Standard MTB
Mountainbike
A versatile and comfortable hardtail ideal for mixed-terrain cycling. With front suspension, hydraulic disc brakes, and 29-inch wheels (27.5-inch on smaller sizes).
The route
The route from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostela mainly follows smaller, paved roads through northern Spain. The terrain is varied, with long climbs, rolling sections and flatter stages. The Pyrenees and the mountainous areas of Galicia offer particularly demanding climbs, while the plains of Castile provide easier cycling. Along the way, you pass vineyards, open countryside, forests and small villages. The tour requires good physical fitness and experience with longer cycling distances, as you will be cycling 51–75 km per day for 13 consecutive days without rest days. An e-bike can be a good option if you would like some extra assistance on the many climbs.
The legend of St James
After the death of Jesus, the disciples spread to different parts of the known world to spread the Gospel. James came to Spain, where he spent several years evangelising. He returned to Jerusalem, but was beheaded by Herod shortly afterwards, in 44 AD. His followers took his body back to Spain. They landed on the Galician coast, about 20 km from present-day Santiago de Compostela. The body was buried in a tomb on a hillside and forgotten for 750 years.
The pilgrims travelled light, carrying only a staff and a rucksack and a dried pumpkin for water. The shell used to be something brought back from Santiago when it was found on the Galician coast and served as an extra proof that the pilgrim had reached his destination. Today it is the symbol of the Camino and is used on stone markers to show the way, and many pilgrims carry one with them.
Itinerary
See the day-by-day itinerary below.
Your cycling holiday begins in the charming French town of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, situated at the foot of the Pyrenees. The town is one of the best-known starting points for pilgrims following the French Camino, and you can already sense the special atmosphere that characterises this historic pilgrimage route. You arrive at your hotel in the late afternoon and have the rest of the day to explore the town and prepare for tomorrow's first cycling stage. Dinner is at your own expense.
Hotel (example): Hotel Central
The first cycling stage takes you on an impressive journey across the Pyrenees. From Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, the route climbs towards Roncesvalles as you cross the mountains and continue into Spain. It is a challenging start to the journey, but the beautiful mountain scenery makes the effort worthwhile. After Roncesvalles, the route continues through pleasant woodland before reaching Zubiri, where you spend the night.
Hotel (example): Hosteria de Zubiri
Today, you continue cycling through Navarra towards the historic town of Puente la Reina. Along the way, you pass through Pamplona, famous for its annual running of the bulls, but also home to a fascinating old town and a long history as an important stop on the Camino. From here, you continue through the northern Spanish countryside towards Puente la Reina, where several pilgrimage routes converge. The town's most famous landmark is its impressive medieval bridge across the River Arga, which has guided pilgrims towards Santiago de Compostela for centuries.
Hotel (example): Hotel Jakue
Today's stage takes you from Navarra into the famous wine region of La Rioja. Along the way, you cycle through landscapes characterised by vineyards, cereal fields and small villages, where the pilgrimage route has influenced local history for centuries. Your destination is Logroño, the capital of La Rioja and an important town along the French Camino. Here, you can explore the Church of Santiago and other historic buildings connected to the pilgrimage tradition. Dinner is at your own expense, giving you the freedom to choose where you would like to eat.
Hotel (example): Hotel Condes de Haro
From Logroño, you continue through the characteristic landscapes of La Rioja, with vineyards and open agricultural countryside. The route takes you towards Nájera and onwards to Santo Domingo de la Calzada, one of the Camino's most traditional pilgrimage towns. The town is particularly famous for its impressive cathedral and the unusual legend of a hen and a rooster, which still hold a special place in the cathedral's history. Afterwards, you continue to Belorado, where today's cycling stage comes to an end.
Hotel (example): Hotel Jacobeo
The landscape changes today as you leave Belorado and continue through small villages and more remote natural surroundings. The route passes through Montes de Oca, known for its woodland and long pilgrimage history. Along the way, you pass San Juan de Ortega, where the historic monastery has welcomed pilgrims for centuries. You then continue towards Burgos, one of the most impressive cities along the French Camino. Its magnificent Gothic cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is certainly worth visiting. Dinner is at your own expense.
Hotel (example): Hotel Norte y Londres
After breakfast, you leave Burgos and continue westwards across the open landscapes of the Castilian plateau. Fields stretch towards the horizon, and the scenery is characterised by wide-open spaces and small historic villages. Along the way, you pass through Castrojeriz, an ancient town with Roman origins that has played an important role in the history of the Camino. Today's destination is Frómista, particularly famous for the beautiful Romanesque Church of San Martín. Here, you can enjoy a peaceful end to the day's cycling.
Hotel (example): Hotel San Martin
Today's stage continues across the open landscapes of the Meseta, where the terrain is relatively flat and vast agricultural areas dominate the views. You first cycle towards Carrión de los Condes, which has been an important stopping point for pilgrims travelling to Santiago for centuries. The town is home to several historic churches and the old Monastery of San Zoilo, reflecting its significance along the pilgrimage route. From here, you continue through the characteristic Castilian countryside until you reach Sahagún, where you spend the night.
Hotel (example): Hotel Domus Viatoris
You continue cycling across the vast plains of the Meseta, where the open landscape and relatively gentle elevation changes make it easier to settle into a comfortable cycling rhythm. Today's destination is León, one of the most important cultural cities along the French Camino. Here, you will discover a fascinating combination of architecture and history, including the magnificent Gothic cathedral, the Basilica of San Isidoro and the historic San Marcos building. You can also admire Casa Botines, designed by the famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. Dinner is at your own expense.
Hotel (example): Hotel Paris
From León, you continue westwards as the landscape gradually becomes more hilly. Along the way, you pass Hospital de Órbigo, famous for its long medieval bridge across the River Órbigo. The journey continues towards Astorga, one of the most interesting towns along this section of the Camino. Here, you can visit the historic cathedral and the remarkable Episcopal Palace, designed by Antoni Gaudí. Afterwards, you continue towards Rabanal del Camino, a small pilgrimage village where you spend the night before tomorrow's mountain stage.
Hotel (example): La Posada de Gaspar
Today brings one of the tour's most notable mountain stages. From Rabanal del Camino, you climb towards the famous Cruz de Ferro, the highest point of the route. Here, an iron cross stands on top of a wooden pole, surrounded by stones left by generations of pilgrims. It is one of the most symbolic places along the French Camino. After the climb, the route continues through the mountain scenery with a substantial descent before reaching Las Herrerías, where today's stage ends.
Hotel (example): Hotel La Pandela
The day begins with a demanding climb towards O Cebreiro, one of the most famous mountain villages along the Camino. The village marks the entrance to Galicia and is known for its traditional stone houses with thatched roofs. From here, you continue through greener countryside with forests, rolling hills and small villages, where pine and eucalyptus trees are part of the landscape.
The route takes you onwards towards Triacastela, after which there are two possible routes to Sarria. One passes through Samos, with its historic monastery, while the other leads through the villages of Montán and Pintín. Along the way, you may also see the characteristic Galician hórreos, traditional grain stores raised above the ground on stone pillars. Today's destination is Sarria.
Hotel (example): Hotel Roma
The cycling journey continues through Galicia's green and hilly countryside, where small villages, woodland and agricultural landscapes alternate along the way. You pass through the areas around Portomarín and Palas de Rei, both of which have a long history as important stopping points along the pilgrimage route. The route also takes you through eucalyptus plantations and scenery that differs considerably from the open plains further east. You continue to Melide, where you spend the night and can look forward to the final cycling stage towards Santiago de Compostela.
Hotel (example): Hotel Carlos 96
The day has finally arrived when you reach the destination of your long cycling journey! From Melide, you continue through the Galician countryside towards Santiago de Compostela. Along the way, you pass Monte do Gozo, meaning the Mount of Joy, where pilgrims traditionally catch their first glimpse of Santiago. From here, you continue into the city towards the famous cathedral, which has been the destination of pilgrims from across Europe for centuries.
At Plaza del Obradoiro, in front of the cathedral, you can enjoy the wonderful feeling of having completed the entire journey from the Pyrenees to Santiago. The city's historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to numerous fascinating landmarks, including the former pilgrims' hospital Hostal de los Reyes Católicos and the Palacio de Raxoi. Dinner is at your own expense, allowing you to celebrate the end of your cycling holiday however you wish.
Hotel (example): Hotel Universal
After breakfast at the hotel, your cycling holiday along the French Camino comes to an end. You have now completed the entire journey from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostela, experiencing the many different landscapes, historic towns and pilgrimage sites along the way. It is time to say goodbye to Santiago and begin your journey home after 15 days filled with cycling, culture and experiences along one of Europe's most famous pilgrimage routes.
Pictures from the trip
Prices and dates
Prices per person in EUR
The price includes
ACCOMMODATION
- 14 nights at small hotels – always including private bathroom/toilet
FOOD & DRINKS
- Breakfast every day
- 9 dinners
CYCLING & EXPERIENCES
- 13 days of cycling (approx. 825 km in total)
- Pilgrim passport
- Rental of standard bike (can be deselected – see details below)
- Detailed descriptions of the carefully selected routes (route maps, route descriptions, information about relevant tourist attractions and important phone numbers – in English)
- Access to the route in our GPS app, which also works offline (one access per person)
- Option for GPX files for use in your own GPS
TRANSPORT
- Luggage transport between the hotels
OTHER
- Insurance for any rented bikes
- 24-hour local and international service hotline for the duration of the tour
- This is a packaged holiday and is therefore covered by The Travel Guarantee Fund - See which benefits this means for you - click here
GENERAL
- Transport to/from Spain
- Handling fee (€ 25)
- Travel insurance
REQUIRED AND PAID LOCALLY
- Any tourist taxes at the hotels
OPTIONAL
The following can be selected in the booking form, when you book the tour.
- Rental of electric bike (selected when booking the tour)
Use the button "Calculate price" on this page to see what the tour will cost with your wanted inclusions.
Bikes
You can choose from these bikes on the tour.
E-bike
Mountainbike
A powerful e-MTB designed to support you on hilly terrain and longer cycling days.
Practical information
Here you can get answers to various questions about the trip
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The price is based upon two people sharing. It is also possible travel alone in a single room. Simply choose "1 person" in the booking form and it will automatically add the single room surcharge.
On this tour you will be on your own supplied with maps, route descriptions and luggage transfers. That means that your time is your own and you have plenty of time to enjoy the stages in your own pace.
Check the price quickly
You can quickly check the price of your desired trip without having to fill out any forms. Here’s how:
- Click on the "Calculate Price" button (you’ll find it in the "Dates and Prices" section) – this will take you to the first pages of the booking form
- Select your preferred date, number of people, room distribution, any extra nights, and any available add-ons you may want
- See the price
Get a quote
If you would like a flight included, or changes made to the trip, you can request a customized offer by clicking the "Get Quote" button at the top of the page. Remember to describe in detail what changes you would like.
The booking process
When you book the trip, we will begin booking hotels and arranging all the practical aspects of your tour. This process typically takes 5–8 working days, but in some cases it may take longer for certain bookings. If you arrange your own transportation, we recommend waiting until we have confirmed your booking before making any arrangements.
Dates
If you can select a date in the trip calendar (in the booking form), then this is a possible start date. We regularly update our trips with sold-out dates; these dates will then appear in red/grey and cannot be selected.
On all our cycling holidays it is possible bring your own bike but it also possible to rent a bike for the tour. The bikes you can rent are all perfectly suited for the tour and the local terrain and all bikes are perfectly maintained. If you want to rent a bike on your holiday, then you select this on the booking form.
Equipment included in the bike rental:
- Saddle bag (water repellent)
- Handlebar bag (water repellent)
- Service-set with tools and extra bicycle tube
- Combination lock
Roadside assistance
All bikes are equipped with puncture resistant tyres which means that it is virtually impossible to puncture. No rule without exceptions, so should you experience a punctured tyre then you can quickly fix it by using the tools in the service-set. If the damage is greater than a simply puncture then you simply call us and we make sure that your bike is fixed or you will be supplied with a new bike as quickly as possible.
Insurance is included
Insurance against theft and damages are included in the bike rental. Should you have any problems of this nature then all you have to do is to let us know and we will supply a new bike as quickly as possible. Naturally, careless or mischievous behavior is exempt from this.
Transport to and from the tour is not included in the price. The tour starts in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in southwestern France and ends in Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. As the starting and finishing points are different, we recommend flying into southwestern France and returning home from Santiago de Compostela.
We recommend waiting until your tour has been confirmed by us before booking flights or other transport. Confirmation normally takes 5–8 working days.
Flights to the starting point
The most convenient airport is Biarritz (BIQ), located approximately 55 km from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Depending on your departure airport, you may need a connecting flight, for example via Paris. From Biarritz, you can continue by public transport via Bayonne or take a taxi.
Regional trains operate between Bayonne and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, with a journey time of approximately one hour. This is a convenient way to reach the starting point of your cycling holiday. Please note that there are only a limited number of departures each day, so it is important to plan your arrival around the train timetable. If you arrive late, an additional overnight stay in the area may be necessary.
Plan your journey with Rome2Rio
Return journey from Santiago de Compostela
The tour ends in Santiago de Compostela, which has its own international airport (SCQ). From here, you can fly home via major Spanish airports such as Madrid or Barcelona, depending on your destination, travel dates and available flight connections.
You can reach Santiago de Compostela Airport from the city centre by bus or taxi. We recommend allowing plenty of time for the journey and choosing a flight departure that fits your hotel check-out arrangements.
Plan your journey with Rome2Rio
How it works
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You book the tour with us.
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We confirm your booking – normally within 5–8 working days.
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Once your tour is confirmed, you can book your transport.
Request a quote
If you would like assistance finding suitable flights to and from the tour, you are very welcome to contact us. We can help you find travel connections that suit your preferred dates.
On this cycling holiday, you will spend 14 nights in small, charming hotels along the French Camino. We primarily use local hotels where you can relax and enjoy a good night's sleep after each day's cycling stage. The hotels vary in style and décor, but you will always have your own room with a private bathroom and toilet.
Along the way, you will stay in both smaller pilgrimage towns and larger historic cities such as Burgos, León and Santiago de Compostela. This gives you the opportunity to experience the special atmosphere of the Camino and explore the different towns and cities after your day's cycling.
In the itinerary, you can see examples of the hotels we most frequently use on this tour. If the listed hotels are unavailable when we confirm your booking, we will arrange accommodation of a similar standard.
Breakfast
Breakfast is included at all accommodations, allowing you to start each day with a good meal before setting off on your cycling stage.
Lunch
Lunch is not included in the tour price. In the Bering Travel app, you can find an overview of places to eat along each day's route, helping you plan a break during your ride. Please note that the app does not show whether the listed establishments are currently open. On days with fewer options, we therefore recommend checking restaurants and their opening hours on Google before setting off. You can also buy food and drinks in local supermarkets or ask your hotel whether they can prepare a packed lunch for your journey.
Dinner
The tour includes 9 dinners, which are usually served at your accommodation or an associated restaurant. On the remaining five evenings in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Logroño, Burgos, León and Santiago de Compostela, dinner is at your own expense. All five towns and cities offer a good selection of restaurants and cafés, giving you the opportunity to explore the local cuisine. Logroño is particularly famous for its many tapas bars, while Santiago de Compostela offers a wide variety of Galician specialities.
Drinks
Drinks are generally not included in the tour price and must therefore be paid for locally. We recommend carrying plenty of water during your cycling stages, particularly on warm days and sections involving long climbs.
Local specialities
Your cycling holiday takes you through several of northern Spain's fascinating culinary regions. In Navarra, you can enjoy local vegetable dishes and traditional pintxos, while La Rioja is famous for its wines and small tapas dishes. In Castilla y León, hearty meat dishes and local cheeses are an important part of the food culture. Once you reach Galicia, be sure to try the local speciality pulpo a la gallega (octopus with paprika and olive oil), as well as the traditional almond cake Tarta de Santiago.
If you travel in early April or late October, please be aware that some restaurants may have reduced opening hours or be closed for the season.
Luggage transfer is included on this tour. Upon arrival at the first hotel you will be given luggage tags along with the rest of the welcome package. You fill out the luggage tags and put them on your bags where they will remain for the duration of the tour.
Your luggage is picked up from the hotel lobby around 9am every morning and will arrive at your next hotel at 6pm at the latest (often long before that). If there are any special exceptions to the luggage transfer you will be notified upon arrival.
Luggage transfer includes one bag per guest and the bags can weigh 20kg each.
On this tour, you will receive the following documents:
Upon booking
Immediately after booking this trip, you'll recieve a pre-booking-email where you can get a complete overview of your booking. Once the tour is confirmed you get a confirmation email from us along with practical information about the tour.
One month before departure
You will receive a hotel list and final travel documents.
Upon arrival at the first hotel
You'll receive the welcome pack, which contains everything you need for the trip. There will be route descriptions, maps, luggage tags, specific local vouchers and if you have rented a bike, they will also be handed out at the first hotel. The documents are in English.
Notice: On some tours it is necessary to either print the documents yourself or to bring them electronically.
After booking this trip, you get access to various discount schemes.
We recommend taking out travel insurance that covers at least illness, accident, repatriation, lost holiday, luggage and liability. As a customer, you are responsible for taking out the necessary travel insurance to cover these costs.
Before taking out insurance, you should check whether you are already covered by travel or cancellation insurance through your home insurance company, credit card or similar - please note that there may be differences in insurance coverage.
Join the special ‘Bering Cycling Holidays’ group on Facebook. Here you'll be notified about new holidays, special offers and much more.
Note: you need to request membership, but everyone is approved.
When you book a trip with us, we plant a tree in Kenya.
Bering Travel partners with Growing Trees Network, which has been planting trees in Kenya since 2020 in collaboration with Seniorer uden Grænser (Seniors Without Borders). The trees are planted with small-scale local farmers in the Mount Kenya region, as well as at schools, where the fruit helps supplement students’ diets and is incorporated into their learning.
The trees are planted using the shamba method – a sustainable approach that combines reforestation with agricultural crops. This keeps the soil covered with vegetation throughout the year, helping to prevent nutrient loss and reduce erosion.
The contribution to tree planting comes directly from Bering Travel’s own earnings and is not added to the price of your trip.
This initiative is not intended as a carbon offset for travel, but as a way to make a positive contribution.
"We look forward to making your holiday dreams come true"
Bering Travel
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