The Greatest Road in Europe: Camino De Santiago

In just a few words – this tour has far exceeded my expectation. The tour has a perfect mix between hiking the Camino to provide a personal feel on the road and the usual touristic touches blending history and local culture. It also has a perfect ending at Fisterra – The End of the World. But most of all, the tour had a perfect combination of two lively, knowledgeable and responsible guides in Carlota and Blanca and a fantastic driver in Jose. They took care practically all our needs, from making sure we were on track, enjoying a wonderful meal, having a proper seat at the Catedral de Santigo for the mass and Botafumeiro, to, as a final touch, arranging the taxi to take us to Santiago airport even though Road Scholar literature stated that it was our responsibility for not booking the flight with them. They made the difference.

You can't go wrong to choose this program. It exceeded our expectations and we were very happy at the end. There's plenty of hiking if you choose and I like having the free time. I like staying in one place for two or three nites so you get a chance to be familiar with an area. Of course, we had some great guides who were very passionate about what they were sharing with us. The other participants help with the enjoyment of the program as they provide different perspectives. You always know a trip is successful if you're ready to go back and do it again.

How lucky I was to do this trip that I have been eyeing on the Road Scholar website since 2018. However, my luck didn’t stop with just “doing” this trip. This adventure was led by two of the most dynamic group leaders, Marta and Miriam, that any traveler could hope for. And the luck still didn’t stop. Our fellow pilgrims in our group of 18 were the best people one could hope to spend 12 days on the “Way” with. The weather was probably typical of Northern Spain, but it cooperated the most when needed. Sun shone on us as we reached marker 0.00 on the Camino in Finisterre. I am not a religious person, so probably the cathedrals weren’t as meaningful for me as for the others on this trip; yet, their beauty or simplicity in some towns was so very memorable. I loved the small towns we hiked through along the selected sections, and I never once felt like I was missing out when Marta in her very sweet voice would observe, “oh look there are pilgrims to the right (as we sat on a bus on a busy highway). Hello, pilgrims!” The mileage in the program is a tad misleading as in addition to the trails you hike in a day, there is still plenty of additional “walking” when you are spending wonderful free time exploring the historical cities and towns along the way. Staying in the “old section” of each stop was definitely another highlight for me. Seeing Northern Spain in this way can’t be beat if you enjoy walking, hiking, good food, culture, and a very historical pilgrimage path. . . And if you are lucky, getting the duo of Marta/Miriam as your Camino guides.

Wonderful experience!! Excellent education and guides!!

This was a memorable experience. Our group leader, Cesar, was exceptionally well informed, friendly and organized. The other participants were interesting, welcoming and added to our enjoyment. We signed up for this program for the physical challenge and left with a deeper understanding of the spiritual experience.

This was a fantastic trip--a once in a lifetime event, really. The itinerary was well planned and the details spelled out. Information for each day was spelled out and there were no surprises. Our trip leader, Cesar Higueras, was fantastic. His background knowledge of each location was amazing and he entertained us with interesting details that brought the history alive. The bus transportation was excellent and the expert driver, Jose, deserves special acknowledgement. All of the hotels were accommodating with well situated rooms and above all, excellent food and service. The use of local experts enhanced the visits to special churches and locations. And their input just added to the entire knowledge base of the leaders. I always felt safe walking on the roads and trails and appreciated Cesar's information about the length of the walk and the possible conditions --such as the steepness of the trail. Everyone we met at the hotels, the restaurants, and the sites was welcoming, solicitous , and supportive. The trip was a 10+

Walking the Camino was a bucket list item for me and this trip met and exceeded all my expectations. Our instructor/guide was exceptional and made our experience even more exceptional. I’d take any trip where Nacho & Lilly were the guides. Thank you Road Scholar

Just completed the Camino trip to Spain. It was a wonderful adventure and such good food and aaccommodations! Every detail is taken care of for you, all meals and hotels and transportation. Just a very easy way to travel and learn about our world.

What a fantastic trip! This is a "best of the Camino" experience. I loved that we hiked several sections of the trail, experiencing a variety of terrain from walking in the hills, through meadows, vineyards, and tiny quaint villages. I learned so much about both the history of the trail and Spain. The food and wine was absolutely incredible! I've already made one of the recipes since we've returned. Our guide, Nacho, was simply amazing. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the region, and is a great storyteller. We can't wait to take another Road Scholar trip.

It was amazing!!!

What a wonderful trip.   This was our first time with Road Scholar.  We really enjoyed the way they organized and led the trip.    It was active (we hiked about 55 miles) and yet blended great knowledge of guides and great food too.   think the other thing we really enjoyed was the small group experience.   We had 15 in our group and what a great number.  I'm not sure we will much enjoy going back to the busloads of experience on tours, though we will as we have some future stuff like that scheduled, but we're likely going to do some additional tours with Road Scholar that are similarly small group and active.    Our guide Cesar was such a pro, blending knowledge, leadership, charisma, confidence, and the intangibles of being a great guide. I consider him a mentor for me. I also liked the activity level, which was seamlessly accommodated in such a way that those who could go a bit faster could do so, and had a controlled tail-end guide who would be there for those who couldn't keep pace with the lead, but it was done in such a way that it really worked, as we'd meet up in certain spots along the way for guide information.  Overall, Superb!

This tour was everything I wanted it to be and more. The directors facilitated every activity to meld together the members of the group. I may never see them again in person, but I'll always remember each of them and the wonderful memories we made together.

This was a fabulous trip. The hiking was good, the countryside was beautiful and our group was very companionable. Our guide Carlotta Villate was so personable, knowledgeable and knew all kinds of places to see and eat that I would never have found on my own. The food was wonderful, as was the wine. I couldn't recommend this trip enough. I have recommended it to some friends, a couple of whom are taking it in September.

Lots of fun and GREAT leadership, both Carlota and Lily!! The hiking was at times challenging but not difficult if you have decent balance and are in decent shape. It's as scenic as you can imagine. Wine and food were great. Some very interesting road-scholar co-travelers and pilgrims on the Camino who were happy to share their stories.

A magnificent trip through shockingly gorgeous countryside and fascinating small villages. Spain's beauty was a very welcome surprise. And the food was incredible! Do this trip and you will have no regrets. Particularly if you have Carlota as leader and Lili as her assistant. What a wonderful team!

Everything about this Camino experience was perfect. Our guides were were encyclopedic about the history, architecture, religion, and food. The city guides were engaging and informative. The trails were epic in their beauty and serenity. Be ready for a physical challenge.

I thought that Carlotta and Lilly did an exception job of including the entire group and keeping a light touch.

Five stars! This adventure was incredible! Learning the history of Northern Spain and of the Camino, experiencing the architecture and art of a thousand years of cathedrals and monasteries, getting a taste of the pilgrim experience hiking on the Camino de Santiago, and enjoying the incredible local specialties of fresh food in sumptuous multi-course meals was much more than we expected! Nacho and Liliana were wonderfully prepared, with "just in time" tuning for the schedule, meals, and tours. They were patient and caring for our group of 21, dealing with special needs and minor "situations" all along the way, including dietary restrictions . There were "Plan B" alternatives for every hike, to accommodate everyone's needs and wishes. Would recommend this tour to anyone with an interest in the Camino de Santiago, from mere curiosity to a spiritual calling. Would recommend a rigorous training program in preparation, and the ability to enjoy the hikes in any weather. We saw sun, rain, wind, sleet and snow flurries on our trip, none of which diminished the adventure and fun!

This was a wonderful experience. I hiked through various landscapes in northern Spain & learned so much about the history of the area & the Camino de Santiago. The food & wine of the area were terrific!

I highly recommend this trip. It is more than a walking tour. It is also a food and wine tasting tour.

Five stars! This exceptional program could well be titled “Short Walks and Highlights of the Camino de Santiago.” Most of the pilgrims we met along the way were walking at least the minimum final 60 miles required to earn a Camino Compostela (certificate) and were usually covering 15 or more miles on foot daily. We did not qualify for a certificate, but instead, led by our truly outstanding and knowledgeable guide, Nacho, and our assistant-guide (and excellent group photographer), Liliana, we walked much shorter (though occasionally challenging) daily distances along very scenic (and culturally and historically significant) parts of the Camino. The rest of our trip was made by comfortable motor coach driven by our friendly and competent driver, Jose. We encountered a fair amount of rain (heavy at times) and cool, windy April/May weather on the trails (even snowflakes one day) which did not dampen our spirits, but did leave some of us wishing we had brought warmer, waterproof clothes for hiking. Most members of our group found hiking poles helpful, especially on the steeper or rockier walks or when the trails were wet and a bit slippery from the rain. (There was always a "Plan B" for participants who wanted to sit out a particular hike.) Our congenial, very positive-minded and enthusiastic fellow Road Scholars were a delightful group with whom to travel. One of my favorite days was the picturesque hike and fun mountainside picnic lunch eaten among the grazing cows high in Somiedo Natural Park. The most memorable experience for me, however, was Day 8 when I decided to walk alone for 4 miles along the (mostly rural) Camino from the village of Molinaseca to our hotel in Ponferrada rather than continue by bus with the group. This solo walk gave me time to reflect and provided a very small sample of the experience that thousands of Peregrinas have undertaken each year for centuries on the legendary Camino de Santiago.

This was a wonderful trip. The guides Marta and Miriam were fantastic. All aspects of the trip exceeded my expectations.

This was my first Road Scholar Trip. I have had many friends who have recommended Road Scholar. Even so, the trip was wonderful beyond my expectations.

If you like to hike or have always wanted to do "the Camino", this is the trip. Excellently planned and executed. Fabulous food. Comfortable, quiet, and central accommodations. It was an exceptional experience.

Walking the Camino de Santiago may seem like a daunting trek, but this Road Scholar trip is organized in such a way that anyone with a spirit of adventure and a willingness to try can easily tackle. The daily walks are arranged into several options that accommodate those who are gungho to those who rather just enjoy the ambiance. The restaurant meals were world class with even a few Michelin starred. However you choose to participate - in only a few or in all the walks, you get a taste of the Camino and stand in awe of the many historical sights along the way and can easily imagine yourself among the pilgrims of yesterday and today.

Walking the Camino has been a lifetime wish. This was a remarkable program. I am grateful for the camaraderie and kindness of the group, the fantastic leaders, and the culture and people of Spain.

The Camino hiking tour is amazing! If you love hiking, high quality food n wine and are interested in the Spanish culture- this is the trip to book. Fabulous!!

Incredible trip, well-organized, fulfilling.

Wonderful!

FIVE STARS. I agree with the comments of my fellow travelers - this was a GREAT trip. The guides, Carlota and Leire, were the best - organized, knowledgeable, thoughtful and fun. The history of the northwest region of Spain and of the Camino is very, very interesting. The Spanish people were welcoming and generous to the "pilgrims". Our group was very typical of the best of Road Scholar - a fun, curious and thoughtful group. If you have thought about doing the Camino, don't wait!! Sign up, GET READY (walk & hike at home) and break in your hiking boots - you can do it!

The Camino trip far exceeded any expectations that I had. Our guides were wonderful, and our group became like an extended family. I would highly recommend the Camino adventure.

Dream Big -then go!

The Camino de Santiago is a challenging route, especially for first-timers who have never done a multi-day walk before. I am in great physical shape, and found it to be a bit physically demanding. With that being said, I enjoyed every minute of every day. What a great adventure.

We enjoyed this trip thoroughly! We are a couple in our 60's and this trip, while not a 'full Camino', was a 'tour of northern Spain with a focus on the Camino de Santiago. We delighted in walking the beautiful parts of the Way, and additionally enjoyed so many other experiences in each area. Our leaders, Carlota and Leire were AMAZING! Helpful, knowledgeable, accommodating, caring, and a joy to be around. Highly recommend this trip, it is thoroughly enjoyable. 5 stars!!

This was my first Road Scholar trip! I was very pleased and impressed with how all the pieces came together to offer both a taste of the pilgrimage experience, as well as historical, cultural, regional and culinary background that made this a multi-layered experience. Our guide Nacho has every quality a tourist wants: attention to detail, promptness, assistance with airline problems, describing each day's hikes in advance, making hotel check-in seamless, and creating dining experiences suitable for royalty. I especially enjoyed his clever sense of humor, but also the seriousness when he told stories of each village and cathedral. One thing I'd like to see improved is the list of reading resources offered on the website. I read Shirley Maclaine's "The Camino" and found it mostly irrelevant to the Road Scholar experience. I also ordered the National Geographic map of Northern Spain, and found it to be overkill for a guided trip. Those are a few examples, but overall the resources should be updated. One thing I appreciated is the "all tips included" feature. I have been on tours where the last day is a mad scramble to tip with local currency, and wondering if it's enough. Bottom line: I am raving to friends about my first Road Scholar trip!

GO, GO, GO on this inspirational and beautiful pilgrimage. Let your soul beat to a different drummer for 2 weeks-you CAN do it.

A wonderful opportunity to explore some of the smaller cities and villages in Northern Spain and learn more about relationships between Spain and other countries. A beautiful area with access to the mountains and the sea.

Was a wonderful introduction not only to the Camino, but also to the history, geography, and people of northern Spain. One of the best tours I’ve ever had

Excellent trip, but be prepared to walk! We walked about 75 miles over the 12 days, both along the up and down hills of the Camino and on tours through various towns, in all kinds of weather - cold/hot, rain, wind (our trip was in April). Also, Galicia gets a LOT of rain. The scenery, history, and camaraderie made up for it, though. Day 1 you arrive to Madrid exhausted, and the program kicks into high gear immediately, so be prepared to be very tired the first day or two. There is a lot of time spent on the bus, and we all tended to sleep during those long rides. Big adjustment for me was the Spanish meal routine - breakfast at 8AM, lunch at 2PM, and dinner from 8-10PM, right before bed. Lunches are supposedly the main meals, but the dinners were very large, too, even by U.S. standards. I had no idea the trip is also a "wine tour." You'll get to experience all the great bodegas and wines of northern Spain on this trip, as well as all the of the great food in the different regions. Wine is standard fare for lunches and dinners. Spain pretty much closes down in the afternoon (3-5PM) for siesta, so most shops are closed. Unfortunately, this is when most of the limited free time you have occurs. Pro tip - bring Moleskin. Oh, and you can by Ibuprofen gel OTC in Spain! All in all, a really remarkable trip!!

I was concerned about the availability of trip organizers prior to flying out. Flow of communication was spotty, causing lack of confidence in the program. Once we met our guides/leaders in Madrid, all trepidation evaporated. These ladies are dedicated, experienced and knowledgable of the material they shared with the group!

If you're thinking about this trip, do sign up! The hike was great exercise and not understated. I really learned from the history and stories that Carlotta shared. She is the best guide! The food and wine was of the highest quality. It was as much a gastronomical delight as a hike.

The perfect way for our elderly friends to experience the Camino

We have done nine programs with Road Scholar: this one was one of our favorites. We have already signed up for two more!

Five stars all the way! Awesome guide, great scenery and hikes, wonderful group. Can’t think of anything negative about the unparalleled experience of doing the Camino de Santiago.

Another fantastic Road Scholar program, my 28th. Nacho and Blanca were great leaders, and our driver Pepe completed the excellent team. As others have noted, while this is "Camino Light", it can still be demanding if you are not in good condition. There was always an easier "Plan B", and differences in pace were managed very well by Nacho. Our group was very compatible, each of us happy to be traveling again and enjoying the world. You will learn a great deal of the interesting history of Spain and this region as part of the program, and that enriches the overall experience. Finally, be aware that Spanish cuisine is superb, varied, and served in large quantities (with wine) at "strange hours" (by American standards). If you like the great outdoors in a beautiful part of the world, you should consider this wonderful Road Scholar program.

I really enjoyed the experience. Hiking portions of the Camino was a great way to see northern Spain. The natural park in Asturias was especially memorable. I am happy to have visited and lodged in Burgos, Leon, Ponferrada, Sarria and Santiago. Gaudi's Bishops Palace in Astorga was a highlight as was the Templar Castle in Ponferrada. Finally, Nacho and Eduardo were the guides this tour required. They understood and accepted with 'DUENDE' the entire groups' capabilities and limitations. Already I'm thinking that maybe next year I might attempt the entire Camino De Santiago. Many thanks, Peter Lane

The quality of the guides, food, and accommodations made this an especially well-organized, enjoyable experience. Walking the selected portions of the Camino, and visiting towns along the way, is a very practical way to either satisfy your appetite or whet your interest in later, further exploration of the area. Take the description of the level of physical activity seriously. This hike involves some serious uphill and downhill ascents and descents. A wide variety of attractive Spanish cuisine will be your reward at the end of the day.

The Road Scholar Camino de Santiago experience went beyond my expectations. Not only was it a "hike" in beautiful northern Spain--exhilarating and sometimes exhausting, it also was a culinary journey through the wines and foods of Rioja, Castilla y Leon, Asturias, and Galicia. Our guides were professional and friendly, patient and extremely knowledgeable, sharing stories from Spanish history and culture with a good dose of humor. Our tour group was small--14 participants we enjoyed getting to know. All in all, a wonderful adventure!

This trip was quite frankly amazing. I had no real idea what it was going to be and it just was fantastic!!!! Nacho our guide and Edwardo were GREAT. The food was wonderful and the hotels were just what I needed to relax and rest. The hikes were fun and we walked through some absolutely beautiful parts of Spain. The mountains and the fields the forests were just stunning. I loved every second of this trip. Thank you Nacho for making this experience wonderful. Plus we had a wonderful bunch of pilgrims to boot. A+ is my grade and I would recommend this wonderful trip.

This Camino De Santiago tour definitely traipsed over many hills and through the woods for a true pilgrimage experience! There were pleasant walks through picturesque small towns as well, and plenty of churches and museums to visit. Our group conversed with fellow pilgrims from all over the world. The food was exceptional, even served later than we Americans typically eat! Both spiritual and educational, this tour won't disappoint anyone taking it.

Excellent educational experience, knowledgeable and personable leaders, expert local guides added value, great food, lodging in historic parts of cities, breath taking scenery. Highly recommend walking El Camino de Santiago!

If you can get on the Road Scholar trip along the Camino Santiago, do it !! It's entertaining, educational, and a little bit challenging, and you'll probably learn something about yourself, as well. I truly *loved* all the women on my trip and several of us are planning to hike together next Spring.

What a great trip! Nacho was tour guide extraordinaire. Lucia, his assistant, was warm, approachable, helpful and always available. This program was a perfect blend of hiking, culture and education. Great hotels, fabulous food and wines. I recommend this trip

I found the walks over various terrain a good analogy to life as a pathway with its ups and downs. I used the silence during walks to meditate and see the beauty around me. It gave me new perspective. I decreased my email/Instagram/texting use to help quiet myself and allow me to be more meditative. It was enriching.

This trip had everything one could ask for: varied hiking experiences, manageable doses of culture, history and politics, and fine accommodations. All credit to the tour leader, Nacho, who put a lot of effort into crafting an excellent itinerary. He gave special attention to the food; we ate out whenever possible, and the choices of restaurants and menus allowed us to sample the local cuisine, which Nacho explained to us. We had an assortment of seafood (shrimp, squid octopus, mussels) and the food became an important part of the adventure. This trip demonstrates the importance of a professional guide for a successful trip. Kudos to Nacho and the staff he assembled, and thanks so much for sharing your expertise and good humor with the group.