BEST OF THE FRENCH WAY TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

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Elaine Norton
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1 BEST OF THE FRENCH WAY TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA Walk only the best of the French Way. Walk the full 775 km of the French Way from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the Pyrenees to Santiago de in 30 days, with an average of 19 km per day (can be customized on request to your preferred average distance per day - see our proposal for Full French Way for ideas), staying in beautiful, peaceful and historical guest-houses on the Camino de Santiago or 2 to 5* hotels in town centers and skipping the least interesting stages. This self-guided itinerary has shorter stages than recommended by the pilgrim office to ensure you won t overdo it and avoids the ugliest sections (usually entering and exiting the larger towns) so you will enjoy every single step of the way. It includes ensuite rooms in luxury accommodation, a John Brierley Guidebook so you won t get lost, luggage transfers, breakfast (dinners on request) and the award-winning Ultreya Tours service. So, follow your dream of walking the entire French Way with reasonable distances each day and wonderful accommodation. PRICE & DATES From 3228 per person sharing Single room supplement: + 30 per night per person Add dinner: + 20 per night per person ( 40 in luxury accommodation) Cycle the Meseta from Burgos to Astorga on a quality MTB: extra 10 per night per person for the week - includes all necessary equipment, a short meeting in Burgos to set the bike to your size, printed maps and roadside assistance. Extra night in the 5* Parador of Santiago: from per room (dinner not included - upgrade from + 110) FACT FILE Accommodation Luxurious Manors & 2 to 5* Hotels Total Walking Distance 787 km Duration 30 days / 29 nights Starts Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port Stops Pamplona, Logroño, Navarette, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, Burgos, Carrion de los Condes, León, Astorga, Villafranca del Bierzo, O Cebreiro, Sarria, Portomarin and many more Ends Santiago de CAMINO FULL FRENCH WAY INCLUDES En-suite accommodation with breakfast in charming luxurious guest-houses & 2 to 4* hotels + 1 extraordinary hotel per stage (a Parador, a beautiful Pazo or a luxury 4* modern hotel) Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel Private transfers to skip the less interesting stages Transfers to and from all hotels if needed Emergency support from our local team Transfers to and from the Camino and the hotels if they are not directly on the Camino and accessible by foot All taxes and gratuities for the hotels A detailed John Brierley guidebook per room A Pilgrim Kit per person including an official Pilgrim Passport (Credential) Walk between 10 km and 24 km per day

STAGE 1 - WALK 174 KM BETWEEN SAINT-JEAN-PIED-DE-PORT AND NAJERA From the Pyrenees towards

1 Saint Jean Transfer to Saint Jean from Biarritz by train (1h) 2 Saint Jean Saint Jean 12

Burguete Zubiri 19 5 Zubiri Pamplona 21 6 Pamplona Puente la Reina 19 Skip the first 5 km out

Torres del Rio La Guardia 21 10 Navarette Najera 20 Walk 21 km to Logroño and transfer to La

the Virgin of Biakorri on top of the Pyrenees with wonderful views onto the region Discover

2 STAGE 1 - WALK 174 KM BETWEEN SAINT-JEAN-PIED-DE-PORT AND NAJERA From the Pyrenees towards Navarra and into la Rioja. 1 Saint Jean Transfer to Saint Jean from Biarritz by train (1h) 2 Saint Jean Saint Jean 12 Walk to the Virgen of Orisson and transfer back Saint Jean 3 Virgin of Orisson Burguete 15 4 Burguete Zubiri 19 5 Zubiri Pamplona 21 6 Pamplona Puente la Reina 19 Skip the first 5 km out of Pamplona 7 Puente la Reina Estella 23 8 Irache Torres del Rio 24 Skip first 3km to Irache 9 Torres del Rio La Guardia Navarette Najera 20 Walk 21 km to Logroño and transfer to La Guardia to visit the bodegas Taxi from La Guardia to Navarette Cross a Mountain Chain and meet the Virgin of Biakorri on top of the Pyrenees with wonderful views onto the region Discover Pamplona, City of the Running of the Bulls Climb to Alto del Perdon & walk across vineyards and beautiful countryside Go wine-tasting in a small winery in La Rioja (extra 15)

STAGE 2 - WALK 198 KM FROM NAJERA TO VILLAFRANCA DO BIERZO From the world-famous wine region of la Rioja to la Meseta of Castilla y Leon.

Castrojeriz Fromista 25 17 Fromista Carrión de los Condes 24 Skip 24 km from Santo Domingo to Belorado Burgos 16 Skip the last 10 km into Burgos 19 Skip 95 km from

20 Ponferrada Villafranca do Bierzo 15 Skip the first 10 km out of Ponferrada Walk across Medieval Rioja along the red earth trails and discover the beautiful

time for introspection and a time to strengthen your will.

Episcopal palace designed by Antonio Gaudí (mostly known for designing the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona) Cross two amazing mountain chains - the Mountains of Leon

3 STAGE 2 - WALK 198 KM FROM NAJERA TO VILLAFRANCA DO BIERZO From the world-famous wine region of la Rioja to la Meseta of Castilla y Leon. 11 Najera Santo Domingo Belorado San Juan de Ortega 13 San Juan de Ortega 14 Burgos Hornillos del 20 Camino 15 Hornillos del Castrojeriz 20 Camino 16 Castrojeriz Fromista Fromista Carrión de los Condes 24 Skip 24 km from Santo Domingo to Belorado Burgos 16 Skip the last 10 km into Burgos 19 Skip 95 km from Carrión to Leon to spend the night in Leon 18 Leon Rabanal 21 Skip 50 km to Astorga and start walking 19 Rabanal Acebo 17 Skip 14km to spend the night in Ponferrada 20 Ponferrada Villafranca do Bierzo 15 Skip the first 10 km out of Ponferrada Walk across Medieval Rioja along the red earth trails and discover the beautiful villages of Navarrete and Najera, Discover Burgos the City of the Spanish Hero El Cid and home to a grandiose Cathedral Experience the flatness of the Meseta - a time for introspection and a time to strengthen your will. Walk through the endless green and gold fields of the Tierra de Campos Discover the ancient Roman city of Astorga with its beautiful Gothic Cathedral, a unusual Episcopal palace designed by Antonio Gaudí (mostly known for designing the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona) Cross two amazing mountain chains - the Mountains of Leon and of O Cebreiro Leave a symbolic token under the Cruz de Hierro, the Iron Cross next to Rabanal del Camino Visit on of the last remaining Templar Castles in Ponferrada and the location chosen by Paulo Coelho for one of the most memorable scenes from his book The Pilgrimage. Pass the Puerta del Perdón gate in Villafranca do Bierzo

STAGE 3 - WALK 158 KM BETWEEN VILLAFRANCA DO BIERZO TO SANTIAGO The last effort before Santiago.

Sarria Portomarin 22 25 Portomarin Lestedo 20 26 Lestedo O Coto 15 Skip 3km to Furelos 27 Melide Arzua 14 28 Arzua O Pedrouzo 19 29 O Pedrouzo Santiago de 20

pallozas (circular pre-roman stone dwellings built by the Celts of the region) and the rebuilt Romanesque church of St.

Follow a trail that has been protected by the Knights of the Order of Santiago since 1184 and plan a detour near Arzúa to visit the Romanesque Church of Vilar

4 STAGE 3 - WALK 158 KM BETWEEN VILLAFRANCA DO BIERZO TO SANTIAGO The last effort before Santiago. 21 Villafranca do Bierzo Las Herrerías Las Herrerías San Roque 12 Skip 17 km from passed O Cebreiro to the monastery of Samos 23 San Roque Sarria Sarria Portomarin Portomarin Lestedo Lestedo O Coto 15 Skip 3km to Furelos 27 Melide Arzua Arzua O Pedrouzo O Pedrouzo Santiago de Santiago de Have lunch in the timeless Celtic village of O Cebreiro, with stunning panoramic views of the valleys below from 1300 meters up, the ancient pallozas (circular pre-roman stone dwellings built by the Celts of the region) and the rebuilt Romanesque church of St. Mary s, site of a 14th century Eucharistic miracle Visit the Benedictine monastery of Samos, one of the wealthiest and most powerful monasteries of the peninsula in Medieval Times. Pass the iconic 100 km maker and reflect on the distance you have just accomplished Experience Galician Hospitality by staying in luxurious guest-houses Follow a trail that has been protected by the Knights of the Order of Santiago since 1184 and plan a detour near Arzúa to visit the Romanesque Church of Vilar de Donas, where the knights are buried (2,5 km away from the Camino). Marvel at Furelo s medieval bridge in Melide, considered one of the jewels of the French Way s civil architecture Treat yourself to Pulpo a la Gallega (Octopus) in the most famous Pulperia in Galicia Get your, the Certificate of Accomplishment in Santiago de Enter the Cathedral of Santiago de, where the Apostle Saint James rests.

ABOUT ULTREYA TOURS Ultreya Tours is an incoming Tour Operator specialized in organizing comprehensive and highly personalized walking, cycling and horseriding tours for groups and solo travelers on

The Camino de Santiago is not just our business it is our way of life and we would love nothing more than to introduce you to our vision of the Camino.

5 ABOUT ULTREYA TOURS Ultreya Tours is an incoming Tour Operator specialized in organizing comprehensive and highly personalized walking, cycling and horseriding tours for groups and solo travelers on the Camino de Santiago. Founded and based in Santiago de, at the end of the Camino, we know the region of Galicia and the secrets of the Camino by heart. The Camino de Santiago is not just our business it is our way of life and we would love nothing more than to introduce you to our vision of the Camino. Our name Ultreya comes from the Latin word for Onwards. Ultreya, Suseya, Santiago was the common greeting amongst pilgrims in Medieval times. It meant courage, further and higher is Santiago. We are already in Santiago so our goal is to bring you there & help you every step of the Way. WHY CHOOSE US? Fully bonded, ensured and registered as retail & wholesale Travel Agency in Spain We are based in Santiago and you can reach us 24/7 while you are on the Camino Founded by a women, we understand the concerns of single women traveling the Camino and are here to help! We carefully choose, rate and regularly visit all our providers & ONLY book quality accommodation Create your own Camino! All our tours are fully customizable to provide the most magical experience possible You will get a dedicated Camino Account Planner to assist at every step Excellent commission structure for resellers and travel agents ONLY 4 STEPS AWAY FROM YOUR JOURNEY STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3 STEP 4 Get in touch with one of our Camino Planner for a personalized quote Once you are satisfi ed with the Terms & Conditions of your tour, we will invoice you for a 50% of the total price non-refundable deposit to process the booking Immediately after receiving the initial deposit we will start booking your accommodation, meals, activities, guides and any other services 30 days before the departure, we will request the 50% remaining deposit and you will receive the list of your accommodation, confi rmation vouchers for extra services & activities, your pilgrim kits (including the Pilgrim Passports & guidebooks) will be sent to your fi rst hotel If you dream of walking the Camino de Santiago, don t delay it any further contact info@ultreyatours.com or visit our website to find the best Way for your group! Ultreya Tours (USA) (Spain) Campus Stellae - Praza da Quintana, 3, Santiago de Travel Agency License #XG569VAT / CIF #ESY M

FULL FRENCH WAY - 17 KM PER DAY

FULL FRENCH WAY - 17 KM PER DAY Always dreamed of walking the Full French Way but worried about long distance? Discover the 787 km (489 miles) of the French Way from Saint-Jean- Pied-de-Port on the French