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Tours

Camino (Northern Way) – 2024

£1,795.00

TOUR REF: CT24
TYPE: Road Cycling
LEVEL: Challenging
DATES: 
21 Sept – 30 Sept 2024

DURATION: 10 days/9 nights/8 days cycling
ACCOMMODATION LEVEL: Standard

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    Optional Extras

    • 515 £
    • 85 £
    • 85 £

Any cycle ride of more than 200km ending in Santiago de Compostela constitutes a ‘camino’ but there are many official signed routes and we have chosen to take the ‘Northern Way’. This route follows the stunning Spanish north coast, a real hidden gem with spectacular views, pretty coastal villages and, yes, some hills. This is a rugged route but the daily mileages are small and the rewards are great!

Our journey follows the closest possible paved roads to the official signed route and you will meet many fellow pilgrims, travelling by bike and on foot, along the way. We start in Bilbao, with convenient air connections, and follow the beautiful coast for some 300 miles to Foz before turning inland for a further 120 miles. We finish in the heart of Santiago from where there are direct flights to the UK*

Regardless of your faith or religious convictions be sure to carry your Credencial and get it stamped at each stopping point along the way in order to receive your compostela (certificate of completion) in Santiago!

Average daily mileage is 55 with the shortest being 45 and the longest 60. The first few days are hilly, though typically rising and falling by less than 500 feet. For those looking for a longer trip, this holiday connects with our ‘End-to-end’ of Portugal for a stupendous 1000 mile ride!

*Note: It may also be possible to offer some riders a transfer to Portugal’s Porto airport but please check availability and arrival time before making flight reservations!

If you would like to read other people’s comments on our holidays then check out the Customer Comments page.

Itinerary:

Day 0 – Arrive in Bilbao

We will meet you from Bilbao airport for the short transfer to your hotel in the centre of the city. Depending on the group size and timing of flights we may use our own vehicle or a chartered coach. If you arrive early why not visit the famous, but aesthetically challenging, Guggenheim Museum.

Day 1 – Bilbao to Argonos – 50 miles

We quickly escape the bustle of ‘downtown’ Bilbao and follow the River Nervion for several miles before cutting west to pick up the coast at Castro Urdiales. The next 30 miles are somewhat challenging, with several good climbs, but the scenery and views make the effort more than worthwhile and we are rewarded with a final 10 mile ‘warm down’ across flat terrain to the coastal town of Argonos.

Day 2 – Argonos to Comillas – 55 miles

Today we parallel the coast, running several miles inland with just one climb in the morning before skirting the busy major port of Santander. In the afternoon we work steadily back to the coast, across rolling green hills, finishing in the small township of Comillas.

Day 3 – Comillas to Ribadesella – 45 miles

Today we closely follow the coast and the mileage is kept short to compensate for the lumpy terrain. This section of the coast is truly stunning and everywhere is so green that you will find it hard to believe you are in Spain. We pass through the Parque Natural Oyambre, cross the Rios Tina Menor and Cabra then shadow the A8 motorway. We finish in the small coastal resort of Ribadesella.

Day 4 – Ribadesella to Aviles – 60 miles

Today we are a little distance from the coast, briefly meeting the Bay of Biscay at Gijon before crossing a headland to finish in the sizeable city of Aviles. A challenging day of longer mileage with hills.

Day 5 – Aviles to Luarca – 45 miles

The last of the hilly days! We continue to approximately follow the A8, though in a completely different world of lush valleys and green fields. Along the way we pass through small hamlets and villages, many with traditional ‘horreo’ (small granaries or barns raised on pillars). Our destination for the day is the picture postcard fishing village of Luarca.

Day 6 – Luarca to Foz – 45 miles

For our last day following the coast we have much easier going with fewer hills and shorter climbs. The scenery remains outstanding and for much of the day we can see the Bay of Biscay glistening to our right. We end our day with a short detour off the official Northern Way, to the small resort of Foz where we spend the night.

Day 7 – Foz to Guitriz – 60 miles

As we turn southwest away from the coast the scenery and terrain inevitably change, though not for the worse! There is a significant climb in the morning, after which we cross a raised plain for the remainder of the day. This area is sparsely populated and we pass through only one sizeable town (Vilalba) all day. We spend the night in the small spa town of Guitriz.

Day 8 – Guitriz to Santiago de Compostella – 55 miles

We start the day with one final hill, after which it is downhill all the way. Over the previous few days we will have met growing numbers of pilgrims and today we will pass many walkers as the various camino routes converge on the city. Naturally we finish at the cathedral that contains the shrine of St James the Great.

Day 9

After a night in Santiago we offer transport for the 10 mile journey to Santiago de Compostella Airport (though note that we are unable to offer transfers after 11am). It may also be possible to offer some riders a transfer to Portugal’s Porto airport but please check availability and arrival time before making flight reservations!

 

 

 

Tour Price includes:

Hotel accommodation
Breakfast
Vehicle support
Services of leader/mechanic
Local transfers
Route information
Local transfers to/from airport/railway station

Tour Price does not include:

Lunches or evening meals
Snacks or drinks required during the day
Travel to Bilbao/from Santiago de Compostela
Cost of any optional excursions, entrance fees etc

Get In Touch

If you have any questions about any of our trips, please call us on 0800 002 9559 or send us a message below.