Official UK partner to the Paradors, Pousadas, Pestana Hotels & Resorts,
Teritoria, and European Hotels Collection. Keytours International,
formerly Keytel International, your agent in the UK.
Every year, thousands of people from all over the world endeavour to embark upon the Way of Saint James. This thrilling adventure provides the perfect combination of personal challenge, companionship, sport, nature and culture. All along the route you will not only discover cathedrals, monuments and monasteries, but also areas of natural beauty with picture-perfect landscapes. On foot, by bicycle or on horseback, the journey through Spain to Santiago de Compostela is an incredible experience which everyone is always eager to repeat.
Whether you are looking to undertake the Camino de Santiago or just part of it, the Paradors provide perfect ‘stop overs’ en route. These unique state-owned establishments: country houses and meticulously restored and converted castles, palaces, convents and monasteries in their superb settings are only a short distance away. The luxury of the hotels combined with the awe-inspiring challenge of the journey makes this a once in a lifetime experience.
The Way of Saint James – which was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1993 – consists of a network of different paths. The route is perfectly signposted and can be done in stages. Whilst continuing along the route you will realise that every day is different; the variety of landscapes which one sees on route is just one of the contributing factors. Over the years the route itself has also evolved and there are many variations that may now be taken. Please find below the details of some of the most popular routes:
This appears to be the most popular of the variations. It begins in the Pyrenees and has two variants depending on where you choose to enter: Somport (through Aragon) or Roncesvalles (through Navarre). Both routes meet in the town of Puente la Reina, and then continue on towards Galicia through the regions of La Rioja and Castile-León.
The red dots on the map above show the locations of Paradors on the route.
This appears to be the most popular of the variations. It begins in the Pyrenees and has two variants depending on where you choose to enter: Somport (through Aragon) or Roncesvalles (through Navarre). Both routes meet in the town of Puente la Reina, and then continue on towards Galicia through the regions of La Rioja and Castile-León.
The red dots on the map above show the locations of Paradors on the route.
This route was first used by the pilgrims in order to avoid travelling through the regions that were once occupied by the Muslims in the Middle Ages. As a large part of the route runs along the coastline against a backdrop of mountains with breath-taking views overlooking the Cantabrian Sea, one of the greatest attractions of this route is its landscape. When Oviedo is reached, there is either the option to continue on the Northern Route or alternatively take the Primitive Route (Original Pilgrims’ Way).
The red dots on the map above show the locations of Paradors on the route.
This route follows the original taken by King Alfonso II “The Chaste” in the 9th-century to visit the tomb of James the Apostle when it was first discovered. It starts in Oviedo and passes through the woods and valleys of Asturias, to link up with the French Route in Palas de Rei.
The red dots on the map above show the locations of Paradors on the route.
This route takes you from the beautiful coastal surroundings at the Portuguese border, up to the magnificent city of Santiago.
The historic ‘Ruta de la Plata’ has been a natural connection between the coast of Andalusia and the Bay of Biscay since ancient times.
