Cammino di Santiago de Campostela - Leòn - Santiago

From August 8th to August 24th, 2017 - Trip confirmed, last spots available.
Description: The Cammino di Santiago is, by definition, the experience every hiker should have at least once in their life. The final destination of the route is the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. For centuries, following Rome and Jerusalem, this city has been the third most important devotional center of Christianity since the discovery of the tomb of Saint James the Greater was announced in the early 9th century. Along the way, you will encounter true treasures of art and culture, especially in the historic cities along the route. Several paths lead to Santiago; we have chosen the ancient “French Way,” of which we will walk the final 13 stages (thirteen days of hiking), from Leòn to Santiago de Compostela for a total of approximately 310 km on foot. Our journey begins in Leòn, the “blue city,” as it was called by those who were captivated by the hues of the stained glass in its celebrated cathedral. Its fame is due to three architectural masterpieces belonging to different styles: the Romanesque church of San Isidoro, the imposing Gothic cathedral, and the Renaissance church of San Marcos. The first six stages are in the Castilla y León region, while the rest are in Galicia, a region with a distinct historical heritage where you can still often encounter festivals of Celtic origin. Upon reaching the final destination of our journey, "Santiago de Campostela," we will conclude our trip in Finisterre, a city considered by the Romans to be "the end of the world," as it is the westernmost point of Europe. Tradition dictates that pilgrims take a dip in the ocean here as a sign of purification and burn a piece of clothing worn during the journey.

Fee: € 290,00 - Includes guide service and RCT insurance.
Other estimated expenses: € 530,00 - For food, accommodation, heavy luggage transport (those who wish to carry their own heavy backpack save € 4 per day), and local public transport. Not to be sent, but to be brought with you.
Expenses do not include: travel to and from the meeting point.
Flight, train, or bus tickets to reach the meeting point and return are purchased directly by participants once the trip departure is confirmed (min. 8 participants). Flight routes and times for ticket purchase will be communicated upon trip confirmation.
Deposit: € 100,00 at the time of booking.
Balance: € 190,00 by July 20th, 2017.
INSURANCE and CONDITIONS: In addition to RCT insurance, medical assistance is covered by your European Health Insurance Card. Our trip participants have the option to take out travel cancellation insurance. Those interested in this coverage must notify us in writing at the time of booking.
Meeting point: Tuesday, August 8th at 18:00 in León, Bus Station.
End of trip: Thursday, August 24th, 10:30 at the Santiago de Campostela bus station.
Max number of participants: 14
Daily hiking hours: from 5 to 8.
Nights: overnight stays in pilgrim hostels. Due to logistics, 4 nights in a hotel.
Highlights: the magic of the Galician landscape, silence and introspection, Celtic culture, the architectural beauty of Leòn and Santiago, and the majesty of the Atlantic at Finisterre.
Trip type: itinerant.
Difficulty: challenging.
Required equipment: trekking clothing, hiking boots, long trousers, hat, trekking poles, flashlight, shower sandals, rain jacket (k-way), sweater, waterproof jacket, sleeping bag liner or lightweight sleeping bag, water bottle, swimsuit, and personal toiletries.
Meals: breakfast at bars or hostels, packed lunches along the way, dinners at pilgrim restaurants or local trattorias.
Tips: backpack with a 50-liter capacity, not exceeding 8 kg for women and 10 kg for men. 25-liter backpack for those choosing the shuttle luggage transport service, cost of the service 4/5 euros per day.
Duration: 17 days/16 nights.
Booking deadline: June 30th, 2017. We kindly ask those interested to register by the specified deadline. Late booking makes it difficult for the group to secure spots in pilgrim hostels.
Notes: the excursion may be subject to changes due to unpredictable natural events; in such cases, the guide will make the final decision.
Guide: Salvatore Marletta: contact – 3334987946
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]