- Roundtrip
- Spain
Travelcode: 286

The Way of Saint James

The Pilgrimage for shell collectors

from 840,00 €
286-821 km
8 (18) Nächte

8 (18) nights
Roundtrip

Roundtrip/point to point: Cycling from point A to point B. A return trip to starting point is mostly included in the tour-price or additionally bookable with supplement. >> all Roundtrips
Level b

Level 2-3 - Moderate cyclists: Generally rolling or hilly terrain with longer uphill stretches, good physical condition and bike-tour experience necessary.
Individual

Individual Tour: You decide for yourself the pace you want to cycle, the sights you want to see along the way and when to take a break. Our detailed maps and route descriptions show you the way. >>all individual tours

Please note: You can only take part in this trip if you are vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19!
As of Oct 2022, subject to change.

Feel save, book flexible: FREE rebooking up to 6 weeks prior arrival to any alternative date in 2021 - applies to bookings between May 01 and June 15 2021 , the price of the newly selected date 2021 applies in the event of a rebooking.

Rebooking FREE OF CHARGE until 28 days prior tour start; valid for all new bookings between May 01 and ***September 15 2021***. Valid for all tour-dates 2021 – the price of the newly selected date 2021 applies in the event of a rebooking.

For more than thousand years pilgrims from all over Europe walked along this medevial way of pilgrimship to Santiago de Compostela (UNESCO world Heritage Site) in northwest of Spain where St. James is burried.

To this day this path achieved its fascinating combination of nature and culture. This is the ideal possibility to experience this beautiful path individually on your bike.

Route

Tour profile / level 2-3

Hilly with some challenging uphills, mostly on country-roads. For bikers with condition and experience. Minimum age: 14 years.

Tour details 8-day-trip

Day 1: Astorga
Individual arrival.

Day 2: Astorga – Molinaseca, approx. 49 km
Leave the Castillian plains behind to climb progressively towards the mountains of Leon with its highest point of the cycle being the Monte de la Cruz the Ferro (the iron cross), where it is tradition to leave a small stone that you have brought from your homeland. From here the rest of the way is mostly downhill and the views are astonishingly beautiful.

Day 3: Molinaseca – Herrerias/O´Cebreiro, approx. 59 km
Cycle 25 km amongst vineyards to reach the beautiful town of Villafranca. Later climb O´Cebreiro, where the Galicia Region starts.

Day 4: O´Cebreiro – Sarria, approx. 59 km
We are now in Galicia and there is a big change in landscape, culture, gastronomy and language. A fantastic part of the day comes when we descend to the town of Samos where we find one of the oldest and most beautiful monasteries in Spain, the Benedictine monastery of Samos.

Day 5: Sarria – Palas de Rei, approx. 46 km
Today´s cycle ride runs through very nice rural countryside, passing through many little villages. Most of this stage is along tree-lined roads and pathways and there is a mix of little country roads and old paths. At the end of the day we reach Palais de Rei. A small town full of the pilgrim spirit.

Day 6: Palas de Rei – Rua, approx. 41 km
Today´s ride does not have great climbs but it is a constant up and down that can be quite tiring. We will ride enjoying the Galician countryside. During the day you will go through the town of Melide that is famous for its "pulperías" where they serve superb octopus.

Day 7: Rua – Santiago de Compostela, approx. 59 km
The route is not long so as to allow you to enjoy the beautiful city of Santiago de Compostela. There are hard hills to climb before arriving at the "Monte do Gozo" (the hill of joy) where you first see the Cathedral of Santiago in the distance.

Day 8: Santiago de compostela
Individual departure or extended stay.

Tour details 18-day-trip

Day 1: Roncesvalles
Day 2: Saint Jean Pied de Port – Roncesvalles, approx. 25 km
Day 3: Roncesvalles – Pamplona, approx. 49 km
Day 4: Pamplona – Estella, approx. 41 km
Day 5: Estella – Logrono, approx. 50 km
Day 6: Logrono – Sto Domingo de la Calzada, approx. 50 km
Day 7: Sto Domingo de la Calzada – Burgos, approx. 73 km
Day 8: Burgos – Fromista, approx. 67 km
Day 9: Fromista – Sahagun, approx. 62 km
Day 10: Sahagun – Leon, approx. 57 km
Day 11: Leon – Astorga, approx. 53 km
Day 12: Astorga – Molinaseca, approx. 49 km
Day 13: Molinaseca – Herrerías/O´Cebreiro approx. 59 km
Day 14: Herrerías/O´Cebreiro – Sarria, approx. 59 km
Day 15: Sarrias – Palas de Rei, approx. 59 km
Day 16: Palas de Rei – O´Pino, approx. 41 km
Day 17: O´Pino – Santiago de Compostela, approx. 59 km
Day 18: Santiago de Compostela

Services

7/17 nights in rooms with private facilities
Daily breakfast
Luggage transfer
Pilgrimage passport
Maps and information material per room
Emergency support and activity insurance

Dates & Prices

daily arrival possible

Dates

Merkmale

01.04. - 31.10.25

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8 days

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Extras

Discount for 3rd person (in double room with 2 adults)
all ages	on request

Supplements
Solo traveller supplement (18 days only)	662
additional luggage (8 days/18 days)	81/277
Half board (only at 8 day variant, not in Santiago)	131

Bicycles & equipment
24-speed-bike (8 days/18 days)	105/289
E-Bike (8 days only)	210

Transfers
Pamplona - Roncesvalles 1-4 people (18 days)	137

Extra nights
Astorga (dbl/sgl)	on request
Santiago (dbl/sgl)	on request

Best - Price - Guarantee

If you would verifiably receive better conditions and/or prices from another tour operator at the time of booking we guarantee at least the same conditions PLUS 1 handlebar bag for FREE!

All prices per person in EUR

Accommodation

Hotel Samples

The hotels are conveniently positioned very near or on the Camino and are always the best quality on offer along the way. They are typically of 2 and 3 star grading.

Roncesvalles: Hotel Roncesvalles
Pamplona: Hotel Leyre
Estella: Hotel Yerry
Logrono: Hotel Sercotel Portales
Sto Domingo de la Calzado: Hostal El Molin de Floren
Burgos: Hotel Meson del Cid
Fromista: Hostal Camino de Santiago
Sahagun: La Bastide Du Chemin
Leon: Hospedería Fernando I
Astorga: Hotel Astur Plaza
Molinaseca: Hostal el Palacio
Herrerías: Hotel La Pandela
Sarria: Hotel Roma
Palas de Rei: Casa Benilde
Rua: Hotel O´Pino
Santiago: Hotel Avenida

Note: Please be informed that these are hotel samples and therefore subject to alteration! Find Your final hotel bookings at Your hotel list after/at booking.

Bicycle

Rental bikes including pannier

The following rental bikes are available (including lights, luggage rack, panniers, handlebar bag, repair kit, lock and air pump):

Comfortable touring bikes (women’s and men’s versions) with 24-speed derailleur gears,
E-bikes (only bookable for the 8-day variant)

E-bikes | Electric bikes | Pedelecs

With our e-bikes every bike tour is a breeze! If you perhaps had little opportunity to cycle in the last weeks before the bike tour, if you are not quite sure of your strength, but also if you have physical limitations, every bike tour will be a pleasure for you! The switchable, almost silent electric drive of our modern bike takes some of the work off your hands, and amplifies the pedal power by 3 times. So now even cyclists with different fitness levels can book a tour together.

Useful

Arrival - Parking - Departure

Arrival by plane

Airport: Madrid (MAD), Pamplona (PNA), Santiago de Compostela (SCQ)
Flights can be booked individually. For details see your final travel documents.

Arrival by train

Train station: Madrid, Pamplona
There are 2-5 trains a day from Madrid-Chamartín to Astorga at about € 45.- Travelling from Madrid-Chamartín to León offers more options, but you need to change trains in León, tickets at approx. € 45.-

Transfer

Transfer from Madrid to Astorga is very easy by bus. The bus company ALSA runs a daily service from Madrid to Astorga (buses leaving either from Madrid South station "Estación Sur" or the Airport, Terminal 4), ticket cost approx. € 30.-

For the 18-day-tour it is easiest to go to Pamplona first (nearest international airport is Bilbao BIO), then you continue by bus AUTOBUSES LA UNION, approx. 2h, ticket cost about € 20.-

Return flight is recommended from Santiago de Compostela, Transfer from Santiago to Madrid is also possible by bus.

Additional information

Please take note that bike helmets are compulsory outside of built-up areas/towns!

The pilgrim passport
In former times a pilgrim would obtain his credentials (pilgrim passport) from his own church and present it along the way in order to be given food and lodging in many "hospitals". He had his papers stamped at different stages so that once he arrived in Santiago, he could obtain his "Compostela" or certificate of pilgrimage from the Cathedral Authorities.

This procedure is still possible, not compulsory. We recommend to make the effort to get your pilgrim passport at the pilgrims´ hostel in Astorga on your first day, and get it stamped along the way at cafes, restaurants, hostels, etc. Once you reach Santiago you can present your stamped passport at the Cathedral´s office to get a (latin) certificate to take home with you.

Videos

Travel stories

4,6 of 6 Stars | 5

4,3 11.10.2024 | Carol C. The Way of Saint James

The French Way

Overall a wonderful experience. This is my 5th trip with Rad and Reisen. This is the first time we had no pre-trip orientation. It was disconcerting for our group. We would have liked to have a least met a contact person. One set of books were in ...

Overall satisfaction 5
Booking handling 5
Travel documents 4
Per-Tour information 3
Accomodation 3
Board 3
Luggage transport 4
Route description 5
On-site assistance 3
Route-character 5
Bicycle + equipment 5
Price-performance ratio 6

5,0 24.10.2023 | Adrienne B. The Way of Saint James

The Way of St James - cycle

We had a wonderful trip following this beautiful part of Spain. We highly recommend making the cycle trip on ebikes which gave us the opportunity to view our environment in a more leisurely way and to enjoy some of the tougher cycling elevations. Being ...

Overall satisfaction 6
Booking handling 3
Travel documents 6
Per-Tour information 2
Accomodation 6
Board 6
Luggage transport 6
Route description 6
On-site assistance 2
Route-character 6
Bicycle + equipment 5
Price-performance ratio 6

5,5 19.10.2023 | Barb B. The Way of Saint James

St. James 2023

Instructions/road information on directions were not always accurate. Names of roads/streets weren't always given. KM weren't accurate. The minor road numbers weren't always accurate. I suggest someone actually physically rides a bike on the route. ...

Overall satisfaction 6
Booking handling 6
Travel documents 5
Per-Tour information 5
Accomodation 6
Board 5
Luggage transport 6
Route description 4
On-site assistance 5
Route-character 6
Bicycle + equipment 6
Price-performance ratio 6

5,0 16.07.2018 | Thomas C. The Way of Saint James

Way of St James 8 days

Overall satisfaction 5
Booking handling 5
Travel documents 5
Per-Tour information 5
Accomodation 4
Board 3
Luggage transport 6
Route description 6
On-site assistance 4
Route-character 6
Bicycle + equipment 6
Price-performance ratio 5

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The Way of Saint James

The Pilgrimage for shell collectors

The Way of Saint James

The Pilgrimage for shell collectors