You’ll be met on arrival at Seville airport and transferred to our central Seville hotel. Bikes will be built and fitted and, flight times permitting, there will be time to take a stroll around the ‘old quarter’ of the city taking in the UNESCO world heritage sites of the Cathedral and the towering Giralda or the breathtaking Alcazaba Palace and its gardens.

A pilgrims’ credential or credencial del peregrine, which identifies you as a pilgrim and tracks your progress along the Camino de La Plata, can be bought from the Cathedral in Seville. Along your journey you can collect stamps from albergues, churches, hotels, bars, shops and restaurants, all different and many very creative. All part of the fun to log our journey! When we arrive in Santiago, we can take our credentials to ‘La Oficina del Peregrino’ (Pilgrim’s office).

In the evening your guides will brief you about the adventures ahead before heading out into the lively Barrio de Santa Cruz for a fun evening sampling the best tapas and Seville’s fantastic night-time atmosphere. Seville is a captivating city, and it’s tough to do it justice in half a day, so to discover at your own pace we’d recommend an extension at the beginning of your trip. Please enquire for extra nights in Seville.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1200 Metres Approx.

As the golden light of the south rises over the city we’ll set off on our first day. We’ll cross and follow the historic Guadalquivir river that injects lifeblood into the parched landscape.

From here we’ll travel to Santiponce and through to the ancient Roman city of Italica. This impressive site was the first Roman city on the Iberian Peninsular and houses a fantastically preserved amphitheatre and mosaics. Our trail becomes more peaceful as we make our way through flat plains and pass fields of sunflowers, cotton and olive trees, on the way to the lovely whitewashed town of Guillena.

The hustle and bustle of Seville fades to the solitary, secluded landscapes of the Sierra Norte de Sevilla and the western part of the Sierra Morena. As the route ascends we’ll pass farms of citrus, wheat and cotton as the trail meanders and climbs higher into the Sierra.

Once most of the work is done we’ll stop for a picnic prepared by the Skedaddle Espana guides. The team cook up a mixture of local and traditional dishes embellished with fresh salads and local cheeses and meats. Delicious!

Under-wheel we’ll enjoy a mixture of gravel and earth trails, and we’ll take on some exhilarating descents through shady oaks and the forest park of Berrocal to the lovely white-washed village of Almaden de la Plata, famed for its traditionally cured Jamon Iberico and game which (for the omnivores among us) can be sampled over the course of the evening.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1250 Metres Approx.

We’ll climb away from Almaden on rolling paths into a unique type of cultivated forest called dehesa. We’ll ride through vast tracts of this sparsely populated, mixed oak pasture over the next few days. The sustainable ecosystem of dehesa produces game, honey, mushrooms, cork, firewood and charcoal and perhaps most importantly is home to three of the world’s most threatened species, the black vulture, Spanish imperial eagle and Iberian lynx.

The wild, expansive, rolling dehesa makes for great biking with fast twisting descents and forgiving climbs, passing numerous small towns like Real de la Jara, Monesterio and Fuente de Canos, where we’ll pass into the wild province of Extremadura. We’ll notice more grapes and olives as we close in on Zafra, our destination for the evening. This pretty town named by occupying Moors, is topped by a 15th century castle, once an Arab Alcazar and now a luxurious hotel.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 480 Metres Approx.

Our third day in the saddle is perhaps one of the gentlest on the route. A steady climb will take us onto a fantastic long switchback descent down to the pleasant town of Los Santos de Maimoma, dwarfed by the impressive church of Los Angeles.

Easy, smooth trails undulate through vast vines and olive groves, passing small towns ideally placed to stop for some refreshments. The imposing Sierra de San Servan comes upon us quickly as we blast along trails through arable farmland of wheat and sunflower.

A last effort over the sierra will take us down to the River Guadiana and across the impressive Roman bridge. 792 m long with 60 granite arches, it’s one of the longest ever built by the Romans. The bridge will lead us to the lively hub of Merida, standing on the site of the Roman Augusta Emerita settlement, founded in 25BC.

Merida has more Roman sites than anywhere else in Spain and the Teatro Romano is a must see, with two-tier stone columns it is particularly impressive.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 960 Metres Approx.

On leaving Merida we’ll pass the remains of the Acueducto de Los Milagros, now favoured by nesting storks. Some easy early miles take us to the Roman reservoir of Proserpina, the largest water reserve built in the Roman empire.

From the dam some undulating twisting tracks will lead us to the village of Aljucen, ideally placed for a mid-morning coffee. The route passes through Cornalvo Nature Park, with splendid pasture lands dotted with holm oaks, taking on a series of red earth ‘camino’ trails.

An ascent commences at this point taking us through some beautiful highland meadows that bloom white and yellow in spring. Crossing the Sierra Centinela pass before a fun descent to reach Alcuescar, we’ll pick up a stunning ride along narrow caminos. We’ll cross the small Roman bridge entering Casas de Don Antonio, known for having some of the earliest Roman paths with impressive milarios (Roman milestones).

Several 2000-year-old bridges later we’ll be cruising alongside the Sierra de San Pedro for the last few kilometres, before reaching the former Roman Caceres. The old town is a medieval gem, and little changed since the 15th century, surrounded by walls and towers from the 12th century Arab occupation. Around the lively Plaza Mayor there are some great bars and restaurants serving up some of the best food in the region.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1025 Metres Approx.

From Cáceres, the route descends through Casar and takes on a beautiful stretch of trail through granite boulder, broom and pasture, passing carved miliarios before descending on fun trails to the Alcántara Reservoir, a dam across the Tajo river that ends its long journey across the peninsula on the Atlantic in Lisbon. The climbing begins once we cross the water on gravel tracks up to the Cima del Tajo, taking a fantastic twisting trail to the village of Canaveral. Then it’s uphill to Puerto Los Castaños.

The descent from the top doesn’t drop too far but gives us some fantastic stretches of riding, through dehesa and pastures on smooth flowing single track, passing the small village of Grimaldo.

The last stretch of the route firstly takes us into the Alagón Valley, and then into the River Jerte Valley, famous for its cherries. The medieval walled village of Galisteo is visible from miles away with the Sierra de Los Canchos in the distance, giving us a final descent to our beds for the evening.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 980 Metres Approx.

This stage is one of the most rewarding, and the quality of the ride and the views along the way will be one of the highlights of the trip. Especially outstanding is the Roman city of Cáparra and its fantastic tetrapylon arch, which the route passes through.

On leaving Galisteo the medieval bridge will take us across the Rio Jerte to follow its canal. We’ll also notice at numerous points that we‘re now on the original route of the Roman road, or Via, with clusters of miliarios. Fun narrow trails, paths and singletrack will take us through dehesa and woodland. The Sierra de Candelaria, part of the Gredos range, looms up on our right flank as the day progresses.

Steadily climbing we’ll reach the thermal spa town of Banos de Montemayor, an ideal spot to relax and maybe take a dip in medicinal waters that have ‘cured’ perigrinos for centuries. The rest should set us up for the final stretch of the day, climbing ancient trails to leave Extremadura behind and head into Castile-Leon, and the province of Salamanca. The hilltop village of the Puerto del Bejar, at almost 900m, is our resting place for the evening.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1150 Metres Approx.

A truly memorable day of gravel biking today! Tough due to its length and climbs, but over some quality terrain with spectacular views of the Sierras de Bejar and the rest of the Gredos range, often known as the ‘back-bone’ of Spain dividing the north and south. So, congratulations, today we are definitely on our way into the northern territory!

From the Pass we’ll take a fantastic descent into the Valle del Rio Cuerpo del Hombre through chestnuts and oak, before a stiff, rough ascent to Calzada de Bejar.

In Fuenterroble, we’ll be able to visit the Museo de los Caminos, housing interesting ethnological information about the ‘way’ to Santiago. From here we’ll ascend to one of the highest points of the route, the Pico de la Dueña, at 1,140 metres. The views are fantastic back towards the Gredos and out beyond the approaching meseta.

From here, the route towards Salamanca is clearly downhill with some fantastic, exhilarating sections (although it does have abundant ‘undulating’ stretches). Entry to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Salamanca is appropriately across its Roman bridge. It’s a lively city due to the historical university, abundance of first-class monuments and its engaging Plaza Mayor, thought by many to be the most beautiful in Spain.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 550 Metres Approx.

A slightly easier day on the bike today. Overall, the route descends as it traverses extensive plains and farmlands to reach the strategic fortress town of Zamora, lying on the northern banks of the Rio Duero.

The route snakes its way north heading into the high plateau called the ‘meseta’. The riding is steady and fast on red earth tracks through crops of wheat, vines and sunflower. We’ll ride through several attractive small villages, Calzada de Baldunciel and the curiously named El Cubo de la Tierra del Vino (The Bucket of the land of wine!), on the borders of the province of Salamanca. Trees reappear for a short period of time after leaving the village as we pass through a holm oak wood that runs parallel to the old railway.

Past Villanueva de Campean we’ll climb onto higher ground where we’ll be able to make out Zamora, with its monuments and cathedral sitting high and proud, which we’ll enter by way of a medieval bridge over the River Duero.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 590 Metres Approx.

This ninth day in the saddle offers us a little respite, as we head out again across rolling meseta, with no mountainous climbs hindering progress. The route twists past the Dam of Ricobayo, where on the Rio Esla the impressive, ruined remains of the 13th Century castle Castrotorofe guard the banks.

Fast smooth tracks lead us to Granja de Moreruela where there is an important fork in the ‘Via’. The true ‘via de la Plata’ continues on a northern path towards Astorga, however the Camino Sanabres, the ancient route to Santiago) turns west towards Galicia, and this is the route we take with only 368 km to go.

The route crosses the Rio Elsa over the strong Puente de los Quintos to follow the westerly path on earth trails with the Galician Sierras rising beyond. A slight diversion on a fun path will take us to the Mirador Alto y Vista del Elsa for a stunning view over the canyon of the river Esla. As we leave the meseta, the trail becomes noticeably greener and hillier as we roll onto the quiet village of Tabara to rest our legs.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1175 Metres Approx

Today is the longest and possibly the toughest of the trip and begins with a steady ascent of La Picota at just over 800 metres. The trail climbs on good tracks before descending to the Rio Tera Valley which we follow west for much of the ride.

The terrain becomes more rugged, hilly and unforgiving as we ride west, giving us some of the most technical trails of the trip. We’ll ride many narrow exciting trails today, passing pretty hamlets and villages. Arriving in more open rolling countryside, the Sierra de la Cabrera Baja rise to intimidate in the distance.

As we close on our destination we’ll pick up a trail known as the Cordel de Benavente, a great piece of singletrack that undulates through the final miles to the beautifully set Puebla de Sanabria, whose captivating web of medieval alleyways unfolds around its 15th century castle. It’s an ideal place to rest and the local restaurants dish up hearty mountain fare to be washed down with the locally produced Toro red.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 2050 Metres Approx.

A big breakfast might be needed today as we tackle another 90kms today! But it’s a ride well worth the effort as we break into Galicia, the final province of our journey. The day starts steadily following the valley to Requejo, before the work begins by gaining the first pass in the climb to the Alto de Padornelo at 1345m, the highest point of the journey.

Lovely trails through mixed woodland and open hillside drop to the rural community of Lubrian, where the next climb to the Alto de A Canda (1281m) begins. Great views of the surrounding mountains are earned as we make our way over the pass, on steadily climbing asphalt, into Galicia.

Great descents await, blasting trails that will make us forget our efforts before the rise to the Portela Blanca. The climb takes us to a stunning view point over the Las Portas Reservior.

After passing the historical cross of Portacamba we’ll take on a fantastic 500m descent to our home for the night and the isolated village of Laza. Wow, what a day!

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1050 Metres Approx.

Into deepest Galicia today, a well-earned shorter ride to the thermal spa town of Ourense. The route however does begin by climbing steadily through ancient medieval villages, before the way steepens on the climb up through sparse pine to Albergeria, an ancient stop along the route and the cruz de madera at Monte Talerina (970m) gains us the highest point of the day early on.

The descent drops suddenly to Vila del Barrio on exhilarating trails. The route becomes easier heading through villages and eucalyptus plantations, riding along many corredoiras – ancient trails between villages in Galicia. The riding is fun, narrow and at times a little technical.

Out of the valley we gain the Cima del Vila along narrow, fun paths between bracken, gorse and granite. The trail then descends steadily over 20km through valleys and woodland to reach the industrial outskirts of Ourense. We head to the attractive historical centre for our overnight stay, looking forward to a relaxing soak in the town’s thermal waters, and some delicious Galician cuisine washed down with a local Albariño white wine.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1950 Metres Approx.

Back in the saddle for the penultimate ride, we’ll head north through the green wooded valley on a variety of tracks and trails, through tiny farming communities and pastureland and deeper into the province of Pontevedra.

We begin by passing over the last ‘great river’ on the route, the Rio Mino, that further down-stream creates a natural border between Spain and Portugal. Once across we’ll be climbing again along shady wooded singletracks and corredoiras to drop into the pretty medieval village of Cea.

The trail climbs steeply from the huge grey granite Monastery of Osiera, but the descent from El Alto at 820m is fantastic as we blast along ancient routes towards Castro Dozon and descend to Laxe. Rolling trails will take us through the Deza river valley and a final climb offering us some fun trails to finish. Through the village of Tranfondao to our overnight at Silleda, famous for its impressive Fervenza do Toxa waterfalls and top quality Galician beef.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 920 Metres Approx.

A sense of excitement this morning for our final push to Santiago de Compostela. A huge day in terms of significance, the last on our adventurous journey north, but the shortest day in the saddle, giving us plenty of time to relax and soak up the atmosphere of this final stage, and really enjoy the ride.

On a myriad of different trails and ancient roads we meander from one grey granite hamlet to the next. Close to Dornela we’ll take a fantastic path through pine and Eucalyptus to the Rio Ulla, whose bridge takes us into the province of Coruna. The route climbs up to the village of Outiero, an ideal place for a picnic lunch before the final 16km to Santiago.

The last miles undulate their way through rural Galicia, making it difficult to realize we are so close to the great city where the remains of St. James the Apostle lie. We enter the city through the Arco de Mazarelos and make our way through the stunning granite lanes to the end of our journey, the Plaza del Obradoiro and the Catedral de Santiago de Compostela.

Before we embark on a celebratory evening of Galician seafood and crisp white wines in the old town, we’ll present our pilgrim’s passport at the Pilgrims office and collect our Compostela certificate, a unique memento of this amazing route.

• Meals: Breakfast

After a relaxing breakfast it’s time to pack those bags one last time and head to Santiago de Composela airport for flights home.

Santiago Extension

Santiago de Compostela is a beautiful city to explore at your own pace and it is well recommended if you wish to stay for longer. Highlights abound; the cathedral never fails to impress and delight, especially the impressive incense bearing Botafumerio as it swings from the rafters. Other sites of particular interest include Convento de San Paio de Antelares, which houses the Museo de Arte Sacro, the Praza de la Azabacheria and Museo do Pobo Galego. The Hospital Real (now a luxury hotel) is worth a visit, even if it’s only for a quick drink in the bar. Or why not take a few moments to relax and reflect on the trip and watch the world drift by in a plaza – a fantastic place to end the trip, relax and unwind.