Horse Riding Along the French Trail of Camino de Santiago from Astorga

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Prudence Reynolds
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1 Horse Riding Along the French Trail of Camino de Santiago from Astorga 0 User Reviews 10 Days / 9 Nights Santiago de Compostela On Request Best Rate This way was the oldest and most important cultural route of Europe. We shall ride along the final section of this route just starting at the point where this route reaches Galicia, Finally arriving in Santiago de Compostela General Overview Country: Spain Region: Galicia City: Santiago de Compostela Duration: 10 Days / 9 Nights Type: Scheduled Group Tour Theme: Horse Back Riding and Walking Trails Group Size: 2+ People Price from: 0 Introduction

2 During these ten days and nine nights, we will spend overnight stays in ASTORGA, Villafranca, O Cebreiro, Samos, Portomarin, Vilar de Donas, Arzua, and Santiago, in traditional, rustic and manor houses, belonging to long-standing Galician families. The meeting point will be at the Santiago Airport. We will travel through an un-spoilt countryside of hills, rivers, mountain ranges and valleys with lush vegetation and visit sanctuaries, fortresses, manor houses and see a wide range of Romanic architecture to arrive in SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA where we will visit the city and the cathedral. Board and lodging in First Class Hotel. The itineraries include accommodation and full board, plus professional guides, escorts and insurance, fully-kitted horses and crosscountry vehicles. This way was the oldest and most important cultural route of Europe. All the spiritual and cultural grounds are live today so one thousand years after this pilgrimage way is still in use. We shall ride along the final section of this route just starting at the point where this route reaches Galicia. As a horse-riding pilgrims we shall revive a part of the history of the old Europe. We shall cross along some of the best conservated natural environments of Southern Europe. Remote old villages and historic remains will be reached by us and we shall enjoy nature and wildlife as the ancients did. Day by day itinerary

3 DAY 1: SANTIAGO AIRPORT - ASTORGA The meeting point will be Santiago airport at 15.00h., travelling by car from there to Astorga - Rabanal del Camino where the welcome dinner will take place. We will stay in a luxurious and singular Pousada overnight -similar to a tourist hotel/inn. D DAY 2: ASTORGA - RABANAL - PONFERRADA - VILLAFRANCA After breakfast, we will saddle up the horses in Rabanal of the Way (mythical village) and key part of the French Way, something similar to O Cebreiro. We will do 35 km to get to Ponferrada, where the horses will stay in an equine center of the area. Once the horses are settled, we will travel by car for 15 minutes, 20 km, to have dinner and sleep in Villafranca del Bierzo s inn VILLAFRANCA OF THE BIERZO is a village full of tradition in its streets and majesty in its monuments. It is wrapped by a great atmosphere of pilgrimage, for which it has been called " The small Compostela " or the " Pearl of the Bierzo". In it we will see streets full of palaces and nobility shields; it is an authentic museum outdoors, where we will be able to visit the Door of Forgiveness, Church of Santiago, its castle, Saint Nicholas Royal etc. DAY 3: PONFERRADA - TRABADELO - PONFERRADA - VILLAFRANCA After breakfast in the inn, we will go in search of the horses to do the 31 km from Ponferrada to Trabadelo. The horses will sleep in Trabadelo. That night we will go back 10 km by car and will once again have dinner and sleep to Villafranca del Bierzo s Inn. DAY 4: PONFERRADA - TRABADELO - O CEBREIRO After breakfast in the inn we will head to Trabadelo to saddle the horses and to do the 22 km stage from Trabadelo to O Cebreiro, where we will try to get to in time to eat a good stew in Pilar s house in the Inn San Giraldo of Aullirac. That evening we will rest in O Cebreiro, we will chat and exchange experiences with other pilgrims doing the journey. DAY 5: O CEBREIRO - TRIACASTELA - SAMOS We will met with O Cebreiro Trail s riders in order to ride next stages together. Meeting at Valiña s guest country house (O Cebreiro, LUGO ). Welcome dinner and lodging in a warm atmosphere. Proprietress Ms MarÃa Pilar s kindness shall us feel as at home. Visit to O Cebreiro where we`ll visit some interesting Celtic historic remains. Horse trip to Triacastela across deep forest of centenarian walnut trees, oaks and chesnut trees. Country lunch at Triacastela, old village with an interesting Romanic church. Horse riding to Samos across Oribio valley. We`ll ride across a beatiful natural environment and we`ll visit the pre-romanic chapel and monastery of Samos where monks pray and work. Board and lodging at the Hostelry of the Benedictine monastery of Samos. DAY 6: SAMOS - SARRIA - BARADELO - PORTOMARIN Horse riding to Sarria across prairie and forest. We`ll visit an old convent and a medieval castle. Ride down Miño valley. We`ll enjoy a lovely landscape and we`ll visit an old temple at Barbadelo.Country lunch at Mercado da Serra by an old water mill. Horse riding to PortomarÃn across the reservoir of Belesar. Board and lodging at Portomarin Hotel (state-owned). DAY 7: PORTOMARIN - VILAR DE DONAS - PORTOMARIN Horse riding across Ulla valley in a pleasant river and country environment. We`ll visit some Romanesque historic remains. Horse riding to Vilar de Donas. There we`ll visit the outstanding Romanesque temple and we`ll enjoy some medieval paintings. This temple was the seat of the military order of Santiago, knights that fought banditry in this pilgrimage route. Board and lodging at PortomarÃin Hotel (state-owned). DAY 8: PORTOMARIN - MELIDE - FURELOS - PAMBRE - CASTAÑEDA - ARZUA Horse riding to Melide. We`ll cross an old bridge at Furelos and we`ll visit a medieval castle at Pambre. This is a well-known area for its old water mills. Horse riding to Castañeda. There we`ll visit some medieval lime kilns; many pieces made there were used in the construction of Santiago s Cathedral. Board and lodging at Arzua. DAY 9: ARZUA - LAVACOLLA - MONTE DO GOZO - SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA Horse riding to Labacolla. Pilgrims washed one selves there in a brook before visiting the Sacred Sepulcre at Santiago s Cathedral. We`ll reach Monte do Gozo (it means joy hill) from where a nice view of Santiago de Compostela can be seen. Visit to the Santiago s Cathedral, the end of a large pilgrimage route. Board and lodging in a three or four star Hotel. DAY 10: SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA Breakfast in the morning and independent departure arrangements B END OF TOUR SERVICES

4 Included THE TOUR INCLUDES: - Transfers where specified in itinerary above - English-Speaking Tour director accompanying the group for the duration of the tour - 4wd vehicle for equipment and support for the duration of the tour - 08 Days of Riding - 09 nights in Standard double room with in accommodation listed in itinerary - (B) Breakfast where listed in itinerary above - (L) Lunches where listed in itinerary above (Country Lunches) - (D) Dinners where listed in itinerary above (Normally in accommodations) - Local Taxes - Detailed tour information at the time of final booking FURTHER DETAILS: - We provide you with a full equipped horse well adapted to this land. You can also bring your own horse (Ask for details!). You don`t need to be an expert rider but some riding experience is preferable. - Weather in Galicia is variable but mild. Anyway, light coat and waterproof wear is recommended. Recommended season for mild weather are from March to October Excluded THE TOURS DOES NOT INCLUDE: - Entrance Fees - Airfare - Bike (Rental available, inquire for price) - Optional Private Tour Addons - Table Reservations - Transfers not specified in itinerary - Entrance fees when not with guide - Beverages not specified in selected meals - Meals not specified in itinerary - Laundry Expenses - Telephone & Facsimile charges - Excess Baggage charges - Passport & Visa fees - Personal & Travel Insurance - Airport & Departure Taxes - Optional excursions - Room Service - Gratuities to Chauffeurs and Guides Map

FRENCH WAY BY HORSE ULTREYA TOURS. PRICE & DATES FACT FILE FRENCH WAY BY HORSE INCLUDES

FRENCH WAY BY HORSE ULTREYA TOURS. PRICE & DATES FACT FILE FRENCH WAY BY HORSE INCLUDES FRENCH WAY BY HORSE If you believe the world is best viewed through the ears of a horse and that no hour spend on the saddle is wasted, then this is the Camino for you. Spend 6 days traveling horseback