Camino Francés:
Group Tour 3 – León
Calzadilla de la Cueza ⇒ Cacabelos
After leaving the great solitude of the meseta (plateau), we continue to the old royal city of León. Here, a visit to the cathedral, built in French Gothic style, is a definite must. Once in Astorga, you can admire the ensemble of cathedral and neo-Gothic bishop’s palace (Antoni Gaudí).
Tour Type: Group Tour
Date: September 27 – October 08, 2024 *
Duration: 12 Days Total / 9 Days Walking
Total Distance: 197 km. (122 mi.)
Difficulty: easy/moderate
Average distance: 21.9 km. (13.6 mi.) / Day
Prices (per person):
Double Room:
€ 1.280
Single-Occupancy Room:
€ 1.610
“Half Double Room” Surcharge *:
€ 165
What’s Included:
Transfer from the airport to the starting point of the Camino and back*
11 nights in double/single rooms
Halfboard*
Experienced german and english-speaking tour guide*
Luggage transfer*
Assistance vehicle
Pilgrim folder, pilgrim passport and travel security insurance
Optional Add-ons:
Lodging for additional night(s) stays
What’s not Included:
Flights*
Lunch
Travel insurance*
* More information ⇒
This tour is an international tour and is designed to reflect the cultural diversity of the Camino Francés. It is accompanied by the tour guide in both German and English.
“Half Double Room“ Surcharge: For people who register alone and book a double room, we apply a surcharge (“half double room”). If there is no other person of the same gender for the second spot in the double room, the person gets a single room and we apply the above-mentioned surcharge. If a second person registers for the double room, this surcharge not longer applies.
Transfer airport – Camino: Transfer from Bilbao Airport at the starting date of your pilgrimage on the day of arrival and transfer from the Camino to Santiago de Compostela Airport on the day of departure. We specify an window of possible time of arrival (and departure time) at one of the main airports for the Camino. You travel independently until this time and we organize the transfer to the Camino (and/or back).
Half board: Meals generally start with dinner on the day of arrival and end with breakfast on the day of departure. Exceptions: Meals on rest days in Burgos (Tour 2), León (Tour 3), and Finisterre (Tour 5) are not included in the tour price and are self-organized. Meals on Tour 4 (Santiago) , Tour Sarria, Tour Inglés and Tour Portgués Coastal (Porto) end with dinner on the arrival day in Santiago. Our Tour Portugués Costal (Porto) begins with breakfast on the first walking day.
Tour guide: No assistance provided by the tour guide on rest days and free days. The tour guide does not walk with pilgrims on the Camino on walking days, but organizes luggage transfers and remains available with the assistance vehicle in case of emergencies.
Luggage transfer: 1 piece of luggage, max. weight 15 kg/30 lb. Dimensions: Max. height: 70 cm/28 in; max. width and depth: 85 cm/33 in
Flights: We do not book flights, nor organize any rail or commercial bus-line travel. However, if you need assistance in deciding how to get to and back from your Camino Tour, we will be happy to assist you with tips and ideas!
Travel insurance: We strongly recommend to all our travelers to get a Travel Insurance; however, we do not sell any such policies. For our international clients, it is best to get a policy in their country of residence, as some countries offer insurances only to their own residents.
Highlights
This pilgrimage tour on the Camino de Santiago (Way of Saint James) begins in Calzadilla de la Cueza. After leaving the great solitude of the meseta (plateau) behind us, the Camino passes through small, almost forgotten villages. In Sagahún, we can explore the particular architectural style of the brick churches, which date back to the time of the Moors.
We continue on the Camino to the old royal city of León through almost uninhabited lands. On the rest day in León, a visit to the cathedral, built in French Gothic style, is a definite must. Also worth seeing is the Pantheon Real, the royal burial chamber in the church of San Isidoro.
Read More about this tour ⇒
Once in Astorga, you can admire the well-preserved remains of the Roman city wall, as well as the ensemble of cathedral and neo-Gothic bishop’s palace (Antoni Gaudí).
Through the Maragatería, pilgrims walk up into the Montes de León to the Cruz de Ferro (Iron Cross). Since the earliest times, pilgrims have placed a stone here as a sign of all that they want to relinquish or leave behind on the Way. The route then continues to Cacabelos, through the fertile Bierzo region, which also produces some excellent wine.
Approximately 197 kilometers/122 miles
Impressions from the Camino
itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Bilbao – Calzadilla de la Cueza
Day 1: Arrival in Bilbao – Calzadilla de la Cueza
Flight to Spain, transfer from Bilbao Airport to the Camino in Calzadilla de la Cueza (approximately 280 kilometers/174 miles). After moving into our rooms, there will be a moment to get to know each other and prepare mind and body for the Camino.
Day 2: Calzadilla de la Cueza – Sahagún
Today, as on every pilgrimage day, we offer a spiritual start. This short introduction to the day is, of course, optional. We hike through small villages towards Sahagún with its famous brick churches built in the Mudéjar style. Shortly before reaching Sahagún, we enter the province of León.
(22.4 km/13.9 mi – Easy)
Day 3: Sahagún – El Burgo Ranero
Hiking across the meseta towards El Burgo Ranero with the option to take the very solitary route Vía Trajana passing through Calzadilla de los Hermanillos.
(17.5 km/20.1 km; 10.9 mi/12.6 mi – Easy)
Day 4: El Burgo Ranero – Mansilla de las Mulas
Today’s destination is Mansilla de las Mulas, which earned its name from the famous cattle markets. Mulas is the Spanish word for mules. Again, you have the option to take the more solitary (but longer) route Vía Trajana.
(19.3 km/23.2 km; 12 mi/14.4 mi – Easy)
Day 5: Mansilla de las Mulas – León
Leaving the meseta, the Camino de Santiago leads us today to the impressive city of León with its famous cathedral and capital of the province of the same.
(18 km/11 mi – Easy)
Day 6: León
Free day in León with the option to visit the city. The gothic cathedral, with its noteworthy stained-glass win¬dows, and the church of San Isidoro, are art-historical highlights.
Day 7: León – La Milla del Páramo – (Hospital de Órbigo)
The Camino leads us through the great plain and to La Milla del Páramo. A transfer takes us to the accommo¬dation in Hospital de Órbigo. There is the option to shorten the route by about 7 kilometers/4 miles by taking a bus from León to Virgen del Camino and start walking from there.
(27.2 km/16.9 mi – Easy, but the stages are longer)
Day 8: (Hospital de Órbigo) – La Milla del Páramo – Astorga
Transfer to La Milla del Páramo. We hike via Hospital de Órbigo (famous for its twenty-arch bridge) before we continue to Astorga, founded by the Romans and which still delights with its many historic buildings.
(25.2 km/15.7 mi – Easy)
Day 9: Astorga – Rabanal del Camino
Hike through the Maragatería to the charming village of Rabanal del Camino. There is the option to choose an alternative route and visit the village museum Castrillo de Polvazares.
(19.7 km/21.2km; 12.2 mi/13.1 mi – Somewhat difficult)
Day 10: Rabanal del Camino – Molinaseca
Beyond Foncebadón, an almost abandoned village along the Camino, we now ascend the mountains of León. The highlight of this day is the Cruz de Ferro, where pilgrims, many centuries ago, joined the tradition of leaving a stone at the cross. Afterward, you walk through the “Nightingale Valley” to Molinaseca.
(24.6 km/15.3 mi – A moderately difficult descent)
Day 11: Molinaseca – Cacabelos
Hike into the more populated region of Bierzo, influenced by its wine production. The highlight of the day is the castle of the Templars in Ponferrada. (23.3 km/14.5 mi – Easy)
Day 12: Cacabelos - Santiago de Compostela – Return Flight
Transfer to Santiago de Compostela Airport (approximately 200 kilometers/124 miles) and independent journey home. Alternatively, you can continue the Camino with Tour 4 – Santiago.
Program subject to change
What’s gonna be your Camino?
Get your free quote
Fields marked with * are mandatory and may not be left blank.
Tour Combination Options
Our Camino Francés: Group Tour 3 can be easily combined with:
Camino Francés:
Group Tour 2
Nájera ⇒ Calzadilla de la Cueza
Double Room: € 1.280
Single-Occupancy Room: € 1.610
Date: September 16 - September 27, 2024
Duration: 12 Days Total / 9 Days Walking
Distance: 195 km. (121 mi.)
Difficulty: easy/moderate
Camino Francés:
Group Tour 4
Cacabelos ⇒ Santiago de Compostela