International Retreats
Spain: April 30 - May 9, 2023
May 5 - 14, 2023
A Transformational Journey:
Hiking the Camino de Santiago
"for women who wander"
Peace through Yoga is excited to be in partnership with Spanish Steps for a transformational journey on the Camino de Santiago. The is an opportunity for you to hike the Camino de Santiago at a leisurely pace and enjoy relaxing at well-chosen rural hotels, without any pressure of time. We hope you can join us as we follow the pilgrimage path to Santiago de Compostela.
This popular section of the Camino de Santiago takes us along the most beautiful footpaths of green Galicia, exploring farming villages where time has stood still. Walking the final 70 out of 500 miles of the Camino de Santiago will allow you to receive the Compostela – the official certificate of completion for this epic journey. Full van support with healthy snacks will be provided by your guide. Daily maps and
historical information will be given out every day.
All hotels, breakfast, six dinners with wine, van support with healthy snacks, and four gentle yoga classes are included in the tour price.
Itinerary
Day 1
Fly to Santiago de Compostela
Air arrangements can be made from your own hometown.
Day 2
Fly to Santiago de Compostela
Once you arrive in Spain at the Santiago de Compostela Airport, transfers will be paid on your own (but set up by PTYF for those traveling together) to our designated hotel in Lugo. Lugo, a wonderfully restored walled city, was built by the Romans in the 3rd century and is protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. A wander around the narrow streets within the enclosed walls will take you right back to the middle-ages. Dinner will be on your own as participants will be arriving at different times.
Accommodations: Hotel Mendez Nunez
This four star hotel and recently renovated hotel is located inside the Roman Wall and in the heart of the historic center. The Wall of Lugo embraces the entire historic center and can be covered in its entirety by its 1.5 mile walkway, an elevated walkway over it that is 12 meters above the ground. By day it is the best viewpoint over the old town.
Day 3
Sarria - Portomarin
Your Spanish Steps guide and your trip leader, Sally Bassett, will meet you for breakfast at the hotel. Once you become acquainted with your new pilgrim companions, there will be a 40-minute drive south arriving close to the town of Sarria where you begin your pilgrimage walk along the beautiful green paths of the Camino.
This final 110-kilometers is the most popular section of the 800-kilometer trail. One of the great joys of walking the Camino will not only be the stunning landscapes you take in, but also the variety of people you meet. Join pilgrims from all over the world and all walks of life.
(18 kilometers/11 miles – Breakfast and Dinner included)
Accommodations: Casa Roan
In the strategic center of Galicia, located in the A Ulloa region, is a rural complex made up of two old farmhouses dating from the mid-18 th century and remodeled in 2006. We will experience an authentic Galician rural house in the tranquility of the countryside, as well as a wonderful meals.
Day 4
Portomarin – Airexe
Starting from Portomarin, we climb up through woodland and then over our high point for the day, the Sierra Ligonde, on quiet country roads. Views abound in every direction, far reaching hill and mountain-scapes in every shade of green imaginable.
The villages we pass through have long standing associations with the Camino and ancient pilgrim’s hospices are now just whispers of the past. A final climb brings us to the small village of Airexe where we end our day of walking. From here, we will have a group shuttle to our hotel.
(17 kilometers/10.50 miles – Breakfast and Dinner included)
Accommodations: Casa Roan
Day 5
Airexe - O Coto
Today we pass though the town of Palas de Rei, Palace of the King named after an 8th century Visigoth king who once ruled the lands. From here the route becomes more undulating as we meander through the village of San Xulian, a classic Camino village with its 12th Century church, and walk through forested trails over two river valleys. We drive, once more, to our hotel for dinner and a good night’s rest.
(16 kilometers/10 miles – Breakfast and Dinner included)
Accommodations: Pazo Eidian
Located in the heart of Galicia, surrounded by forests, where you can relax and unwind. A spectacular place surrounded by nature, with great facilities and excellent service: paddle tennis, swimming pool, spa, and beautiful rooms.
Day 6
O Coto – Castañeda
After breakfast, we begin our day by walking through the Leboreiro, a quintessential Camino village, and then the medieval village of Furelos, both of which have fine medieval bridges. The next stop is the town of Melide. You will want to stop here in the famous Pulperia to sample one of Galicia’s specialties—Pulpo Gallego- steamed octopus prepared by the locals and enjoyed by pilgrims! After lunch, ascend and descend through small villages and woodland paths to end our walk at Castañeda, the village where the limestone carried from Triacastela was fired in the kilns before being taken to Santiago to build the cathedral.
(17 kilometers/10.5 miles – Breakfast and Dinner included)
Accommodations: Pazo de Andeade
Rustic rooms with garden views in a restored 18th-century-manor-turned-hotel with deluxe restaurant. Also called a Casa Grande, it has a chapel with a Compostela altarpiece of the time, decorative fountain, large gardens, oak grove and entrance lined with rows of banana trees. It was restored in 1995 with original materials and noble woods. The restaurant uses only high quality products, proven origin and exclusively seasonal.
Day 7
Castañeda – Salceda
Shuttling back to the trail, we climb then descend to beautiful Ribasdiso, home to the oldest albergue on the Camino, then climb to the town of Arzua, famous for its creamy cow cheese. Onwards, our walk is dotted with small hamlets hidden within tall eucalyptus forests and behind moss covered stone walls. Villages named Rua, Calzada, and Calle all refer to the word ‘road’, recognizing that this pilgrimage trail has been leading pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela for centuries. Our day ends at the village of Salceda, from where we will travel to our hotel.
(19 kilometers/12 miles - Breakfast and Dinner included)
Accommodations: Pazo de Andeade
Day 8
Salceda – Lavacolla
Today, we continue westwards on the Camino, descending from Alto de Santa Irene, through serene stands of eucalyptus trees and the small villages of Rua and Amenal before embarking on one of our final climbs of the route. At the top, we walk around the airport to arrive in Lavacolla, a place where pilgrims, in days gone by, would wash themselves in the shallow stream before entering Santiago. Here, we shuttle to our hotel for our penultimate evening together.
(17 kilometers/10.5 miles - Breakfast and Dinner included)
Accommodations: Pazo Xan Xordo
Located in the heart of the Santiago region, 4.3 miles from the city, this traditional-style house offers elegant accommodations amid beautiful natural surroundings. Only a mile from the historic medieval pilgrimage route, Xan Xordo is located amid one of the most culturally important and naturally beautiful regions in the northern peninsular.
Day 9
Lavacolla - Santiago de Compostela
Today, we take to the trail one last time. We climb from Lavacolla to the famed Monte del Gozo, Mount Joy, where, if we are lucky, we catch our first glimpse of the towers of the cathedral of Santiago. Tradition claims that if you were the first one in your group to sight the church towers, you could officially change your name to King (Rey, Leroy, Le Roi). Our Camino walking journey ends at the steps of the cathedral in time for Mass at noon. Enjoy lunch on your own prior to meeting back for a two-hour guided walking tour of the city and the cathedral with local tour guide/historian. We will gather for a celebratory dinner together at the hotel.
(11 kilometers/7 miles - Breakfast and Dinner included)
Accommodations: San Francisco Hotel Monumento
Quaint hotel in an 18th-century convent with an indoor heated pool, a museum and dining, plus views of Mount Pedroso.
Day 10
Tour End – Buen Camino
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before saying good-bye. Participants often extend their stay to travel an hour and a half to Finnesterre or by planning a few days in Madrid before heading home.
(Breakfast included)
Inclusive Group Package Price Per Person:
2750 euros
Note
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This itinerary may change slightly due to accommodation availability, rain, festivals, and spontaneous side trips.
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We have the luggage van to transport your luggage and you, if you feel you need some assistance while on this journey.
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This is not an endurance race, nor a competition. Please be respectful of all the different paces and walks of life that come together on this group trip.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What kind of hotels do we use?
We will be staying at beautifully restored farmhouses known as Casa Rurales, and family run Pazos, Galician manor homes and hotels. Most are located a little off route from the Camino de Santiago situated in small towns and villages, away from the large cities, so each day will involve a group transfer at the beginning and end of the day. All rooms have private bathrooms. The smaller inns have no phone or TV in the room.
Is there WIFI at our hotels?
Our hotels nearly always have free WIFI available although it is often just in the lobby/public areas. We generally stay at historical hotels, which often have thick walls so WIFI rarely works in the rooms. Most bars and cafes enroute have free WIFI also.
Meals:
All breakfasts and seven dinners are included in the price of this tour. Our hotels will be happy to provide a vegetarian option should it be required. Lunches are not included in the tour price, however, there are plenty of shops along the trail to purchase sandwich items and fruit, or plan to eat at one of the many cafes that cater to pilgrims. The van will be stocked with healthy snacks and water. We will do our best to accommodate any dietary requirements. Please let us know in advance as much as possible.
How does one get to Lugo?
There are taxis right out side of the airport that you can share with those who might be on your flight as well as several buses departing directly from the Santiago de Compostela Airport to the center of Lugo: http://www.empresafreire.com/html/ingles/seccion0.php.
By train from Madrid to Lugo: www.renfe.es. Bus from Leon, Oviedo or Madrid to Lugo: www.alsa.es
Equipment:
You will receive an equipment list of basic items to pack. You are limited to one bag weighing 30-lbs and one-day pack to hold items such as your camera, rain gear and water bottle. Hiking boot/trail shoes will be your most important piece of equipment. Please be sure they are well broken in and that you have proper socks before arriving in Spain. Please bring hiking poles with you if you wish to use them. According to the airlines, the poles need to fit into your luggage.
Spending Money:
Most people travel with an ATM card. Money machines are everywhere in Spain but be sure you know your PIN number (not letters) before departing the US. Do not travel with TRAVELERS CHECKS as the banking hours are held at odd times and many banks no longer accept them. Most expenses are already built into Spanish Steps trips. Lunches will be a separate expense. The Menu del Dia or Menu del Peregrino is available in local cafes will cost between 9 and 12 Euros. These are three course meals with wine and water included – great value.
Gratuity for local guides and Spanish Steps guides:
This is a very common question clients ask. As a person working hard in the service industry to please the traveler, a gratuity is much appreciated by the staff members at the end of the tour. As a general guideline, people tip around 10 Euros per day, per guide.
What is the terrain like?
The trails are well marked with yellow arrows and the scallop shell tile. There are some long, slow climbs through farming areas but not Himalayan or Rocky Mountain like terrain. The paths are well worn and are not difficult. We will walk along a lot of secondary farming roads, paths through vineyards, beech and chestnut forests and old country roads.
Testimonials:
“It was the trip of a lifetime that I will always treasure.” MB
Thank you for a most amazing time on the Camino de Santiago! The days on the Way nurtured my soul and eased my mind. What a beautiful trip with a bunch of wonderful ladies! AD
Lily Kessler
Christine Lily Kessler, Ed.S., E-RYT 500, founder of Nourished Heart Yoga & Training, founder of Blooming Life Yoga Studio + School, Adjunct Professor at Butler University, Author, and Artist.
Lily is fascinated by the facets of the ancient, living Yoga lineage. Seeing beyond the jargon and sharing similarities within people and places is a part of her lifelong peace-effort. She believes that traveling opens the mind and heart, and offering cultural adventure retreats to others is the joy of her life. Lily has been welcomed to participate in Vedic pujas, invited to private ceremony with the Lakota Sioux, has been initiated within Mystic Orders in both Peru and within the United States, and continues to learn and teach from other cultures and traditions.
Additionally, Lily has developed and led Yoga Alliance Certified 200- and 300-hour Yoga Teacher Trainings. In addition to her own schools, Lily is cofounder of the international BodyAwake Yoga School, and has been a guest presenter for over 30 certified Yoga trainings within the United States and worldwide. Her certifications include, The Energy Codes® Master Trainer, Reiki Master, B.E.S.T. and Spiritual B.E.S.T. Practitioner, Relax & Renew® Certified, YoKid® Certified, and Yoga Nidra Certified.
Michele
Michele is celebrating 40 years in the travel industry. She started as a tour guide with AmbassadAir Travel Club and has continued to work with group travel throughout her career.
Michele grew up in Hawaii and also spent time in Europe growing up. Since then she has worked on all sides of the travel industry. Some of her favorite adventures included an African Safari in Kenya, exploring the Alaska pipeline, cruising the South Pacific, and backpacking through Europe for a summer. After walking the last 70 miles of the Camino de Santiago in 2022, Michele is looking forward to returning and leading this Women for Adventure trip in May 2023.
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