Women's Camino Trail Trip

Travel: Ponferrada to O Cebreiro Meals: Continental Breakfast + dinner Accommodation: Venta Celta, twin share with private facilities Our checkout from Ponferrada Hotel Alda Los Templarius is 12 midday so after a leisurely breakfast we will have several hours to explore Ponferrada. For wonderful views and an amazing 12th Century experience we will visit the beautiful and historic Knights Templar Castle (Castillo de los Templarius). There are also ample last minute shopping opportunities in the square nearby, or just sit and watch the world go by with a cafe con leche (Spanish milk coffee its wonderful!). A special local tour is included for the morning. At midday we will then travel by taxi to Villafranca del Bierzo where we stop to look at the ancient monuments and have lunch. We then drive to OCebreiro, a total of 53 km. In O Cebreiro we will have time in the afternoon to visit the Ethnographic Museum and the Traditional Celtic houses called Pallozas and the Royal Church St Marys where we can attend mass at 7 pm (optional). Our accommodation that night is in the cosy Pension Venta Celta right at the top of the mountain. Prepare yourself for mist and rain! We are at the highest point of our walk. Eileen (lovely lady at our hotel) will serve us traditionally Gallician food. You can try the local cheese Quiexo and tasty preserved meats and local wines. (O Cebreiro provides a wonderful foretaste of the distinctive Galician culture. The mountains of Galicia are the first objects in 5000 miles that the westerly winds across the Atlantic hit so expect wet changeable rainy weather at this very high place on the Camino. Local dining in O Cebreiro is Queso Cebreiro (cebreiro cheese). A typical dish is Cocido Gallego (Galician Stew), Lacon con Grelos (meat with greens) and Pote Gallego (galecian pot) or Octopus a Feira. Dessert: Filloas (crepes with sugar or Miel de Galicia (galician honey) and Queso de O Cebreiro with quince or honey.)

Walking: OCebreiro to Triacastella Meals: Continental Breakfast + dinner Walking distance: 21 km Accommodation: Complex Xacabeo Albergue We will start our pilgrimage early on Saturday, with wet weather gear in the tops of our packs. The walk down the mountain is famous for unsettled weather. Prepare yourself for either stunning scenery or fog! Triacestella means three castles but none have survived. However there is a carved relief of the three castles on the parish church. You can attend pilgrim mass daily at 6pm is you are interested.

Walking: Triacastella to Sarria Meals: Continental Breakfast + dinner Walking distance: 19km Accommodation: Hotel Alfonso or Albergue A Pedra, twin share with private facilities

Walking: Sarria to Portomarin Meals: Buffet Breakfast + dinner Walking distance: 23km Accommodation: Casona da Ponte: Accommodation twin share with private facilities. In Portomarin we overlook the river in our brand new accommodation!

Walking: Portomarin to Portos Meals: Buffet Breakfast + dinner Walking distance: 20km if you have the energy, visit the ancient Castro ruins just past the cafe Castro meier. Accommodation: Albergue A Pasa de Formiga (Ants Way): Two bunk rooms: one bunk room with 8 beds and a share bathroom: one room with 4 beds and a share bathroom. Tonight we are staying at a tiny hamlet called Portos. Our accommodation only holds 12 people, so husband and wife Pilar and Jesus are turning the whole hostel over to us. You will be staying in bunk beds tonight, so you will need to do � paper rock scissors� to decide who gets the top bunks. A Pasa has two bunk rooms: one bunk room with 8 beds and a share bathroom: one room with 4 beds and a share bathroom. Again we will be served delicious local food for dinner and breakfast.

Walking: Portos to Melide Walking distance: 19 km Meals: Continental Breakfast + dinner Accommodation: Albergue San Anton. Again we will be true pilgrims tonight, staying in dorm rooms and enjoying the local produce.

Walking: Melide to Ribadiso Walking distance: 10km Meals: Continental Breakfast + dinner Accommodation: Pension Ribadiso: Accommodation twin share with private facilities. We are only walking 10 km today to this idyllic location. Manolo the owner only built this pension last year. It is right beside the River Iso so you can soak your feet when you arrive, and then relax on the sun chairs outside the Pension.

Walking: Ribadiso to Pedrouzo Arca Meals: Continental Breakfast + dinner Walking distance: 23km (or 19km if you prefer a ride up the hill from Ribadiso to Arzua) Accommodation: Pension Lo: Accommodation twin share with private facilities Maria and Sonia, our hosts, are lovely young ladies who are happy to arrange dinner in if we prefer, or in a restaurant nearby. No need to decide till we get there and assess our energy levels.

Walking: Pedrouzo Arca to Santiago Meals: Buffet Breakfast + dinner Walking distance: 20 km Accommodation twin share with private facilities: Denike B&B What a great feeling to be there! We will queue to get our Certificate of Completion, visit the square, take photos and have a celebration drink at Costa Vella, which is next door to our accommodation.

Arrive at Santiago! Accommodation: Denike B&B: Meals: Buffet Breakfast + dinner Accommodation twin share with private facilities: Denike B&B After a late start and Buffet breakfast we will attend Midday Mass. After that there is time to explore the city or if you prefer an afternoon siesta or shopping for gifts for home. We will have our farewell dinner in the evening, probably at Bodequilla de San Roque.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast End of the tour Own transport to Santiago Airport Walking distance: none!