16 Day - Walk Strong, Walk On the Camino de Santiago
Rejuvenate, Reflect and Enjoy.
Fly from D.C. to South of France and start walking through the Basque Country of Southern France & Northern Spain and then by van to Santiago with stops in the famous Camino towns of Burgos, Leon and Santiago de Compostela. Sunday, September 7 - Monday, September 22, 2025 Group size is limited to 14 pilgrims. |
The Camino de Santiago has been a potent pilgrimage route since prehistoric times. The Camino is a living, breathing pathway. It will speak to you through the landscape, your dreams, and sacred encounters along the way. You will be enlivened by the magic and miracles of backpacking along this holy route, also known as the Way of St. James.
Who’s Walking? The group is perfect for solo travelers, friends & families ready for adventure and fun. |
Basque France and Northern Spain Route for Pilgrims
Leaving from D.C. you will fly as a group and land in Southern France. Upon your arrival, you will be picked up in vans and driven to a picturesque town in the South of France, voted one of the most beautiful in France. The next morning you will begin walking the Camino de Santiago!
Together, we hike for 4 days through the stunning countryside getting closer to the Pyrenees. Wild horses, sheep, and tiny villages marking the rolling farmlands, with the Pyrenees on the horizon. On our 4th and 5th day of walking we will take 2 days to cross the Pyrenees using the same gentle pass used by Charlemagne, Napolean and countless pilgrims.
At the top of the Pyrenees, we arrive in the Basque Country of Spain. You will spend 2 days walking through the forested mountain foothills to arrive in Pamplona, the city made famous by Hemingway for its annual bull runs. You'll take a well earned rest day in Pamplona to get massages and shop in stylish boutiques while staying in a 4-star hotel for two nights. You can also enjoy the world class tapas bars, visit the historic Cathedral, and explore the old town.
Our last 2 days of walking will bring us into the heart of Spain's wine country, where the landscape becomes arid. Rock formations will line your views. Then from Estella, a gorgeous small town and pilgrimage site of its own, we will van 2 hours to Burgos, the white city, to spend the day viewing the cathedral of El Cid and the impressive Museum of Human Evolution. The next day we'll bus 2 hours to Leon, for another day in the majestic town that has some of the most beautiful churches of the Camino. The following day, we'll start early to drive 3 hours to the outskirts of Santiago so we can arrive at the Cathedral on foot.
Our last 2 nights in Santiago are for celebration and an optional trip to Finesterre, the traditional ending point of the this historic pilgrimage route. On our final morning we'll return to Madrid and fly directly back to D.C.
Together, we hike for 4 days through the stunning countryside getting closer to the Pyrenees. Wild horses, sheep, and tiny villages marking the rolling farmlands, with the Pyrenees on the horizon. On our 4th and 5th day of walking we will take 2 days to cross the Pyrenees using the same gentle pass used by Charlemagne, Napolean and countless pilgrims.
At the top of the Pyrenees, we arrive in the Basque Country of Spain. You will spend 2 days walking through the forested mountain foothills to arrive in Pamplona, the city made famous by Hemingway for its annual bull runs. You'll take a well earned rest day in Pamplona to get massages and shop in stylish boutiques while staying in a 4-star hotel for two nights. You can also enjoy the world class tapas bars, visit the historic Cathedral, and explore the old town.
Our last 2 days of walking will bring us into the heart of Spain's wine country, where the landscape becomes arid. Rock formations will line your views. Then from Estella, a gorgeous small town and pilgrimage site of its own, we will van 2 hours to Burgos, the white city, to spend the day viewing the cathedral of El Cid and the impressive Museum of Human Evolution. The next day we'll bus 2 hours to Leon, for another day in the majestic town that has some of the most beautiful churches of the Camino. The following day, we'll start early to drive 3 hours to the outskirts of Santiago so we can arrive at the Cathedral on foot.
Our last 2 nights in Santiago are for celebration and an optional trip to Finesterre, the traditional ending point of the this historic pilgrimage route. On our final morning we'll return to Madrid and fly directly back to D.C.
What makes Red Monkey different from other pilgrimages?
Your guides have spent years on the Camino and are experts in guiding deep, fun experiences,
While each person is walking for their own reasons, everyone’s journey is significant and our groups always learn a lot from one another as well as sharing the comaraderie of Camino family. |
Your Journey Includes:
- 16 days of Walking Pilgrimage along a less traveled section of the Camino, 9 days walking (more if you'd like!), 3 travel days from the US and back, 2 rest days in Pamplona and Santiago to explore or just rest and 2 days in beautiful Burgos and Leon.
- All Accommodations from Camino gites, boutique hotels and three nights in a 4 star hotel. You'll stay in extraordinary lodgings picked for their beauty and the generosity of their caretakers.
- Gorgeous Breakfast and Dinner while in the wilds of France ( 8 meals included )
- Local guides in Burgos, Leon and Santiago to understand these impressive cathedrals and towns.
- All Ground transportation in Europe, including tips.
- Pre-Walk Preparation and Community Building with David.
- Porter Services so you need only carry a daypack.
- Carbon offset credit donated to sustainable tree planting to mitigate the impact of your flight.
- Pre-trip lectures and emails on Camino history, culture and best practices.
- 16 days of Walking Pilgrimage along a less traveled section of the Camino, 9 days walking (more if you'd like!), 3 travel days from the US and back, 2 rest days in Pamplona and Santiago to explore or just rest and 2 days in beautiful Burgos and Leon.
- All Accommodations from Camino gites, boutique hotels and three nights in a 4 star hotel. You'll stay in extraordinary lodgings picked for their beauty and the generosity of their caretakers.
- Gorgeous Breakfast and Dinner while in the wilds of France ( 8 meals included )
- Local guides in Burgos, Leon and Santiago to understand these impressive cathedrals and towns.
- All Ground transportation in Europe, including tips.
- Pre-Walk Preparation and Community Building with David.
- Porter Services so you need only carry a daypack.
- Carbon offset credit donated to sustainable tree planting to mitigate the impact of your flight.
- Pre-trip lectures and emails on Camino history, culture and best practices.
Cost and more information available from David or click below
Review Snapshots
“10 out of 10! The Camino changed me for the better. I feel calmer, more patient and grounded. I am focusing more on the things that bring me joy and less on other’s perceptions. I feel open to other people again, instead of emotionally locked down. I felt my heart open and my husband says that we have never had better conversations. I cannot imagine better guides and am so grateful to have had this experience.” - A.L., Entrepreneur
“This experience taught me what it means to feel 'expansive. It was great for me to practice being vulnerable and great for building my confidence. I saw an immediate positive impact after the trip in the depth of my connections both at home and at work.”
- Kim, Doctor
- Kim, Doctor
"YESSSSS, I absolutely 1,000 times recommend [this trip]. This trip was the most authentic and beautiful way to get to know the walk and the history, food, people, culture, etc. There is nothing else like it." - K.B. Denver, CO Project Manager
MEET YOUR GUIDES
Who is David
David loves the Camino! He has walked over 2,000 miles of the Frances, del Norte, Porteguese, Ingles, Finesterre Caminos. He is retired 11 years ago after two 20+ careers. The first in the food and entertainment industury and then the financial services industry. His time is spent with grandchildren and serving his community through his membership in Rotary. Favorite activities include running, yoga, and meditation. |
Who is Luigi?
Luigi is a passionate Camino pilgrim and full time writer and translator between his 5 fluent languages. Besides publishing a novel and a travel guide, Luigi has worked in Colombia with Peace Brigade International, doing observation and advocacy in conflict zones. In Barcelona, Luigi works as a translator for National Geographic and the European Union in Brussels as well as a tour guide for runningtoursbarcelona.com. In Luigi's spare time he can be found running marathons and exploring new Camino routes. |