5 - 14 guests
Activity Level 3
Step It Up
I love an active vacation. Engaging in a challenging activity with a difficult goal, such as reaching a summit, is exactly what I need to unwind in the evenings.
Read more about the Active Range
Price
USD $5699/per adult
Next available departure
30 Sep - 8 Oct
Activity Level 1
What's The Rush?
I'm active and in decent shape and not looking to experience a place just through a bus window. I'm happy to slow down on the trail, soak it in and breathe in the fresh air.
Walking: 2-3 hours per day on gentle-gradient trails.
Other activities: On these trips, you'll be taking part in a range of other activities that focus less on building up a sweat and more on enjoying the finer things in life.
Activity Level 2
On the Move
Sure, I own some hiking boots, they're even worn in, but they don't go on long trips. I like my creature comforts and I like to give a range of activities a go.
Walking: 2-4 hours per day on gentle to moderate gradient trails. No multi-day hikes.
Biking: 1-3 hours, cruisy rides achievable by anyone, even first-timers. Kayaking: 1-3 hours, entry-level sea kayaking with specialist guides and stable boats.
Other activities (i.e. snorkeling): Always optional and very little exertion required. A highlight for many!
Activity Level 3
Step It Up
I love an active vacation. Engaging in a challenging activity with a difficult goal, such as reaching a summit, is exactly what I need to unwind in the evenings.
Hiking: Typically, 3-6 hours per day on well-formed backcountry trails. Expect some significant gradient inclines and declines.
Altitude: Your trip may include some moderate altitude areas, though these don't form the focus of the trip and are generally manageable.
Biking: 1-3 hours on well-formed paths or roads where you can expect some hills with moderate climbs and descents.
Kayaking: 1-3 hours, entry-level sea kayaking with specialist guides and stable boats.
Other activities (i.e. caving): Always optional and very little exertion required. A highlight for many!
Activity Level 4
Challenge Accepted
I'll let my trusty guides sweat the small things, so I can focus on my goal. Getting to the top, reaching the end, achieving my dreams! Sure, it'll be tough, but the views will be worth it.
Hiking / Trekking: Typically, 4–6-hour hikes with options for more, sometimes with limited or no vehicle support and nearly always with ascents and descents.
Altitude: Some trips at this level will reach a significant altitude. We are here to help you manage that and make your experience one to cherish for a lifetime.
Biking & Kayaking: If one, or both, of these activities are 'your thing,' there are trip options in this range, allowing you to be on two wheels or with a paddle in your hand for most of the day.
Activity Level 5
The Upper Limit
I'm ready to put in the hard work to reap the rewards. I'm a seasoned adventurer, not afraid to get my boots wet.
Trekking & Altitude: This is classic trekking, at altitude. Some might even call it 'expedition-style.' We've had folks from all walks of life achieve their dreams on our grade 5 trips, so if you're in for a challenge get in touch to find out if this is for you.
On this 9-day hiking adventure, you'll hike some of the most breathtaking scenery and oldest trails of Spain as you explore the Camino de Santiago.
Each day brings new landscapes, from the architectural wonders of Bilbao, to the golden sand beaches, quaint villages and mountain trails of Asturias to the woodland paths, ancient ruins and rugged coastline of Galicia. The Camino del Norte and the Camino Primitivo are sure to impress. Yet, the journey holds so much more than scenery. Trek in the footsteps of pilgrims, who, for thousands of years, made their way along the same routes to the tomb of the apostle St. James. As you hike, you'll be met with rich traditions still very much alive today in these Celtic regions, and upon reaching Monte de Gozo, you'll feel firsthand the astonishing site of Santiago de Compostela.
When your Northern Spain hiking journey comes to a close at Cape Finisterre, there's no doubt the Camino de Santiago will leave a lasting impression in your heart.
Camino del Norte
Hiking
Camino Primitivo
Hiking
Cape Finisterre
Hiking
Santiago de Compostela
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Visit Bilbao
Plus ...
Visit Oviedo
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Asturias
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Lugo
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Day 1
Our adventure begins in the dynamic port city of Bilbao. Here, you'll meet your guides and fellow travelers at 5:30 pm at the joining hotel. After a short orientation, we'll head down to the Estuary of Bilbao and enjoy a pleasant stroll along the water and through the marvelous old city center packed with architectural wonders. Tonight, you'll sample authentic Basque cuisine at a local eatery.
Hotel Barceló Nervión, Bilbao (Dinner)
Day 2
Today you get your first taste of the stunning Costa Verde. After departing Bilbao and driving along the dramatic Atlantic coast, we'll reach the region of Cantabria, where we'll visit a UNESCO World Heritage cavern containing some of the world's oldest known cave art.. The morning will be spent exploring the Costa Verde as we hike a stunning seaside route that links golden beach after golden beach. We'll then continue to the Celtic region of Asturias and our overnight base of Llanes. A short walking tour through the town's labyrinth of streets brings us to the town's former fish auction house. Next door we'll enjoy lunch at a seafood and cider tavern with views over the marina. After lunch, we'll begin our 1st hike along the Camino del Norte, a spectacular seaside route following scenic clifftop paths among green meadows, linking golden beaches and sandy coves.
Hotel Don Paco, Llanes (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Hiking: 9.5 kilometers (5.9 miles), 3 hours, elevation + 185 meters (607 feet)
Day 3
Today we continue our hike on the Camino, following coastal paths through elegant green meadows, alongside hidden coves and across stunning beaches. En-route we'll pass by Spanish civil war defensive structures and some surprising dinosaur footprints. When hunger strikes, we'll stop for lunch at a lovely inlet then transfer to Oviedo, the capital of Asturias. Here, we'll learn about the relics of the Kingdom of Asturias on a guided tour of San Salvador Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage complex. You'll even have the chance to see the Cloth of Oviedo, which is believed to have been wrapped around Jesus' head in the tomb.
NH Oviedo Principado, Oviedo (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Hiking: 11.2 kilometers (7 miles), 3 hours, elevation + 230 meters (755 feet)
Day 4
The scenery changes today as we begin our hike along the Camino Primitivo, the oldest of all the Camino pilgrimage routes. Trading in the beach for forest and sand for pastureland, we'll hike towards Tineo, set high in the hills above the Narcea River valley. After a break for a well-deserved and picturesque lunch, we'll continue hiking through dense forest until we reach an abandoned 12th-century Benedictine Monastery that once played an important role in providing aid and support to pilgrims on their way to Santiago. We'll take time to explore the ruins before transferring to our hotel in Tineo.
Hotel Palacio de Meras, Tineo (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Hiking: 16.6-20.6 kilometers (10.3-12.8 miles), 5-6 hours, elevation + 400 meters (1,350 feet), elevation - 485 meters (1,590 feet)
Day 5
Be sure to have your camera ready as today we embark on perhaps the most spectacular section of the entire Camino Primitivo. Our hike takes us uphill through one of Spain's most uninhabited regions until we reach an isolated pass showcasing 360-degree views of mountain forests and green hillsides. Be sure to keep your eye out for wild horses grazing nearby! After taking time to enjoy the views, we transfer to the tiny parish of Berducedo for lunch. We finally enter Galicia on our way to Lugo, whose 3rd-century Roman walls surrounding the old town are a UNESCO World Heritage site. We'll take time this evening to tour the historic walls and visit the renowned Lugo cathedral. Dinner is on your own tonight.
Gran Hotel de Lugo, Lugo (Breakfast, Lunch)
Hiking: 6.6 kilometers (4.1 miles), 3 hours, elevation + 547 meters (1,795 feet), elevation - 98 meters (321 feet)
Day 6
This morning we visit a museum and the aging ruins of a Celtic-Roman hillfort settlement before setting out on our final hike along the Camino Primitivo. Today, we meander through fairytale-like forest paths and into tiny hamlets scattered across the Galician countryside. We'll stop for lunch in Melide, a town where the Camino Primitivo and Camino Frances merge into a single Way. If your stomach isn't already grumbling, hunger is sure to strike as soon as you smell the freshly baked pastries and almond cakes ever so apparent in Melide's historic centre. After, we'll continue along the Camino through grand oak forests before calling it a day.
Pazo de Eidian or Pazo de Sedor, Melides) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Hiking: 9.6 - 11.8 kilometers (6 - 7.9 miles), 3 - 3.5 hours, elevation + 230-285 meters (755-935 feet), elevation - 170-215 meters (558-705 feet)
Day 7
We start the day off right with our first hike on the Camino Frances. We'll see many more pilgrims this morning compared to the previous day's solitude. Afterward, we transfer to Monte do Gozo (Mount of Joy), located on the outskirts of Santiago de Compostela. Here, just like the pilgrims, you'll see your first glimpse of the city's famous cathedral spires. Our hike then continues to Plaza del Obradoiro, Santiago's grandiose square. Take time this afternoon to explore the city and sit down for a relaxing lunch on your own. If you'd like, you can rejoin the group for a tour with a local guide and attend a pilgrim's mass at the cathedral. You may even get to witness the swinging of the Botafumeiro, which is one of the largest incense censers in the world. Dinner is on your own tonight, allowing you more time to explore the wonders of the city.
Hotel Monumento San Francisco, Santiago de Compostela (Breakfast)
Hiking: 9.6 kilometers (5.9 miles), 3 hours, elevation + 225 meters (730), elevation - 385 meters (930 feet)
Day 8
This morning we'll delight our senses with an early visit to Santiago's bustling market, where an incredible selection of seafood, meat, vegetables, and fruit await. We'll then drive to Cape Finisterre, the final destination for many pilgrims who walked the Way of St. James. The cape is also the historical ‘Land's End’ reached by pagan pilgrimages predating Christianity. As we enjoy a hillside trail to the cape and lighthouse, take in the spectacular views of Costa da Morte (Coast of Death), so named for the innumerable shipwrecks over the centuries. After a hearty seafood lunch, we return to Santiago. The remainder of the afternoon is yours to discover the sights of the city. This evening we meet for a celebratory dinner at one of the area's finest restaurants.
Hotel Monumento San Francisco, Santiago de Compostela (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Hiking: 5.2 kilometers (3.2 miles), elevation + 215 meters (705 feet), elevation - 125 meters (410 feet)
Day 9
After a final breakfast, we'll say our goodbyes. You can choose to transfer on your own to Santiago's airport or continue your explorations of this fascinating region of Spain.
No Accommodation (Breakfast)
Get in touch with our specialized team to find out more and get personalized advice.
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By paying in full we are able to pass on savings to our guests, but please note that by opting for this payment plan, your booking becomes non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-changeable.
We highly recommend that you purchase Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance. Please note CFAR insurance can only be purchased within 14 days of booking. We recommend Redpoint Insurance – you can find details here.
T+Cs Apply.
You’ll be inspired and exhilarated, enjoying mind-blowing scenery on foot, in a sea kayak, or by bike - all at your own pace.
We're proud of our Kiwi roots and you’ll love our professional and warm style of hosting. We’re always here to help with planning... even hiking boot recommendations!
We've got everything covered – top-notch meals, comfortable transport, superb accommodation, amazing guides and INCREDIBLE service.
With an average of 12 guests per departure and an industry-leading 6:1 guest-to-guide ratio, you'll get to know your fellow travelers and have the flexibility to go at your own pace.
All our carefully selected guides are highly experienced and have deep personal connections to nature and culture. You’ll enjoy an authentic local experience.
We could hang around all day telling you how wonderful our trips are... but the best people to hear it from are our guests themselves.
