Camino de Santiago – The French Way | 8 Days

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TRIP IN BRIEF

Camino de Santiago – The French Way

5
(9 Reviews)
From $1,235 AUD
  • 8 Days
  • Cities Visited

    Sarria, Portomarin, Palas De Rei, Melide, Arzua, O Pedrouzo, Santiago de Compostela

    Age Range:
    0 to 99
    Type: Self Guided Tours, Special Interest Walking Tours

Or contact your local travel agent.

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Tour at a Glance

Tour at a Glance

Embark on the most popular Camino route, The Camino Frances, or the French Way

  • Self- guided walking trip; set your own pace
  • Take in the stunning beauty of the landscapes of the French Camino Trail
  • 1000 years of history on the world’s greatest historical trail
  • Finish in the historical city of Santiago
  • Start Point:
  • End Point:
  • Stops:
  • Map is an indication of destinations visited and may not depict the exact route taken.

Itinerary

Day 1:                                  SARRIA

Make your own way to Sarria. We recommend a transfer from Santiago Airport. Sarria is known as the departure point for the classic last 100 km, which is the minimum distance that needs to be walked to get the Compostela. This is a day to relax and to focus on the adventure that is about to start the next morning.

Day 2:                                   SARRIA – PORTOMARIN

(22.2 kms, approximately 5 hours. Difficulty level: low)

You will have to take your luggage to the lobby of your hotel/pension before 08:00 hrs. This first stage is quite comfortable and smooth, with no unevenness. Step inside the deepest Galicia and we let her surround us by chestnut and oak trees, rivers, and meadows. Walk through charming towns such as Barbadelos or Ferreiros. The ancient town of Portomarin is sunk under the waters of the Belesar reservoir. The Miño River will let us know we are arriving. (B)

Day 3:                                   PORTOMARIN – PALAS DE REI

(24.8 kms, approximately 6 hours. Difficulty level: low)

You will have to take your luggage to the lobby of your hotel /pension before 08:00 hrs. With low difficulty, start your way up to the Sierra de Ligonde, reaching up to 725 metres high. During this day, see green landscapes mix with paved areas. Also start seeing the famous “cruzeiros”. Walk past the villages of Castromaior and Ventas de Narón y Ligonde. (B)

Day 4:                                   PALAS DE REI – MELIDE

(14.4 kms, approximately 3 hours. Difficulty level: low)

You will have to take your luggage to the lobby of your hotel /pension before 08:00 hrs. Leave the province of Lugo behind to enter the province of A Coruña. Walk through the Campo dos Romeiros, a key point for the gathering of pilgrims towards Leboreiro, a nice walk surrounded by leafy forests to finally arrive to Melide, crossing the river upon a medieval bridge. (B)

Day 5:                                   MELIDE – ARZUA

(14.1 kms, approximately 3 hours. Difficulty level: low)

You will have to take your luggage to the lobby of your hotel /pension before 08:00 hrs. Again, today you only have a few kilometres ahead of you. That will let you enjoy some of the charming towns along the way, such as Bonte and Castañeda on our way to Arzua, famous for its cheeses. (B)

Day 6:                                   ARZUA – O PEDROUZO or AMENAL

(19.3-22.6 kms, approximately 4 hours. Difficulty level: low)

You will have to take your luggage to the lobby of your hotel /pension before 08:00 hrs. Brief and smooth stage to assimilate all you have seen and lived along the way during these days before arriving to Santiago the following day. Accommodation in Amenal or O Pedrouzo. (B)

Day 7:                                   O PEDROUZO or AMENAL – SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

(16.1-19.4 kms, approximately 4 hours. Difficulty level: low)

You will have to take your luggage to the lobby of the hotel /pension before 08:00 hrs. Today is the last stage with the aim of arriving at Compostela. Millions of pilgrims since medieval times longed to visit the sepulcher of St. James the Apostle. We highly recommend leaving early in the morning to be able to assist to the Pilgrims´ mass at the Cathedral which is celebrated at 12:00 pm. First arrive to Lavacolla, then continue your way up to the top of the Monte do Gozo, from where you will have your first glance of the amazing Cathedral. Finally, the Plaza do Obradoiro and the deserved personal satisfaction of having arrived. (B)

Day 8:                                   SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
After breakfast, end of our services. (B)

Accommodation (or similar):

SARRIA: H. Alfonso IX, H. Mar de Plata, Duerming Villa de Sarria, DP Cristal, or H. Novoa

PORTO MARIN: Pousada de Portomarin, H.Vistalegre, H. Portomiño, Casa do Maestro, Pazo de Berbetoros, or H. Ferramenteiro

PALAS DE REI: H. Mica, Complejo la Cabaña, As Hortas, H. Balneario Rio Pambre, or Hospedaxe Casa Avelina

MELIDE: Casa Adro, H. Carlos 96, Posada Chiquitin, H. Xaneiro, or Berenguela

ARZUA: H. Arzua, Casona de Nene, Casa Teodora, H. Boutique 1930, Domus Gallery, or Casa Costoya

O PEDROUZO / AMENAL: PR Platas, H. Casa Rural O Acivro, H. O Pino, H. Amenal, Casa Rural San Vento, or O Miuño da Pena

SANTIAGO: H. A Tafona do Peregrino, H. Gelmirez, H. Lux Santiago, H. Pazo de Altamira, Alameda Rooms, or Alda Avenida

Includes:

–          Accommodation as listed below or similar. Note that accommodation will range from hotels 1-4 stars, rural homes, hostels or boutique or charming accommodation

–          Daily breakfast

–          Luggage transportation between the towns (maximum 20kgs, 1 piece)

–          Route map, and pilgrim’s passport

–          Galician cheese tasting in Santiago.

Things to Note/Supplier Support:

–          With the assistance of VPT you will be able to live this experience: St. James ´ Way on your own and with complete independence.

–          We will organize all the details so you can enjoy your way with no worries at all.

–          We will be at your entire disposal to assist you before and during the Way.

–          At your arrival you will receive all the necessary information and the pilgrim´s kit: routes map, Pilgrim´s Passport, and Vieira.

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Pricing & Availability

Filter Dates
2024
2025
Departing Ending

All rates are based on twin/double share. Please enquire for single and triple rates. Rates are based on AUD. Availability is conditional on final confirmation from the supplier and is subject to change.

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Reviews for Camino de Santiago – The French Way

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Arahni Sont
Great trip

Review for: Andalucia with Valencia

I really enjoyed the Andalusia and Valencia trip from Barcelona.  Great guides. Nice hotels and food. It was just like the photos. I am going back next year for a month to Seville and learning Spanish now in Sydney!  The Spanish people are so friendly. I loved the historic buildings.  People on the bus were from 22 countries! About 54 of us. 
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Peter
234519

Review for: Spain & Portugal Splendours

We selected the 10 day Spain & Portugal Splendours tour as we were travelling to Madrid to stay with family and wanted to experience our first tour together. We found the tour independently from our agent and when we booked through our agent the price was the same which meant our agent could support us in emergencies which they had done before - great peace of mind even before we began. The tour began from Madrid and the first stop was Oviedo where we consolidated with another group who had stared earlier than us. As we progressed, we consolidated with more people joining and some leaving and new guide and bus / driver. Whilst some might find this disconcerting, we found it wonderful - new people as well as old and from varying countries and not just Aussies or Americans. Many were South Americans. Many spoke English, the others Spanish. Our guides spoke both and their English was good and they were careful to ensure the English speakers fully understood everything they said. The drivers and guides were most helpful with luggage where assistance was needed. We found the tour went at the right pace for us very few photo stops of a few minutes. Most stops were for a few hours and allowed us free time. The 2 two night stops really gave us an opportunity to explore with others we had made friends with. They offered optional tours in some towns which we did and which we found quite reasonably priced and again with English and Spanish speaking guides and found they really helped us appreciate the local aspects better. But even without these optional tours the experience was great and rewarding. Our tour guides supervised our check-in at each hotel (all of which we found most comfortable) and made sure we understood where the hotel was located in relation to the local city maps which they gave us at each stopover and explained how to best get around - walking, bus, metro or taxi as well as recommended places to eat - which we found excellent, timely and reasonable.. It was the little things that made the tour wonderful for us (in our early 70's) - some of which I have mentioned above, but there were many more! We are now planning our next trip with Sun Island Tours - probably Croatia
SunIslandTour
Reply from Sun Island Tours
Dear Peter, Firstly thank you for your review. We really appreciate feedback such as the above, because it allows us to ensure that we are offering the high level of standard on our tours, that the industry and our Australian clients expect. Spain and Portugal are such magical destinations. We pride ourselves on our offering in that region, as you recognised, by merging different nationalities and cultures together, we are able to offer a more immersive tour. Plus it also allows us to offer weekly, guaranteed departures all year round. Great to hear about the professionalism and care that the guide had offered you, which we expect on every tour. I have spoken with your agent, Georgia, and have also passed on your feedback to her. We have an excellent cooperation with Georgia, who always looks after her clients, by finding the best product to suit their individual needs, and as you said, offering emergency support where and when needed. Cant wait to organise your Croatia trip. Please contact Georgia as soon as you are ready, because Croatia is such a hot destination, it books out quick! Most 2020 prices and availability are out now! Thanks again for your detailed feedback. Kind regards, John @ Sun Island Tours
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Warwick Pitchner
Really enjoyable two week tour

Review for: The Best of Spain, Portugal & Morocco Tour

Really enjoyable two week tour of Spain Portugal and Morroco. Nice sized group and well organised. Only one hotel in Fez was disappointing. Guide and company notified. Extremely good guide, and a really well organised tour, of varying sizes as people joined for different parts of the tour.
SunIslandTour
Reply from Sun Island Tours
Thanks Warwick. This tour is made up of smaller tours, hence why you receive varying groups of people. Makes for a great experience! Thanks and we look forward to seeing you again.

Looking for more?

TRIP IN BRIEF

Camino de Santiago – The French Way

5
(9 Reviews)
From $1,235 AUD
  • 8 Days
  • Cities Visited

    Sarria, Portomarin, Palas De Rei, Melide, Arzua, O Pedrouzo, Santiago de Compostela

    Age Range:
    0 to 99
    Travel Style: Self Guided Tours, Special Interest Walking Tours

Or contact your local travel agent.

Spain
Speak to our Spain Expert - Sonia

Sonia’s heart is in Spain. Culture, history, food and experiences. Contact her for expert advise in the Iberian Peninsula.

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