Views of Spain from walking the Camino de Santiago

Walking the Camino de Santiago (Sold Out)

May 21–30, 2025

Pricing: $7,195 per person; For a single room add $1,050

This trip is sold out. Please contact ATA at 877-298-9677 or Reservations@academic-travel.com to join the waitlist.

Overview

Join Bishop Eugene Sutton on an unforgettable week on the Camino de Santiago, a powerful way to reconnect to simple pleasures and the joy of journeying. One of the most important Christian pilgrimage routes during the Middle Ages, the Camino de Santiago (or the Way of St. James) has endured for centuries as a bucket-list journey for those seeking a deeper spiritual connection, either religious or personal. Traveling paths traversed by pilgrims for one thousand years provides a shared connection and sense of purpose not often experienced in the modern world. Chautauqua Senior Pastor Bishop Sutton will provide daily reflections to help enrich your experience. Spain’s mighty Basque region unfurls through picturesque mountains and ancient villages, where nature and history are revered, and local wine and cuisine are cherished. 

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Please contact ATA at:
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Trip Highlights

  • Enrich your journey with daily reflections and meditations with Bishop Eugene Sutton, Chautauqua’s senior pastor. 
  • Explore the storied cities along the Camino, including Pamplona, Logroño, Burgos, León, and Santiago. 
  • Walk the iconic pilgrimage route, traversing pastoral landscapes and ancient villages, concluding at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the culmination of the Camino, and considered the burial place for the remains of James the Apostle. 
  • Spend two nights in an eighteenth-century convent that has been reimagined as a four-star hotel, footsteps from the Cathedral de Santiago. 
  • Indulge in authentic Galician flavors like slow-roasted lamb, fresh-out-of-the-water octopus, and world-renowned locally produced varietals as you dine in family-owned restaurants, drink from the iconic wine fountain, and enjoy recipes and culinary traditions that have been passed from generation to generation. 

Trip Expert: The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton

The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton is the senior pastor of Chautauqua Institution. Formerly the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland and Canon Pastor of Washington National Cathedral, where he directed the Cathedral’s Center for Prayer and Pilgrimage. Sutton has also served as a college chaplain, parish priest, and professor of homiletics and liturgy at Vanderbilt University Divinity School. Sutton is a frequent leader of retreats focused on spirituality, nonviolence, and social justice, including multiple missions to South Africa. He co-founded Contemplative Outreach of Maryland and Washington, an ecumenical network of churches and individuals committed to centering prayer and renewing the contemplative gospel for daily living. He is a prolific writer, and has contributed to multiple books, including “The Diversity of Centering Prayer” and “Reclaiming the Gospel of Peace: Challenging the Epidemic of Gun Violence.” Bishop Sutton has been named by the Center for American Progress as one of “Fourteen Faith Leaders to Watch” for his faith-led efforts to promote nonviolent solutions to conflicts.

Bishop Eugene Taylor Sutton

Itinerary

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

Day 10

Day 1

Arrival to Pamplona

Arrive in Pamplona and transfer to your centrally located hotel. Meet your fellow travelers and your Chatauqua expert, Bishop Eugene Sutton for a welcome reception where he will share insights and background about your upcoming journey on the Camino de Santiago. After, join a local guide for a walking tour of Pamplona’s highlights. Walk through the streets where the bulls run to the arena each summer during the annual “Sanfermines,“ and visit the Cathedral and lively squares that characterize the city. Then, toast the adventure that awaits with a celebratory dinner as a group.

Included Meals: Dinner, Reception

New Accommodation: Hotel Maisonnave

Day 2

Pamplona

Your transformation into a true pilgrim begins today as you begin your journey along the Camino. After breakfast, drive one hour east to Roncesvalles, a small Pyrenean village renowned for its historical and religious significance along the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. Roncesvalles is featured in the medieval epic poem, “The Song of Roland” and is home to the Collegiate Church of Roncesvalles, a Gothic structure that has served pilgrims for centuries. Today, both the church and town itself remain a vital stop for Camino pilgrims, offering a serene setting amidst the Pyrenees, and the perfect place to begin your journey. Hike from Roncesvalles to Alto del Erro, passing through picturesque landscapes, lush forests, charming villages, and rolling hillsides, with stunning views of the Pyrenees throughout. The trail alternates between shaded paths and open vistas, for a varied hiking experience. After arriving in Alto del Erro, return by coach to Pamplona, with free time to explore the city this evening. Enjoy time at leisure to walk through Pamplona’s charming parks and admire the Citadel, a Renaissance fortress that served as protection for the city.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Accommodations: Hotel Maisonnave

Hiking: 10.5 miles. Rolling hillsides with mountain views. 4 hours. Those who choose can stop en route at Espinal (3.7 miles) or Lintzoain (8 miles).

Day 3

Pamplona, Logroño

After a short drive to the outskirts of Pamplona, your walk begins with a slight ascent through Guendulain to the village of Zariquiegui, located at the foot of the mountain range, “Sierra del Perdón” (the Peak of Forgiveness). From here, you will travel through several iconic stops along the Camino (Eunate, Puente La Reina), before arriving at the Monastery of Irache where you will sample from the “Fuente del Vino” (the Wine Fountain). Then, continue to a nearby winery for a guided wine tasting and picnic in the vineyard. Check in to your hotel in Logroño, the capital of La Rioja wine region this afternoon. After settling in, join your local guide for a tour of Logroño, admiring the Church of Santiago, the Cathedral of Santa María la Redonda, and the Market Square. Join your fellow travelers for dinner on Calle del Laurel featuring local ingredients like asparagus, vegetable stews, and pears soaked in wine.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: Eurostars Ruavieja

Hiking: 5 miles. Paved roads followed by dirt roads and well-trodden trails with an optional ascent in the final mile. 2–3 hours

Day 4

Logroño-Burgos

After breakfast, drive past a landscape of vineyards to Santo Domingo de la Calzada. Visit the Cathedral, which dates to 1098 and boasts stunning views. Return to the coach for a short drive to Puerto de la Pedraja, where you begin walking well-worn trails through pine forests. Enjoy lunch near the small village of Atapuerca and pause at the façade of the Church of San Nicolás and the Monastery San Juan de Ortega. Then, transfer to your hotel in Burgos. After check-in, meet your local guide for a tour of this city which still retains vestiges of its medieval splendor. Visit the Cathedral of Burgos, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which was constructed across six centuries and displays a variety of different architectural styles. Explore this and other fascinating corners of the city before dining at leisure at one of Burgos’ many restaurants.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodations: Hotel Nh Palacio de Burgos

Hiking: 6 miles. Approximately 500 feet of gentle descent. Well-trodden trails and dirt roads. 4–5 hours.

Day 5

Burgos-Leon

This morning, transfer to Hontanas on the Camino, where the pilgrimage route is quiet and filled with spring flowers. En route, visit the ruins of the Monastery of San Antón before reaching the narrow streets of the charming Catrojeriz for a well-deserved lunch. After a short drive to Frómista, visit the Church San Martín de Tours, which is notable for its Romanesque exterior. Enjoy the scenic meadows and wheat fields of Castile before arriving in León. After checking in to your hotel in the historical city center, savor local flavors like roast lamb, suckling pig, or bean stews as you dine as a group this evening.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: Hotel Real Colegiata

Hiking: 7 miles. Relatively flat. Combination of paved and dirt roads. 3–4 hours.

Day 6

Leon

This morning’s stage begins in storied Hospital de Órbigo, where we will traverse one of the most beautiful medieval bridges in the Camino. This undulating walk takes you by crop and wheatfields and concludes near the Cruz de Santo Toribio. Return to León for a guided walking tour and a more in-depth look at this rich city, which was the capital of the kingdom during the Middle Ages, and a historic enclave on the Pilgrim’s Road to Santiago de Compostela. Two sites of particular import are the Cathedral, one of the most striking Gothic cathedrals in Spain, and the Basilica de San Isidoro, known as the “Sistine Chapel” of the Spanish Romanesque style, with its series of twelfth century frescoes that decorate the underground crypt of the Royal Pantheon. Casa Botines — one of only three Gaudi buildings outside Catalonia — is also located here. Continue exploring the city during dinner on your own this evening.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel Real Colegiata

Hiking: 6.8 miles. Relatively flat. Rural tracks. 2.5–3 hours.

Day 7

Leon-Lugo

Transfer early this morning to the walled town of Astorga, its preserved churches, convents, and hospitals will transport you to the purest tradition of the Pilgrim’s Road. The town is also home to another Gaudí masterpiece, The Bishop’s Palace. Travel to O Cebreiro along the Camino as you cross the mountains of León and stop at iconic points like the Cruz de Ferro (“Iron Cross”). In the regional capital of Ponferrada, contemplate the Templar’s Castle, and after traveling among vineyards, arrive at Paraiso del Bierzo, a small hotel located on a former butter factory with bucolic views of green meadows that are the perfect prelude to our entry in Galicia. After a short drive, in La Laguna de Castilla, take in the breathtaking scenery in the mountain hamlet of O Cebreiro. While there, visit the oldest remaining fully intact church on the Camino, which contains a Holy Grail. Continue to the provincial capital of Lugo, with its quiet pedestrian streets, wide squares, and spacious gardens. After settling into your hotel, take time to explore the city, including its towering wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by the Romans between the third and fourth centuries. Enjoy dinner at leisure in Lugo this evening.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodations: Hotel Sercotel EsteOeste

Hiking: 2 miles. Steep ascent. Wide path, sometimes stony. 2–3 hours.

Day 8

Lugo-Santiago

Your day begins with a guided walk inside the walled city of Lugo. After, take a short drive to Palas de Rei, the starting point for today’s walk, along villages and farmlands and across an evergreen landscape until you arrive in Coto. From there, take a short drive to Melide. Here, enjoy local favorite recipes for lunch, such as “pulpo á feira” (octopus). As you make your way closer to Santiago, you will reach “Monte do Gozo” (Mount of Joy), which provides a first glimpse of the towers of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Check in to your final hotel and embark on a guided walking tour of Santiago. For centuries, thousands of pilgrims have walked the Camino de Santiago to reach this iconic Cathedral. According to tradition, it is the burial place of the relics of James the Apostle. Feel the energy of the town and the Plaza del Obradoiro as you have time to explore and dine at leisure, sampling scallops, Santiago cakes, and Albariño, considered one the world’s best white wines.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodations: San Francisco Hotel Monumento

Hiking: 5.6 miles. 450 feet of ascent and descent. Combination of local roads (less busy), dirt tracks and paths (muddy on rainy days). 2–3 hours. Those who choose can walk into Santiago from Monte do Gozo

Day 9

Santiago and Fisterra

Early this morning, travel along the rugged Atlantic coast to Cape Finisterre, once thought to be the end of the world. Hike along the beach and enjoy spectacular views surrounding the Cape’s lighthouse – a fitting finale to your journey along the St. James Way. After visiting the Cape, discover the fishing village of Fisterra, with a chance to observe the fishermen. Return to Santiago for lunch on your own and time to explore Santiago’s museums and shops at leisure. Tonight, gather for a festive farewell dinner in the old city to toast the completion of your pilgrimage.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations: San Francisco Hotel Monumento

Hiking: 3 miles. Easy descent along the coastline. 1½–2 hours.

Day 10

Departure

After breakfast, depart for the Santiago Airport for individual flights home.

Included Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included?

  • All accommodations and meals as listed for the duration of the tour
  • All sightseeing and visits as noted in the itinerary
  • Expertise of an expert, ATA-hired tour manager and local guides throughout the tour
  • All gratuities for on-tour guides, drivers, hotel, and restaurant staff as part of the group program
  • All on-tour transportation, unless otherwise noted including airport transfers on arrival and departure
  • Quietvox listening devices to facilitate audibility and social distancing on tour
  • The assistance of an ATA professional travel team to assist with pre-trip questions, travel arrangements, including flights, extra hotel nights and other services
  • Comprehensive pre-departure mailings and materials with information about the destination and what to expect on tour, including a suggested reading list
  • Emergency evacuation insurance

Accommodations

Hotel Maisonnave (2 nights) 
The Hotel Maisonnave is a boutique hotel located in the heart of the vibrant city of Pamplona, steps away from the city’s main tourist attractions, lively cafes, and charming boutiques. Spacious, comfortable rooms are tastefully decorated and equipped with modern amenities to ensure a relaxing stay. 

Hotel Eurostars Fuerte Ruavieja (1 night) 
Hotel Eurostars Fuerte Ruavieja is located in a renovated fort on a quiet street in the vibrant city of Logroño. Modern rooms offer a perfect blend of comfort and style, with sleek decor and cozy amenities. The property features a bright and welcoming dining area, sauna, Turkish baths, and gym. With attentive service and a prime location, Eurostars Ruavieja promises an unforgettable stay amidst the cultural richness of Logroño. 

Hotel NH Palacio de Burgos 
The NH Collection Palacio de Burgos is a beautiful hotel inside a 16th -Century building with a stunning cloister, seamlessly blending modern design, history, and natural materials. Rooms are spacious, stylish and well-appointed. The property is perfectly located in the heart of Burgos, by the River Arlanzón, a short walk from the Plaza Mayor and near several large parks. 

Hotel Real Colegiata (2 nights) 
The Hotel Real Colegiata offers the epitome of luxury and history. The hotel is located in a historic 11th century monestary, completely renovated in 2020 to integrate unique historic elements like cloistered corridors and a fountain-filled courtyard with modern comforts and functionality. Rooms are comfortably furnished, with exposed brick walls, carved headboards, cozy armchairs, and rain showers. The hotel is located at the heart of Leon’s historic quarter, a short walk from Antoni Gaudi’s recently opened Casa Botines and the Cathedral. 

Hotel Sercotel EsteOeste (1 night) 
The Hotel Sercotel EsteOeste is a charming new boutique hotel located in the Plaza de Santo Domingo, in the historic center of Lugo, footsteps from the Abastos market, Lugo Cathedral, the Plaza Mayor, and dozens of cafes. The property boasts sustainable design combining natural stone, wood, light, and vegetation. 

San Francisco Hotel Monumento (2 nights) 
The stunning San Francisco Hotel Monumento is located mere footsteps from the cathedral, in the heart of Santiago de Compostela. Constructed within an eighteenth-century convent, the building has been recognized as a Cultural Heritage Site. The hotel combines the charm of this historic building with the services and amenities of a four-star hotel. The hotel features an indoor pool, jacuzzi, and restaurant serving regional dishes made with fresh produce grown in the property’s gardens.