About This Walk
The Hike Life Camino with with Rozanna Purcell and UWalk.ie
7 nights from €789pp
**SOLD OUT**
Roz Purcell, bestselling cookery author and entrepreneur has a passion for healthy food and a healthy lifestyle. Roz runs The Hike Life series for budding hikers and walkers of all levels of fitness and this July she is leading The Hike Life group on the Last Stage of the French Way with Uwalk.ie.
For hundreds of years pilgrims from across the globe have walked the Camino De Santiago from the various trails across Europe. The Camino, for many, is a journey of self discovery which will leave it’s travellers with memories to last a lifetime. The Camino de Santiago, or The Way of Saint James, is a series of ancient walking routes, which culminate at the Santiago de Compostela, home to one of the most beautiful cathedrals ever built. Many walk the Camino as a religious pilgrimage but many also embark on this journey for spiritual reasons and to escape the hustle and bustle of modern life. Join Roz and The Hike Life group as they walk the French Camino Way from Sarria to Santiago over 5 Days and then relax and explore the beauty of Santiago for their final 2 days.
Two Departures Available
• July 5th – 12th 2023
• August 23rd – 30th 2023
€100 Deposit Per Person (Non refundable)
Highlights:
- Self Guided Trip
- 50 spaces per trip
- Walk the Camino with like minded people – great way to make new Irish hiking friends!
- 24/7 Emergency Support
- Traverse the most popular section of the entire Camino de Santiago from Sarria to Santiago
- Meet like minded pilgrims and fellow Hike Life hikers from Ireland along the route
- Enjoy mouth watering local cuisine
- Sarria is 100km from Santiago, which is the minimum distance required for pilgrims to receive the “Compostela” certificate
- The main street of Sarria, Rúa Maior, has a picturesque atmosphere where we suggest you enjoy a good coffee during the afternoon.
- Varied landscapes with forests, farmlands and rustic villages
- Beautiful green landscape that is a characteristic of Galicia
- In Santiago de Compostela you can visit the beautiful old town, which has been declared a Unesco World Heritage Site
- After finishing in Santiago, you can choose the optional excursion to take a day trip to Finisterre from Santiago
Day 1:
After arriving into Santiago de Compostela, a coach transfer* will take you to Lugo where you will be based for 2 nights.
Lugo Hotel: Gran Hotel or similar
*Transfer Included: Coach transfer departs Santiago Airport at 17.30pm
Additional Cost: Coach transfer departs Santiago Airport 23.45pm. Additional Cost: €40pp
Day 2:
Coach transfer from Lugo to Sarria for the start of the first day’s walk.
Walk From Sarria to Portomarín, (23Km)
This first stage goes through different towns where you can visit some Romanesque churches along paths and forest tracks. On reaching Portomarín we have the opportunity to visit the Romanesque church of St. Nicholas and this pretty village with its peculiar history.
Afternoon coach transfer: From Portomarín to Lugo. (Approx 30 mins)
Lugo Hotel: Gran Hotel or similar
Day 3:
Coach transfer from Lugo to Portomarín to start your walk.
Walk From Portomarín to Palas de Rei, (23Km)
First we descend to the reservoir and then we’ll start climbing the hill to the Monte San Antonio, from where we will reach the villages of Toxibó and Gonzar. Then we will go through different villages and small towns like Hospital de la Cruz, Ventas de Naron and Eirexe until Palas de Rei.
Afternoon coach transfer: Palas de Rei to Arzúa.
Arzúa Hotel: Hotel Arzua, Hotel Suiza or similar
Day 4:
Coach transfer from Arzúa to Palas de Rei.
Walk From Palas de Rei to Arzúa, (29Km)
When leaving Palas de Rei we’ll have a nice walk through forests to Coto. About noon we’ll reach Melide, halfway along this stage, where you can taste the octopus in one of its typical local cuisine restaurants called “pulpería”. Then across eucalyptus forests we will reach the village of Boente, from where we’ll walk to the village of Ribadiso before reaching Arzúa.
No afternoon coach transfer. You will walk to Arzúa where your hotel is situated.
Arzúa Hotel: Hotel Arzúa, Hotel Suiza or similar.
Day 5:
Walk From Arzúa to Lavacolla (Arca), (29Km)
This morning walk from Arzúa through eucalyptus forests which bring us even closer to our destination. We’ll pass through different towns, including Santa Irene and Arca.
Afternoon coach transfer: From Lavacolla (Arca) to Arzúa.
Arzúa Hotel: Hotel Arzua, Hotel Suiza or similar
Day 6:
Coach transfer from Arzúa to Lavacolla (Arca) and walk to Santiago de Compostela.
Walk from Lavacolla to Santiago de Compostela, (12Km)
As we get closer to our destination we pass through the Monte del Gozo, whose name comes from the joy felt by the pilgrims when seeing the city for the first time.
Santiago Hotel: Hotel Gelmirez, Hotel San Lorenzo or similar
Day 7
Walk Free to Explore the town of Santiago de Compostela
Spend the days visiting this beautiful city, proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. Why not visit the market town, Plaza de Abastos or one of its museums e.g. the Museum of Pilgrimages and the Cathedral Museum.
Santiago Hotel: Hotel Gelmirez, Hotel San Lorenzo or similar
Day 7 - Optional Excursion: Day trip to Finisterre from Santiago
Finisterre is known as the Edge of the World! Traditionally, this was the last stretch of the Camino and the final 0.0km waymarker where pilgrims used to finish their Camino journey and burn their clothes as they admired the spectacular sun sets of World’s End over the Atlantic Ocean. To those that would like to reach the edge of the world in comfort, we have arranged the perfect day trip to Finisterre for you. The group will meet in Santiago and the guided excursion will take you from Santiago de Compostela to the fishing village and Cape, stopping along stunning parts of the Costa da Morte.
Optional Excursion Available at an Additional Cost. Please speak with our Uwalk team for more details.
Day 8
Free morning in Santiago before your transfer to the airport. Coach transfer will depart your Santiago hotel at approximately 1.30pm to service the Aer Lingus flight departure.
Airport Transfer Included: Coach transfer to airport at approx 1.30pm
For those requiring a later transfer, taxi and public transport is readily available from Santiago. See links below.
Useful links:
Two Departures:
July 5th – 12th 2023
August 23rd – 30th 2023
€100 Deposit Per Person (Non refundable)
Price of €789 per person includes:
- The Hike Life & Roz Purcell French Camino Final Stage
- 7 Nights Hotel Accommodation
- Breakfast Daily
- Scheduled Airport Transfers* with Aer Lingus flights. *Supplement applies to transfers required later than scheduled 17.30pm transfer.
- Baggage transferred daily
- Daily Coach Pick Up and Drop off transfers for all walking points
- Walking Notes
- Pilgrim Passport
- 24/7 Emergency support in the event of a problem
- Uwalk – Walking guides throughout trip
- Uwalk – Staff Member throughout trip
- Back up of local Uwalk office for support
Departs: July 5th 2023 and August 23rd 2023
Note:
- Final payment is due on May 5th for the July departure and on July 5th for the August Departure.
- Travel Insurance is compulsory. Proof of travel insurance must be supplied to UWalk 8 weeks prior to departure.
- Explorer travel insurance can be purchased HERE.
- Transfers are available on day of arrival at 17.30pm and day of departure at 1.30pm for flights arriving/departing in at the same time as the Aer Lingus flights – see flight details below.
- €40 per person supplement applies to transfers required later than the 17.30pm transfer
- Accommodation is in hotels with private facilities. We have chosen popular family run hotels along the route. Accommodation is simple and follows the character of the area.
- Rooms are based on twin share. Solo travellers can opt to be paired with other solo travellers for room sharing. Single rooms are not guaranteed, have limited availability and are available on request.
- Twin Room – 2 Guests (Both names are required when booking)
- Twin/Triple – Solo travellers – Guaranteed Room Share (If you are a solo traveller and wish to share a room, we will match you up with someone to share a room).
- Single Room – On Request (Not Guaranteed, Deposit Refund Available if room is not available)
- Please note: Triples and Single rooms are extremely limited on this trip.
Not included:
- Flights not included
- Travel Insurance. Explorer travel insurance can be purchased HERE.
- Transfer for Ryanair and other flights
- Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Flights are NOT Included in this package. Please see the flight details below to book your flight for this trip.
Aer Lingus Flights are recommended (Not Included)
Transfers ARE Included for these flights.
For Flight bookings: Click Here: www.aerlingus.com
July 5th – EI 742
Depart:12:55 – Dublin (DUB), Ireland
Arrive: 16:15 – Santiago de Compostela (SCQ), Spain
July 12th – EI 743
Depart: 16:55 – Santiago de Compostela (SCQ), Spain
Arrive: 18:05 – Dublin (DUB), Ireland
OR
August 23rd – EI 742
Depart:12:55 – Dublin (DUB), Ireland
Arrive: 16:15 – Santiago de Compostela (SCQ), Spain
August 30th – EI 743
Depart: 16:55 – Santiago de Compostela (SCQ), Spain
Arrive: 18:05 – Dublin (DUB), Ireland
Ryanair Flights (Not Included)
PLEASE NOTE: Transfers are NOT Included for these flights.
- Ryanair Flights arrive into Santiago at 22.45 on the day of arrival. Transfers are not included for these flights and are limited.
- You can purchase an optional transfer to take you to Lugo on arrival for €40 if you book Ryanair flights.
- Transfers on the day of departure will not be available for this flight, but Taxis and Buses are readily available to bring you to the airport from Santiago de Compostela City.
- Click here to book Ryanair Flights: www.ryanair.com
July 5th – FR 3568
Depart: 19:40 – Dublin, Ireland
Arrive: 22:45 – Santiago, Spain
July 12th – FR 3567
Depart: 18:05 – Santiago, Spain
Arrive: 19:15 – Dublin, Ireland
OR
August 23rd – FR 3568
Depart: 19:40 – Dublin, Ireland
Arrive: 22:45 – Santiago, Spain
August 30th – FR 3567
Depart: 18:05 – Santiago, Spain
Arrive: 19:15 – Dublin, Ireland
Accommodation is in hotels with private facilities. We have chosen popular family run hotels along the route. Accommodation is simple and follows the character of the area.
Hotels:
Lugo – Gran Hotel or similar
Arzúa – Hotel Arzua, Hotel Suiza or similar
Santiago de Compostela – Hotel Gelmirez, Hotel San Lorenzo or similar
Available Rooms:
Twin Room – 2 Guests (Both names required when booking)
Twin/Triple – Solo travellers – Guaranteed Room Share
Single Room – On Request (Not Guaranteed, Deposit Refund Available)
Please note: Triples and Single rooms are limited on this trip.
Roz Purcell and Uwalk Guides will accompany the group along the Camino, however please note that this is a Self Guided Walking Trip. Walking Notes will be provided with your documents to help you along the way.
Camino Travel Tips
- Break in your walking boots and socks to prevent blisters. It is also a good idea to have worn any clothing on long walks before you travel to make sure they are comfortable.
- Bring runners or ideally flip flops for evening time to give your feet at chance to breath & recover
- Pack a sports bottle & fill it each morning before you leave the hotel at breakfast
- Bring spare (dry!) socks in your backpack
- Get your pilgrim passport stamped in hotels, shops & restaurants along the Way. You must have walked 100km in order to receive your Compostela certificate of completion, in Santiago.
- If you have luggage transport booked with us, put your name on your luggage label and attach it to your case on the first morning. This will enable the driver to identify your bag and its destination each day.
- Buy a scallop shell on your first day & attach it to your rucksack
- A poncho is fantastic for any wet days to keep you, your clothing & your bag dry
- If you run out of battery on your camera / phone along the way, charge it in one of the many restaurants / cafes that you stop at. Just bring your adapter & lead. Or take a charged battery pack with you.
What to pack in your rucksack?
- Plasters (incl. blister plasters)
- Safety Pins
- Sun Cream
- Lip Protection
- Snacks (Protein Bars, Glucose sweets or take a few pastries from the breakfast buffet!)
- Hiking Poles (if required)
- Plastic Bags for wet clothing
- Spare socks & t-shirt depending on the weather
- Water Bottles
- Tissues / Wipes
- Antibacterial Hand Gel
- Camera (Charge your battery fully & make sure you’ve plenty of memory!)
- Mobile Phone
- Sun Glasses
- Pilgrim Passport
- Emergency Phone number (on travel documents)
- Hotel Voucher & Directions to hotel
- Spanish Phrasebook
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