One of the world's great pilgrimage routes, the Camino de Santiago has drawn travellers for over a thousand years — and the pull is as powerful as ever. This expedition walks its ancient paths through Basque country, the vineyards of La Rioja, and the rolling hills of Galicia, culminating in the sacred silence of Santiago de Compostela.
Travel Style
National Geographic Signature
Service Level
Luxury
Physical Grading
4 - Demanding
What's Included
Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group, Bilbao
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Meeting at Guruzu, Bilbao
Your Foodie Moment: Private Wine Tasting and Lunch at CVNE Winery, Haro
Signature Moment: Private After Hours Tour of Santiago Cathedral, Santiago de Compostela. Arrival and departure transfers. Orientation Walk of Bilbao. Guided Tour of Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao. Hike Itero de la Vega - Frómista. Hike Sahagún to Bercianos del Real Camino. Guided Tour of Leon. Hike Hospital de Órbigo to Crucero de Santo Toribio. Lunch at La Peseta in Crucero. Guided Tour of Villafranca del Bierzo. Hike Las Herrerias to O Cebreiro. Guided Visit Monastery of Samos. Hike San Paio to Santiago de Compostela. Visit to Muros. Visit to Muxia. Walk to Lighthouse Fisterra. Engaging Discussions with the National Geographic Expedition Expert Throughout. Porterage at hotels and when getting on and off of vehicles. Tips are included for all activities, meals and porterage, except for your Expedition Leader. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
What are the main highlights of this trip?
Experience the majesty of Santiago Cathedral during a private after-hours tour with an ecclesiastical historian, Journey to the rugged cliffs of Cabo Fisterra and Muxia where the ancient world once ended as Westernmost Tip of Spain, Explore a historic Rioja winery featuring designs by Gustave Eiffel, Visit the Guruzu Social Kitchen where every dish supports fair wages and training for marginalised communities.
How large will the group be?
Max. 22, Avg. 16.
What meals are included in this trip?
8 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
What are the modes of transportation on my trip?
Private Vehicle, Walking
Is there an extra cost for travelling solo?
We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
Where will we stay during the trip?
Hotel (8 nights)
Itinerary
Bilbao
Welcome to the Basque Country. Your expedition begins in Bilbao, a city that seamlessly blends avant-garde design with deep-rooted tradition. You are met and transferred to your hotel to settle in before heading to a local community social enterprise. Here, join your National Geographic Expedition Leader, National Geographic Expedition Expert for a presentation illuminating the history and cultural significance of the pilgrimage ahead. After, gather with your fellow travellers for a welcome dinner, marking the start of your Spanish exploration with a celebration of vibrant Basque flavours and local hospitality.
Bilbao/Burgos
Begin the morning with an orientation walk through Bilbao’s main highlights, culminating at the iconic Guggenheim Museum for a private guided tour of its contemporary masterpieces. Later, leave the city behind and travel into the heart of the La Rioja wine region. In the charming town of Haro, inhale the scent of aging oak as you visit a renowned winery for a guided tour of its historic vineyards and cellars. Enjoy a curated wine tasting followed by a delicious local lunch before continuing your journey to the historic city of Burgos, where the evening is yours to explore at your own pace.
Burgos/Carrión de los Condes
The Camino begins in Itero de la Vega and continues onto Frómista, where the rhythm of the trail asserts itself almost immediately — a steady, meditative pace across la Meseta, the vast central plateau that has tested and transformed pilgrims for centuries. The landscape here is austere and quietly beautiful, the horizon impossibly wide. Pass the ancient Roman fountain at Boadilla del Campo and follow the serene waters of the Canal of Castile, an 18th-century feat of engineering that still carries boats through the breadth of the plateau. The day's walking spans four hours of ancestral path before arriving in Carrión de los Condes, where a night within the thick stone walls of a historic monastery provides a shelter as old as the pilgrimage itself.
Trail Detail: 14 km (9 mi) | 4h | + 45 m (148 ft) / - 45 m (148 ft) ascent/descent | Moderate
Carrión de los Condes/Leon
Set off from the medieval city of Sahagún, heading west through the quiet village of Bercianos del Real Camino. After a three-hour hike, drive to the elegant city of León. After lunch in town, spend the afternoon with a local guide discovering the city’s historic treasures, standing in awe before the remarkable cathedral and its gallery of over 100 luminous stained-glass windows. The city's pulse is vibrant yet grounded in antiquity. This evening, enjoy time on your own before retreating to a spectacular Renaissance convent, where the grand architecture provides a serene backdrop for your overnight stay.
Trail Detail: 10.2 km (6.3 mi) | 2.30h | + 100 m (330 ft) / - 100 m (330 ft) ascent/descent | Moderate
Leon/Villafranca del Bierzo
Your morning hike begins at a storied Roman bridge in Hospital de Órbigo. Follow winding country roads to El Crucero de Santo Toribio, a stone cross that has guided pilgrims for centuries, offering sweeping views of the trail. In Astorga, enjoy a well-deserved lunch at a local institution before exploring the town’s eclectic architecture, from Gothic churches to a palace designed by Antoni Gaudí. Continue west into the lush landscapes of Villafranca del Bierzo. Meet a local guide for an afternoon walk through the town’s historic streets before gathering for a group dinner to share stories of the day’s five-hour trek.
Trail Detail: 12 km (8 mi) | 3.30h | + 195 m (640 ft) / - 100 m (330 ft) ascent/descent | Moderate
Villafranca del Bierzo/Lugo
Galicia announces itself with hills rolling in deep, saturated green. The walking trail narrows into forest paths and ancient switchbacks, past thatched stone houses and villages seemingly unchanged for centuries. The ascent to O Cebreiro rewards with one of the Camino's most affecting sights: the oldest intact church on the route, its interior worn smooth by generations of pilgrims. Descend toward the 6th-century Samos Monastery — one of the oldest in the western world — its vast, silent cloister a reminder of the spiritual ambition that has shaped this landscape for fifteen centuries. The night is spent within the walls of a Benedictine monastery in Monforte de Lemos.
Trail Detail: 8.2 km (5.3 mi) | 3h | + 630 m (2,000 ft) / - 0 m (0 ft) ascent/descent | Challenging
Lugo/Santiago de Compostela
Travel to San Paio to begin the final leg of your journey toward Santiago. From the heights of Monte del Gozo, catch your first emotional glimpse of the cathedral's striking towers on the horizon. Walk into the heart of the city to Plaza do Obradoiro, the triumphant endpoint of the pilgrimage route. After an eight-mile hike, celebrate with a well-deserved local lunch in the bustling city centre. Check into your beautiful hotel to rest your legs and soak in the atmosphere of this holy city. The afternoon is yours to wander the medieval streets or simply watch the modern pilgrims arrive at the journey's end.
Trail Detail: 12.5 km (8 mi) | 3.30h | + 202 m (663 ft) / - 276 m (906 ft) ascent/descent | Moderate
Santiago de Compostela
Journey to the dramatic Atlantic coast to visit Cabo Fisterra and Muxia, the westernmost tip of Spain. For many, this "end of the world" is the true spiritual conclusion of the Camino. Walk to the lighthouse, feeling the ocean spray and the powerful energy of the cliffs before a local lunch in town. Return to Santiago for a calm afternoon of reflection. After a farewell dinner, experience a private night visit to the Cathedral of Santiago. Led by an art historian, explore the hushed, moonlit nave and learn the deep secrets of this Galician masterpiece in near-total silence.
Trail Detail: 2.4 km (1.3 mi) | 1.30h | + 0 m ( 0 ft) / - 100 m (300 ft) ascent/descent | Easy
Santiago de Compostela
After a final breakfast in the heart of Galicia, take a moment to reflect on the miles walked and the ancient history witnessed. Your expedition to the Camino concludes today. You will be transferred to the airport for your flight home, carrying with you the spirit of the trail and the enduring memories of Spain’s historic pilgrim path.
Is travel insurance required for my trip?
Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency evacuation and repatriation. A minimum coverage of USD200,000 is required. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. Some tours include adventure activities that require extra coverage (e.g. crampon use); please review your itinerary and make sure that you are covered for all included activities. If you have credit card insurance we 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.
Terms, conditions and restrictions apply; pricing, availability, and other details subject to change and/ or apply to US or Canadian residents. Please confirm details and booking information with your travel advisor.
