St James' Way self-guided bicycling tour - Cycle the Camino de Santiago on your own from the city of Léon - Holy Year 2010

This is the best of self-guided bike tours for any bicyclist wanting a taste of the traditions and history of the "Camino de Santiago". For centuries, it has been used by pilgrims. One needs no religious beliefs, just curiosity and the wish to learn. On the route, the pilgrims are united by their course.

St James' pilgrimage Way or "Camino de Santiago" is listed as the main European Cultural Itinerary and scattered with delightful monuments such as old pilgrims' hospitals in Leon and Santiago de Compostela, we are constantly reminded that this route is the oldest, most celebrated and most frequented in Europe. It crosses the north of Spain beginning from the Pyrenees and provides views of breathtaking landscapes in the following regions of Navarra, Castile and Leon and Galicia, ancient monuments and most typical villages and cities from Pamplona to Burgos, Leon and to Santiago. Your accommodations are charming 2 and 3-star hotels, you may also choose some of the the highest quality: of three state-run Paradores on the bicycle route, two are very luxurious and the other hotels are of superior quality with a special charm. Savor the best of Spanish cuisine, traditional to the regions and accompanied by excellent wines from La Rioja and Ribera del Duero regions. Your luggage will be transported from hotel to hotel with a minimum of 4 participants.

You will get to know Spain´s most spectacular landscapes, historical monuments and charming villages pedaling on a bike.

Bicycles pick-up in Madrid at the Bravo Bike office

WHAT´S INCLUDED IN THE SELF-GUIDED TRIP:

Price in 2&3-star hotels	EURO 760 pp 6 nights in charming 2 & 3-star hotels in double occupancy. Single supplement EURO 145 Leon-santiago Luggage transport hotel to hotel included minimum REQUIREMENT FOR LUGGE TRANSPORT: 4 people
Price in 2&3-star hotels	EURO 630 pp in double occupancy. Single supplement EURO 145 Leon-Santiago Without luggage transport hotel to hotel Possibility to store your luggage at our office in Madrid
Price in 4-star hotels & Paradores	EURO 1065 pp in dbl occup. starting from Léon - 6 nights standard rooms in Paradores & 4-star hotels in double occupancy. Single supplement EURO 255 in accommodation at Paradores in Léon, Villafranca del Bierzo & Santiago de Compostela or 5-star hotel if latter should not be available. Early booking is recommended for the paradores in Léon and specially the one in Santiago. Min luggage transport 4 people required
Other options	Route can also be started from Roncesvalles (750 km/470 miles to Santiago) 10 nights, 11 days We also offer self-guided tours from Ponferrada (last 210 km or 130 miles) which are necessary to get the certificate "la Compostela" or any other starting point Please ask for complete information. Daily routes might be shortened or lengthened. Please ask for extra nights Optional: Flight back by Ryanair from Santiago de Compostela airport (SOQ) to Madrid Barajas (MAD) at own expense. There is a night train leaving Santiago for Madrid which allows transport of bicycles reserving a sleeping cabin. Cost of the sleeper train cabin for 2 people aprox. Euro 140 Bravo Bike also offers support and logistics for larger groups with a driver, there is availabilty of two vehicles minibus VW transporter 9 seats each and two trailers for the transport of bicycles & luggage
Departure dates 2010	2010 A HOLY YEAR starting any day of the year. Nevertheless, this year will be a Holy Year as St James' festivities fall on a Sunday July 25th. Therefore early booking is recommended.
Itinerary	Day 1: León individual arrival Day 2: Astorga/Rabanal del Camino 50 km/31 miles Day 3: Villafranca 75km/47 miles Day 4: Sarría 65 km/40 miles Day 5: Arzua 71 km/44 miles Day 6: Santiago 40 km/25 miles Day 7: Individual departure or extension This standard itinerary can be lengthened at an additional cost. Please contact us
Difficulty level	B (Intermediate) and C (Advanced). From Léon 5 mixed routes mostly paved with some dirt tracks with no tecnical difficulty of 45-75 km rolling terrain with two quite demanding ascents (Cruz de Ferro and O Cebreiro in Galicia. (25 to 47 miles) Routes are also perfect for road bikers although roads are subject to much more traffic towards Santiago de Compostela.Important:NO BICYCLE LANES into Santiago de Compostela!!! at least up to now!
Days/nights	7 days/6 nights
Included in the price	6 nights accommodation in 2 & 3-star hotels or inns All reinforced continental breakfasts (4-star hotels and paradores buffet breakfast) VAT taxes Transport with bike from Madrid to Léon or any other starting point and back from Santiago to Madrid with the very reliable bus operator ALSA 27-gear mtb bicycle (Trek 4300) individually adapted important to know: bicycles can not be insured against theft, therefore we need a copy of your ID or passport and a valid credit card Visa or Mastercard in case of loss Equipped with rack and two side panniers (15-20kg each) and front handlebar basket Repair kit, pump, locks, spare tube, helmet Luggage transport (1 bag, max. 20kg) from hotel to hotel FOR GROUPS OF AT LEAST 4 PEOPLE 6 and more people will be taxied by our minibus from Madrid to León Deposit your luggage at Bravo Bike Documentation & maps, hotel vouchers Bravo Bike welcome gifts Our fantastic 3-hour Madrid city tour either at the beginning or end of your tour if your time allows it
Not included	Cost before and after the tour Bicycle rental for any extra days Euro 10 per day Lunches & dinners
Supplements	SENDING the bicycles directly to the starting point and back to Madrid has an extra charge of EURO 45 each way
Extra nights	Madrid 4-star hotel Euro 70 pp* 3-star hotel Euro 55 pp* Santiago de Compostela 4-star hotel Euro 65 pp* 3-star hotel Euro 50 pp* *Price in dbl occupancy breakfast included. Please ask us we will offer you the best price/quality solution
Discounts	For larger groups please ask for discounts for bike tour and hotels
Bicycles pick-up	Office Bravo Bike S.L., calle Juan Alvarez Mendizabal, 19, E-28008 Madrid near Plaza de Espana (town center) Our neighbour Suites Viena aparthotel, calle Juan Alvarez Mendizabal, 17 Depending on occupancy they have competitive offers. We recommend breakfast at any neighbouring cafterias
How to get from the airport to theBravo Bike office	Metro line 10: Plaza de España or line 3: Ventura Rodriguez from the airport take line 8 to Nuevos Ministerios and then change to line 10 to Plaza de España (direction Puerta del Sur) Takes about 35 minutes and costs Euro 2. You also can buy a transferable bonus of 10 tickets for Euro 9 Important advise: Be vigilant for pick-pocketing. Do not keep all your important belongings at the same spot. By taxi: Euro 30 approx. distance 16 km/10 miles
Recommended season	Best time of the year are the month of late April, May, June, September and October. During July and August the Camino gets extremly busy and temperatures are rather high. Taking in account that 2010 will be a Holy Year as St James' birthday falls on a Sunday July 25th there will be an important increase of hiking pilgrims
Local advise	Should you need any information about anything concerning your stay/travel in Spain, please just send us a message

Sancti Jacobi the Compostela certificate