Galician Splendor The Camino

Overview Itinerary: /St. Jean - Santiago de Compostela - Finisterre Duration: 16 Days and 15 Nights Date: May 15th to May 30th.

Day-to-day Itinerary Day 1: Pamplona to St. Jean We meet in Pamplona. We will then drive to the French town of St. Jean Pied de Port to walk around and discover this lovely and historic place, here we will have the chance to get our first stamp in our Pilgrim's passport.

Day 2: St. Jean - (27.4km/17mi) Our Camino starts today! St Jean Pied de Port is the second most popular starting point of the Camino Frances (French Way). The first part of the journey, getting from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles is probably the most difficult section of the Camino Frances as a pilgrim will have to cross the Pyrenees through the Roncesvalles Pass. The maximum height one reaches is 1,601 meters, and it is definitely your longest walk. Always remember to listen to your body, take breaks when needed and use the support vehicle if necessary.

Day 3: Roncesvalles - Zubiri (21.8km/13.6mi) Today we will walk through the Navarrese Pyrenees, alpine valleys and humid forests surrounded by oak and pine trees. Our trails will be those of the mountains, with some dirt roas and stony stretches along the way. We will pass by the towns of Burguete, Espinal, Bizkarreta, Puerto de Erro, until we arrive to Zubiri.

Day 4: Zubiri - Pamplona (20.4km/12.7) We will start our day walking the Camino between beech and pine trees, and then our walk becomes a little more urban. As we walk, we will pass a number of towns and among them we have Larrasoaña, Zuriaín, Trinidad de Arre, and until we arrive to Pamplona.

Marly Camino © 2017 - pg. 2 Day 5: Day in León (light city walking) In the morning we will enjoy a private tour of León and its awe-inspiring Cathedral. Then we will visit the legendary town of Hospital de Órbigo where we will cross the "Passo Honroso" bridge, one of the longest bridges on the Camino. We will then drive to Astorga where two of the most important Camino de Santiago routes meet, the French Way and the famous "Vía de la plata". We will enjoy the rest of the afternoon at our leisure, being sure not to miss the Cathedral and Gaudi's Episcopalian Palace.

Day 6: Transfer to El Bierzo (day of town visits) We head from León toward the region of "El Bierzo" stopping at the historic bridge "Puente de Orbigo" & the beautiful city of Astorga. We visit historic places such as Rabanal del Camino, Foncebadón, and the famous "Cruz de Ferro" (Iron Cross). We will meet a real Templar Knight at the Pilgrim's hostel in Manjarín. Finally, we will arrive at the spectacular "Palacio de Canedo" for a private wine-tasting. In the evening we will be treated to a delicious dinner focusing on regional products. Night in El Bierzo

Day 7: O' Cebreiro - Triacastela (21 km / 13 mi) We will begin our Pilgrimage in the town of O’ Cebreiro, which is the beginning of the Camino de Santiago in Galicia and home of what is know as the "Eucharistic miracle of O' Cebreiro" and make our way through beautiful mountain paths until we reach the highest point of the Camino in Galicia the "Alto do Poio" peak, where we can enjoy some breathtaking views. After this point we will continue our Way until we reach the town of Triacastela.

Day 8: Triacastela - Sarria (19 km / 11.8 mi) Today we will walk through the beautiful forest paths of the Oribio river valley throughout the entire stage. The highlight of this stage is the Monastery of Samos, run by Benedictine monks since the 9th century. The end point of today's stage is one of the most important cities in all of the Camino, the beautiful city of Sarria.

Day 9: Sarria (Barbadelo) - Portomarín (18.7 km / 10.9 mi) As we journey through this stage we will come across many little villages and towns of which the most interesting are Barbadelo, Ferreiros, Vilachá and Portomarín where we will see many important monuments such as: The church of "Santiago de Barbadelo" famous for its beautiful architecture, the Romanesque portico at the church of Ferreiros, the legendary 100 km marker and the fortified church of St. Nicholas in Portomarín. We will also have the opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking view of the Miño river valley right outside the town of Vilachá.

Marly Camino © 2017 - pg. 3 Day 10: Portomarín - Palas de Rei (22.5 km / 13.9 mi) Today's journey will take us through beautiful oak and eucalyptus forests passing by the villages of Gonzar, Ventas de Narón, Ligonde and Airexe on our way to the town of Palas de Rei.

Day 11: Palas de Rei - Boente (20.7 km / 12.9 mi) We walk along peaceful forest paths passing by the town of Palas de Rei where we can admire the Romanesque portico of San Tirso's church. We will then cross over the border of the provinces of Lugo and A Coruña via an ancient roman road. Once in A Coruña we will marvel at true jewels of the Camino such as the church of "La virgen de las nieves", and the ancient Roman bridge in the town of Furelos. Melide is a town famous for its octopus which we can sample in one of its many “Pulperías".

Day 12: Boente - Salceda (19.5 km / 12.1 mi) Today we will start our walk from the town of Boente, home of the spectacular church of Santiago, and continue on through the lovely towns of Arzúa, Ribadiso and Castañeda, all very closely linked to the Camino's history. In Arzúa we can see the beautiful chapel of "La Magdalena" built in gothic style and founded in the 14th century and also enjoy some of Arzúa's delicious cheese, which was given Denomination of Origin. We will continue our walk to Salceda, passing by the town of Calzada.

Day 13: Salceda - Monte do Gozo (22.9 km / 14.2 mi) We will walk through the beautiful villages of A Brea and A Rua. Along the Way, we will have the opportunity to see the hermitage of St. Irene with its baroque fountain whose water is said to have curative properties and the town of Lavacolla where the ancient purification ritual needed to arrive in Santiago was performed. We end at one of the Camino's most emblematic places: Monte do Gozo (Mount of Joy), where we can enjoy a marvellous view of Santiago and our final destination, the Cathedral.

Day 14: Monte do Gozo - Santiago de Compostela (4.8 km / 2.9 mi) Today is our journey's most exciting day! We will make our way to our final destination: Santiago's Cathedral. We are scheduled to arrive in Santiago before 12:00 pm, so that those who wish to attend the Pilgrim’s Mass and perform any pilgrim rituals like hugging the Apostle Santiago can do so. In the evening, we will have a wonderful farewell surprise accompanied by a delicious dinner to celebrate our arrival.

Marly Camino © 2017 - pg. 4 Day 15: Finisterre Day Tour We will go on a tour to Finisterre (literally meaning ‘end of the Earth’), the place where the known world was believed to end, at the Non Plus Ultra gate. It is considered the westernmost point of the continent of Europe. Pilgrims end their Camino de Santiago pilgrimage through Galicia at the lighthouse in Finisterre. Day 16: Santiago de Compostela guided visit (End of Tour) In the morning we offer a guided visit through Santiago for our group .The focus of the guided visit will be on the old city, where we will recall the history of the city and the pilgrimage to Santiago through its main monuments, squares and streets. During the visit we will enter the Cathedral where, in addition to its history and evolution, well- known traditions will be explained. On our tour we will also go to the fresh produce market, called Mercado de Abastos. Once there, the group will have the opportunity to buy typical products of Galician gastronomy (fish, seafood, veal…) that can be sampled later in one of the nearby restaurants.

Our tour comes to an end at about 1:00 pm. Your Camino through life begins!

Marly Camino © 2017 - pg. 5 Meals All breakfasts and dinners are included in this tour. We have carefully selected the included meals so you can have a taste of the most typical, most delicious, local cuisine. Lunches are not included, so depending on your tastes and preferences, you have the opportunity to experiment and choose on your own. You can stop and eat something along the way or at the end of the daily stage. There are plenty of options along the way. Vegetarians, vegans, or those with a special diet (eg. gluten-free) can always find suitable options. Just let us know beforehand and we will be happy to accommodate your needs. Accommodation All of our accommodations are hand-picked to give you the best possible experience. The first night you will stay at the 5-star Parador de León, the Hostal de San Marcos, one of 's most beautiful Renaissance buildings. Along the way we stay in charming Galician manors, usually in rural areas, that used to be the homes of important people in the community in the past such as kings or noblemen. They form part of the cultural experience. Usually they are located in privileged areas surrounded with green, peaceful scenery. For our last two nights in Santiago we will stay in the prestigious Parador de los Reyes Católicos in Santiago de Compostela. Here you will find a fusion of the tranquility and peace with all the comforts of a 5-star hotel and prime location. All of our accommodations have en suite bathrooms. We know all the owners personally, and you can be sure you will receive the personalized attention and service you deserve. Walking You walk at your own pace. There is no one you have to follow or walk with. We have meeting points along the way where our support vehicle will be waiting with snacks, fruit and water and to make sure everything is OK. We also offer assistance for any unexpected circumstances or simply to relieve muscular pain or cure blisters. We start walking at around 9 am and finish our daily walk just in time for lunch. We meet at the end of the stage to eat, have a drink and relax. If you do not want to keep walking for any reason, you can hop on the support vehicle or be taken back to the hotel. You mustn't worry about getting lost as the yellow arrows always show the way. Moreover, on the Camino you are never alone. After the daily walk, and after we’ve all had lunch we will head back to the hotel where we can shower, freshen up and have a much-deserved rest.

Marly Camino © 2017 - pg. 6 Means and Assistance A vehicle and guide for logistical support will be available during the entire route. It shall be of help for the pilgrims in transit and to cover any other needs that might arise along the way. It will be equipped with fruits, snacks, water, medicine, first aid kits. The luggage will be transferred from one hotel to the next using the support vehicle. For the walk you can take a small/medium backpack for a camera, water bottle, and personal belongings. You can use the one we provide, or bring your own. Mobile phones with a Spanish line will be handed out for the period of the tour for every 2 or 3 pilgrims. This will allow you to communicate with the driver or guides for any reason at all times. The number can also be given to family members back home to receive phone calls. A packing list with recommendations on what to bring along on your trip, along with a ‘Guide to Your Camino’ which answers questions regarding laundry, tip, and other useful topics. Pilgrim’s Kit: Upon your arrival we hand you a backpack filled with your tour program and daily itinerary, a hat, a notepad, your shell, your Pilgrim’s passport (Credencial). The backpack is perfect for use on your daily walk.

Marly Camino © 2017 - pg. 7 Price and what it includes Number of people: 4 5,200€ per person in double occupancy rooms Number of people: 6 4,290€ per person in double occupancy rooms Number of people: 8-9 3,920€ per person in double occupancy rooms Single supplement cost is 940€ This includes: Private Van Support & Luggage transfer Carefully selected en suite accommodation All breakfasts All Dinners with wine Water, cold drinks and snacks English-speaking guide assistance Mobile phones with a Spanish line Informational program and route map Pilgrim's kit: Backpack, hat, shell, passport, notepad, etc. GUARANTEED BOTAFUMEIRO (censer swing) at Pilgrim's mass in Cathedral Photos of your Camino Travel insurance for the entire tour Farewell dinner and surprise Transfers from León to Santiago Full-day trip to Finisterre with lunch Tour of Las Medulas Visit to wine cellars from el Bierzo plus tasting Guided visits of León, Santiago and Finisterre

Does not include airfare.

Looking forward to having you join us!

Marly Camino © 2017 - pg. 8