TRIP DOSSIER
Camino de Santiago THE FRENCH WAY • Qualify for a Pilgrim’s Certificate for the final 100km • Embark upon one of the world’s greatest pilgrimages The most popular Camino route
Self-Guided Departures Walking Grade: B/C – Moderate/Demanding
Trip Code: TFRE For dates and prices visit www.walksworldwide.com
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Introduction Described by James Mitchener as one of the world’s greatest, this is a journey of the soul and spirit, taking the traveller in the footsteps of millions who, over the centuries, have come to venerate the tomb of the Apostle St James – Santiago. This particular journey ensures that you walk the final 100 km in order to qualify for an official pilgrim’s certificate on arrival at the cathedral in Santiago itself. Along the way you will likely encounter many other pilgrims making their way to Santiago Inevitably, the traveller soon finds themselves imbued with the unique and magical spirit that pervades the entire ‘Camino de Santiago’ experience. Daily distances are designed to challenge, but completing the Camino de Santiago is well within reach of anyone who maintains a good level of fitness and enjoys walking.
Important Note The Camino de Santiago is a justifiably world famous, and exceptionally popular pilgrimage trail. As a result, the demands and pressures for accommodation along the route are exceptionally high. Whilst we offer flexible departures for the Camino de Santiago, accommodation is naturally always upon request and subject to availability. Subsequently we have found throughout our years of experience operating selfguided walking holidays along the Camino de Santiago it is advisable to be flexible with your preferred dates e.g. be able to travel mid-September, rather than th specifically on the 14 September only. With the assistance of our specialist Camino de Santiago ground agent we will be able to check the availability of accommodation along the way and quickly let you know what exact dates would be available for you to undertake this holiday within a certain preferred date range. Due to the high demand for accommodation we may not always be able to secure every single one of the accommodations usually used for this trip and if necessary will substitute accommodations with those of a similar standard wherever possible. Due to the specialist nature of our holidays, day to day itineraries should be taken as a guide only, and as statements of intent and not contractual obligations. We regularly update our trip dossiers to take into account
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changes to trekking routes, accommodation, local transport etc. Such changes are a factor of this type of holiday and when made are out of necessity. Other factors such as adverse weather, unforeseen circumstances and other matters entirely out of our control etc can also lead to enforced changes during the course of the holiday. It is not possible to guarantee that any of our holidays will operate exactly as per the anticipated itinerary. The most current trip dossier will be made available on our website. We will also send you the most up to date trip dossier with your “Final Joining Instructions” approx. 2 weeks before departure and you should carefully check this for any changes that may affect your plans. Before booking you should read our “Types of Trip” and “Essential and Useful information” sections on www.walksworldwide.com including our ‘Important Warning’.
Pilgrims credentials completion
&
certificate
of
Every pilgrim who has walked the last 100 km of the route (Sarria is 112 km from Santiago) has the right to receive an official certificate from the cathedral's Pilgrim's Office in Santiago (those professing a “spiritual” or “religious” reason for their pilgrimage will receive a certificate in Latin - la Compostela; those who do not profess such a reason, will receive a different certificate, in Spanish, actually awarded by the Santiago city hall, although picked up in the same place as the Compostela). In order to prove your achievement, on arrival in Santiago, you must present the office with your 'credentials'. This is a sort of 'passport', which will be waiting for you at your first hotel. Remember to have this stamped and dated in churches, city halls, hotels, restaurants or any establishment along the way. We recommend that you get at least 2 stamps each day and please also get your passport stamped at your first hotel.
Your holiday Life on trek As this is a self-guided holiday you can dictate your schedule, bearing in mind the walking. However do bear in mind that the Spanish eat their evening meal much later than standard in the UK, and it can
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sometimes be hard to get breakfast before 7am at the hotels/B&B’s.
Walking conditions In general, the route is well way-marked with official 'milestones', plaques, and painted yellow arrows on trees, stones and buildings, and in the event you feel lost, helpful locals are always ready to lend a hand, and there are usually plenty of other pilgrims about too! The terrain is varied but with no extremes. Mostly it is rolling hills (lots of short flat stretches alternating with small hills). The walking surface is varied: quiet paved country roads, muddy or grassy farm or forest tracks, easy mountain/hill paths narrow semi/paved cobblestone rural paths and the occasional sections along main roads. Daily walking distances, with approximate walking times based on those of a fit, experienced walker (excluding halts), along with the amount of ascent and descent each day are given in the overview of each walking day in this dossier. A full explanation of the trip grading can be found online at www.walksworldwide.com . You should ensure you are comfortable walking at this level of grading and are physically prepared for the trip.
Self-Guided Holiday As the name suggests, self-guided holidays are for those that prefer to be independent. Within reason you are able to dictate your own schedule, as well as walk at your own pace with the aid of route notes and maps. All your accommodation has been reserved in advance and unless otherwise stated within this trip dossier, your main baggage is transferred between each accommodation along the way, so there’s no need to worry about carrying heavy loads and having to back pack. This means you only need to walk each day and carry your usual lightweight daypack. However, it is important that you are entirely comfortable with being independent whilst on a walking holiday. For detailed information as to what a self-guided holiday entails please read the self-guided walking holidays section at Types of Trip section on www.walksworldwide.com before booking your selfguided walking holiday.
Route Notes – Help keep them up to date www.walksworldwide.com
Things can and do change along the routes that selfguided walking holidays follow. A sign may have been changed, or even removed, a path may have been obstructed, even re-routed, a landmark the route notes refer to may simply no longer exist. It is clearly impossible to keep track of all the changes that may occur outside the local tour operators control and knowledge. It may be the route notes translation can be improved (they are translated into several languages by the local operator after all) too. Clearly a case of “last person to walk the route” has the most up to date information. In the spirit of camaraderie amongst walkers and in an effort to constantly keep route notes updated and improved upon, the local operator (contact details in your final joining instructions) will always welcome notification of any changes along the way/recommendations for improvement if you would care to forward any useful and specific information to them. Alternatively, send to Walks Worldwide and we will forward accordingly.
Detailed itinerary Day 1 Arrive Sarria Arrive Sarria and make your way to your hotel. (See ‘How to join and depart this trip’ section later in this Trip Dossier). Facilities in Sarria include ATMs, internet, shops, restaurants etc. 3* Hotel
Day 2 Begin your journey and walk to Portomarin Your first walking stage allows you to experience one of the most beautiful stretches of the entire Pilgrims Way through verdant forests, grassy meadows, fertile orchards and simple stone-built hamlets. Your final destination is Portomarin, perched on the banks of the Miño River. Facilities in Portomarin include ATM’s, internet, shops etc. Ascent: 230m / Descent 300m Walking duration: 6hrs / 23km 3* Hotel (breakfast and dinner)
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Day 3 Across the Rio Minho and onto Palace do Rei The Pilgrims Way continues on through lush Galician countryside to Palas de Rei. This is where the route you are walking on ‘the French Pilgrims Way’ meets with another route coming from the north called ‘the Primitive Way’. On the way, if you wish, you can take a detour to visit one of Spain’s most outstanding Romanesque churches at nearby Vilar de Donas, which is classified as a national monument. Facilities in Palas de Rei include ATM’s, internet, shops etc. Ascent: 340m / Descent 120m Walking duration: 6-7hrs / 23km 3* Hotel (breakfast and dinner)
Day 4 Past medieval villages and to Arzua The Camino continues downhill, passing the village of Casanova and the delightful village of Leboreiro. At Melide (454m), it is worth stopping in one of the many restaurants to taste some local specialties. The Camino crosses several streams and follows a forest track bringing you to the village of Boente with its church of Santiago. Next is the medieval village of Ribadiso, and finally Arzùa (389m). This small town has two churches that you will be able to visit, Santa María and La Magdalena. Facilities in Arzua include ATMs & shops. Ascent: 140m / Descent 340m Walking duration: 7-8hrs / 28km 2* Hotel (breakfast and dinner)
than that, the rest of the route to Rua/Opino is on a good and calm country road. Rua (310m) is one of the quietest points before Santiago de Compostela. Facilities in Rua include ASTM’s and shops. About 4kms after Rua you will come to Amenal. Ascent: 50m / Descent 130m Walking duration: 6-7 hrs / 23 km 2* Hotel (breakfast and dinner)
Day 6 Complete the pilgrimage and arrive in Santiago On your final day country lanes and forest paths lead through increasingly populated countryside as you approach the great city. Finally, you reach the top of the Monte del Gozo (the Mount of Joy) so named for the emotion felt by those who on arriving here were rewarded with their first views of Santiago de Compostela. From here it is downhill into the small city. You enter through its modern outskirts, then head directly into the ancient centre (which has been declared in its entirety a UNESCO World heritage site) following in the footsteps of millions through the centuries before you. The place you head for is the Plaza del Obradoiro, Santiago’s grandiose central square that is lined with the city’s greatest monuments, including the magnificent Cathedral. Entering the square is a magical moment for all who have walked the Camino and some time must be taken to savour the accomplishment. You then go to the cathedral office to receive the certificate of completion, and then to the cathedral to complete the obligatory pilgrim's rituals within its Gothic walls. All facilities available in Santiago de Compostela. Ascent: 150m / Descent 186m
Day 5 Onwards to Rua and Amenal
Walking duration: 3-4 hrs / 14km
The excitement starts to build as you get nearer to Santiago, and there are noticeably more pilgrims accompanying you as yet another northern route - ‘The Coastal Way’ - joins yours in Arzúa. Passing through woods, sleepy villages and along streams is the majority of today’s walk. The chapel of Santa Irena, with its unique statues of Santiago, is worth a visit. Other
3* Hotel (breakfast)
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Day 7 Depart Santiago Depart Santiago de Compostela. (breakfast)
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Practical Information How to join and depart this trip The joining point for this trip is Sarria on day 1 of the above itinerary. Airport transfers are not provided. The nearest international airport is Santiago de Compostela. In order to avoid unnecessary costs inflating the price of your trip, arrival airport transfers are not included, so you should make your way on arrival to the joining point (full details of the joining hotel will be sent 2-3 weeks before your trip departs). However, if you prefer, our consultants can arrange an arrival transfer for you if you request this - please contact us for prices. Alternatively, a licensed, metered taxi or local, public transport may be available from the airport. The departure point for this trip is our tour hotel in Santiago de Compostela, and you can plan your departure anytime on day 8 of the trip itinerary. Again, in order to avoid unnecessary costs inflating the trip price, departure airport transfers are also not included. If you prefer, our consultants can arrange a departure transfer for you on request - please contact us for prices. Alternatively, a licensed, metered taxi or local, public transport may be arranged from the hotel to take you to the airport.
arrangements you have made yourself, such as if your international flights were delayed or cancelled and you could not join or depart your holiday on time. If you do decide to book Land Only, we strongly advise that you do not book international flights or make other travel arrangements (especially if there are financial penalties for cancellation or change) until your chosen holiday is guaranteed to run. Please also ensure when making your own international travel arrangements that they enable you to join and depart this trip in accordance with the criteria specified in the How to join and depart this trip section of this Trip Dossier.
Local transport If along the route you feel you cannot reach the next place you are staying it is sometimes very easy to order a taxi from a shop / restaurant or take a bus to the hotel where you are spending the night.
Accommodation Accommodation will be reserved for you on a twin share basis unless you have already requested a single room at extra cost.
Food Breakfasts usually consist of bread/toast with butter and jam. Lunches are bought by yourselves, and shops have a selection of Spanish meats, cheeses, breads, tomato salads or tapas. You can add picnic lunches (walking days only) to your booking package at additional cost. Evening meals are usually threecourses. In Spain they do eat very late (about 8-8.30) however you do get used to this after a few days.
Flight Inclusive
Climate
We recommend that you book this trip as a 'Flight Inclusive' package. Booking your international flights through Walks Worldwide guarantees you peace of mind and provides 100% financial protection under our CAA ATOL licence. What's more, if you book your flights with us as well as your ground arrangements, we will manage these flight arrangements both before and during your trip. As an ATOL Licence holder, we are able to secure and arrange competitively-priced airfares with most major airlines from the UK (as displayed on our website), as well as the option of regional departures too.
It is of course impossible to predict the precise weather conditions you will encounter during the course of your holiday. However, we do schedule our holidays to coincide with what should be the most suitable weather periods for walking. Spring, early summer and early autumn are the best times to visit in terms of the weather. Mid-Summer is hot, and the winter is chilly along the entire Pilgrim's Way, and especially damp in Galicia, with snow covering the highest passes near the Castille-Galicia border! Expect temperatures between 20-30°C in the spring to early summer months. Be aware that the reason for the lush vegetation in Galicia particularly is that showers do occur regularly! Don’t forget to pack your waterproofs.
Land Only If you would prefer to arrange your own international travel you can book this trip as a 'Land Only' package, where the price does not include international flights. Please note that if you are booking your own flights there are certain risks you should be aware of. Many airline tickets purchased directly are non-refundable and often do not provide you with any financial protection (unlike booking your flights with ourselves where you would be 100% protected under our CAA ATOL licence). For this reason we strongly advise that you check the rules of any flight booking you make, and check the limitations under any insurance policy you may have in relation to cancellation or date changes. We cannot be held liable for any losses incurred or consequences of any flight bookings or related travel www.walksworldwide.com
For climate statistics visit www.worldweather.org
Baggage Please make sure that your baggage is clearly marked with your name, inside as well as outside, in case the labels get detached. We request you limit your main baggage to one piece per person. The weight limit for the daily luggage transfer is 20kg. As your main baggage will be transported by vehicle during the walking days a normal suitcase can be used for your main baggage.
Vaccinations & health We always recommend visiting your doctor and dentist for a check up before travelling. Your doctor will also
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intend to travel and the activities involved. This cover should include repatriation costs, air ambulance and helicopter rescue. It is also advisable to take out cancellation insurance as all deposits paid are nonrefundable. You may arrange either single-trip or annual multi-trip travel insurance through Walks Worldwide. Please call us on 01962 737 565 for a quotation.
A useful travel health online resource is fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk. Please make sure that you obtain form EHIC either online www.dh.gov.uk or from your local post office – you will need to produce this if you have to see a doctor.
First Aid You should always carry your own small, personal first aid kit. This should consist of the following: A general anti-biotic, throat lozenges, painkillers, plasters (bandaids), blister treatment, insect repellent (DEET), rehydration salts, antiseptic cream, diarrhoea treatment (e.g. Imodium).
Security Whilst the vast majority of travellers never experience anything untoward it is worth taking precautions particularly in urban areas. You should take sensible precautions in crowded areas such as street markets and airports, where pick-pocketing is common, and keep clear of any street disturbances. Don’t wear jewellery, or leave your bags unattended, keep large amounts of money, cameras and mobile phones out of sight when walking in town centres, and avoid walking in city centres after dark. Keep copies of important documents, including passports, in a separate place to the documents themselves, together with details of credit cards. Leave copies at home with a friend too. Safeguard valuables, important documents and cash and deposit them in hotel safes, where practicable.
Currency The Spanish currency is the Euro. Please refer to /www.xe.com/for up to date rates.
Passports & Visas British passport holders do not require a visa for stays up to three months (please ensure your passport has at least 6 months validity). You can obtain the latest visa information, as well as book your visa either by contacting your reservation consultant, or by following the link below to our designated visa service: http://www.walksworldwide.com/information/visa.html
Budgeting for your trip Please refer to the detailed itinerary for information on what is included in this trip. You will need to budget for meals and drinks not included in the holiday, any optional sightseeing, souvenirs and items of a personal nature such as laundry.
Clothing & Equipment Please check our website for the most up to date information regarding packing for your trip. The information we provide is our suggested guide to help you with your packing based upon our many years of travelling. Using your own judgment for packing is of course important, especially with regard to casual clothing etc but please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about packing for your trip.
Extensions & Excursions Please contact us for tailor-made extensions.
ATM machines are available in locations as indicated in the daily walking day descriptions.
Language Spanish (in Galicia, the language used by locals is closer to Portuguese than Spanish, but Spanish is understood by all). Most of the local people do not speak English but almost all are extremely friendly and if you don’t speak any Spanish then you must take along a Spanish phrasebook.
Maps We recommend Stanfords at 12-14 Long Acre, London WC2E 9LP (Tel: 0207 836 1321) www.stanfords.co.uk.
Travel Insurance It is a condition of booking any of our holidays that you have comprehensive travel insurance. It is your to responsibility to ensure you are covered for medical and personal accident risks for the part of the world you www.walksworldwide.com
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