Day 1, Monday � Depart UK
Check-in for your direct Ryanair flight to Santiago de Compostela. On arrival, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel at the start of the first walk stage in Sarria. Here you will check into the Hotel Alfonso for 1 night with dinner and breakfast.
Day 2, Tuesday - Sarria to Portomarin
Walk 14.2mi approx. 6hrs
After breakfast depart your hotel with your walk guide towards the monastery of La Magdalenain on the edge of the old town of Sarria and continue on passing the cemetery you cross the �Ponte Aspera� bridge towards a pleasant and peaceful walk through many picturesque villages along quiet country roads shaded by vast oak trees. On the latter stage of the route you can see the ruins of the old monastery of Santa Mar�a de Loyo, the original building of the Order of St James. Enter Portomar�n over the river Mi�o via the modern bridge where you might get a glimpse of the old site of the village. On crossing you can ascend the Escalinata de Nuestra Se�ora de las Nieves, the little chapel at the top of the stairs before taking some time to relax and refresh in the town square before making your way to the Hotel Pousada de Portomarin where you will be reunited with your bags and check-in for 1 night with dinner and breakfast.
Day 3, Wednesday � Portomarin to Palas de Rei
Walk 15mi approx. 6hrs 30mins
Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel before leaving Portomarin across the Belesar and around Monte San Antonio towards Ventas de Naron passing through the villages of Gonzar and Castromaior where a small Romanesque Church dedicated to the Virgin is located. On crossing the sierra de Ligonde on the Dorsal Galega (the Galicain Ridge) you enter the farming region of Ulloa where you begin to descend through oak trees and meadows. On your decent the first eucalyptus trees come into view and after Brea you ascend the Alto do Rosario, a traditional point for Pilgrims to stop for prayer, where you can see Monte Pico Sacro the mountain that overlooks Santiago de Compostela on a clear day. Continue towards Palas de Rei, before reaching the town you pass your accommodation in the La Caba�a or Hotel Mica where you will rest for the night with dinner and breakfast.
Day 4, Thursday � Palas de Rei to Arzua
Walk 18mi approx. 7hrs 30mins
After breakfast you leave your hotel and pass through the town of Palas de Rei. Leaving Palas de Rei you descend towards San Xuli�n crossing over the river Ruxian. Continuing onward through the village of Casanova and many Galician hamlets. Before crossing the R�o Seco over the Magdalena bridge to Disecabo and the mediaeval Puente Velha which spans the R�o Furelos you will reach the main town of Melide. Continue the day through forest tracks, meadows and cornfields till you reach the villages of Boente and Rivadiso before continuing to Arzua. Here you will continue to Hotel Arzua where you can have a well deserved rest before dinner.
Day 5, Friday � Arzua to O Pedrouzo
Walk 13.6mi approx. 5hrs 30mins
After breakfast you leave our bags once again and begin your days walk of this shaded section of the Camino through more villages and hamlets such as Cortobe, Ferreiros and Santa Irene. You make your way across numerous streams, through woods and along quiet country roads before reaching O Prdrouzo. Here you will check into the Pension Arca before dinner and breakfast the next morning.
Day 6, Saturday � O Pedrouzo to Santiago de Compostela
Walk 12.4mi approx. 5hrs
After breakfast you continue via Amenal and Santiago airport to Lavacolla. Here you can follow tradition, by washing in the river to prepare ourselves for our arrival to the Holy City. Continue to Monte do Gozo, the mount of joy, here we will get our first glimpse of the Cathedral like so many pilgrims before. Here we take time to enjoy lunch before continuing to our goal, Santiago de Compostela. Complete your walk at The Obradoiro Square, here you can enjoy your achievement and witness the newly restored Cathedral. We can begin Earning the Jubilee by visiting the Tomb of the Apostle. After you can collect your certificates with your official Camino Passport or Credencial del Peregrino from your guide. Continue to Hotel San Lorenzo where you check-in for the next 2 nights with dinner and breakfast.
Day 7, Sunday � Santiago de Compostela
After breakfast we can leave for the Pilgrims Mass at noon in the Cathedral. Enjoy the festivities of the Holy Year in and around the Obradoiro Square, visit the tomb of St. James again, absorb the wonderful architecture of the Cathedral, explore the many narrow cobbled streets and enjoy the Galician cuisine. Return the short distance to the hotel for dinner.
Day 8, Monday � Day of Departure
After breakfast in the hotel we take the day for some free time around the city. Where you can take the time for one last venture into the Cathedral�s Square where you can visit many restaurants shops and cafes before our transfer to the airport for our flight back to London.
bIt is advised that people wishing to partake in this walking pilgrimage consult their doctor on their fitness to take part before booking. Each walk day will consist of 5 - 8 hrs of moderately difficult walking with uneven and rough terrain in parts.
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