastos or any of its world renowned restaurants. This evening the entire group will sit down for one large celebratory dinner. Please note: If we expand our team into two groups of 15 we will stagger the two groups. This means individuals who sign up early will start walking on May 12th (as stated above) those who sign up later will begin their walk one day later of May 13th. This means the later group will have only one night in Santiago before our flight to Bucharest. Day 12: Thursday May 22 Today we shall wake early to catch our connecting flight to Madrid and then from Madrid to Bucharest, Romania. This evening we shall stay in the Ibis Hotel Gara De Nord in Bucharest, Romania. Flight Santiago de Compostela/Madrid/Bucharest. Arrive Bucharest and stay the night. Day 13: Friday May 23
When we arrive the teams shall be split among our partner's group homes and taken to their accommodation. Please note we will share space with GVN volunteers and the orphans. We will sleep on cots within our partner's homes for the next two nights. Transfer to Romania Partner (in Galati). Stay our Romania partner. Day 14: Saturday May 24 This morning we shall wake early to spend time with the kids. Today we will assist our partner directors and GVN volunteers with a 'Special Olympics' for the kids. Today you will have the opportunity to get to know the kids who your funds will directly assist. This evening we will have our final farewell dinner. Saying goodbye after a trip of this magnitude is always difficult but you will leave knowing you have completed one of the world's most renowned treks, you will leave knowing you have directly assisted many very special kids in Romania and you will leave with many new friendships. Day 15: Sunday May 25 Today we will take the train/bus back to Bucharest where participants will catch their return flights to Madrid and/or home late that evening. |
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El Camino