How many of you have ever considered taking part in a walking tour? Rather than the usual drive-by sight seeing tour, or token visit to an historic sight, have you ever considered walking to sight see? My parents recently took part in a San Francisco walking tour that they loved. We live near San Francisco and go there on occasion, driving our way about town, but they decided to go to SF as tourists, and take in the sights on foot with an informed guide. They loved the casual, informative, learning experience and now hope to do many more walking tours.
A world wide tour operating company called Follow the Camino has sent me some information about a walking tour near the border of France and Spain that sounds absolutely thrilling and educational.
For some background, there is an ages old pilgrimage path called the Way of St. James. Legend holds that St. James‘s remains were carried by boat from Jerusalem to Northern Spain where he was buried on the site of what is now the city of Santiago de Compostela. Ancient Christians of Southern France and Northern Spain would make the Pilgrimage to this sacred burial site. There’s a more modern route now called the French Way which runs from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the Pyrenees to Roncesvalles on the Spanish side and then another 780km on to Santiago de Compostela through the major cities of Pamplona, Logroño, Burgos and Léon. A typical walk on the Camino Francés takes at least four weeks, allowing for one or two rest days on the way.
Most people don’t have four weeks to make such a pilgrimage, and that’s where the tour company Follow the Camino has taken a new slant to this lovely walk. They are launching a new tour called The Camino Heming-Way: a Unique Journey through Time and Literature designed to Follow the Camino.
Famed writer, Ernest Hemingway, spent much of his time in this region and even wrote much of his masterpiece “The Sun Also Rises” from the city of Pamplona. You may know this town as the site of The Running of the Bulls.
On this tour of Follow The Heming-Way you’ll experience the first part of The French Way in just five days while enjoying French gastronomy, crossing the Pyrenees, discovering the legendary Basque country and arriving in the favorite city of Hemingway – Pamplona. You’ll also stop along the Irati River, where Hemingway rested and fished for trout. The tour also stops at the Hemingway Monument.
This exciting tour is recommended for Hemingway enthusiasts and anyone looking for a shorter, only 100km, alternative to the French Way,
So why not follow Hemingway’s steps and walk from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Pamplona. I’m so excited to hopefully be a part of this great tour, and really taste what this beautiful region has to offer in a meaningful way – on foot!
This is an informational paid post on behalf of Follow the Camino. All opinions expressed are my own.
Laurel says
take me, take me, take me!