Not everyone can take a month off to do Camino de Santiago, which is why this adventure is the perfect solution for those short on time. Over the course of 8 days, we’ll walk from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela, and still officially receive our pilgrim certificate! Apart from seamless logistics, luggage transfers, lodgings, breakfasts and dinners, this trip also includes a bus to Finisterre on the Atlantic. Having a guide by your side means that you’ll also learn quite a bit about this iconic pilgrimage along the way, and always rest assured that you’re in good hands. Let’s walk the final portion of the legendary Camino together!
Make your way to your hotel in Sarria in time to enjoy our first evening meal, and get a good rest before we begin the Camino. If you are feeling energized before your walk, feel free to visit the town’s main religious sites, Convento de la Magdalena and Iglesia Santa Marina de Sarria, or simply take a stroll.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: 2 or 3-star hotel or guesthouse
To kick off the Camino, we’ll have a peaceful walk through oak woods and quaint villages along quiet country rods. The village of Barbadelo (at an elevation of 580 m / 1,900 ft) has a beautiful Romanesque church that’s worth a visit. We will also pass through Ferreiros. Once we arrive in Portomarin (550 m / 1,800 ft), we can relax on one of the many terraces of the main plaza.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Hiking: 21.9 km / 13.6 miles
Accommodation: 2 or 3-star hotel or guesthouse
We’ll start the day by crossing the river Minho and climbing steadily uphill. On our way, we will pass through Gonzar, Romanesque Church of Santa María, Castromaior, and the Galician Cemetery in Ligonde. In Eirexe, we will find a Romanesque portal of the church, featuring a sculpture of Daniel and animals, as well as a statue of Santiago de Peregrino. Finally, we will arrive in Palas de Rei (at 565 m / 1,850 ft), where we will stay for the night.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Hiking: 24.3 km / 15 miles
Accommodation: 2 or 3-star hotel or guesthouse
Today the Camino continues slightly downhill, passing the village of Casanova and the charming village of Leboreiro. Once we reach Melide (at 454 m / 1,490 ft), we can stop for lunch at one of the many traditional restaurants. We will then continue walking along a forest track and cross several streams until we reach the village of Boente. Soon we’ll be in the medieval village of Ribadiso, and then finally Arzua (at 389 m / 1,280 ft). This small town has two churches that you can visit, Santa María and La Magdalena.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Hiking: 29.1 km / 18 miles
Accommodation: 2 or 3-star hotel or guesthouse
Arzúa is a charming town in the province of A Coruña, Galicia. It’s known for its cheese production—Arzúa-Ulloa cheese enjoys a reputation throughout Galicia for its exceptional creaminess and rich flavor. Similarly, the honey produced in this region is highly regarded, thanks to the favorable local flora and climatic conditions that contribute to its quality. Today we’ll walk towards Amenal, a very small village and our final stop for the night before reaching Santiago de Compostela.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Hiking: 22.1 km / 13.7 miles
Accommodation: 2 or 3-star hotel or guesthouse
The final stretch to Santiago is approximately 16 kilometers (about 10 miles) long and offers a mix of urban and rural landscapes. As we progress, we’ll notice a gradual transition from rural to suburban surroundings. The path takes us through small villages, open fields, and wooded areas, with increasing signs of urbanization. A significant landmark along the way is “Monte do Gozo” or “Mount of Joy.” This hill offers a panoramic view of Santiago de Compostela, and it’s a place where many pilgrims pause to savor their first glimpse of the city and the cathedral spires in the distance. After descending from Monte do Gozo, we’ll continue through urban areas, eventually leading you into the heart of Santiago’s historic district!
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Hiking: 16 km / 10 miles
Accommodation: 2 or 3-star hotel or guesthouse
Following breakfast in Santiago de Compostela, we’ll board a bus to Finisterre, once considered the end of the world in Roman times! We’ll spend our whole day together and retreat to our accommodation in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: 2 or 3-star hotel or guesthouse
After the final breakfast, pack up and say goodbye to your team! This is where our adventure comes to an end. If you’d like to stay longer and keep on exploring the area, just ask us for some recommendations!
Included:
Add-ons (pricing shown at checkout):
Not included:
*Please note that refrigerators are not guaranteed in the accommodations.
If you’d like to walk 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:
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.
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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, the size of the bag doesn’t matter. 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.
Group sizes:
Min. age requirements:
The price for this tou is based on twin-share rooms, but a single occupancy room can be arranged at an additional fee. You can add it to your booking at checkout.
Solo travelers are welcome to join, but a single occupancy room surcharge is mandatory—you’ll be able tell us if you’re signing up solo at checkout.
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 insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors 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.