Pamplona to Santiago de Compostella
For any traveler interested in history, art, & culture, the Camino de Santiago certainly ranks as one of the most spectacular trips in the world today. From the 10th Century to the present day, pilgrims have come (by foot and now bicycle) from near and far to experience this enigma of Spain.
For riders of this trail, you can choose between a paved or off-road route as it threads its way across Spain. The scenery is breathtaking with lots of cultural and historical sights along the way.
For those with the time, we highly recommend that you consider our Classic route; we maintain that this journey has the potential to change your life (in good ways). For those wishing a shorter journey we also offer the Regular trip beginning in Leon. On both trips we stay in the best hotels available, ranging from traditional inns to luxurious paradors.
Only Great Explorations:
- Small groups, extraordinary guides, and authentic experiences
- Wine with meals included on this trip
- Wine tour & tasting at the esteemed Bodega Irache in Estella
- Order off the menu at restaurants you won’t find in guidebooks
- A moment you will never forget: receiving your Compostella in historic Santiago at journey’s end- felicidades
- We design and operate our own trips so there are only good surprises
Trip Reviews
“The trip was fun and exciting and adventurous and challenging. The accommodations, food, cultural experiences and support were all excellent. The region is very special. The local villages and towns and cities were lovely, clean, safe. There were so many memorable places. Every stay was extraordinary and extra special. Always: Comfortable. Quiet. Clean. Welcoming. Beautiful. Historic. We wouldn’t suggest any changes. Picnic lunches in parks provided by Juan were always a treat. All dinners were fabulous. The wine tasting experience was very memorable, relaxing, interesting, fun. The tour around Leon was excellent, too. The riding distances & level of difficulty were what we expected based on our research and all the information your web site and your pre-trip information provided. The van was always nearby and available when needed or wanted. Both guides – Daniel and Juan – were extremely helpful, kind, caring, patient, hardworking, knowledgeable, and fun. They made the trip the best one we’ve ever had the pleasure of taking.”
“The group was very enjoyable and we got along well. The sense of history along the trail was appealing to me. Hotels were great, meals; fantastic, guides exceptional. The region was so picturesque. The trail was more rugged than expected as I have never mountain biked before, but Daniel and Juan were patient with us. All the hotels were great! The last night in Compostela was fabulous. Also we experienced a fun night in one of the cities where we went to a few places to try pintchos (it means skewers and is like tapas). Loved the tour in Leon by a local guide and the wine tasting at the organic winery. Route maps were very detailed, but with a guide, we really did not need them. Some days were long, but we prepared for them before we went, knowing that there were some long days. The van was always available. It was super helpful as he had refreshments for us, mechanical help if needed. We have travelled with Great Explorations before and thoroughly enjoyed it, so booked again for this trip.”
“This has been one of the most authentic and memorable vacations of our life. For twelve days we were immersed in another world, a previous age. We haven’t seen any sign of commercialism or tourism and neither have we seen any scrap of trash on our road. It sounds unbelievable and we did not expect such a consistent display of times gone by and also human decency. On our bikes we passed a few thousand walking pilgrims from all corners of the world, all in good humour and friendly. We really enjoyed our exposure to Spanish rural “villages”, farms, smells, lodgings, restaurants and customs. The region was way more varied, green and beautiful than we expected. We were surprised how much old Spanish the route turned out to be, how authentic. Most of our hotels were very comfortable, local, unusual, with beautiful views. We got a beautiful room looking out over the Plaza Mayor in Leon. All meals were great and we wouldn’t single out one. The ride options and the level of difficulty both exceeded my expectation. I had an e-bike but even so I was exhausted at the end of every day. The daily enjoyment of our senses: the variety of views, smells of the blossoms and land, the birds singing, the taste of beer afterward and our meals. We had nothing to worry about. Accommodation, meal planning (food, drinks), luggage delivery to our rooms, bike maintenance and trip planning were all taken care of. We also enjoyed the bantering and fun discussions with the two Mexican couples AND our guides. Everyone made it relaxed and enjoyable, except for the language effect – see next question. The presence of two Spanish speaking couples in combination with two Spanish speaking guides added to our sense of immersion in the Spanish culture. We had fun with them and they were great cycling partners and guides.”
“We had a marvelous time on the trip. We loved everything about it, the road, the hotels, the food and the people. We really appreciated the guides finding an assisted bike for me, because it made the trip fun. You should have more assisted bikes because the trip is tough and not everyone can do it, if you’re not trained extensively. A special recognition to both guides, Daniel and Juan, because they tried to make the trip fun and tried their best to make everything work and not be a hassle for us. They are really great people. The trip was tough but really worth the effort, and we really enjoyed it. We definitely will make other trips with your company.”
“Everyday was long and difficult but I loved it. Hard to say what I enjoyed most about the trip as everything was perfect.”
This is the trip of a lifetime — so difficult, so rewarding, so much Spain. Our guides — Daniele V. and Juan (Joan) — made the trip. “Ok, today was tough, but tomorrow will be even more difficult.” Every day. We loved every minute of it.
“An excellent challenge and achievement. Superb guides, good hotels and great rides.”
“The guides were very personable. The views/vistas from some of the trails were absolutely incredible. The churches were unbelievably beautiful. It was well worth the effort!”
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