A Kinder Camino Tour

In the afternoon, your Fresco Tour guides meets and greets you at your Orientation Meeting. Afterwards, our local guide takes us on a visit of León's magnificent Gothic Cathedral, whose stained glass windows have led people to say that it is made of more glass than stone. We finish our evening with a meal fit for the kings!

After breakfast, we hop in the van and set our eyes on the Iron Cross or Cruz de Ferro, where pilgrims ask for protection while on their journey. In keeping with the long-standing tradition, make sure to bring a stone to leave at the foot of the cross. After lunch, we continue our journey to the mountaintop village of O Cebreiro to learn about the famous miracle that took place here in the 15th century. Finally, we unwind at our accommodations for the evening.

As we leave the market town of Sarria, make sure to keep an eye out for the ruins of Celtic castros hiding in the vegetation along the Camino. Our destination today is the 100 km marker, a milestone (or kmstone!) for the millions of pilgrims who have traversed this same spot during the last millennium. We return to our hotel for a rest before heading to the Benedictine Monastery of Samos and a wonderful dinner of local fare.

Continuing from where we left off the day before, we walk along the Camino de Santiago to Portomarín, where the 12th-century Church of San Juan, a fortified church, once stood guard over the banks of the River Miño before it was moved, stone by stone, to the new center of town – your Fresco Tour guide will tell you more about that! After lunch, the Camino takes us through farmland and woods and brings us to the agricultural hamlet of Gonzar.

Walking from Gonzar to Palas de Rei is a walk back into time! The Way takes us through many small hamlets and villages of historical importance. Some sights that we should not miss are: the 17th century Cross of Lameiros, the 16th century hospice where Carlos V stayed on his journey to Santiago, and the 13th century Romanesque Church of Santiago in Eirexe. In Palas de Rei, we regroup and return to our hotel in Portomarín for a well-deserved rest.

Following the now very familiar yellow arrows, we ramble up and down gentle rolling hills along quiet footpaths. Little has changed in this serene corner of Spain. The peaceful rural environment of local farmers tending to their lazy cattle, which graze near old stone houses creates, a scene from another time. We quickly arrive back to the present in the bustling market town of Melide, where tender octopus, or pulpo, is still boiled in large copper kettles by the street.

We leave Melide early morning and wind our way across the Galician countryside. Our journey is filled with tiny churches dating back to the 12th and 14th-century dedicated to Santiago and Santa Maria. Arzúa is the ideal opportunity to set out in search of their famous local cow cheese or perhaps a bit of empanada, a light crusty pastry filled with either beef or tuna.

Today we continue to enjoy expansive and verdant landscapes, occasionally embellished by the charming atmosphere of tiny three-house villages. Get a feel for the people by greeting a local villager with a Buenos días or Hola. You'll see how these quiet and reserved people will quickly wish you well on your journey to Santiago. On this trek, you are no longer a tourist, but a pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago!

Our day starts with a morning excursion to the 13th century Santa Maria Monastery of Sobrado, whose Benedictine monks welcome those pilgrims coming from the Northern Route. Afterwards, we return to the Camino and walk our way into Lavacolla. In the Middle Ages, weary pilgrims would wash themselves here before entering the Holy City of Santiago, our destination tomorrow!

9 days, 112 kilometers, and we have arrived to Santiago de Compostela. Congratulations! You are going to love this magical city filled with fantastic monuments and a lively buzz from the international pilgrims and university students that fill its medieval streets. After requesting our Compostela certificates at the Pilgrims’ Office, we head to our hotel and get ready for our evening celebratory dinner!

After breakfast, our local historian gives us a closer look at the amazing Cathedral that has seen so many transformations since the original chapel, built in the 9th-century. After the tour, we sadly say our last Buen Camino as we leave you at the Cathedral in time for the pilgrims' mass at noon.

This itinerary gives you the opportunity to walk the last 100 km into Santiago. This is a requirement needed to request the Compostela, the certificate granted by the church of Santiago upon the completion of the pilgrimage. It is not mandatory, however, to walk 100 km (60 miles) to participate in this Fresco Tour. As with all our trips, your walk is accompanied by a support van and shorter walk options are available on a daily basis.

* Please note: This itinerary is subject to slight modifications due to hotel availability, weather, festivals and other occurrences.

On the Road
Getting There & Back
Before You Go / Preparing
Miscellaneous

On the Road

What is the weather like on A Kinder Camino Tour?

Fresco Tours A Kinder Camino covers the last 112 km of the Camino in the Northwest region called Galicia. Here we enjoy a more temperate climate, and it is generally cooler than other parts of the Camino de Santiago and Spain in the summer.

For current and average monthly temperatures of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, please click below:

Santiago de Compostela

What is a typical day like on the A Kinder Camino Tour?

After breakfast, we lace up and get the blood going with a walk for a couple hours, where we will do a check point to make sure that everything is OK. You then continue along the Camino for another 1-2 hours where you will come across a complete gourmet picnic prepared with the all the freshest local ingredients. On some days, we continue for 1-2 hours more after lunch to burn off dessert.

In the afternoon, we go to our hotels, where we take a shower, siesta and just relax! We finish our day with a glass of tinto and a feast of the local gastronomy. We then retire for the night and get ready to do it again! On shorter afternoons, we have planned excursions, such as a visit to an ancient monastery or perhaps a massage!

Does the group stop for breaks on the A Kinder Camino Tour?

The great thing about the Camino is that it is very well-marked and we encourage people to walk at a pace that is comfortable for them - this is not a race! We want you to enjoy the route and we also like to stop with our clients for a coffee or cerveza along the way and take everything in!

What is the terrain like on A Kinder Camino Tour?

In Galicia, the region where we walk, the terrain is green rolling hills - there are neither steep climbs nor treacherous descents. The trail itself is a combination of very well maintained compact dirt and stone footpaths and small country roads.

What is the change in elevation on A Kinder Camino Tour?

We will be walking from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela, the last 112 km of the Camino de Santiago. For a detailed map of the distances between towns along the Camino and their respective altitudes, please click here.

How many kilometers are walked each day on A Kinder Camino Tour?

The amount of km's scheduled for each day varies from 10 km to 18 km. We have designed this tour to allow the possibility to walk the last 100 km to Santiago, which is a requirement by the Church if you are going to ask for the Compostela Certificate. However, the walks are accompanied by a support vehicle and options for less (or more!) km's are possible on a daily basis. We can tailor the Camino to suit your needs!

How can we sleep in the same hotel for 2 nights and still walk the last 150 km?

Since the distances that we walk during the day on A Kinder Camino can be covered quickly in the van, we take advantage of this and stay in the same hotel on multiple occasions. Our walk always starts at the point where we finished the previous day to maintain our continuity along the trail. We believe that the time (and energy) saved packing and unpacking everyday makes these shuttles a great convenience for everyone.

Will I have access to WiFi?

Yes, but you will be walking in one of the most rural parts of Spain so the service may be a bit difficult or slow in certain locations. Nonetheless, many cafes along the way also offer Wi-Fi so you'll have several opportunities to be online. Finally, remember that one of the greatest joys of the Camino is cultivating the ability to disconnect and enjoy your immediate surroundings!

Getting There & Back

How do I get to A Kinder Camino Tour starting point?

Leon (Spain) is the official starting point of the Camino de Santiago tour and can be reached via train, or bus. Traveling from either Madrid or Bilbao, one can choose between the train (RENFE) or the bus (ALSA).

For a sample of prices and timetables, please see:
Train Madrid to Leon & Bilbao to Leon
Bus Madrid to Leon & Bilbao to Leon

If you need assistance with these travel arrangements, we will be happy to help.

How do I get from Santiago de Compostela to Madrid and other cities?

There are now RENFE trains that will get you from Santiago to Madrid in less than 4 hours. While routes and availability may vary upon time of booking, there are several daily trains from Santiago to Madrid. The direct trains are listed as Alvia. If you are looking to fly, there are excellent internal flights that fly Santiago to Madrid.

Can you help with purchasing online train tickets?

Unfortunately, the RENFE website can be a bit temperamental and is not very user friendly. However, all is not lost! If you are having difficulties, we like the Rail Europe website for purchasing tickets. Keep in mind that train tickets cannot be purchased until 60 days prior to departure. Routes and availability are subject to vary based on maintenance needs.

How do I get from the Madrid Airport to the City Centre?

If your flight flies into Madrid's T-4 (Aeropuerto T-4) terminal, you have a local Cercanias train that will get you from the airport to the Atocha and Chamartín train station in 25-30 minutes. These trains leave the T-4 station more or less every half an hour. For more information, please see: https://www.renfe.com/es/en/suburban/suburban-madrid/timetables

In addition, there is an express bus that services the all terminals at the airport with the Atocha Train Station: http://www.emtmadrid.es/Bloques-EMT/Aeropuerto.aspx?lang=en-GB.

How do I get to and from the Airport?

The national organization of airports in Spain (AENA) has a great website that explains how to get to and from the major city for your airport of choice. It also has information regarding the routes serviced, the corresponding airlines, terminal information, and much more. You may have to re-click the "English" tab at the top once you have chosen your airport.

Before You Go / Preparing

What type of boots do I need for A Kinder Camino Tour?

Footwear is a very personal question - depending on how active you are and how much support you will need. Since we will be walking on a daily basis on the Camino de Santiago, I believe that comfort is key - you do not want to get blisters. You probably won't need a full high boot that covers your ankle (unless you need this support), but rather light trail walkers or even running shoes if you are used to walking. In the spring, there may be mud and water along the trail, so keep that in mind. Most important: Make sure that they are well broken in!

What sort of conditioning do I need to undertake A Kinder Camino Tour?

We encourage you to walk before and be prepared for your own enjoyment. However, this is your vacation and not boot camp! During your walk, one of the two guides will be on the trail with the group to keep an eye that all is well. Also, we have planned check points along the way with our support van to make sure you have plenty of water, if you need a change of shoes, or just feel like taking a break. In most cases, you will see the van at a minimum every couple of hours.

How do I purchase travel insurance?

If you are interested in travel insurance, we like TravelInsurance.com, which allows you to compare various policies across the top Insurance Providers. With the current situation, make sure to review their section regarding "Coronavirus Information" to select a policy that fits your needs.

Miscellaneous

Where do Fresco Tour clients come from?

We are very fortunate to have had clients join us from around the world giving us a wonderful mix of diversity. The internet allows us access to the world, and since 2006 we have had travelers from the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico, Venezuela, Peru, the United Kingdom (England & Scotland), Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, China, India, South Africa, Namibia and even Egypt! It truly is a small world after all!

When do most people walk the Camino de Santiago?

According to the Pilgrim's Office in Santiago de Compostela, in 2019, 33.4% of all pilgrims who requested the Compostela arrived in July and August. This makes sense since many Europeans and students have their vacation time in the summer. Whenever you decide to walk, you will always be able to find that "quiet time" for yourself along the trail. In addition, walking with Fresco Tours means that you won't have to worry about your meals, your pack, where you'll sleep, or anything else. You do the walking and leave everything else up to us!