SPAIN CAMINO- THE WAY OF ST. JAMES BY MOUNTAIN BIKE 2018 INDEPENDENT - SELF GUIDED 15 NIGHTS / 16 DAYS Stage 1: Pamplona Leon 9 days/8 nights Stage 2: Leon Santiago de Compostela 8 days/7 nights APPROXIAMTELY 560 605 KM For more than a thousand years people from different parts of Europe have travelled to the shrine of Saint James in the north western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela. The cultural path has not lost its attraction till this day: every year many pilgrims set out on this journey to Santiago to experience the unique coexistence of culture and nature along the way. We offer you a chance to travel this exceptional path by bike. You cycle from Pamplona in Navarre to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. We organise accommodation, luggage transport and bike hire. With our detailed information package (maps, route descriptions etc.) you can plan the easy daily stages to bike at your own pace. You can choose between cycling for most of the time on asphalted roads or on the actual hiking path. 15 night/16 days Grade Moderate to Challenging. This bike tour is suited for experienced cyclists used to climbs up to 900 metres of altitude per day and cycling up to 7 hours per day. Stoney paths are encountered which may be too rough for road bikes, that is why we offer mountain bikes walking is recommended in these instances.
TOUR ITINERARY 16 DAY/15 NIGHT TOUR Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela or 9 DAY/8 NIGHTS Pamplona to Leon (start in Roncevalles possible - on request) Day 3: Estella Logrono Today you cycle from Estella to Logrono through the famous wine region, La Rioja. Cycling: Approximately 53km 5 6 hours Day 1: Pamplona Pamplona, the scene of the annual (7 July ) San Fermin Festival or Running Of The Bulls as it is more commonly known, where the streets are opened to a herd of bulls and daredevils challenge them like matadors. This medieval walled town is set in the picturesque mountain ranges of the Navarre. There is an excellent museum housed in the 15thC hospital, a cathedral dating from the 14thC and of course the bullring. Option: Extend your time in Pamplona by another day and make a side trip to the beautiful city of Bilbao where the stunning Guggenheim Museum is located. Local bus transportation takes 1.5 hours Art at Guggenhiem Museum Day 2: Pamplona Estella On your first bike tour climb the Alto del Perdon from Pamplona before arriving in the charming town of Puente la Reina. Continue to Estella which has a beautiful old town and many interesting churches. Cycling: Approximately 46km 4 5 hours Day 4: Logrono Belorado Travelling through the charming towns of Navarrete, Najera, Azofra, Santo Doming de la Colzada to reach Belorado Cycling: Approximately 65km 6 7 hours Day 5: Belorado - Burgos Climb the Montes de Oca to reach San Juan de Ortega and Atapuerca before arriving in Burgos. You stay the night in the former king s city Burgos, one of the most important pilgrim stops of the route. Its Gothic Cathedral is one of Spain's most outstanding artistic monuments. Cycling: Approximately 50km 5 6 hours Day 6: Burgos Fromista Easy ride on the Castillian plains. At Fromista visit the Romanesque Church of Saint Martin. Cycling: Approximately 64km 6 7 hours Day 7: Frómista-Sahagún Still in the Castilla area stop at Carrión de los Condes, a town with wonderful medieval atmosphere, and famous people as the Marqués de Santillana lived. Cycling: Approximately 57km 5 6 hours DAY 8: Stage Sahagún-León You leave Sahagún by the Canto Bridge and after a while you will follow a long and
beautiful tree-lined path before arriving in Burgo Ranero. From here you will continue to the beautiful city of León, the capital of Castile province and once the capital of Christian Spain in the 10th and 11th centuries. It is noted for the remarkable Gothic cathedral known for its beautiful stained glass windows, 11C Basilica Isidora for its frescoed ceilings and the Gaudi designed 'Casa de Botines', a striking Neo-Gothic building in the Plazuela de San Marcelo. Cycling: Approximately 55km 5 6 hours Day 9 LEON 8 night tour from Pamplona ends here in Leon - Arrangements end after breakfast - or if you are continuing to Santiago, you will have a rest day to explore Leon. Cyclists on the Camino de Santiago Compestela 8 DAY/ 7 NIGHTS LEON to SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA Day 1 : Arrive Leon If you are starting today, your bikes will be delivered to your hotel in the evening. Overnight in Leon. Day 2 (or Day 10): León Astorga Leave Leon and cycle through a network of plain and quiet rural roads. When you pass the Orbigo River you will climb to the Santo Toribio Rucero then roll down to Astorga, today s destination. The bishop s palace built by Gaudí and the cathedral in Astorga are unique. Cycling: Approximately 54km 5 6 hours
Day 3 (Day 11): Astorga Ponferrada After going straight through the Maragateria you will start a beautiful and hard ascent to the peak of 1.505m, in the mythic Cruz de Ferro. From there you will say goodbye to the León mountains and go down dramatically to the Bierzo Valley. Cycling: Approximately 53km 7 8 hours Elevation 600m Day 4 (Day 12): Ponferrada-O'Cebreiro Cycle from the vineyards to join the banks of the Valcarce River. Stop at the important Monastery of Samos on the way. through the beautiful Ribadiso area you reach Arzúa after a small ascent. Cycling: Approximately 53km 6 7 hours Elevation 350m Day 7 (Day 15): Arzúa Santiago de Compostela The last stage you have two ascents. The second is up Monte do Gozo (Mountain of Joy) where you will have the first views of Santiago de Compostela, your destination. From this point there are only a few kilometres between you and the Cathedral. You enter the medieval city that is the climax to this legendary journey. Santiago de Compostela s 11thC cathedral is where the tomb of Sant Iago el Mayor (St James the At the end of the stage you will find a short ascent that will bring you to breathtaking mountain views to Alto de O Cebreiro, in Galicia. Continue via Molinaseca to O Cebreiro. Cycling: Approximately 53km 6 7 hours Elevation 950m Day 5 (Day 13): O Cebreiro Portomarin After a short climb you start a spectacular descent to Triacastela then you cycle across a rural landscape of green hills to Portomarín, having past Sarria. Cycling: Approximately 62km 7 8 hours Elevation 300m Great), patron saint of Spain, is reputedly built over. Legend says the remains of the apostle were carried by boat from Jerusalem to this burial place. A noon mass is held for pilgrims, a feature of which is the huge, swinging, smoking 'botafumeria'; a 200 pound incense burner hauled by a pole by eight red-robed priests. Cycling: Approximately 39km 4 5 hours Elevation 100m Day 8 (Day 16): Arrangements end after breakfast in Santiago de Compostela Day 6 (Day 14): Portomarin Arzúa Ascend Mt Ligonde and pass through a succession of small towns and villages. Once 2018 SCHEDULE ULE 2014: April to October - Start any day (subject to hotel availablity)
2018 COST PER PERSON IN EUROS: Pamplona to Leon Leon to Santiago de Compostela 8 nights 7 nights Self-guided Tour: Double or Twin Share Room B&B 1100 915 Single room surcharge (travelling with others) 233 185 Single room Surcharge for Solo traveller 266 229 Half-board supplement (Dinner pre-paid) 165 125 Rental Bike - 24 speed Mountain bike Included Included TOUR COST INCLUDES: o Accommodation in rooms with bath/shower and toilet o Breakfast daily o Luggage transfers 1 bag per person (max 20kg) o o o 24 speed Mountain Bike rental, with rear pannier bag, front bag, lock, water bottle holder, repair kit. Detailed travel material with maps and route descriptions, travel guide and city maps one set per room Local contact ACCOMMODATION CATEGORY: Three star hotels in Leon and Santiago de Compostela, and 2 star rural hotels and country guesthouses in other places. RECOMMENDED: Upgrade in Santiago de Compostela to the 5-star Parador, (from 92 extra per person in a Double or Twin room - single room supplement + 30) located in the square opposite the Cathedral. This fine Renaissance building was built in 1499 by the ten monarchs Ferdinand and Isabel as a hospital for pilgrims. It has been sumptuously restored with rich stone and timber masonry and period furnishings to create the wonderful historical ambience. There is no better location to explore the major monumental sites of Santiago on foot. EXTRA NIGHTS B&B PER PERSON IN EUROS: Double / Twin Share Single Room Supplement Pamplona 80 + 42 Leon 61 + 30 Santiago de Compostela*** 58 + 28 5-star Parador Hotel in Santiago de Compostela Sharing Double or twin room 150 per person, Single room Supplement + 55 BIKES: Mountain bikes with 24 gears, aluminium frame, front suspension, panniers with rear bag, front bag, lock, water bottle & holder, and puncture repair kit. We have found that Mountain Bikes are best suited to the track conditions.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: Closest international Airports (to start tour): Oviedo/Asturias (OVD), Madrid, Bilbao Travel by public bus or train to your first hotel. Domestic Airports : Pamplona (PNA) & Leon (LEN) End of tour: Santiago de Compostela Airport (SCQ) Airport Transfers: (cost for 1 4 people) approximate cost, based on 2017 cost Leon Airport Leon Hotel from 40 Oviedo/Asturias Airport Leon from 210 Madrid Airport Leon from 440 Pamplona Airport Pamplona hotel from 35 Santiago de Compostela: Hotel to Airport from 40 Book through: Don t just see the world. Experience it. Ph 09 4867473 Fax 09 484 0091 Email: info@walkworld.co.nz