Cammino di Santiago de Campostela - From Leòn to Santiago

From August 16th to September 1st, 2024
The Cammino di Santiago is, by definition, the experience that every hiker must undertake at least once in their lifetime. The final destination of the route is its Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. For centuries, following Rome and Jerusalem, the city has represented the third major devotional center of Christianity since the news of the discovery of the tomb of Saint James the Greater spread at the beginning of the 9th century. Along the way, you will encounter true treasures of art and culture, particularly in the historic cities along the route. Several paths lead to Santiago; the one we have chosen is the ancient French Way, of which we will walk the final 13 stages (thirteen days of walking), from Leòn to Santiago de Compostela, for a total of approximately 310 km on foot. Our journey begins in Leòn, the "blue city," so named by those who were amazed by the hues of the stained-glass windows in its celebrated cathedral. Its fame is due to three architectural masterpieces belonging to three 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 different historical heritage where it is still often possible to come across festivals of Celtic origin. Upon reaching the final destination of our journey, "Santiago de Campostela," we will conclude the 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 holds that pilgrims take a dip in the ocean here as a sign of purification and burn a garment worn during the journey itself.

Fee: € 420.00 - Includes guide service, trip organization, and RCT insurance.
Other estimated expenses: Approximately € 800.00 to bring with you, in cash or by card. This covers: overnight stays in private hostels, dinners with the pilgrim's menu, drinks, breakfasts, and packed lunches of your choice along the way, round-trip private bus transfer between Santiago and Finisterre, and luggage transport via shuttle for those who prefer to hike with a light backpack; those who wish to carry their own heavy backpack will save € 4/5 per day.
Expenses do not include: Travel to reach the meeting point in Leòn and the return journey from Santiago. Flight, train, or bus tickets to reach the meeting point and for the return trip are purchased directly by the participants. Once the trip's departure is confirmed, we will recommend flights for you to purchase your tickets.
Deposit: € 220.00 at the time of booking.
Balance: € 200.00 by July 31st, 2024.
Insurance: In addition to RCT insurance, medical assistance is covered by your European Health Insurance Card. Those who wish to take out individual travel insurance are free to do so.
Meeting point: Friday, August 16th at 6:00 PM in Leòn, at the bus station.
End of trip: Sunday, September 1st at 10:30 AM at the Santiago de Compostela bus station.
Max number of participants: 14
Daily walking hours: From 5 to 8 hours.
Nights: Overnight stays in pilgrim hostels. Due to logistics, there is a possibility of sleeping in a hotel for a few nights.
Highlights: The magic of the Galician landscape, the silence, the Celtic culture, the architectural beauty of Leòn and Santiago, and the majesty of the Atlantic at Finisterre.
Trip type: Itinerant.
Difficulty: Challenging.
Necessary equipment: Trekking clothing, trekking shoes, long trousers, hat, trekking poles, flashlight, shower sandals, rain poncho (k-way), sweater, waterproof jacket, sleeping bag liner or lightweight sleeping bag, water bottle, swimsuit, and personal toiletries. For advice on what to bring, please contact the guide.
Meals: Breakfast at bars or hostels, packed lunch along the way, dinners at pilgrim restaurants or local trattorias.
Tips: A 40-liter backpack that does not exceed 8 kg for women and 10 kg for men, for those who decide to carry their own heavy backpack. A 20-liter backpack and a trolley/duffel bag weighing no more than 10 kg for those who choose the shuttle luggage transport service, at a cost of 4/5 euros per day.
Duration: 17 days/16 nights.
Booking deadline: April 30th, 2024, provided that spots are still available. Late booking may result in difficulty securing spots in pilgrim hostels.
Notes: The trip may be subject to changes due to unforeseeable natural events; in such cases, the guide will make the final decision. Two weeks before departure, we will send you an email with the latest information.
Bookings: +39 3513347770 - Email: [email protected]
Guide: Salvatore Marletta: contact +39 3334987946
www.ciaotrekking.com
Technical Organization: Kora Viaggi - Via Roma 170 Ragusa