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Walking the Camino de Santiago: El Camino Francés

Europe’s classic pilgrimage route
A unique experience | Walk one of only two UNESCO World Heritage pilgrimages.
Samos | Begin your journey in a historic village unseen by most pilgrims.
Timeless Galicia | Discover the history and beauty of unspoiled northern Spain.
Sense of achievement | Confirmed by your official pilgrim certificate.
Explore Santiago | With a full day set aside to uncover the city’s treasures.
What is included
  • 8 nights
  • 4 dinners (5 on upgrade)
    8 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • Pilgrim stamp passport
  • walk transfer on day 1
  • Walking the Camino de Santiago: El Camino Francés
    Europe’s classic pilgrimage route
  • Castro de Castromaior
  • Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
  • Church of Santa María de Melide
  • Convento de la Magdalena
  • Monastery of Samos
  • Pulpo a la Gallega
  • Scalloped bridge in Sarria
What is included
  • 8 nights
  • 4 dinners (5 on upgrade)
    8 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • Pilgrim stamp passport
  • walk transfer on day 1

Holiday information

A walking holiday along the Camino Francés

Complete the final stage of the world-famous Camino Francés pilgrimage route on this self-guided walking holiday through beautiful, rural Galicia to Santiago de Compostela, with your luggage transported for you.

From the moment you begin this pilgrimage, you know you’re in for a very special experience. Not only because you are about to join a network of ancient trails that stretch back over a millennium and carry pilgrims from across the globe to the shrine of St James, but because your journey begins away from the beaten track – in the tranquil village of Samos. Nestled in a lush valley and surrounded by forested hills, it makes the ideal starting point for a hike that’s rich in natural wonder, as well as in history, tradition, and delicious regional cuisine.
From here, you cover the last 100 kilometres of the Camino Francés – entitling you to receive the official pilgrim certificate (the ‘Compostela’) on arrival into Santiago. The days are full but incredibly rewarding, and you can add extra nights along the way to recharge at our carefully chosen accommodation, which includes handsome manor houses, innovative boutique hotels, and the chance to upgrade to Santiago’s five-star Parador.

Reaching Santiago is, of course, the climax of your journey – for the sense of achievement, spiritual and physical, and for the camaraderie with other pilgrims as you celebrate together in the iconic cathedral square. For the perfect finish, this holiday concludes with two nights in the city, giving you a full day to appreciate Santiago’s unique atmosphere and UNESCO-listed beauty.


Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 13 14 16 17 19 23 25 25 24 20 15 13
    mm 182 124 122 114 86 49 29 34 68 176 170 187
  • Arrival in Samos
    Night 1: at Casa Licerio (where you spend one night).

    Many pilgrims never see the peaceful village of Samos, nestled in a lush valley and home to a magnificent, 6th-century monastery. Take time to visit the beautiful Benedictine cloisters and to soak in the village’s tranquil atmosphere before moving on the following day.

    As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of walking.
  • Samos to Portomarín: 23km, 7.5hrs; ascent 400m/descent 470m
    Beginning with a short, included transfer to Sarria, today’s walk provides the perfect introduction to the Camino Francés. There’s so much to discover, from a Gothic convent where nuns still reside to the timeless countryside of rural Galicia. The approach to Portomarín is a particular highlight, with your descent into the Miño Valley and crossing of the river affording fantastic landscape views. Your accommodation – Pazo de Berbetoros or Vistalegre Hotel-Spa – can be found farther up the hillside, in the centre of town.
    Samos Monastery
  • Portomarín to Lestedo: 22km, 7.5hrs; ascent 530m/descent 290m
    The variety of today’s route makes it one to really savour – it features open countryside, historic sites, and fabulous, far-reaching views. The day starts with a gentle ascent out of the Miño Valley, after which we recommend a short detour to the Castro de Castromaior – a Celtic hill fort that takes you back to a time before even the Romans inhabited the Iberian Peninsula. Enjoy the superb panoramas from the ruins before continuing to Lestedo through peaceful fields and small villages, staying either at Hostería Calixtino or Rectoral de Lestedo.
    Castro de Castromaior
  • Lestedo to Melide: 21km, 7.5hrs; ascent 260m/descent 470m
    From Lestedo, you walk to the local market town of Palas de Rei then westwards through beautiful, rural Galicia. Your route leads you across several watercourses – either via medieval bridges or large stepping stones – as well as through quaint villages and along quiet forest paths. A short urban stretch precedes your arrival into Melide, where trying the town’s famous delicacy is a must. Pulpo a la Gallega is octopus served with paprika, olive oil, salt, and boiled potatoes – often complemented by rustic Galician bread and washed down with local white wine. Continue beyond the town to your rural hotel, Casa da Ponte de Penas, but not before taking in another ‘must’: the striking 12th-century church of Santa María de Melide.
    Melide
  • Melide to Arzúa: 12.5km, 4.5hrs; ascent 260m/descent 300m
    Today you have a slightly shorter walk, but that’s no bad thing given it means longer to enjoy your next accommodation: the beautiful, 18th-century estate of Pazo Santa María. Your route here winds through rural villages and across rivers, and features two very different highlights. The first is the Church of Santiago in Boente – a classic place to have your pilgrim ‘passport’ stamped and to pause for a moment of quiet reflection; the second is the town of Arzúa, known for its smooth and creamy cheese made from local cow’s milk.
    Fountain in Boente
  • Arzúa to O Pedrouzo: 20km, 7hrs; ascent 300m/descent 400m
    At the end of this route, you’ll be just one walk from Santiago! For today, though, the Camino maintains its tranquil, rural course – continuing through traditional Galician villages where many locals live off the land and where you’ll often encounter a small but lovely church, such as the Capilla de Santa Irene in its secluded oak grove. As you make your way through O Pedrouzo to Hotel Amiuka, notice the number of pilgrims soar – the Camino Francés has now converged with the Camino del Norte and the Camino Primitivo.
    O Pedrouzo
  • O Pedrouzo to Santiago de Compostela: 21km, 7.5hrs; ascent 310m/descent 340m
    Excitement and emotions will gradually build today, as you near Santiago on the last leg of your pilgrimage. It’s a suitably memorable walk, featuring varied landscapes that include Monte de Gozo, a panoramic hill also known as the Mount of Joy; this is the place, where, for centuries, pilgrims have enjoyed their first glimpse of Santiago’s soaring spires. Descending into the urban outskirts of the city, you eventually reach the Old Town and the Praza do Obradoiro – where all pilgrims come together before the iconic cathedral to celebrate the completion of their journey. You have two nights in the city – spent either at Hotel Virxe da Cerca or Hotel Compostela. Alternatively, why not upgrade to the 5-star Parador de Santiago de Compostela to finish in real style?
    Monte de Gozo
  • Explore Santiago de Compostela
    Once you’ve collected your official Compostela certificate from the Pilgrim Office, you have a full day to rest and enjoy the singular beauty of this UNESCO World Heritage city – where Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque buildings sit cheek-by-jowl with lively bars and restaurants. Apart from Santiago’s monumental treasures, the city is rich in greenery, with parks, gardens, and riverside paths to enjoy. We provide a suggested walking tour, but you may prefer simply to allow yourself to get lost in the fascinating maze of lanes and plazas.
    Santiago de Compostela Cathedral

Accommodation

After full days on the trails, your hand-picked accommodation promises a chance to unwind – many of the properties we have selected are set in peaceful rural locations, yet always within easy reach of the Camino route.

We offer an upgrade option in Santiago de Compostela. Please indicate your preference at the time of booking.

In some places, we work with more than one hotel, as shown below. All are hand-picked by us and, unless there is a price implication (in which case we will contact you to discuss your options), we will tell you which one we have booked for you on your booking confirmation.

Extend your stay

Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
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  • 8 nights: 01 April 2026 - 31 October 2026

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price *
    1 - 30 Apr 2026 from £1352
    1 May - 30 Jun 2026 from £1462
    1 - 31 Jul 2026 from £1482
    1 - 31 Aug 2026 from £1422
    1 - 30 Sep 2026 from £1512
    1 - 23 Oct 2026 from £1372

    * Final price is subject to change due to the customisable nature of our holidays and is dependent on accommodation availability for the dates selected. We will contact you to confirm the final price. Single supplements are applicable on many of our holidays. Please contact us for full details.

    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Recommended airports: Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña or Asturias (Oviedo)

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  If you are flying from outside Europe, you may need to fly via an airport not listed here. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Santiago de Compostela British Airways,  easyJet,  Vueling 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Santiago de Compostela Vueling 
    Heathrow - Santiago de Compostela (via Madrid) Iberia 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Santiago de Compostela Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Santiago de Compostela (via Barcelona) Vueling 
    Manchester - Santiago de Compostela (via Barcelona) Ryanair 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  If you are flying from outside Europe, you may need to fly via an airport not listed here. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

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FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • Yes, prior to going on holiday you will be able to download GPX tracks so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. It’s entirely up to you whether or not you use them – our detailed, step-by-step route notes remain the principal means of guiding you from A to B – but we provide them as a secondary means of navigation for additional reassurance when walking.
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
  • Absolutely! We are experts in tailored rail travel. Making use of sleeper trains or stopovers in cities along the route, we can get you from London to virtually anywhere in mainland Europe. We can even make arrangements to Mallorca, Sicily and Norway with a combination of ferries and rail. Please contact us to discuss your plans.
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can incur a five or six-figure bill.

    Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Spain, but not a visa (please note, however, that a new travel authorisation system is being introduced). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • (Castilian) Spanish is one of several official languages; Catalan, Basque and Gallego have equal status in Catalonia, the Basque Country and Galicia, respectively. The currency is the Euro. Spanish time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.

    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
  • You are the best judge of your child’s/children’s capabilities. We are happy to take bookings for families of older children/teenagers if they walk regularly, love the outdoors and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved. Please note that the bedrooms at most of the accommodation we use will normally only sleep a maximum of 3 people, and sometimes only 2.
Price from
£1,352pp | 8 nights
Walking the Camino de Santiago: El Camino Francés. 8 nights
Price from
£1,352pp
Last fetch time is : 10/24/2025 1:46:32 AM

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