For over a millennium, the legendary Camino de Santiago has captivated millions. We’ve whipped up this self-guided week-long tour along the last 70 miles (113.5 km) to the City of the Apostle that’s not only hassle-free but also all about living it up in maximum comfort! Imagine traversing rolling hills adorned with fields, vineyards, and olive groves. Along the way, immerse yourself in the charm of medieval towns, offering an authentic glimpse into Spanish culture, away from the crowded tourist hubs. And after each day, you get to kick back in deluxe hotels and guesthouses—trust us, these are usually rare finds along the Camino! Elevate your Camino Frances adventure with a touch of luxury, become part of history, and get your pilgrim passport stamped—it’ll be an experience to cherish for years to come.
Get ready for a self-guided 8-day adventure along the final 70 miles (113 km) of Camino Frances, from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela. Delight in picturesque Spanish countryside, charming villages, and delectable local cuisine. Relax in deluxe accommodations each evening—a rare luxury along the Camino. With included breakfasts and dinners, luggage transfers, and 24/7 customer service, this hassle-free journey ensures maximum comfort as you leave your mark on this storied trail. Receive a pre-departure pack and walking notes to enhance your experience.
Make your way to your hotel in Sarria (airport transfers included) in time to enjoy your first evening meal, and get a good rest before you begin your Camino. If you are feeling energized before your walk, visit the town’s main religious sites, Convento de la Magdalena and Iglesia Santa Marina de Sarria.
Accommodation: 4-star hotel or deluxe country guesthouse
Meals: Dinner
Expect a peaceful walk through shady oak woods and charming villages along quiet country roads. The village of Barbadelo (at an elevation of 580 m / 1,900 ft) features a beautiful Romanesque church that is well worth a visit. The next significant village is Ferreiros. When you arrive in Portomarín (at an elevation of 550 m / 1,800 ft), you can unwind on one of the many terraces in the town’s main plaza.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Hiking: 21.9 km / 13.6 miles
Accommodation: 4-star hotel or deluxe country guesthouse
From the village, the Camino crosses the River Minho and climbs uphill. Along the way, you’ll pass through Gonzar and see the Romanesque Church of Santa María in Castromaior. The peaceful atmosphere of the Galician Cemetery in Ligonde on a sunny day feels like a rest in itself. In Eirexe, the Romanesque portal of the church is a true gem, featuring a sculpture of Daniel and a statue of Santiago de Peregrino. Finally, you’ll arrive in Palas de Rei (at an elevation of 565 m 1,850 ft).
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Hiking: 24.3 km / 15 miles
Accommodation: 4-star hotel or deluxe country guesthouse
Today, the Camino continues slightly downhill, passing through the village of Casanova and the charming village of Leboreiro. In Melide (at a steady elevation of 454m), take a break at one of the many restaurants to sample local specialties, such as pulpo a la gallega (boiled octopus served with olive oil, paprika, and salt).
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Hiking: 14.8 km / 9.2 miles
Accommodation: 4-star hotel or deluxe country guesthouse
This stage begins perfectly, as the path quickly leaves Melide behind and winds into the quiet countryside. You’ll follow forest tracks and pass through a few small hamlets. In Boente de Arriba, you’ll come across the ancient Church of Santiago before continuing along a forest trail to reach Catanada. Along the way, you’ll cross a few streams before reaching the final stretch to Arzúa. Once in Arzúa, you can unwind and relax at your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Hiking: 14.3 km / 8.9 miles
Accommodation: 4-star hotel or deluxe country guesthouse
This shaded section of the Camino winds through peaceful woods, alongside streams, and through sleepy villages. Take your time to visit the Chapel of Santa Irena, known for its unique statues of Santiago. The remainder of the route to Rúa-O Pino follows a quiet country road. Rúa (at an elevation of 310 m / 1,020 ft) is one of the less crowded and tranquil stopping points before reaching Santiago de Compostela.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Hiking: 17.9 km / 11.1 miles
Accommodation: 4-star hotel or deluxe country guesthouse
You’re almost there! The next stage takes you to Lavacolla, where pilgrims traditionally washed in the river before reaching Santiago de Compostela. Along the way, tall eucalyptus trees guide you toward Monte del Gozo, or Mount of Joy, where you’ll catch your first glimpse of your ultimate destination – the Cathedral of Santiago. From here, descend into the city to witness this UNESCO World Heritage Site up close. Take in the breathtaking architecture, soak up the vibrant atmosphere of this cultural and spiritual mecca, and reflect on the incredible journey you’ve undertaken.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Hiking: 20.3 km / 12.6 miles
Accommodation: 4-star hotel or deluxe country guesthouse
After breakfast, your Camino Frances adventure comes to an end. Feel free to stay longer, in which case your guides recommend taking your time to explore the historic center of Santiago. Or maybe continue along the wild Camino Fisterra and stay overnight at the hotel in a lighthouse. But if you’re ready to go home, airport transfers are included!
Please note that accommodations are subject to availability and it may not be possible to book the exact accommodations listed day-by-day in the itinerary (in case there is a detailed list).
Also note that your chosen dates for the tour are not guaranteed until confirmed by the guide. If the guide is unable to secure your preferred dates/accommodation, you’ll get a full refund!
The Camino from Sarria to Santiago far exceeded my expectations as an experience, for the scenery, the quality of the accommodation and the organisational details completed by Follow the Camino.
Follow the Camino is THE WAY TO GO if you’re pre-planning your Camino adventure. Everything went exactly as planned and it was a beautiful, rewarding journey for my family and I. Our accomadations were all wonderful and the baggage transfer was seamless. All of the directions and tips we were given were so helpful and Follow the Camino truly made our journey a perfect one. Thank you SO much to Jade for EVERYTHING!
Included:
Not included:
*Please note that accommodations are subject to availability and it may not be possible to book the exact accommodations listed day-by-day in the itinerary (in case there is a detailed list).
*Please note that refrigerators are not guaranteed in the accommodations.
The most important thing about walking the Camino Santiago is that you enjoy the journey at your own pace. Whether you’re a very fast or a slow walker, we encourage you to enjoy the trail. Having said that, being in good walking shape is still required. On average, you’ll be doing 18.9 km a day (11.8 miles), with the average of 420 m of elevation gain (1,380 ft). You’ll also be carrying a daypack with things you might need on the trail. Don’t worry about the luggage, though, as they will be transferred to each accommodation!
Checkout the itinerary for day-by day distances, but you can expect 6 full days of hiking—the shortest walk is 14.3 km (8.9 miles), while the longest is 24.3 km (15 miles). The least you’ll ascend in a day is 268 m (880 ft), and the most you’ll gain in elevation is 593 m (1,945 ft).
In preparation for your luxury Camino Frances tour, we recommend going on regular hikes/long walks– including some uphills and downhills with a loaded backpack.
Here’s a list of clothing we recommend bringing:
Here’s a list of other equipment we suggest you bring:
We recommend packing for the season, which means that your packing list may vary quite a bit depending on the month you choose to go on this luxury Camino de Santiago tour. Also, you should be prepared for unseasonal weather conditions (unexpectedly warm/rainy or hot/cold weather). Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
By going on a self-guided tour, you’re able to walk at your own pace and enjoy the journey without worrying about the logistics of it all. Follow the Camino have been leading pilgrims along their journey since 2007 and they were the first ever operator to organize walking along Camino de Santiago.
There are many perks of choosing a self-guided tour. Apart from not having to adjust to the group, you’ll have the accommodation, breakfasts, dinners, luggage transfers, airport transfers, and route instructions sorted. You’ll be staying in carefully-selected 4* hotels and quality guesthouses and there’s no need to print out anything upon checking-in—your guides booked and arranged everything for you, all you have to do is show your I.D.
This is a hassle-free trip so if you want to focus on enjoying your pilgrimage in the Spanish bucolic countryside, these self-guided tours are the perfect match.
NOTE: As a self-guided tour is built around your preferred travel dates, your guide will take care of arranging accommodations and details after you book. Note that exact accommodations and dates might shift slightly, so don’t make any travel arrangements until the details of your adventure are confirmed.
Before the tour, you will be sent a pre-departure pack by post (alternatively, you’ll pick it up at your first accommodation). The pack contains your pilgrim passport, luggage tag, route notes or guidebook if you’ve requested a hard copy. In case there are certain complications with receiving the pre-departure pack, it will wait for you at your first accommodation.
You’ll have to download the walking notes yourself. The walking notes are here to assist you. Although the Camino is pretty well-marked and you only need to follow the yellow arrows, there are sometimes variations on the routes or some of them are more difficult to follow than the others. We recommend that you always familiarize yourself with the daily journey ahead. You’ll also download the vouchers yourself. These vouchers contain all the information about your confirmed accommodation—there will be an address, their phone number, any special instructions on how to get there, and a small map.
You will find a 24/7 support phone number on the bottom of each voucher. Keep in mind that there’s no need to print out the vouchers, as your reservations will be confirmed.
Pricing is based on double occupancy. Still, a solo traveler can certainly sign up, but please note there will be an additional single supplement fee.
Accommodation during your self-guided luxury Camino Frances tour is based on a number of criteria, including location, comfort, services, and character. Though accommodation on the Camino is limited, since this is a luxury version of Camino de Santiago walking tour, you can expect the highest quality possible, Expect hotels of a 4* and high-quality guesthouses if hotel accommodation is not available at a particular destination. Exceptions may be made.
In case your accommodation is located outside the town, you’ll need to check your vouchers for specific instructions on how to get to your accommodation. Most likely the accommodation will organize a taxi transfer or they will pick you up themselves. All the necessary information will be on the vouchers, which is why it’s important to check them every morning so you can plan ahead.
Pricing is based on double occupancy. Still, a solo traveler can certainly sign up, but please note there will be an additional single supplement fee.
The luggage transfer is limited to 1 bag per person with a maximum weight of 15 kg per bag. Additional bags can be transferred for an extra €10 per bag per transfer. Please note that boots or smaller bags attached to the main bag count as an extra bag and will be charged accordingly.
If you’re moving to a different accommodation, we ask you to have the luggage ready by 8 am at the reception. Make sure to use your luggage tags—ideally, write your trip reference and your mobile phone number if you wish. Your luggage should be at the next hotel by 6 pm max.
Group sizes and prices:
Min. age requirements:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
This self-guided luxury Camino Frances tour starts in Sarria, Spain. To get there, most people fly into Santiago–Rosalía de Castro Airport (SCQ). Airport transfer to Sarria is included in the price of the tour. Once you get to Sarria, check into your hotel.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
A non-refundable 30% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 2 months (60 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.
Client can transfer their booking to a person who satisfies all the requirements, having first given the Guide reasonable notice in writing to do so before the departure date (such notice must be given more than 21 days prior to the date of departure). Client who transfers the Booking shall be jointly and severally liable with the transferee to the Guide for the payment of any balance due in respect of the holiday and for a substitution fee of €30.00 per person substituted, subject to a maximum of €120.00 per booking (or such other greater sum as may be authorized).
Wonderful Camino walk with excellent accommodations. The best were hotel Ferromenteiro in Portomarin and the Boutique in Arzua. Having the van take our bags from town to town was extremely helpful in completing the daily walks.