Walk the Camino de Santiago
Trip Code: ZMXJ
Why we love it
Walk the final 100km of the iconic Camino de Santiago with a local leader to provide historical context and add a deeper layer of understanding to your discoveries., Uncover scenes of the real Galicia as you walk through traditional countryside, quaint hamlets, ancient bridges, roman ruins and beautifully preserved horreos on stilts., Fuel your journey with unique Galician specialties, including traditional polbo a feira octopus in Melide and world-renowned cheese in Arzua., Take a load off – literally! Your luggage will be transferred between your accommodation each day, meaning you’ll only have to carry a day pack, and your luggage will be waiting at your hotel., Take a sip of Galicia’s Celtic history as your leader shows you how to make the traditional and mythical Queimada drink – prepare for a fiery show!, Feel an unbeatable sense of accomplishment as you complete your journey in the fascinating ancient city of Santiago de Compostela and collect your Camino certificate., By travelling on this trip, you’ll learn about our Intrepid Foundation partner, Open Arms. Donations help them safeguard the physical integrity and rights of migrant people in imminent danger who have fled their homes across the Mediterranean Sea. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.
Is this trip right for me?
This trip involves plenty of walking and is best suited to travellers with a good level of mobility. Good footwear is a must.
There will be some long walking days and we recommend reading descriptions of all walks carefully. Your longest walking day is 29km, but there will be the option to take a taxi to shorten the walking distance.
During your trip you will visit numerous religious sites. You will need to bring clothes that cover the shoulders and knees. A light scarf is a good idea for covering shoulders and arms when it’s hot. Your leader will be able to advise when such clothing is necessary.
On this trip you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight under 15kg / 33lb. Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps to accommodate the cobbled streets, uneven surfaces, stairs and steps you are likely to encounter while carrying your luggage. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day trips.
Important information
1. This trip starts with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1 in Sarria.
2. This trip ends on Day 7 and you are free to leave at any time.
3. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip and subject to availability at the time of booking. Please note that due to the small properties we use in Europe there is only a limited amount of single supplements available per trip departure. If you would like to book a single supplement and enquire about availability please speak to your booking agent for further information.
4. We will transport your luggage between hotels, but you are only allowed one bag/suitcase of maximum weight 18kg. No items should be strapped to your luggage, such shoes, walking poles, etc. Transport of any extra luggage will incur small fee charged at the Welcome Meeting.
What to bring/pack
As well as your underwear, toothbrush and other items you always need to pack for travel, below are some items that you specifically need for this trip.
https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list
MAIN LUGGAGE
You need to bring your main piece of luggage as well as a small to medium backpack for day’s walks (25-30 litres). One with waist strap would be most comfortable for all included walks
ESSENTIALS
- Day pack: for carrying essentials during activities
- Trekking clothing: A mixture covering lightweight clothing and some warm layers is recommended. Your activities will take place in the outdoors, where weather may change quickly. Lightweight, comfortable, and quick drying clothes for the activities are best. Laundry facilities may not be available on every day basis, so make sure you have a few cycles of clothes.
- Wind and waterproof jacket, waterproof over trousers.
- Hiking boots with a good grip, ankle support and waterproof membrane that are comfortable to walk for an entire day
- Walking Poles for support on steep uphill sections and longer descents
- Comfortable shoes or Sport sandals for shorter beach walks or evenings spend around accommodation
- Light jacket, fleece and base layers
- Breathable, non-cotton hiking t-shirts
- Long hiking pants or zip-offs
- Nylon hiking shorts
- Water bottle or bladder of 1-2 liters capacity: you will need water during activities and it’s best to avoid buying unnecessary plastic.
- Sun protection: sunscreen, sunglasses, sunhat or bandana
- Torch/flashlight/headtorch
- Toiletries
RECOMMENDED
- Personal medical kit. A larger kit will be on hand with your leader, but we recommend you carry items such as mild pain killers, antihistamine tablets and any personal medication you may need
- Personal reusable fork and spoon set. Many hotels in North America issue disposable cutlery with meals. We encourage all travelers to help reduce plastic waste by bringing your own cutlery set (fork and spoon only)
- Ear plugs & eye mask
- Camera with spare batteries/power bank: You will have access to power to recharge your electrical items daily
- Travel eco-friendly wipes/hand sanitizer
OPTIONAL
- Swimwear
- A good book, a journal and music player
VALUABLES
Please try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables. It’s also recommended to bring a copy of all important documents e.g. air tickets, passport, vaccination certificate, etc. and keep the copies separate from the originals. While not valid, a photocopy makes it very much easier to obtain replacements if necessary.
If you need some further tips for packing, you can always check out our ultimate packing list.
WATER BOTTLE
Please bring your own water bottle to refill along the way (1-2 liters capacity recommended). The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. In addition to the water in bottles, the production of a 1 liter plastic bottle takes 2 liters of water and 200ml of oil. A large proportion end up in limited landfill or discarded in waterways and natural environments.
Physical rating
You’re in for a hiking trip and a good level of fitness is essential. We don't ask travellers to complete a physical participation form for this trip however we do ask you read through the trip notes carefully to ensure that this trip is the right trip for you. You must be comfortable hiking up to 8-9 hours a day, with many steep uphill sections, uneven, rocky terrain and in unpredictable weather.
If you’re already a regular exerciser, it might be an idea to up your game a little. Run those extra laps, or take few longer walks, ideally with a day pack on your back. If you’re not exercising so regularly (2-3 times a week), it’s important to start in the weeks leading up to your departure (4-6 weeks prior at least). Your best choice would be to start walking regularly 2-3 times a week including at least one longer walk (up to 15 km). It’s important to not only walk on flat surface, so if you cannot access a hilly terrain easily, walking up and down the stairs is a good replacement. Top that up with some general fitness exercises and any other cardio related classes and you will see a huge progress in your fitness levels.
Joining your group
Hotel Duerming Villa de Sarria (Hotel Duerming), C/ Benigno Quiroga, 49. 27600 Sarria (Lugo), Sarria, SPAIN, Phone: +34 696 35 33 71
Alternate Joining Point
Joining instructions
The closest airport to Sarria and Hotel Duerming is Santiago de Compostela airport (SCQ), 120 Km away.
You can get there by car, 1h 30 minutes drive, if you rent a car at the airport.
Pre booked arrival transfer from the airport: If you have pre booked an arrival transfer, your transfer driver will be waiting in the arrivals hall holding a board with the Intrepid Logo or your name. In case of flight cancellations, changes, if you experience severe delays at immigration, baggage collection or customs, or if you are not able to find to the driver, please contact the transfer operator directly: +34 657 547 304
You can get to Sarria from Lugo by train ( 1 hour) – with a Renfe Media Distancia ( MD) train.
Finishing your trip
Hotel Miradoiro de Belvis, Rua das Trompas 5, Santiago de Compostela, SPAIN, Phone: +34 981554340
Miradoiro de Belvis is located on the edge of the beautiful Parque de Belvis and is just 9 minutes walk from the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. There are many bars and restaurants within walking distance. Rooms at this hotel include en suite facilities, wifi, tv and hair dryer.
Alternate Finish Point
Due to local regulations departure transfer cannot be pre-booked and local taxis must be used.
Taxi fare from your hotel to the airport will cost approximately EUR20-30. Please ask your leader or hotel staff for assistance in arranging a taxi.
Meals & dietary information
Breakfasts included: 6
Lunches included: 1
Dinners included:
While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader or local representative will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. If you have dietary requirements and/or food allergies, please let your booking agent know prior to departure.
While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There's no obligation to do this though.
BREAKFASTS
There are some continental breakfasts included on this trip which may simply include bread/toast or pastries, butter, jam, coffee/tea/juice (or similar).
VEGETARIANS
Vegetarians might find the menu selection in Europe less varied than they would see at home. Vegetarianism is not as common in this region and generally the choices are basic, involving vegetables, soups, salads, bread, cheese, fruit, yoghurt, eggs etc. Vegans and those on gluten-free diets may find this region very challenging and may need to supplement meals with their own supplies from supermarkets and markets. Wherever possible we will cater for dietary needs for any included meals, but there may be times when those with special requirements may need to provide their own.
MEAL TIMES IN SPAIN
Meal times in Spain are later than in many other countries. Dinner is usually served between 8pm and 10pm. While this takes some getting used to it is a great way to observe Spanish food culture.
As this is a walking trip, it will be a good idea to stock up on snacks you can fuel on during the day; mixed nuts, energy bars and sweet fruit are usually the best choice for this sort of activity.
Climate & seasonal information
SUMMER
Summer temperatures can be extreme in many of the regions visited (over 40°C/104°F), which can be uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection and drink plenty of water. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
SHOULDER SEASON
In contrast, weather in shoulder season can be unpredictable, and snow is not unheard of at higher altitudes. If you travel at the start or towards the end of the European season please pack accordingly with warm and/or waterproof clothes (preferably layers). The advantage of travelling during this time is that there are less tourists around.
SPANISH SIESTA
Shops, attractions and businesses may be closed for up to 5 hours in the middle of the day. This gives the locals time to escape the heat and spend time with their families, take a long lunch or simply sleep through the warmest time of day. This means that people work later into the evening and dine between 8pm and 10pm. We recommend that you try to do as the locals do - avoid the heat of the day and stay out later at night.
In case of emergency
While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.
You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.
For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us
If you experience severe delays at immigration, baggage collection or customs, or if you are not able to find to the driver, please contact our local operations office : Intrepid Operator Number: +49 8677 918 6657 and dial 1 for Transfers
In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:
Intrepid's Local Operator: +49 8024 4679 540
Accommodations
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
TWIN SHARE BASIS
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.
CHECK-IN TIME
Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
FACILITIES
Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.
Transportation
As this is a walking trip the majority of distances will be covered on foot. Some stretches may be done by public bus or private vehicle.