Saint James way (french route)
1st Day

Arrive in Pamplona, accommodation in private coach and transfer to the hotel. Check-in, dinner and overnight.

2nd Day

Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning departure (with local guide) to Roncesvalles, visit the historic centre: the Abbey of Roncesvalles, the old hostel, St. James Chapel and the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, also known as El Silo de Charlemagne. Finally, the Collegiate Church, the first example of Gothic architecture in Spain. Return to Pamplona, an important city that grew according to the needs of the Way. Short visit of the old town and the Gothic Cathedral (which replaces a Romanesque one), the church of San Cernin, Santo Domingo and San Nicolas. After lunch at the hotel, departure to Eunate. Free time to visit the Romanesque chapel of Santa Maria de Eunate (XII century). Beginning of the first stage (5km walk) through Obanos until Puente la Reina, which takes its name from the bridge, jewel of the Middle Ages, built by Queen Dona Mayor, in the XI century to facilitate the passage of pilgrims. The beautiful town, typical of the Way, is home to the church of St. James and a beautiful wooden statue of St. Peregrine. Continue to Estella, the actual town owes its origin to the pilgrims and the name evokes the star that shows the location of the tomb of St. James. Continue then to Logroño. Hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight.

3rd Day

Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure in the morning to Nájera. Stop at the historic centre to admire the Gothic Cathedral of Santa Maria, the monastery and the Pantheon of Kings. Continuation through a scenic route to arrive in Santo Domingo de la Calzada, one of the many interesting stages of the Way. Santo Domingo was a monk that devoted his life to facilitate the passage of pilgrims. The beautiful cathedral, begun in the XII century and finished in the Gothic period. Inside, the mausoleum of the saint. Time at disposal and proceed to Burgos, beautiful medieval city once capital of the kingdom of Castile. Hotel accommodation and lunch. Afternoon dedicated to the visit (with local guide) of the Old Town and the Cathedral, whose main facade rises with the two massive towers of 84m in height, from the Plaza de Santa Maria. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

4th Day

Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning, departure to Castrojeriz. Free time to visit the ruins of the castle and several churches built for the pilgrims. Proceed through Boadilla del Camino to Frómista, village known for the church of San Martino, built in 1066, one of the most remarkable Romanesque buildings in the Iberian Peninsula. Continue to Carrión de los Condes: stop at the St. Zoilus Monastery. Continuation after lunch to Sahagún. Stop at the church of San Lorenzo before proceeding on to León, one of the most important cities in the Christian Middle Ages. Visit (with local guide) of the old town: the magnificent Cathedral and its cloisters, and the Collegiate Church of San Isidro. Accommodation at the hotel, dinner and overnight.

5th Day

Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning departure to visit (with local guide) Astorga, the city that had in the Middle Ages 22 hostels for pilgrims. Stop at the Orbigo Bridge (known in legend as the Bridge of Honor), the Cathedral and the Episcopal Palace. Continuation then to Rabanal del Camino where it will begin the second stage (6km walk), which will lead to Foncebadon and then, continuing uphill for 2km, to the Cruz de Hierro (Iron Cross), the point where, according to a secular ritual, pilgrims throw a stone brought from home, asking for protection along their way and throughout their lives (for some, that stone represents a weight corresponding to a sin, remorse or anguish they willingly leave at the Cross). Return to Foncebadon and continuation to Ponferrada, a town whose origin is linked to the Puente Ferrada that a bishop of the XI century built to facilitate the passage of many pilgrims in their way to Santiago de Compostela. It was later built the Castle of the Knights Templar and the Catholic Monarchs, the Hospital de la Reina and the Our Lady of Encina Basilica. In the afternoon, proceed to St. James Door at Villafranca del Bierzo, the place where the pilgrimage of those who were sick or unable to continue could consider to have finished the Way. Proceed to the ancient medieval village of Pedrafita do Cebreiro where, in an ancient pre-Romanesque temple is preserved a glass called the Galician Holy Grail. Continuation through countries immersed in a Romanesque atmosphere such as Triacastela, Sarriá and Portomarín to arrive in Santiago de Compostela. Hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight.

6th Day

Breakfast at the hotel.
Full day dedicated to the visit (with local guide) of Santiago de Compostela, exciting destination of pilgrimage that, since the Middle Ages, draws pilgrims to pray on the tomb of the Apostle James after a long and arduous journey. Morning stop at the Monte do Gozo (Hill of Joy), the highest hill in the village of San Marcos, the point from which the pilgrims, that in the Middle Ages arrived by foot, saw, for the first time, the great saint burg. Beginning of the third stage (about 5km) that will lead to Cathedral, in the time to celebrate the St. Mass of the Pilgrim. Return to the hotel and lunch. Afternoon dedicated to the visit of the historic centre to admire the imponent Basilica, the Obradoiro Square and the magnificent facade of the Hostal de los Reyes Catolicos, the Quintana and Azavacheria Squares, the Convent of St. Pelayo and the College of St. Jerome. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

7th Day

Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning transfer to the airport of Santiago de Compostela, assistance in the check-in procedures and departure.