Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Way of St. James is one of the oldest and most traveled pilgrimage routes in the world. Including the celebrated Santiago de Compostela where the remains of St. James are believed to be buried, this tour also visits the inspirational sites of Lourdes and Fatima. After over 1000 years, this sacred journey continues to draw thousands of pilgrims promising a one-of-a-kind experience.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 - Paris
Board an overnight international transatlantic flight aboard a major airline to Paris, the City of Light.
Day 2 - Paris
Welcome to France! A Go Ahead representative will greet you at the airport as you clear customs and escort you to your hotel. Enjoy exploring the charming streets of Paris before this evening’s Welcome Dinner.
Included meals: breakfast (in flight), dinner
Day 3 - Lourdes
Enjoy a free morning to continue discovering Paris, or opt to explore the sancuaries of three of the city’s most historically and spiritually significant churches—the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Saint Sulpice and Sacré Coeur. After free time for lunch, travel via the high-speed TGV train through the French countryside to Lourdes, France’s premier Christian pilgrimage site.
Included meals: breakfast
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$69 USD |
Churches of Paris
You will explore three of the city’s most famous churches—the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Saint Sulpice and Sacré Coeur.
Please note: This excursion requires advanced booking and must be reserved 20 days prior to departure.
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Day 4 - Lourdes
Begin the day with a guided sightseeing tour of Lourdes, a sleepy mountain town that was transformed into one of the most visited religious sites in the world. In 1858, a young girl named Bernadette Soubirous claimed to have visions of the Virgin Mary in the Grotto of Massabielle. During the 18 apparitions, the Virgin is said to have told Bernadette that the people should make a pilgrimage to the Grotto for healing. Ever since, Lourdes has been a destinaiton for the sick and infirm. During your tour, you’ll visit the Basilica and the Grotto of Massabielle. This afternoon, you are free to explore the mysteries of Lourdes on your own, or you may opt to follow in the footsteps of Bernadette on a walking tour. Rejoin your group for an included dinner this evening.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Included entrances: Basilica, Grotto of Massabielle
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$69 USD |
In the Footsteps of Bernadette
Visit the place where Bernadette lived: the Burg house, the parish church Saint John the Baptist, and where they kept the sheep. Stop at the sheep farm where Bernadette looked after the animals, the take the path to the Coudet Calvary before following the shallow Bedout path to Lourdes. Finally, you’ll arrive at the Grotto of the Apparitions.
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Day 5 - Burgos
Travel over the Pyrenées to the seaside city of San Sebastian, known for its beauty and culinary culture. A professional local guide leads this morning’s orientation to San Sebastian, a town bordered by green mountains and roaring ocean. Pass by Playa de la Concha and through the town’s old quarter. Isabel II spent her vacations here. While in the Old Town, notice the numbers on the balconies above. These used to be ringside seats for bullfights. Later this afternoon, travel to Burgos, home to one of Spain’s most beautiful Gothic cathedrals.
Included meals: breakfast
Day 6 - Santiago de Compostela
Called the Catedral de Santa Maria, the cathedral of Burgos is a Gothicmasterpiece. Begun by King Ferdinand III of Castile in 1221 on the site of a former Romanesque church, construction was halted for 200 years, and it was ultimately completed in 1567. During your guided tour of the city, you’ll experience the cathedral’s beauty and the flamboyant architecture of some of its later chapels. You’ll also see the tombs of El Cid and his wife, buried in the cathedral in 1919. Then continue on to your next destination, Santiago de Compostela, where you may choose to enjoy the local offshore specialties at our optional seafood dinner.
Included meals: breakfast
Included entrance: Burgos Cathedral
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$79 USD |
Seafood Dinner
For a true taste of Galicia, opt to join your fellow travelers for a succulent Mariscada, or seafood dinner, at a local restaurant in Galicia’s historic center. Savor the freshest seafood Spain has to offer as you choose from a variety of menu options.
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Day 7 - Santiago de Compostela
On this morning’s walking tour, an expert local guide introduces you to the historic features of Santiago de Compostela, which ranked as Christendom’s third most important pilgrimage site (after Jerusalem and Rome) during the Middle Ages. Stroll along the ancient city’s narrow streets, viewing the twin-spired cathedral, the Praza do Obradoiro, the 9th-century monastery and the 17thcentury fountain in the center of the Praza das Praterias. Explore the town on your own this afternoon or join an optional riverboat cruise along the Rias Baixas.
Included meals: breakfast
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$95 USD |
Rias Baixas River Cruise
Cruise among the West Galician coastal inlets, famous for their mussel
and oyster farms (along the way, you’ll get to try some samples!).
Galician bagpipe music serenades you as you pass islands and coves
including Sansenxo, La Toxa Island, Cambados and Vilagarcia de Arousa.
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Day 8 - Fatima
Travel to Fatima, where you’ll embark on a tour of this famed Catholic site once you arrive. Fatima is where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared six times to three shepherd children, Lucy, Francisco and Jacinta, between May 13 and October 13, 1917. On today’s tour, you’ll explore the sanctuary and grotto and find out about the three Secrets of Fatima—the ones that have been revealed, that is. Enjoy an included dinner this evening.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Included entrance: Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima
Day 9 - Fatima
Today is yours to explore Fatima on your own. Alternatively, opt for a full-day excursion to the Portuguese city of Porto where a local guide will lead you through its bustling streets and take you into St. Francis Church and a wine-cellar.
Included meals: breakfast
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$59 USD |
Porto
Enjoy taking in the city’s sights on a bus tour through the historic center, the seaside district and the Boavista Quarter. Then you’ll visit the Cathedral and a Port wine cellar, followed by a stop at St. Francis Church. Finally, end your tour with a walking tour through the ancient quarter of Ribiera.
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Day 10 - Lisbon
Stop in the ancient city of Santarém this morning on your way to Lisbon, your final destination. This afternoon, after you settle in at your hotel, a local guide leads your tour of Lisbon, where you’ll see Padro dos Descobrimentos and the Torre de Belém. It was from here that many navigators set sail during the Age of Discover —including Bartolomeu Dias, who sailed around the southern tip of Africa. Then experience an old-world atmosphere as you journey through the labyrinthine streets of the age-old Moorish Alfama district and past the Castelo de São Jorge. Visit the Ajuda Palace, once a royal residence. Tonight, relive memories of your tour over a Farewell Dinner.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Included entrances: Ajuda Palace
Day 11 - Lisbon
Transfer to the airport for your return flight home, or extend your stay with two more nights in Lisbon.
Included meals: breakfast
(In the case of early morning departures, breakfast may not be provided.)
Extend Your Stay
Add 2 nights in Lisbon for only $259 USD (Single room: add $79 USD)
Enjoy your own Age of Discovery by exploring the coastal charm of the Portuguese capital. You'll encounter historic monuments, intricate architecture and fascinating culture.