As the most beloved route of the millennium-old Camino de Santiago, it’s no wonder that Camino Francés is a magnet for hundreds of thousands of people a year. From the quaint French village of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, this 500-mile ancient pilgrim path spans the entire north of the Iberiean Peninsula, with its grand finale in the holy city of Santiago de Compostela. The journey is made easier by going on this self-guided tour—your accommodation and luggage transfer are settled every single day! All that’s left to do is choose the tour that suits you most and enjoy the journey. One yellow scallop after another, and before you know it, you’ve completed your pilgrimage.
My first time doing the Camino and the professional way FOLLOW THE CAMINO handled our trip from start to finish was second to none. The communication made it so easy to understand what we needed to do to prepare and gave us plenty of hints and tips to make the walks more enjoyable and make the most of the stunning scenery along the way. They also supplied a luggage transfer to our next hotel and the hotels were very clean, great food and excellent prices. We were given a kit with Camino Passport, Camino shell and a bandana which came in handy protecting from the sun. Over all FOLLOW THE CAMINO made this an experience we will never forget and would highly recommend them to groups or solo for a life time of memories.
Our group had a fabulous time on our Camino Way walk. The support, guidance and pre-trip information were excellent. The roadbook with maps was a great help although there were plenty of markers and hundreds of fellow travellers to keep us on the right track. The most welcome surprise was the accommodation which, in each case, was very good and, in some cases, outstanding!
By going on a self-guided tour, you’re able to walk at your own pace and enjoy the journey at your own pace without worrying about the logistics of it all. The guiding company who put this all together is Follow the Camino—they are local guides who 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, luggage transfer, and route instructions sorted. You’ll be staying in handpicked, carefully-selected 2 or 3-star 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.
Included:
Add-ons:
Not included:
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.
*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. Check out the day-by-day itinerary to learn about daily distances. Keep in mind that you’ll be carrying a daypack of things you might need on the trail. Don’t worry about the baggage, though, as the support vehicle will carry everything for you!
Full walk of the Camino Frances
Other 6 and 7-day itineraries
Remember, the Camino is not a race, and there will be plenty of opportunities to rest and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way.
Here’s a list of clothing we recommend bringing:
Here’s a list of other equipment we suggest you bring:
We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. This packing list works best for the May-October season. If you’ll be walking in cooler months, consider adding a warmer base layer, mittens, rain pants and sturdier, waterproof Gore-tex shoes/boots.
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.
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-star standard in larger cities, while for the smaller villages and towns, your guide choose hotels or guesthouses of a 2-star 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.
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.
One of the best things about these guided tours is that luggage transfers between hotels are included! This means that all you’ll have to carry with you throughout the day is your daypack with essentials.
You are limited to 1 bag per person with a maximum weight of 15 kg/ 33 lbs 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.
Luggage is transferred on the days that you are walking to a different hotel. We ask you to have it ready at reception by 8am so as to make sure your luggage is delivered as early as possible in the afternoon.
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.
The departure point varies based on the itinerary you choose.
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).
