The Way of Saint James: The Camino Frances fom León to Santiago de Compostela.

Check in to your hotel, which is in the middle of the town of León. Take the opportunity to admire the impressive cathedral, a high point of Spanish gothic architecture, the basilica of San Isidoro, the ancient royal pantheon and, in addition to all these, the Casa de los Botines, a work of the Catalan architect Gaudi. Overnight stay and half board.

This stage takes you to Hospital de Orbigo and its famous Romanesque bridge (20 arches, 204m long). The first silhouettes of the Picos de Europa mountains start to appear on the skyline. It is possible to hire transport to shorten this stage of the walk. Overnight stay and half board.

The walk takes you to Astorga, a splendid little town. Take the time to look at the town’s architecture: the beautiful cathedral, the bishop’s palace designed by Gaudi. Overnight stay and half board.

Today you are walking through the region of la Maragatería. You will cross the hills called the Monts de León before arriving at Rabanal del Camino, a charming little stone-built village. Overnight stay and half board.

First you pass the celebrated Cruz de Ferro, a high point of the walk where every pilgrim puts down a stone. Then you tackle a downhill section going due west, going through Manjarín, El Acebo and then Molinaseca. You arrive at Ponferrada, where you can admire its chateau, which has a Scottish appearance. Overnight stay and half board.

This day’s walk takes you through the middle of the plain of Bierzo before you reach Villafranca del Bierzo. This pretty little town is a staging post on the Camino Francés and has a church dedicated to Saint James. Overnight stay and half board.

Today we set out on the so-called ‘queen’ of the stages of the St James Way. This is the climb up to O Cebreiro, an emblematic village of the Way. At the same time it is also the entry into Galicia which is marked by buildings called “Pallozas”, dwellings of Neolithic origin which now have thatched roofs. Overnight stay and half board.

The stage starts beautifully on the crest of a ridge. Then the Way goes down into the green countryside of Galicia, well-wooded with pines and eucalyptus. Finally you reach Triacastela. From Triacastela, you take a taxi to Samos. Overnight stay with half board at Samos.

A taxi will transport you to Triacastela, Between Triacastela and Sarria, there are two possible routes. One goes via Samos and its monastery; the other goes through the villages of Montán and Pintín. Overnight stay and half board.

This stage takes you through the heart of Galicia, where green is the predominant colour. You will see the horreos, grain stores perched on four pillars. Passing through bewitchingly beautiful landscape you arrive at Portomarín, a drowned village which has been rebuilt on higher ground. Overnight stay and half board.

The way takes you through eucalyptus plantations between Portomarín and Palas de Rei, a major crossroads in the old days. Overnight stay and half board.

This is an undulating section passing through verdant Galicia. Here you can admire the beautiful traditional houses called ‘pazos’ with their raised granaries. You cross many watercourses before arriving at Arzúa. Overnight stay and half board.

The next to the last stage before you reach Santiago de Compostela. The staging post is at Lavacolla, where pilgrims used to follow the ritual of washing their feet in the river. Overnight stay and half board.

This is the final stage, rich in emotion and crowned by the arrival in Santiago, which UNESCO has declared a World Heritage Site. You go over the Monte de Gozo which gives you a view over the whole city. You approach the city centre through the suburbs seeing many interesting sights on your way: the cathedral and the Plaza de Obradoiro, the Hostal de los Reyes Catolicos, the cloister and the archbishop’s palace and the Palace of Raxoi… Overnight stay and half board.

End of the trip after the breakfast.