4 independent reviews for Leon to Santiago de Compostela walking holiday, Spain
Reviews for Leon to Santiago de Compostela walking holiday, Spain
Roger Forrest review 23 May 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Standing in front of the cathedral in Santiago.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Go with a friend, friends or an organised group.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Mainly benefited local people.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Superb, a once in a lifetime experience.Philip Francis review 28 Oct 2017
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Crossing the Pyrenees on the first day, from St.John pied de port to Roncevalle. Also battling through a bit of a snow storm when going over the mountains from Rabanal del Camino to Molinaseca and passing the famous iron cross en-route. San Juan de Ortega is a good place for an overnight in a tiny hamlet with a big church. Pamplona on Palm Sunday, (processions of young men dressed in sheep skins and wearing cow bells and long pointy hats), and Logrono on Maundy Thursday. Penitant's procession at latter city is quite impressive as well as crossing the border from Leon/Castille into Galicia. The chocolate museum in Astorga and the Plaza Obradoiro in Santiago were also amazing.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Book accommodation ahead, not too bad when I did the trip in April/May, but the major towns do seem to be full during religious festivals such as Easter. Also, as you get closer to Santiago, and especially from Sarria onwards the available spaces in hostels and hotels tends to fill very quickly from early afternoon onwards. If you can afford it, get your main luggage sent on ahead and carry only a day pack, can be a bit of a killer with a large back pack. Train for it by doing a lot of road walking with a lot of hill work. I met people who had trained in a gym and they had problems with the grim reality of the actual experience of road walking. Wear a good pair of boots with thick soles, they don't have to be expensive ones, I bought mine from Aldi for less than £20 and they did me very well for 500 miles and i did not have a single blister. Bit of a job to get them on or off though as they fit very well. There are many sections of rough stony track and trainers will not past muster on it. Water bottles most important and can be filled at fountains en-route and keep one empty for the wine fountain at the Irache monastery.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
The tour benefited many of the towns and small villages on the route. Travellers on the Camino are preventing them from dying off and in some places it is reviving them.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A very good experience. Met a lot of people and saw places that were well worth the effort to visit.Wendy Williams review 10 Oct 2017
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Most of it. The beautiful countryside, lovely little villages, friendly people, and many of the hotels were beyond all expectations.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Walk only 20-25 km. Any more is too much. Have your pack transported between hotels and carry a day pack, it does make the journey easier. And go with the flow- no early starts in Hotels in Camino Norte, earliest breakfast was at 9am. It doesn’t get dark until late and you have all day to walk. Stay 3 days at Bi-Terra Hotel and break that journey into 20 km days, not 30 kms. The dinners there are the best in Spain and the people there are just lovely. I was told the Finistère was the most beautiful part- but most of Camino Norte was just as beautiful and quieter- so if doing this again, I would stop the journey at Santiago.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Just wonderful, I want to do it again!John Furlong review 12 Oct 2016
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Beautiful scenery, wonderful walking, the friendship of fellow walkers/pilgrims.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Book a rest day in one of the beautiful Spanish cities you'll pass through.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Unemployment is high in Spain so tourism is a big source of jobs.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I had a brilliant time and will be going back to complete the rest of the Camino pilgrimage next year. It'll be with the holiday provider again, their flawless organisation did all the hard work and left me to simply enjoy the walking.Holiday Reviews
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