Spain - Cycling the full Camino Francés
This is no ordinary bike ride. People from many countries in Europe have been travelling the Camino de Santiago for centuries. The Camino itself is part of our history and heritage. Of all the long-distance routes, only the Camino de Santiago has been recognised as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations because of its historical and spiritual significance.
Countless millions have walked it over the last thousand years, yet it has remained largely unchanged. It still crosses the same rivers, climbs the same mountains and passes the same villages, chapels, churches and cathedrals.
You cycle a full 798 km of the classic Camino de Santiago "Camino Francés". Each day is different, not only in terms of how many kilometres you cover, but also in terms of how many climbs and descents you make. The landscapes will change dramatically as you cycle on, from the high peaks of the Pyrenees to the deep valley of the Ebro River in La Rioja, from the great plains of the Castile plateau to the mountains of northern León and on to the green mountain region of Galicia.
Along the way, you will encounter cities inhabited by many cultures and civilisations over the last millennia, all of which have left their mark in the form of stunning monuments and have shaped the people who live in this land today. But the Camino is more than a journey through the Spanish countryside, it is a personal journey and it is a journey that unites people from many parts of the world, all of whom decide to undertake this adventure.
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.
Highlights of the Camino Francés
- A fantastic cycle ride along the whole of El Camino de Santiago - the Way of St James
- The ride over the Pyrenees and the stunning views of the countryside
- Varied cycling routes
- Cosy stays in authentic small villages along the Camino
- Visit Cruz del Ferre - the iron cross where pilgrims traditionally lay stones
- Arrive at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, now fully restored
Itinerary See all daysClose all days
The day starts with a transfer to St Jean Pied de Port at 9:00. This first stage is a real challenge to get you in the mood for the long journey ahead. 26 km with a climb of 892m! The extraordinary landscapes of the Pyrenees will certainly help you to overlook the effort required to conquer the same mountain pass where Carlo Magno fought one of the great battles of the Middle Ages. The cold of winter and the constantly changing weather during the rest of the year have always been an obstacle that pilgrims had to overcome. This is a short but tough stage to reach Roncesvalles: a historic site that is the main gateway for European pilgrims to Spain. The Colegiat de Stª María, the Sancti Spiritus chapel and the Santiago chapel all tell us about the importance of this place in the Middle Ages. Today it will be the beginning of your great journey through Spain's long past and recent history.
Today's stage covers a more typical distance of around 50km and is generally downhill, although there are two small mountain passes to climb (Mezquiriz 99m high and Alto de Erro 810m high), which your body may feel after yesterday's climb as you cycle away from the mountains and towards Pamplona. You cycle through several very typical villages of the Navarrese Pyrenees, where the "frontón" (a large wall for ball games called "pelota vasca") is eagerly played. Entering the town of Pamplona along the riverside path is a wonderful way to arrive in one of the Camino's loveliest towns. Pamplona is famous the world over for its festivities: the "San Fermines" bullfight, celebrated in mid-July, and it is perhaps one of the most pleasant towns in Spain to live in. Gardens, a beautiful monumental town centre, the town's new structure and the many small shops selling local produce make this a very pleasant resting place for pilgrims. Don't miss the many bars where you can enjoy fantastic tapas!
Leaving Pamplona, the Camino heads southwest. You leave the forests of the Pyrenees, but soon you can see the Urbasa Natural Park and the Vitoria mountains in the distance.
For the first 15 km you cycle along a good paved road in good condition, climbing gently and then ascending to the stage altitude of 686 m. About 30 km from Pamplona you come to Puente de la Reina. Carlo Magno stopped here after fighting to conquer the Navarre region, so it's a good place for you to stop and recharge your batteries too. You cross the River Arga on its Romanesque bridge as you move towards Estella. You follow the N-111 road and cross two small hills before reaching Estella, a town of exceptional tranquillity. The Carcel bridge, San Martín square, the royal palace of the 12th-century kings of Navarre, the churches of San Pedro, San Miguel and San Juan - the streets and squares of the town are full of history.
Today's stage is varied with small climbs and a lot of cycling in relatively flat or downhill terrain.
When you leave Estella, don't forget to take a short detour to get a sip of water from the "Fuente del Vino", the wine fountain, next to Monasterio de Irache. The Roman town of Los Arcos, about halfway through the day's cycling, might be a good place to stop for lunch.
You cycle between cereal fields towards Viana. It's worth visiting this monumental town so close to Logroño. Logroño is the capital of the La Rioja region, which is internationally famous for its excellent wines. Among Logroño's virtues are the lovely people who live here and the large number of monuments built here since the Middle Ages: The Cathedral and great churches such as Stª María, Santiago Real and Plaza del Mercado.
Today you will alternate between the N-120 and some remote roads, with some long but very gradual climbs and some descents.
You will cycle through towns of great historical and artistic value such as Nájera, the old capital of the Kingdom of Navarre, which is a recommended strategic stop to recharge your batteries. From Nájera you will follow small secondary roads with little or no traffic, where you will be able to enjoy the tranquillity of this area of La Rioja. From km 37 to km 46 you will find the only important climb of the day, an ascent of 250 metres. For the last 8 km, you will descend or pedal along flat landscapes until you reach Santo Domingo de la Calzada: a town closely linked to the Camino de Santiago, as Saint Domingo is the town's patron saint and a person who devoted his whole life to building roads, bridges and hospitals to help pilgrims on their way to Santiago. We recommend that you take time to explore and see the many monumental buildings in Santo Domingo de la Calzada.
During the day's long stage, you'll enter the Castilian plateau, a harsh land of cornfields and cold winters. From Santo Domingo de la Calzada to Burgos, you follow the N-120, sometimes along it, sometimes on parallel roads to avoid the traffic, which can be heavy and dangerous at times. Belorado, a quiet town typical of Castilla, has a fantastic historical heritage. It could be a good place to stop along the way.
At Villafranca Montes de Oca, leave the N-120 and take quieter roads and dirt tracks most of the way to Burgos.
Entering Burgos is like entering any other large vibrant city full of life and history. You must see the interior of the cathedral, perhaps the best example of Gothic style and one of the largest cathedrals in Spain, and for dinner we recommend going down to Calle San Lorenzo for one of the best pilgrim menus on the entire Camino.
Today you have a very long stage of 75.6 km. Leaving Burgos on the N-120, you can quickly find yourself on secondary roads surrounded by cereal fields. Today you can say that you are fighting against the immense and rugged landscape of the Castilian plateau. You will encounter two significant climbs before reaching the quiet town of Castrojeriz, a good place to shop and have lunch. This small town of just 600 inhabitants contains treasures such as a Roman and Visigothic fort, an 11th-century castle and a pilgrim monastery ... It will surprise you!
From here, you will encounter mostly flat country as you pass from the province of Burgos and into the province of Palencia. Later you will reach the town of Fromista, a small town full of history and very important monuments. Here you will find the best preserved Romanesque church on the entire Camino de Santiago: the Church of San Martín.
Today's stage is along large areas with very little shade, so it is recommended that you take a lot of water with you and rest when you can in the shade of a tree or building.
The first 20 km or so are on very flat, quiet secondary roads that will take you to the medieval town of Carrión de los Condes. This is a good place to buy things to take with you so you can stop later for a picnic, or alternatively you can continue cycling on this easy terrain to reach one of the towns further on, such as Calzada de los Molinos or Quintanilla de la Cueza.
Then follow the N-120 until you reach Sahagún, now in the province of León. Sahagún was founded before the Roman conquest of the Iberian Peninsula and is full of history and monuments. In the 10th century, the most important Benedictine monastery was founded here.
A 55km stage through what will feel like flat country, except for a slight climb as you approach León.
From Sahagún to Mansilla de las Mulas you can take a secondary road with very little traffic and it's easy cycling on good tarmac. From Burgo Ranero to Masilla you will find several places where you can picnic in good shade. From Mansilla you can follow the N-601 and after climbing the Portillo Pass you will reach Leon, the provincial capital. Walking around Leon, you can sense the history of the city, from the Barbarians to the Romans, Visigoths and Muslims, and all these cultures have left traces in many corners of this city. It was the capital of the ancient Asturian tribe and the origin of the reconquest of the peninsula from the Moors. Spend time at the great cathedral, the San Isidoro church, the ancient Roman walls and not forgetting to get lost in the narrow streets of the "barrio húmedo" or wet neighbourhoods to taste the fantastic tapas in the many bars.
As you leave Leon, enjoy the magnificent views of the Cantabric mountain range to the north. Surrounded by cereals and other crops, you move along the N-120 until you cross the Orbigo River on one of the best-preserved medieval bridges and arrive at Hospital de Órbigo, the site of the medieval town where the Knights Templar had their residence in the 13th century.
From Hospital de Órbigo it is only 12 km along a good road to Astorga. It is worth exploring Astorga's monumental riches: from the Roman walls, thermal baths and the great cathedral to the 16th-century Episcopal Palace, designed by the famous architect Gaudí. Astorga is the capital of the Maragatería people, who have left a rich cultural and gastronomic heritage in this region.
Today you'll cycle in the Maragatería region, an area of beautiful small villages with rustic red stone houses and churches with a very special architecture. At first you cycle along fairly flat landscapes, but as you approach the mountains the cycling gets tougher, and in general you climb to a height of 1510 metres above sea level. Not far from the high point you'll find Cruz de Ferro. Here you will be able to leave a stone that you picked up at the beginning, as other pilgrims have done since time immemorial. Then you have a small descent and another small ascent before free-wheeling all the way to your hotel. The last few kilometres are a very steep descent to Molinaseca. Be careful on this descent! We particularly recommend a stop in the picturesque village of El Acebo on the way down. The slate roofs on all the buildings bear witness to the harsh winters they have to endure in these parts.
Molinaseca is a well-preserved medieval village with a magnificent XVI century medieval bridge. Its main street is very beautiful and preserves the essence of the region "El Bierzo" with large stone houses and wooden balconies. The river that runs through the town, the two beautiful churches and the stone houses make this town one of the most charismatic places to stay on the Camino.
There are some small hills up to half of today's stage, and on the second half there is a small climb, but you hardly feel it. There are two interesting towns along the way that are worth stopping in and exploring, first Ponferrada and later Villafranca del Bierzo.
You leave the industrial Ponferrada and cross the plains of the Bierzo region, famous for growing fruit trees and vineyards. Just before the mountains you come to the beautiful town of Villafranca del Bierzo. Villafranca could be a good stop for lunch. In the main square there are several very nice restaurants with terraces outside.
From Villafranca it is another 20 km of gently uphill cycling to the village of Ferrerias and your hotel for the night at the foot of the O´Cebreiro Pass.
With renewed vigour, you can tackle the gruelling ascent of O´Cebreiro (about 7km of very steep climbing) until you reach the picturesque village of O´cebreiro at the top of the hill, where it's worth taking some time to enjoy the views and catch your breath. YOU ARE NOW IN GALICIA. After a few km very high on the mountain you cycle past the famous statue of the pilgrim on the left side of the road and get ready for a wonderful long descent along a good road all the way to Samos. Samos is another town worth stopping at. The Benedictine monastery (still in use) is particularly beautiful and old (from the VII century).
From Samos follow the LU-633 road to the large town of Sarria. Sarria is the largest town along the Camino between Ponferrada and Santiago and has a long history of Jacobean pilgrimages. The old historic centre, perched high on a hill along the main street "Rua Maior", is decorated with traditional 18th century houses and palaces, a 19th century church "Santa Mariña", the 13th century "Temple of Salvador" in Gothic style and finally the "Monastery of Magdalena".
There is a significant climb out of Sarria and a longer climb halfway through the route out of Portomarín. We recommend lunch in Portomarin.
From Portomarin there is a long, strenuous climb until you cross a main road and wind along minor roads to the town of Palas de Rei.
If you are not staying in Lestedo, you will encounter this small village about 6 km before you reach Palas de Rei.
For the next three days, until you reach Santiago, the road close to the Camino will be very busy and with heavy traffic, so we will lead you along small roads with almost no traffic that are parallel to the Camino but never too far from it. The main roads that follow the Camino very closely become very busy and even dangerous for cyclists, so we have decided to take you along these lovely alternative routes.
Today's stage is tough. There are many rivers crossing your path, so it's all about overcoming a hill and heading down the other side to the next river. The N-547 road gets busier as you approach Santiago, so we take you along small country roads instead of the busy main road. You will encounter a number of larger towns on the way to today's destination: Arzúa, where there are several restaurants. This area is famous for its soft and mild cheeses such as "queso de tetilla".
Today you arrive in Santiago. Although it is a shorter bike ride, it is by no means an easy one as there are several ascents and descents due to the many rivers that cross this area. When you finally arrive in Santiago, head to the main square "Plaza de Obradoiro" in front of the cathedral and take your time to enjoy arriving in this magical city so full of history.
Santiago de Compostela has been a World Heritage Site since 1985 and the entire historic centre is a huge museum. We recommend that you visit the tourist information in Rua do Vilar, that you do not miss a visit to the Cathedral and that you enjoy the streets of this city that is full of history.
The centre of Plaza de Obradoiro is on the pilgrimage route to Santiago. Gabriel Garcia Marquez called it the most beautiful square in the world.
The most important of the many sights in Santiago is the cathedral, which is part Romanesque, part Baroque, with its magnificent Portico de la Gloria and façade facing the Plaza de Obradoiro. The cathedral also houses the world's largest incense burner, the famous "botafumeiro". Made of silver and weighing almost 80 kg, it takes a team of 8 men and a system of pulleys to set it in motion after Mass, swinging from one end to the other at ceiling height.
You might want to go to mass in the cathedral while you're in Santiago. Typically there are two masses a day. One at noon and another at 7.30am.
The journey is now over. You leave your hotel in the morning.
If you wish, it is also possible to have an extra night in Santiago after the tour. This is chosen when you book the tour.
Price includes
- 17 nights in small hotels
- Breakfast every day
- Luggage transport between hotels
- Carefully elaborated route descriptions maps and other materials
- Pilgrim passport
- 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
- Transportation to/from Spain
- Handling fee (€20)
- Tourist tax (if due)
- optional: Bike rental
Practical info
The price is based upon two people sharing. It is also possible travel alone in a single room. If you travel alone a single room is necessary.
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 in anything. Here's how:
- Choose your desired start date
- Click on the green button "See price and reserve your holiday" and go to the booking form
- Select number of people, add any optional extras and see the price at the bottom of the page (you don't have to fill in anything on the form).
Get a quote
For example, if you want a flight included or changes to the trip, you can order a quote for this using the "Get a quote" button. Remember to describe in detail what, if anything, you want changed.
The process of your booking
When you book, we will start booking hotels and arranging all the practical details of the trip. This process typically takes 2-5 working days, but some bookings may take longer. If you are arranging your own transport, we recommend that you wait until we have confirmed your booking before arranging this.
Dates
If you can select the date in the tour calendar at the top of this page, this is a possible start date. We continually update the tours with sold-out dates, after which those dates will turn red and cannot be selected.
It is possible to rent a bicycle for this trip. The bikes you can rent are hybrid bikes and it is not possible to rent electric bikes. All bikes are equipped with fenders, bottle cage, luggage rack, speedometer and map holder.
Included equipment is lock, pump, repair kit with extra tubes and multi-tool (1 set per room). Helmet and pannier are also included (per person).
It is possible to bring your own pedals for the bikes, but you must change the pedals yourself and bring the appropriate tools for this.
Transportation to/from Roncesvalles and back from Santiago de Compostela is not included in the price. You can easily find a suitable flight via a flight booking engine such as Momondo or Skyscanner.
Notice: we recommend that you book with us and wait for the confirmation before you book your flights.
It works like this:
- You book your chosen holiday with us
- We confirm your holiday (usually within 2-5 working days)
- You arrange your transportation
Getting there
Here is a link for the perfect tool which will help you get an overview of how to get to the starting point of the tour: Rome2Rio
Family-run hotels and guesthouses have been handpicked for their character and warm hospitality. The standard is 1-3 star tourist class. The hotels are centrally located in the towns and close to the Pilgrims' Route. All rooms will have private bath/toilet.
In the itinerary you can see examples of the hotels we mostly use on this trip. If there are no vacancies in the hotels when you book the trip, we will book hotels of equivalent quality.
On this trip breakfast is included every day. It is easy to find lunch, dinner and snacks in the cities along the way. Many of the hotels offer special menus for pilgrims.
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.
You will recieve the following documentation
Upon booking
You recieve practical information about the tour in a digital format
One month before arrival
You recieve your hotel list and your voucher (hotel list is often supplied upon booking)
Upon arrival
You recieve the welcome package which contains the printed version of the road book, luggage tags, local specific vouchers and if you have rented bikes then they will also be delivered and fitted at the first hotel.
This tour has difficulty grade 3.
Grade 3
Longer distances in hilly terrain, often with steep climbs. The distance is usually 65 – 80 km or 40 – 50 miles per day. Requires good shape and health. We highly recommend that you practice on some longer rides before you leave home.
Read more about our Grading System
Here you can get an overview of the entire route and the elevation profile for each day. The data shows the data from the GPX-files related to the tour. Notice that the routes are sometimes updated, which means that there might be small variations.
Colors
Blue routes: The route as normal
Red routes: Variations/options (such as shortened or extended routes)
It can be hard to plan your trip according to the weather, but to give an idea of the local climate, you can see the data below:
We are members of the Travel Guarantee Fund (nr. 2529) and have all available insurances. This covers you regardless of your nationality. Read more about that here.
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