Your Eleven Days
Check into your hotel in vibrant Madrid. Your evening begins with a welcome dinner where you'll meet your fellow pilgrims and Tour Director, who will walk you through everything — pacing, what to carry, and what to expect on the days ahead.
Transfer to the station and board the train north to Sarria — the traditional starting point for pilgrims completing the final 100 km of the Camino Francés. Explore the medieval town: the early-Gothic Church of O Salvador, the 13th-century Convent of A Madalena, or a drink on the river walk. Hotel: Alfonso IX, Sarria.
The Camino begins. A peaceful walk through shady oak forests and pretty villages. Visit the Romanesque church in Barbadelo. Descend into Portomarin — a town relocated stone by stone when its site was flooded by the Belesar reservoir. Relax in the outdoor cafes in the main square. Hotel: Vistalegre Spa Hotel, Portomarin.
Let your mind wander and your feet follow. Cross the Belesar dam footbridge then climb gradually toward Ligonde. The route runs along ancient andanderos — pilgrims' paths — marked by the famous cruceiros (stone crucifixes). Look for the Cruceiro of Lameiros and the Monastery of Our Saviour of Vilar de Donas. Hotel: Casa Roan y Casa Grande, Lestedo.
Keep an open mind and heart. The Camino enters the province of Coruña with eucalyptus and pine expanses and numerous medieval stone bridges. Melide is the capital of pulpo (octopus) in Galicia — indulge in this local delicacy at a traditional pulpería. Hotel in Melide.
A shorter, gentler stage — a gift to your legs. Beautiful stretches through Ribadiso da Baixo, where a medieval stone bridge crosses a clear river. Arzúa is famous for its exceptional local cheese. Hotel in Arzúa.
Finding the courage to step outside our comfort zone leads to self-discovery. A walk over gentle slopes through woodland and stretches of quiet road. You are now less than 20 km from Santiago. Hotel in Amenal.
The last stage. Climb through Lavacolla, pass Monte do Gozo — the Hill of Joy, where medieval pilgrims first glimpsed the cathedral towers — then walk the final steps into the Praza do Obradoiro. You made it. Receive your Compostela certificate, enjoy a guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage cathedral, and attend the Pilgrim Mass in the evening. Two nights: Hotel Compostela, Santiago.
Full-day coach excursion to Cape Finisterre — the westernmost point of Spain where land meets the Atlantic. Medieval pilgrims burned their worn boots here as a symbol of renewal. Visit also the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Boat in Muxia, perched on the cliffs above the sea.
A final morning at leisure in Santiago — the medieval streets, the covered market, or the cathedral square one last time. Transfer to the station for the return train to Madrid. Hotel: Praga, Madrid.
Your journey ends in Madrid. Depart at leisure with a Compostela certificate, a credential booklet full of sello stamps, legs that have carried you 115 km, a full heart, and friendships forged on an ancient path.