Does the price include air fare? Flights are not included in the cost of the walking tour. If you need assistance with travel arrangements Teachers' Travel / Walkers' World would be glad to help.

How do I get to Bilbao? Flights:  It is a good idea to arrive a day early -  we can make a reservation at the Barcelo Nervion Hotel for you. There are flights to Bilbao from Madrid, Frankfurt, Paris and London. If you are starting from Toronto the easiest way is to take Air Canada's direct flight to Madrid and then a connecting flight on their partner airline, Spanair. 

If you want to stopover in Madrid there are quite a few flights each day to Bilbao on Iberia. 

It is possible to travel to Bilbao by bus or train from Madrid. Train schedules can be found (in English) on the Spanish Rail web-site  www.renfe.es/ingles

How do I get home from Santiago de Compostela?  There are direct flights from La Coruna Airport (about 60 km north of Santiago) to London, England on Clickair which is a discount subsidiary of Iberia Airlines. This flight operates daily in mid afternoon. From London you can get flights to most cities. 

Alternatively, you can fly right from Santiago Airport to Madrid and from there get a connection to most cities.

It is a long train ride from Santiago back to Madrid. 

What equipment do I need?
Your luggage is carried by bus for you from hotel to hotel so you only need a small back-pack to carry water, camera and extra clothing. You do need comfortable hiking boots. A walking stick is helpful. Walking sticks are usually for sale in shops along the way.

How many people are in a group?
We find the ideal number is 20. We have two guides and most days the group breaks into two sections, one faster, one walking at a slower pace and not so far.

What sort of people are usually in the group?
Ages vary. There have been thirty year-olds and people well into their seventies. Sometimes the seventy-somethings outwalk the thirty-somethings. Mostly they are Canadians but we have had Australians, New Zealanders and Americans. Some travel as couples, some as singles.

How experienced are the guides?
Garry, our affable head guide, has walked (and cycled) the Camino many times. He is a qualified mountain guide and has taken the official safety training courses required under EU regulations. Originally Australian, he has a PHD from Oxford and speaks fluent Spanish (with an Australian accent).

Liz, our vivacious second guide, is a retired Canadian phys ed teacher who has lived and worked in Europe and South America. She speaks Spanish and has walked the Camino fourteen times in the past six years.

Deb, our charming alternate guide, is originally English and now lives in Granada with her Spanish husband. She speaks fluent Spanish and has lived in Mexico and South America while working in the film business. 

Is it better to walk the Camino with a group or independently?
If you are traveling alone it is definitely better to walk with a group. If there are two or more of you you can choose to do an independent walk. Keep in mind, however, that if you are walking independently everyone in your party must walk at the same speed. For an independent walk it is necessary to decide in advance on daily distances so hotels can be pre-booked and arrangements made to transfer your luggage. If you plan to walk independently and stay in hostels these cannot be pre-booked and beds are assigned on a first come/first served basis. Beds in hostels are often in communal dormitory rooms and facilities can be primitive. If you walk with our group you will be assured of comfort and privacy at night.