St Jean Pied de Port – Santiago de Compostela - cycling

Check in to your hotel in the late afternoon in the beautiful Saint Jean Pied de Port. Feel free to take a walk past the 13th-century Bishop’s prison, which is now a museum, the town gate “Porte d’Espagne,” and the impressive fortress.

A tough start to the cycling as you make your way up to the Col de Roncesvalles (or Ibañeta), the symbolic border crossing between France and Spain. We recommend doing this during the cooler morning hours. Afterward, a much more pleasant section lies ahead along forest roads, past Roncesvalles with its well-known church and monastery, and through several other picturesque Basque villages, until you reach today’s destination, Zubiri.

56 km, +1,320 m / -964 m

Today’s stage begins as you pass through the Esteribar Valley, continuing to Pamplona, the first major city on the Camino Francés and the capital of Navarra. Pamplona is a historic pilgrimage city with much to discover, so feel free to make a stop here. Filled with impressions and hopefully good food, you then continue to Puente la Reina for an overnight stay. Puente la Reina is a medieval town, known among other things for its Romanesque bridge from the 12th century.

51 km, +451 m / -632 m

Today’s cycling takes you first to Estella, a fairly small town also known as “Estella the Beautiful.” It is a picturesque town with old houses, a palace, and churches, all of which contribute to the town living up to its nickname. Afterwards, you leave Navarra behind and cycle into the famous wine-growing region of La Rioja. Logroño is the capital of Rioja, and upon arrival, the beautiful Santa Maria de la Redonda Cathedral and the old parts of the town are well worth a visit.

75 km, +855 m / -810 m

From Logroño, you then head your bike towards Nájera. The route now takes you through oak forests, vineyards, and wheat fields in La Rioja, passing Santo Domingo de la Calzada and its special cathedral. Here, a hen and a rooster live in memory of the legend of the young pilgrim who was saved from being hanged by the Apostle James.

The day gives a foretaste of the next stage of the route, which crosses the broad Spanish plateau, the Meseta Central, where cereals are grown.

The day’s destination, Belorado, is a beautiful Castilian village with a rich history.

73 km, +930 m / -530 m

Today’s stage passes through small, simple villages before transitioning into more adventurous cycling as you cross the Montes de Oca. The uphill ride is rewarded with the impressive town of San Juan, one of the highlights of the pilgrimage – not only for its high, beautiful location but also for its magnificent monastery.

From here, you continue cycling through open countryside all the way to central Burgos. Once there, we recommend a visit to Burgos’ beautiful Gothic cathedral, commonly called “the queen of Gothic cathedrals.”

53 km, +520 m / -450 m

From Frómista, you continue to Carrión de los Condes, a large village located along the route. The village has retained its original charm with many well-preserved historic houses, churches, and not least the San Zoilo Monastery.

You then continue to Sahagún for an overnight stay, a town that reflects a grand past with many well-preserved and stately historic buildings.

71 km, +530 m / -680 m

From Frómista, you continue to Carrión de los Condes, a large village located along the route. The village has retained its original charm with many well-preserved historic houses, churches, and not least the San Zoilo Monastery.

You then continue to Sahagún for an overnight stay, a town that reflects a grand past with many well-preserved and stately historic buildings.

61 km, +280 m / -230 m

You follow the route across the open plains, pass a few more picturesque villages, and finally reach the city of León, which boasts, among other highlights, la Casa de los Botines – a work by the Catalan architect Gaudí – a magnificent cathedral, and the Church of San Isidoro.

60 km, +280 m / -270 m

Today the route takes you through Hospital de Órbigo and its famous Romanesque bridge. You can also begin to make out the silhouette of the Picos de Europa peaks on the horizon. You will also pass Astorga, a fantastic small town. We highly recommend taking a break here for a walk and to admire the town’s architecture, including the beautiful cathedral and the bishop’s palace designed by Gaudí.

The journey then continues through the region of La Maragatería and crosses the Monts de León mountains before reaching Rabanal del Camino, a charming small village dominated by stone houses.

71 km, +605 m / -300 m

Dagen börjar med att du passerar det berömda Cruz de Ferro, järnkorset, en enkel med berömd pilgrimssymbol som ligger 1490 m. ö . h. Som pilgrim förväntas du följa traditionen och lägga en sten i högen när du passerar. Därefter tar leden dig nedför och rakt västerut genom byarna Manjarín, El Acebo, Molinaseca och Ponferrada. I Ponferrada kan du stanna till och beundra dess slott i skotsk stil innan du fortsätter till Ambasmestas.
69 km, +780/ -1315m

Today’s cycling begins with tackling the road up and over the border into Galicia, past O Cebreiro, a charming and distinctive village with its stone houses with thatched roofs, known as “Pallozas.” You then follow the trail along a ridge before it descends into the green Galicia, through pine and eucalyptus forests, arriving at Triacastela. Here you can choose between two routes: either via Samos, home to Spain’s oldest Benedictine monastery, or via the villages of Montán and Pintín, where you will encounter “hórreos,” granaries built on pillars.

62 km, +1,130 m / -1,320 m

The trail goes via Portomarín, a village that was affected by a flood in 1962, but where you can still see the remains of the old Romanesque bridge. You then continue through gently rolling terrain to Palas de Rei, which has historically been an important crossroads.

63 km, +921 m / -955 m

Last day! You start by cycling up to Monte de Gozo, where you are rewarded with a view over all of Santiago de Compostela, a UNESCO World Heritage site. You approach the destination and along the way pass, among others, the monastery and the archbishop’s palace, before finally cycling into Santiago and reaching the legendary cathedral.

53 km, +570 m / -769 m

Breakfast and check-out, after which your journey with us comes to an end.