CAMINO DE SANTIAGO DESTINATION GUIDE. Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Camino de Santiago 1

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1 CAMINO DE SANTIAGO DESTINATION GUIDE Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Camino de Santiago 1

2 I love selling the Camino as it is such a unique experience which offers so much to those who take on the challenge! To experience rural Spain by foot is truly rewarding, this part of Spain is so rich in history and culture, the landscapes are diverse and the food and wine is exceptional! You should travel to the Camino as it is the perfect way to escape this fast-paced world and have the opportunity to re-connect with yourself as well as the environment, culture and people surrounding you. You will experience such as sense of community and kinship along the Camino which will renew you faith in mankind! Your Camino experience starts here at home, from the moment you pick up the phone to call me on I will work with you to create a tailor-made Camino Journey that will challenge you, inspire you and excite the senses! Tori Camino Specialist tori@rawtravel.com ph. (03) Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Camino de Santiago 2

3 Follow in the footsteps of millions of pilgrims and over 1,000 years of history on the world's greatest historical trail. Following scenic nationalities as they embark on this great adventure, you don't have to be religious, just a keen walker. country roads and forest tracks crossing old villages and cities born from the Camino trail, it is difficult to imagine a better way to enjoy Spain's rich legacy of history, culture, food and art than to follow your own Camino. Join people from all walks and life and Enjoy the excellent food and wine this region has to offer as well as the surroundings and stay in historical accommodation that will delight you. Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Camino de Santiago 3

4 SELF-GUIDED WALKING Travelling self-guided allows you to walk from place to place progressing from one comfortable accommodation to the next in your own time. You walk without a guide, following our walk notes and marked maps. The Camino is a 1000 year old trail so it is well marked and easy to follow. No technical expertise is required so anyone who is active and in good health can do it. This is ideal for anyone who is hesitant about group travel or wants to travel with their own friends and set their own pace. It s also great for those who are restricted to travelling at a particular time as you can choose your own departure date (dependant on availability of accommodation of course). Self guided walks can be custom made to suit the requirements of your group. SELF-GUIDED CYCLING While RAW is a walking specialist, on the Camino we also offer cycling as a way to travel along the trail. You can do a full cycling trip or choose to walk some of the way and cycle some of the way. There are plenty of options. The cycling conditions faced on the Camino are highly variable and range from sealed roads through to non-technical mountain biking over rough terrain with sometimes short steep climbs and descents. We provide high quality mountain bikes which are able to handle all the conditions. If you aren't into off-road cycling there are, in many cases, alternative routes that take you along roads rather than the Camino, however, you should still expect to do some cycling on unsealed tracks or trails at some point during your trip. ACCOMMODATION Our Camino trips use a variety of accommodation from charming Casa Rurales which are country B & B s to historic hotels converted from former monasteries and colleges. Generally speaking we avoid characterless modern hotels and book places with character and welcoming hosts. A full list of your accommodation will be given to you at the time of confirming your booking as with flexible dates we have to confirm availability on your chosen days in any given property. If our preferred property is full on your chosen dates then we reserve the right to book you into an alternative accommodation of which you will be informed in advance. Rooms are ensuite and have towels and the usual amenities you would expect of a hotel. Most hotels along the Camino tend to have Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Camino de Santiago 4

5 WIFI available for their guests. ARRIVAL HOTEL & ARRIVAL INFO You will need to make your way to the meeting point which will be given to you once your booking is confirmed. Please note that the hotel details of this hotel and others on your trip trip may vary according to availability on your chosen dates. RAW Travel reserves the right to use alternative accommodation of a similar standard where needed. You will be advised of your hotels when your booking is confirmed. MEAL INCLUSIONS Only breakfast is included on our Camino trips, allowing you to choose where to eat lunch and dinner on your own schedule and budget. The menu del dia offers excellent value at around 9-11 for 3 courses. If you were to prefer a la carte then you would need to budget for per meal. There is no shortage of places to stop and eat when you are on the Camino passing through towns and villages. Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Camino de Santiago 5

6 TRANSPORT Your luggage will be transferred daily. It will be picked up at 8am so you must have your main luggage packed and down stairs in time for this pick up - after that it is entirely up to you when you start walking. Your luggage will be waiting for you at your accommodation each evening. If you think you will be unable to walk your full km s each day then we are able to consult with you prior to departure and tailor an itinerary that either breaks up the long days, includes a morning transfer to start your journey off or includes more rest days. If you are travelling on the Camino and you can no longer walk due to injury you can contact our bilingual local representative/emergency contact German and he will assist you in arranging transport and medical services. IS THIS THE RIGHT TRIP FOR ME? When considering booking a trip it s important that you look at the descriptions in these trip notes relating to the accommodation, food and difficulty level to ensure that it matches your expectations. Particularly with the physical difficulty rating it s vital to select a trip that is realistic for your ability. With physical gradings it s important to understand that a label, of say moderate can mean two differ completely different things to two different people depending on their experience, fitness level and mental attitude. For our Australian based walking trips there is now a track grading scale that we refer to (developed as an industry standard). For overseas walking trips you need to rely upon interpreting the information given and relating it to your own fitness levels and abilities. So if a trip describes daily activity of 5-7 hours a day walking then you must ask yourself are you currently doing walks of that distance in comparable terrain? So if a walking trip involves ascents of m each day then you should go and walk a mountain with a 1000m ascent and see how you cope. While we often see amazing improvements in people s fitness with a programme of regular training before a trip you have to be realistic about whether you can commit to regular training with your current lifestyle. If you feel that you would be unable to commit to doing the training to achieve that level of fitness then you should consider another trip that is less demanding. This is the only way to accurately judge whether you can cope with the demands of any given trip. Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Camino de Santiago 6

7 WHAT S IT LIKE UNDERFOOT? Underfoot you will experience a variety of tracks and trails on the Camino. Some sections of the Camino are on single-track paths that can be rocky in places, sometimes with steps but mostly just bare earth. Tracks are also common - perhaps gravel forest roads, walking tracks or unsealed roads. There are some sections of country lanes, and coming into the towns and cities you follow regular footpaths. You will always be following the yellow arrows and other markers of the way, featuring the famous scallop shell of the Way of St James. PHYSICAL RATING - GRADE 4 On most days you will walk between 20-30km on undulating terrain, so the time spent walking can vary between 5-8 hours depending on your walking speed. Allow for up to 7-9 hours to complete the day - though for most of the walk the gradient is quite gradual once into the mountains. Please refer to the Australian walking track grading system for more details. We expect people to have a good level of fitness where they are taking regular physical exercise in the lead up to the event. This can be from walking, cycling or going to the gym. You will also need to Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Camino de Santiago 7

8 practice hiking in a mountain environment with your equipment that you ll be taking to the Camino. You should prepare for walking several hours (5-7 hours per day) a day with ascents and descents, so your training should reflect this in the led up to the trip. Choose hills to train on and push yourself to do long days to prepare yourself adequately. IMPORTANT NOTES 1. Self-Guided Please note this RAW trip is a self guided one. We will provide you with an excellent guidebook with maps and instructions on how to get to your first day and maps showing the locations of your accommodation. You will follow the many yellow arrows and Pilgrim way markers along the way, it s not difficult as there are thousands of them and plenty of fellow pilgrims! 2. Insurance Make sure that your Insurance covers you for emergency rescue. Phone your insurer directly if you are not certain. 3. Pilgrim Passport Your pilgrim passport is issued locally in St Jean and usually incurs a charge of approximately 3. Afterwards you can have it stamped at each location you pass through - though this is not a requirement or legality, merely an affirmation of your pilgrimage for those who want it. 4. Water Water is available for free from fountains in villages along your route. It is safe to drink (but you always assume any risks with your health) and this is how almost all pilgrims get their water. Always ensure you have enough to get to your next destination and on hot days carry at least two litres of water. Likewise it is good to carry some snacks to make sure you have sufficient energy between meals and locations. PACKING LIST Your main luggage is transported for you on the trip, so you carry only a daypack. Generally speaking though, you should pack as lightly as possible and we recommend keeping the weight of your luggage case under 15kg. Your trip includes 1 piece of luggage for transfer per person. Any additional pieces can be added at approximately 20 per piece per day. Because of limited space available in the vehicle for luggage storage you should avoid excessively big bulky suitcases.. You will also need a good day pack when out walking to carry a jacket and personal effects such as camera, sunscreen, water, snacks, blister kit. You do not need to carry more than 2 litres of water maximum as there are fairly frequent water stops all long the way. Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Camino de Santiago 8

9 Essential Travel Documents Travel insurance, air ticket, and your RAW travel documents pack Spanish Phrasebook (included) John Brierley Camino Guidebook (included) Credit card & spending money Personal Items Blister kit, rehydration salts and any personal medication you use Alarm clock and LED head torch/flashlight Water bottles or Camel Bak system (2 litres recommended) Sunscreen, hat and high UV sunglasses Comfortable daypack Waterproof bags for pack rain protection while walking (garbage bags are fine) Clothing Well worn in boots with ankle support 3 pairs of walking socks 3 T-shirts (lightweight quick drying tech fabric) or long sleeved Trekking shirts 2 pairs of shorts and at least one lightweight trousers (for walking in - avoid wearing Jeans! ) Warm fleece, sweater, hat, gloves (cold evenings) Waterproof jacket & over trousers Broad brimmed sunhat Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Camino de Santiago 9

10 Optional but highly recommended Walking poles. Good for balance & taking weight off your knees on descents. Can also be bought locally in St-Jean-Pied-de-Port along with carved wooden staffs. Other Suggestions Camera Spare batteries for camera Reading & writing material Spare pair of flip flops / trainers for evenings Knee brace - not essential but useful for injury Hand sanitiser - optional Miniatures of your usual toiletries Snacks - though these can be purchased locally Swiss army knife Mobile & charger Weather along the Camino does vary greatly. In the summer months you can expect C in autumn/spring you can expect C. At night temperatures can fall below 10 C. On the Camino you should prepare for all eventualities with weather. contact details at time of booking. German is available to help you with any emergencies you may encounter along the way. RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL We believe strongly in low impact or rather positive impact tourism. Broadly speaking this means that we try to minimise the negative aspects of tourism on the local cultures and environments that we visit and highlight the positive aspects. Please see our online policy for more details on our social and environmental approach and commitment. For more details please visit our website where we have a downloadable document detailing our responsible travel practice and philosophy. HEALTH No Vaccinations compulsory. Tetanus recommended. LOCAL SUPPORT Our local support person is German Limeres, he is bilingual, speaking fluent Spanish and English. We will provide you with his Although there are no specific health requirements for this trip please be aware you need to be in good health to undertake this trip due to the sometimes demanding days. You should consult your Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Camino de Santiago 10

11 doctor if you have any medical conditions to assess your suitability before departure. We recommend that you carry first aid supplies for common ailments as well as any personal medical requirements. Your first aid supplies should include: headache tablets diarrhoea treatment (both a blocker to bring relief from the symptoms and an antibiotic) band-aids blister pads for your feet and zinc tape antiseptic for cuts & scrapes lip balm high factor sunscreen. We recommend using zinc oxide tape / moleskin to cover hot spots on your feet to stop potential blisters developing. SAFETY Fire Precautions Please be aware that local laws in Spain governing tourism facilities differ from those in Australia or your home country and not all the accommodation which we use may have a fire exit, fire extinguishers or smoke alarms. Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Camino de Santiago 11

12 Traffic and Driving on the the Other Side of the Road Depending on where you come from please note that drivers in this part of the world may drive on the opposite side of the road from what you are used to. Make sure you cycle on the right side and look both ways before crossing any road. Be aware! Petty Theft & Personal Safety While travelling there is always the risk of pick-pocketing and petty theft, particularly in bigger tourist cities. We recommend that you exercise caution when walking alone at night and only on main, welllit thoroughfares. Be particularly vigilant on public transport. Simple measures like carrying your day pack on your front, not hanging your bag over the back of your chair and wearing a money belt will reduce any chance that your valuables should go missing. VISA Australian citizens visiting Schengen countries (of which Spain, France, Switzerland and Italy are part) do not need to apply for visas if staying for not more than 90 out of 180 days. TRAVEL INSURANCE Clients must have insurance to cover themselves for helicopter search & rescue for this trip. Travel insurance is compulsory for all our trips. We require that, at a minimum, you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. When travelling with RAW you will not be permitted to join the trip until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company s 24 hour emergency contact number has been provided to us. If you have credit card insurance we will require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number. Our preferred insurance company is CoverMore as they provide an excellent service. Apply for insurance on line. ELECTRICAL Spain and France generally use two pin round, 230V. Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Camino de Santiago 12

13 READING & RESEARCH Suggestions from RAW Travel experts for books to read and other resources to checkout before you travel. I m Off Then: Losing and Finding Myself on the Camino de Santiago by Hape Kerkeling A very entertaining personal account by the overworked, overweight, German comedian Hape Kerkeling. The book is now a movie and has inspired countless people to walk the Camino. RAW TRAVEL NEWSLETTER We have a free newsletter full of traveller s stories and experiences as well as news on new trips that we are running. Please send us an extract from your travel journal at the end of the trip. If you have any suggestions to add more information to our destination guide that you think other walkers would find useful please info@rawtravel.com. And of course us if you have any questions leading up to your trip. Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Camino de Santiago 13

14 We hope you will love the Camino Frances as much as we do and we look forward to you joining us on other RAW experiences. The information in these trip notes has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and RAW Travel. Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Camino de Santiago 14

15 Tear off section to take with you on your travels. This section contains information that will come in handy on the road and is optimised for travel and printing. Simply print from this page until the end of this guide and pack with your other travel documents. RAW Travel - Camino de Santiago Notes For The Road Money Exchange Spain and France use the Euro. The exchange rate at the time of writing is: $1= 0.67 Take some of your money in cash to avoid having to change money at the beginning of the trip. ATM Availability: There are a large number of ATM cashpoints that accept Visa and Mastercard at towns and cities along the Camino. Credit Card Acceptance: In major restaurants and shops. Spending Money Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Breakfast is included but lunch and dinner are not included and you will have to pay for these meals, any snacks & drinks en route or evening drinks. Allow per day. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Tipping Service is included in French restaurants, although it is polite to tip 10% if the service has been very good. Bar staff and café waiters expect a small tip or loose change. In Spain tipping is discretionary. Emergency Funds Please also make sure you have access to an additional 300 to be used when unforeseen incidents or circumstances outside our control (e.g. a natural disaster, or an outbreak of bird flu) necessitate a change to your planned route. This is a rare occurrence but it is well worth being prepared! Communications Mobile coverage is fairly consistent though there may be the odd place where it cannot be relied upon. Global roaming charges are very expensive and pre-paid cards such as Travel Sim are a good idea: Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Camino de Santiago 15

16 Alternatively if your phone is not locked to a carrier here then you can buy a SIM card locally. Emergency Contact In the case of a genuine crisis or emergency, our Melbourne HQ can be reached on Hablo muy poco espanol - I only speak a little Spanish Habla usted Ingles? - Do you speak English? Donde esta? - Where is it? Aqui/Alli - Here/there Buen viaje! - Have a good trip! Outside of office hours please call: Transport Connections International flights will come into Madrid or Barcelona. There are trains which run to the main starting/finishing points of the Camino such as St-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Pamplona, Leon, Sarria & Santiago de Compostela. Food Foods you must try along the Camino: Tapas/Pintxos Tortilla (Spanish Omelette) White asparagus & Chilindron sauce; Navarra, Basque Country Pulpo Octopus, traditional galician dish in Melide Useful Phrases Hola - Hi Como estas? (formal) or Que tal? (informal) - How are you? Raw Travel - Destination Guide - Camino de Santiago 16