Camino Francés Walking Tours

Included:

• • An experienced hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  • Accommodation for 7 nights
  • Luggage transfers
  • 7 breakfasts and 7 dinners
  • 24/7 customer service
  • Pilgrim Pack — pilgrim passport, luggage tag and route notes

Add-ons:

• • Premium accommodation
  • Airport pick-up
  • Additional nights
  • Additional luggage

What’s not included:

• • Transportation to and from the starting/end point
  • Lunches and drinks
  • Medical and travel insurance — optional
  • Guide gratuities — optional

*Please note that refrigerators are not guaranteed in the accommodations.

If you’d like to traverse the last 100 km of Camino Frances, a reasonable level of fitness is required. The tour involves walking an between 11 to 29 kilometers (7-18 miles) per day, over varying terrain including hills. In general, you’ll gain around 500 m (1,640 ft) of elevation per day. Check out the itinerary to learn about day-by-day distances.

If you can comfortably walk for several hours at a time and enjoy being active, you should do well. It’s recommended to do some training walks beforehand to build up your stamina and ensure you’re comfortable with the daily distances. Remember, it’s not a race, and there will be plenty of opportunities to rest and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way.

A great thing about this tour is that luggage transfers are included! This means that your main luggage will be transferred to your accommodation for the night every day, and all you have to carry with you is your daypack with things you’ll need throughout the day.

You should train so that your body is prepared to handle not just one 20 km (12.5 miles) day, but day after day of hiking. You may want to try walking an hour or more several times during the week with a longer walk on the weekend.

We recommend you gradually increase your distances, doing long walks at least a few times a week. Make some trial runs with your full daypack or backpack, depending on how you plan to walk the Camino. This will help you get your core and shoulders acclimated to the weight. 

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 or backpack large enough to carry everything you might need 
  • Duffle bag for all your belongings if you decide to have your luggage transferred
  • 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)

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.

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 we can deliver your luggage and others as early as possible in the afternoon.

Guided tours

• • It takes a minimum of 8 people for this tour to operate. If the minimum number of participants for the date is not reached up to 30 days before the departure date, the tour will be conducted as a self-guided trip. If the trip becomes self-guided, a refund of 50 euros will be provided.
  • 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.
  • 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.

The starting point of all these tours that cross the final 100 km is Sarria in Spain. To reach Sarria, most people fly into Santiago–Rosalía de Castro Airport (SCQ), 2-3 hours away—depending on whether you rent a car or take the bus. Your guides can either arrange airport transfers to the meeting point for an additional fee.

Yes! Dogs are allowed on the trail, just consider your dog’s fitness and whether they’re willing to go with you on tour. Keep in mind that extra fees might occur in accommodations, especially depending on your dog’s size.

Packing

In case you decide to carry your own backpack all the way, make sure you pack efficiently. First, look for a pack that weight 3 pounds or less (1.5 kg), as heavy packs with a lot of padding and stiff stays are not necessary for the Camino. An internal frame pack that sets most of the weight on your hips and not your shoulders is also a good choice. Don’t forget that your guide can also handle all of the luggage transfers — included in the price of the tour!

You aren’t doing a wilderness hike so you won’t need to pack for every contingency. You’ll be sleeping in actual beds and you’ll be walking past cafes, stores and pharmacies. Keep your pack light and pick up things as needed along the Way. Here are some things you will not need: full-size bottles of toiletries, jeans or cotton cargo pants (heavy and take a long time to dry), a large supply of food or snacks (buy them along the way), too much clothing, etc.

Shoes

The Camino is not a technical hiking trail so many people choose to wear trail runners or light hiking shoes, while others choose to wear heavier hiking boots. This varies mostly on your foot care needs. When you are fitted for shoes, consider sizing up 1/2 size. Break them in properly by trail-testing them with multiple back-to-back hikes, but don’t wear them out before you get to Spain.

Your shoes should be waterproof if you are coming in the more rainy season, but Spain is mostly dry so most non-waterproofed shoes will be OK. They are likely to dry out overnight (especially when stuffed with newspaper) and they breathe more easily. 

Socks

Socks also matter for avoiding blisters. Most people use either a liner with a wool outer sock, a padded CoolMax sock, a double-layer sock or toe socks.

Money on trail

In rural Spain, other than higher-end accommodations and grocery stores, there are few places that accept credit cards. While Spain is a modern country, rural Spain’s economy is more cash-based. Most towns have an ATM. Most pilgrims carry enough cash for several days. Be sure to bring two bank cards or an extra credit card with you in case one fails.

Internet access

Since most of the trail connects smaller and bigger towns, you will have mobile signal most of the time. Many bars and hotels offer free wifi. Check with your cellular service provider about options you have when traveling.

If your phone is paid off (ie: unlocked), you can purchase a local SIM card at the airport or in major cities. When in doubt, keep your phone in airplane mode to avoid surprise mobile phone bills when you get home.

You can use WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger or Facetime to make voice and video calls to family and friends at home.

Electronics

Remember that Europe runs on 220 volt electric and have a different plug than North American and UK/Ireland plugs, so you will need a plug adapter.

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!