We will meet at the airport and make our way to Leon. A great city with much to see. Enjoy the afternoon to rest and explore. 

"León is a city in Spain and capital of the province of the same name. It is on the Way of St. James and has a vast cultural, historical and architectural heritage. Some of the city's most prominent historical buildings are the Cathedral, one of the finest examples of French-style classic Gothic architecture in Spain, the Basilica of San Isidoro, one of the most important Romanesque churches in Spain and the resting place of León's medieval monarchs, the Monastery of San Marcos, an example of plateresque and Renaissance Spanish architecture, and the Casa Botines, a Modernist creation of the architect Antoni Gaudí. An example of modern architecture is the city's Museum of Contemporary Art (MUSAC)." source: https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Le%C3%B3n_(Spain)

Today will be a nice relaxing day in Leon. Enjoy this beautiful day while you allow your body to get acclimated to the new time zone. 

This is your free day, so do what makes you happy.

We will be able to give suggestions.

After breakfast we will make our way to Astorga, another beautiful town along the Camino. With lots of history. 

 Rest up, tomorrow we will start walking.

Today is an exciting day, we start walking on the Camino de Santiago. A great day to get started. We will be gradually climbing all day as we head into the mountains. 

Rabanal del Camino is one of my favorite villages along the Camino. 

At all times of the year, an early start will be chilly, so it is worth having your fleece out as you start walking.  The panorama views in the mountains are beautiful.

Today is a day that many pilgrims hope to be lighter, both physically and spiritually. The Cruz del Ferro is an iron cross on top of a 5-meter wooden pole.  Many pilgrims bring a stone from home to leave with the many thousands of stones already there.  Leaving a stone is the sign of leaving behind a burden, or letting go of something in your life.

Today we have a nice stroll of 5 miles into Ponferrada. We will leave early so you will have a few hours to explore Ponferrada, don't miss the Templars Castle. After we have enjoyed some time in Ponferrada and lunch, we will be transferred to Samos, with a quick stop in O'Cebreiro a quaint Celtic village! 

Samos is known for having one of the oldest Benedictine Monasteries in all of Spain, an important symbol of Galician culture. We will be staying close to the Monastery, you may visit and participate in the evening celebrations of Mass with the Monks.

You may wish to revisit the monastery for morning prayers before we start our walk! Today is a short walk, call it a partial rest day, as we saunter into Sarria. We will have a few hours of lush beautiful rolling hills ahead of us.

Prepare yourself for the crowds, this is where most people start the last 100 km walk.

At this stage of our journey, we will cross the 100 km mark to Santiago. It is a beautiful walk with smooth hills which run through dense vegetation and passes through many small villages, typical of this part of Galicia.

Portomarin dates back to the Roman Ages and was an important halt along the route in the Middle Ages. Due to the creation of a dam in 1962, the Old Portomarin is currently underneath the Mino River and many of the old buildings were moved. One of these buildings which were moved brick by brick was the Church of St. John of Jerusalem. This church was set along the route In Medieval Times, to protect the tomb of Santiago.

After the steep downhill along Portomarin main street and then a gentle uphill around Monte San Antonio, the rest of the day is easy going through the rolling countryside.

A continuously hilly stage. Nice short day, we should make our way into Melide just in time for lunch.  Melide is home to the famous Galician dish, 'Pulpo á Feira', a must along the Camino. Time to try the Pulpo!

We are still in the province of Lugo as we enter Melide. This is the town where the French Way (the busiest) and Primitivo Way (the oldest) routes meet, a crucial point along the Camino.  Please make note of the old roads as we enter Melide. These roads date back to the fourteenth century and are some of the oldest in the region of Galicia.

Another nice short day as we make our way to Arzua. 

We will leave the Lugo province and enter the province of A Coruna today. Going up and down hills through vegetation makes up most of this stage. We will also cross the beautiful, medieval bridge over the Iso River to Ribadiso. Just a little further up the way is Arzua. This is where the Camino del Norte joins the Camino and where we will rest for the night!

Today we will enter the fragrant eucalyptus groves on natural pathways with good shade. We have breathtaking scenery as we walk largely on a level path with just 3 shallow river valleys. We end with a climb around the Alto de Santa Irene.

As we enjoy our last night before entering Santiago, you will notice the joy and the energy surrounding the pilgrims! The pilgrims are excited and they all know tomorrow is the big day of entering Santiago. Though they have traveled a long distance, they are not tired and weary, the excitement and anticipation are overwhelming. Our Lord and St. James have guided their paths and the pilgrims share this joy with others.

We will start before daylight today. The long-awaited, final stage!! Only the uphill climb to Monte do Gozo presents any real resistance, and this feels a lot easier on the legs due to the fact that we are so close to the Santiago Cathedral. The entrance to the city along the road does not affect the mood of the pilgrim who has finally arrived in La Plaza del Obradoiro!! You may wish to attend the pilgrim's Mass today in the evening. Botafumeiro could be used during this Mass.

After we have rested in the Plaza, we will head to our resting place. This is your day, so follow your heart and your feet. Rest, Mass, and dinner.

You will awaken in the beautiful city of Santiago, breathe it in, and relax. You have made it. 

Today will be another chance to attend a pilgrim's Mass and have a chance to see the Botafumeiro swing. You will have time to explore this beautiful city. Just make sure you enter the Cathedral and make your way to the tradition of hugging the shining statue of St. James. After the embrace, enter the crypt where Saint James relics are kept. Thank him for your safe travels!

As you take in the Cathedral, make note that it is formed with Galician granite. It is one of the finest architectural examples in Europe. It encompasses Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque styles. 

We will fly back to Madrid, which is included in the price. Once in Madrid, you can continue your adventure or maybe you are ready to fly home!