Pyrenees to Santiago: Inland Route

Nine nights, self-guided, along the Camino Frances, the Frenchman’s Way, which Caminos calls historically the most important and certainly the most travelled route to Santiago. The trip follows the pilgrim road by car, with hotels, directions and an economy hire car arranged.

Caminos describes a journey into the Spanish interior, untouched by mass tourism, with contrasts from the high mountains of Navarra to the arid plains of the Meseta and the green hills of Galicia. Religious architecture runs the length of it, from small parish churches to the cathedrals of Burgos, Leon and Santiago. It could also be called the wine road, crossing Navarra, La Rioja, Bierzo and Galicia.

Two nights in Navarra come first, with the castles at Olite and Artajona, pintxos in Pamplona and the vegetables known as the Garden of Spain. Two nights in La Rioja follow, around Laguardia, Labastida and the Dinastia Vivanco wine museum, before a night in Burgos with its cathedral and the Museum of Human Evolution at Atapuerca. Two nights in Leon and El Bierzo include the stained glass of Santa Maria in Leon and the red rock of Las Medulas, and two final nights in Santiago de Compostela include a guided walking tour.

The price covers hotels on a bed and breakfast basis for two sharing a double room, an economy four-door hire car for those flying, or Brittany Ferries crossings for travellers bringing their own car, a guide to Northern Spain and a restaurant guide covering the whole route, and instructions for finding every hotel. Flights, one-way and cross-border car hire charges, extras such as a second driver, garage parking and local tourist taxes are not included. Caminos quotes about £1,200 per person as an indicative mid-season figure for 9 nights, and adapts the route, hotels and airports to each traveller.