Self-Guided Camino de Santiago Walking Tours

Things to know

• What does a self-guided tour entail?

  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. The guiding company who put this all together is Follow the Camino. They’ve 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, luggage transfer, and route instructions sorted. You’ll be staying in carefully-selected 2-3* hotels and 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.

• What’s included?

  What you get on this adventure:

  • • Depending on the chosen itinerary, self-guided tour of:
      • The final 100 km of Camino Frances
      • The coastal portion of Camino Portuguese
      • The final 100 km of Camino Portuguese
    • Pre-departure pack — you will receive it by post, the pack contains your pilgrim passport, luggage tag, route notes or guidebook if you have requested a hard copy
    • Walking notes and vouchers — download them yourself, the vouchers contain all the information about your accommodation and there’s no need to print them as your reservation will be confirmed
    • Breakfasts
    • Some dinners — check your vouchers
    • Accommodation during the tour (2-3* hotels or equivalent)
    • Luggage transfers
    • 24/7 Customer service

  What’s not included:

  • • Transportation to and from the starting/end point
    • Lunch, dinners, and drinks
    • Insurance
    • Premium accommodation — available upon request
    • Airport pick-up — available upon request
    • Additional nights — available upon request
    • Day tours — available upon request

  If you have any special dietary requirements, let us know in time so we can make arrangements. Please remember to mention it once again upon check-in, it’s always best to double check.

• How fit do I need to be?

  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. The trails have plenty of opportunities to rest and recover!

  You’ll be doing between 11 and 30 km a day (7 to 19 miles), carrying a daypack of things you might need on the trail. Depending on the self-guided tour you choose, you’ll be either walking for 7 or 8 consecutive days. Don’t worry about the baggage, though, as the support vehicle will carry everything for you!

  Hiking consecutive full days can be quite strenuous. In preparation for your hike, your guides recommend doing some 5-10 mile (8-16 km) walks – including some uphills and downhills with a loaded backpack.

• What do I need to bring?

  Here’s a list of clothing we recommend bringing:

  • • Clothes made from quick-drying fabrics (avoid cotton)
    • Leisure clothing and footwear for the evenings
    • Spare clothes for layering
    • Waterproof rain jacket
    • Fleece pullover or jacket
    • Quick-dry short-sleeved and long-sleeved tops
    • Quick–dry walking pants (consider the ones that zip off to make shorts)
    • Waterproof pants — optional (unless it’s very cold, it’s usually best to hike in shorts, but feel free to bring these pants if you’d feel more comfortable)
    • Hiking boots or shoes
    • Hiking socks
    • Sunhat
    • Gloves

  Here’s a list of other equipment we suggest you bring:

  • • Daypack large enough to carry everything you might need throughout the day
    • Hydration bladder or a water bottle
    • Sunglasses
    • Hiking poles — optional
    • Earplugs — optional
    • Basic first aid essentials, such as blister protection
    • Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, etc.)
    • Camera — optional (but recommended)
• When will I receive information about my accommodation and route?

  Your guides will send you a pre-departure pack by post. 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 and vouches 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.

• What’s the accommodation like?

  Accommodation for the duration of your tour is based on a number of criteria, including location, comfort, services, price, and character. Though accommodation on the Camino is limited, your guides will always try to book something that is near the Camino as well as the historical center of the city. Expect hotels of a 3* standard in larger cities, while for the smaller villages and towns, your guide choose hotels or guesthouses of a 2* standard. 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.

• What about my luggage?

  The luggage transfer is limited to 1 bag per person with a maximum weight of 15 kg per bag, it does not matter the size of the 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 onto 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. Note that if you’re not walking to your following destination (for example on days when you take public transport), you have to carry it yourself.

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and prices:

  • • It’s possible to arrange self-guided tours for both solo travelers as well as large groups. The cost does not decrease as the group grows.

  Min. age requirements:

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
    • Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.
    • If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
• Deposits and cancellation policy

  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.

  • • If Client cancels the Booking anytime prior to sixty (60) calendar days in advance of the trip contemplated by the booking, Client is entitled to a full refund minus the deposit.
    • For cancellations fifteen (15) to fifty-nine (59) calendar days in advance, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of fifty percent (50%) of the total amount paid when Booking.
    • After that deadline, Client is not entitled to any refund. Any reimbursable expenses arising out of the Booking incurred by Guide prior to the date of cancellation (including but not limited to plane tickets, car rental payments, and lodging or transportation fees) are non-refundable as soon as they are incurred by the Guide.

  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).

• Getting there and meeting location

  Regardless of which pilgrimage you’re doing (final 100 km of Camino Frances, coastal portion of Camino Portuguese, or final 100 km of Camino Portuguese), it’s easiest to reach any of them by flying into Santiago–Rosalía de Castro Airport (SCQ). From there, your guides can either arrange airport transfers to the meeting point for an additional fee or you can reach them by yourselves.

  • • If you’re walking the final 100 km of Camino Frances, the tour starts in Sarria. From the airport, rent a car or take a bus—it could take up to 2 hours.
    • If you’re doing the coastal portion of Camino Portuguese, you need to reach Oia. You can rent a car, take a bus or a train and it could take you anywhere between 1 and 2.5 hours.
    • If you’re walking the final 100 km of Camino Portuguese, the tour departs from Tui. You can rent a car or take a shuttle, it could take you anywhere between 1 and 2.5 hours.
• Covid measures in Spain and Portugal

  57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.

  We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Spain and Portugal, please refer to requirements for travel to Spain and travel advice for Portugal.

  Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!