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CAMINO
DE SANTIAGO (long)-by bike
 An
introduction to the fascinating millenary road that crosses Spain from
East to West. This Roman road was used in the Middle Ages by millions
of pilgrims on their way to the shrine of St. James in Santiago de Compostela.
The
impressive concentration of Medieval Art in castles, monasteries, and
cathedrals along the Camino constitute a heritage that has been declared
the number one European cultural itinerary by the Council of Europe. In
addition to art and history, the Camino provides an excellent way to explore
the rich interior of Northern Spain.
From the slopes
of the Pyrenees in the North, we travel through
the ancient kingdom of Navarre, the bucolic Rioja Wine Region, across
the solitary Castilian steppes and the deep valleys and verdant meadowlands
of Galicia to Santiago de Compostela near the Atlantic coast. Three cultures,
each with its own language, customs, music, food and wine comprise this
route, remarkable for its extension and intriguing diversity. And above
all, an incredibly warm, hospitable, friendly and solidary atmosphere
hard to find elsewhere, that makes it often an unforgetable personal experience.
HIGHLIGHTS
The
Camino encompasses an incredibly varied terrain. Crossing Northern Spain
from the slopes of the Pyrinees in the East to Santiago de Compostela
on the Atlantic, it passes through many Nature Reserves rich in European
fauna. Some of this widlife, such as the Iberian wolf, is in danger of
extinction.
The Camino is
Europe´s number one Cultural Itinerary, a vast heritage of History and
Art visible in Spain´s most exquisite Gothic Cathedrals, Medieval walled
towns, Roman bridges. This version of the Camino is an exploration of 3 distinct
cultures: the ancient Basque kingdom of Navarre in the Pyrennees; The Heartland
of Castile and Celtic Galicia; 3 languages, architectural styles, cuisines
and customs; 5 different wine regions. The Monumental towns of Puente la Reina,
Estella, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, Burgos, Carrión, Sahagún,
León, Villafranca del Bierzo, Portomarín and Santiago. And above
all, an incredibly warm, hospitable, friendly atmosphere of companionship
and solidarity makes this an unforgettable and absolutely unique personal
experience.
TOUR
INCLUDES
- All accommodations
in selected hotels.
- All ground
transportation during the tour.
- Private guided
visits lead by a local Art historian in Burgos, Estella, León and
Santiago de Compostela.
- Walking tours
of Pamplona, Puente la Reina, Carrión de los Condes, Astorga and
Villafranca del Bierzo.
- Entrance fees
to all museums and monuments included in private guided visits and walking
tours.
- All breakfasts,
usually buffet-style. All lunches. Picnics or local inns. Welcome lunch
in Pamplona and special lunches in Burgos and Portomarín. All dinners
except for two free evenings on your own. Selected Spanish wines in every
dinner and welcome and special lunches.
- All tips and
gratuities except for tour leaders.
- Luggage delivery
to your hotel room everyday.
- Two bilingual
tour leaders.
- Light aluminum
21 speed hybrid bicycle equipped to deliver a comfortable ride. Two water
bottles. The use of a map holder and detachable bike bag. Air pump and basic
bicycle equipment. Bicycle helmet. Optional toe clips. Optional suspension
seat post. Optional gel seat.
- Route maps
and written instructions.
- Dayly tour
orientation by tour gides.
- A support
vehicle to assist you during rides, carrying bicycle parts and tools, bottled
water and soft drinks, nutricious snacks and fruits and any personal equipment
you may need during the ride. You can also use it if you want to shorten
your ride.
- An Xplore
Spain T-shirt.
Home | About
our Tours | Reserve
your Tour
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Tour
duration: 15 days/
14 nights. 14 riding days.
Tour starts:
in Pamplona.
Tour ends: in
Santiago de
Compostela.
Dates:
May: Jun: Jul:
Sept: Oct.
Group
size: From 6 to 16 participants.
Rating:
Moderate. The support vehicle gives you the chance to program the level of
exercise you want.
Meals:
A careful choice of
the best each area has to offer in restaurants and wines, country inns and
local products for country picnics.
Accomodations:
A selection of the best available accommodations in the area, chosen
for their characteristics or
unique location.
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