Overview
This is the most popular section of the Camino Frances, walking from Sarria to Santiago (guided) in 8 days. This is the last 100km of the camino, which is the shortest sub-section that you can do and still get your Compostela Certificate. Fully guided, staying in hotels and guesthouses, explore the tranquil landscapes of Galicia, ancient towns and villages such as Portomarín and Melide, with the backdrop of dramatic landscapes such as Serra de Ligonde and the Rio Miño Valley. As with with all our tours, your luggage is transferred for you, as you enjoy the trail with other pilgrims and adventurers on this small group tour.
We also offer this Camino Frances as a self-guided tour. Check our itineraries here.
- Church of San Juan of Portomarín
- Melide
- Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
- Compostela Certificate
- Fully guided by Camino Frances expert
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Sarria
Private transfer from Santiago airport/train station to Sarria. Sarria is a small town in Galicia and the last place where you can start your Camino and collect your Compostela Certificate. If you arrive early, we strongly recommend taking a taxi to Samos and visiting the Monastery founded in the 6th century and been welcoming pilgrims since then. Meet your fellow pilgrims and the guide.
- Overnight in Sarria (Hotel Novoa or similar)
Day 2: Sarria – Portomarín | 22km
Start your day by walking past Sarria Castle, then continue along flat country roads through various pretty hamlets, with one particular stop recommended in Barbadelo to visit its Romanesque church. Your day comes to a close in Portomarín on the Rio Miño, famous for having been moved brick by brick to build the Belesar reservoir.
- Walking for the day: 22km, 5-6h, ↑200m ↓300m
- Overnight in Portomarin (Hotel Villa Jardin / Hotel Ferramenteiro or similar)
Day 3: Portomarín – Palas de Rei | 24km
We start the route towards Serra de Ligonde with a low difficulty level, climbing up to 725m. Today, the green landscapes are mixed with some paved areas, peppered with some of the prettiest villages of Castromaior, Ventas de Narón and Ligond. For the last 3km leading into Palas de Rei, you walk on a dirt track that runs parallel to the main road.
- Walking for the day: 24km, 6h, ↑450m ↓300m
- Overnight in Palas de Rei (Hotel Alda Palas de Reis or similar)
Day 4: Palas de Rei – Arzua | 29km
Today we enter the province of A Coruña. We leave Palas via Campo dos Romeiros, a traditional meeting place for pilgrims, and continue on through eucalyptus forests, crossing medieval bridges into towns like Furelos, Boente and Castañeda. This stage is more difficult due to the distance, so we stop in Melide, giving you an opportunity to sample the famous octopus dish, pulpo a feira. before finally arriving in Arzua, which is famous for its cheese.
- Walking for the day: 29km, 7h, ↑225m ↓400m
- Overnight in Arzua (Hotel Arzua or similar)
Day 5: Arzua – Amenal | 22km
Pick up some local cheese for lunch in Arzúa, and then continue through the old quarter of the town, past some sturdy oak trees, which give way to meadows. After visiting the medieval shrine at Santa Irene and the Baroque fountain of healing waters, your day comes to a close in Amenal.
- Walking for the day: 22km, 5h, ↑200m ↓225m
- Overnight in Amenal (Hotel Amenal / Hotel Bello or similar)
Day 6: Amenal – Santiago de Compostela | 16km
This is your final stage of the Camino Frances, starting off your way walking through tranquil rural terrain and eucalyptus groves. At Monte del Gozo, pilgrims historically make one last stop at the spring in Lavacolla to wash their face and feet. Enter the ancient city of Santiago de Compostela and celebrate the end of your journey along with many other pilgrims and adventurers at the Cathedral.
- Walking for the day: 16km, 3-4h, ↑175m ↓175m
- Overnight in Santiago de Compostela (Hotel Gelmirez or similar)
Day 7: Santiago de Compostela
Today we have a guided visit to the Old Town of Santiago de Compostela, including a visit to Santiago Cathedral. We also have a farewell dinner in a traditional restaurant in the historic centre of Santiago.
- Overnight in Santiago de Compostela (Hotel Gelmirez or similar)
Day 8: Departure
After breakfast, transfer to airport or train station, or we can also arrange extra nights in Santiago.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is in simple but comfortable hotels and guesthouses, located close to the route of the Camino. All of them have private or en-suite facilities and offer a warm welcome to walkers, traditional hospitality and hearty local food.
Click to view sample hotels
- Hotel Novoa (Sarria)
- Hotel Villa Jardin / Hotel Ferramenteiro (Portomarín)
- Hotel Alda Palas de Reis (Palas de Rei)
- Hotel Arzua (Arzua)
- Hotel Amenal / Hotel Bello (Amenal)
- Hotel Gelmirez (Santiago de Compostela)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast and dinner are included (usually buffet breakfast/coffee and toast/bread/croissant) on all days. When no restaurant location is available on the route, lunches and snacks should be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Most places serve hearty pilgrim menus – you can get a 3-course evening meal including wine for £12-15. A farewell dinner with drinks is included in Santiago.
Difficulty and terrain
This walk is graded moderate and includes walks of 20km per day on average (the longest one is 29km); the terrain is flat or hilly (read more about difficulty grades) without steep ascents or descents. You will follow a mixture of dirt roads, woodland paths, minor roads and some busier roads close to the bigger towns and cities. The routes are well-waymarked, and there is a guide to lead you the way. The route is marked with yellow painted arrows and a yellow shell on a blue background. You can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime.
When to go
This trip is available on specific dates from April until October 2024, but not in July and August, as it is too hot and crowded. Please note that the October date in 2024 is sold out.
Check the Dates & Prices button on the right for available dates and prices.
The group is up to maximum 20 people.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Santiago de Compostela (SCQ). The alternative airport is A Coruña (LCG).
By train or bus
- If you are able to travel to Spain without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail with train stations in Sarria and Santiago de Compostela. For more details, see Spain’s national rail operators.
- Arrival in Sarria: A transfer included on day one from Santiago airport/train station to Sarria.
- Departure from Santiago de Compostela: A transfer is included to Santiago airport.
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights in private rooms with en-suite facilities
- 7 breakfasts and 7 dinners (incl. drinks with the farewell dinner on day seven)
- Maps
- Private transfer from Santiago airport/train station to Sarria on day one
- Private transfer from the hotel in Santiago to Santiago airport on day eight
- Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel on all walking days (one piece up to 20kg per person)
- Support car throughout the trip for emergencies
- Local English-speaking guide
- Guided tour of Santiago de Compostela (old town) and entrance to Santiago Cathedral on day seven
- Pilgrim’s passport and scallop
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- Extra nights in Santiago before and after the tour
- Airport transfers from/to other airports
Compostela/Pilgrim’s Passport
You need to get your passports stamped in churches, restaurants or hotels along the way. At the end of the walk in Santiago de Compostela, you can obtain your Compostela Certificate.
Important: Due to the large influx of pilgrims during summer, and to avoid long waiting times, the Pilgrim Office in Santiago has installed a numbered ticket system for issuing pilgrim certificates (the Compostela). This new system allows pilgrims to collect their tickets and, using a QR Code, to check the status of the queue and estimated waiting time to obtain the Compostela. However, the number of tickets per day is limited, so on days with high numbers of pilgrims arriving; there is a possibility that not all pilgrims will be able to collect their certificate on the day of arrival and will have to return for it on the following morning.
Therefore, if obtaining a pilgrim certificate is important to you, and if you plan to undertake the Camino between April 15th and October 15th, we recommend that you arrange the return travel in such a way that you will be in Santiago de Compostela during the morning after your arrival. Better still, we encourage you to book a second night in Santiago so that you can collect the certificate without rushing and enjoy the charms of the city.
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