Camino Frances: Deluxe Hotels

You will begin your walking adventure in the Spanish town of Sarria, a famous starting point for the Camino Francés, being 100 km from Santiago de Compostela. Sarria is full of beautiful architecture like its gorgeous castle, churches and quaint antique dealers. You can visit the local eateries for some local stew in winter or a refreshing cold drink with tapas in the summertime. After a delicious meal at your hotel, you will settle down for a good night’s sleep before tomorrow’s walk.

After enjoying breakfast in your lovely hotel, you will set out for the town of Portomarín. Today’s walk will take you through beautiful Galician countryside and traditional Spanish hamlets with their gorgeous Romanesque churches. On arriving at your destination, you can visit the church of San Juan that was lovingly moved stone by stone by residents to protect it from flooding. On exploring Portomarín, you might catch a glimpse of the old flooded town in the depths of the river. Afterwards, you can head to your hotel for a warm welcome, good food and an ever-better night’s sleep.

Waking up in your deluxe hotel, you will savor a delicious breakfast before hitting the trail once again. Passing over beautiful rivers and through the gorgeous Ligonde Mountains, you will follow the footsteps of countless ancient travelers. A combination of dirt tracks and paved roads will lead you to Palas de Rei, for a peaceful night of rest and recuperation.

Having fueled your body with coffee and a meal, you will set out for your longest day of walking on this self-guided Spanish walking adventure. Today you will pass through the wonderful medieval town of Ribadiso as you push on to Arzúa for the night. You can stop along the way to sample local delicacies, like the sugared doughnuts and local octopus at Melide, or the famous creamy cheese at Arzúa.

The week will have flown by, and you won’t believe that tomorrow is your final day on the trail. The terrain won’t be too challenging today, but you will cross over several streams and pass through sleepy villages. Enjoying the shade of eucalyptus trees, you can visit the legendary fountain of Santa Irene, believed to have miraculous healing powers in years gone by. When you arrive in O Pedrouzo you can attend the pilgrims’ mass at the Romanesque Gothic church of St Eulalia, before checking into your hotel for a peaceful night of rest.

Today you will arrive in Santiago. This final leg of the Camino Frances starts off with a peaceful path through the woods of Oak and Eucalyptus. Getting closer to the city of Santiago, the landscape becomes more rural, and you will spot the twin spires of the cathedral from the top of the hill called Monte do Gozo. As you descend into Santiago, you can reflect on the memories and friendships that you have forged this week, before collecting your pilgrims’ certificate and visiting the pilgrims’ mass, ancient relics and tombs. This is the final night of your French Way Deluxe walk, so you are sure to sleep soundly after a long week on the trail.

Having walked 100 km in just 5 days, you can be proud of your achievement! After one last breakfast in your gorgeous hotel, you will check-out of your accommodation and begin your journey home. Alternatively, you can pre-book some additional nights in your hotel in Santiago, to explore the history and culture of this vibrant Spanish city.