The Camino de Santiago by BIKE from SAINT JEAN

Arrival to Saint Jean Pied de Port by your own means, you will spend the night there in order to start with the first stage of the French Way of the Camino de Santiago tomorrow morning. The accommodation is located in Saint Jean Pied de Port.

• Day 2
• Saint Jean
• Roncesvalles
• 25 Km.

The Camino de Santiago by bicycle starts on the medieval bridge over the river Nive. You will traverse the town until you reach a sign of the Camino de Santiago. The first climb of the day will appear, ascending you will pass through various villages until you get to Huntto and Orisson. You will continue by a mountain road until you arrive to the sign indicating Roncevaux. You will abandon the road and continue through the mountain, you will pass by the fountain Fuente de Roldán until you enter Navarra. The Camino hardens until Collado Lepoeder, the maximum height of this stage at 1430 metres. You will find two options to continue, one shorter with steep slopes through a wooded stretch and another option a bit longer passing through the top of the Ibañeta pass. You will arrive to Roncesvalles where you will spend the night.

• Day 3
• Roncesvalles
• Puente la Reina
• 67 Km.

You will start this second stage of the Camino de Santiago by bicycle crossing the oak grove of Brujas, Auritz / Burguete and the Espinal until you go up to the height of Mezkiritz. Following the path through Bizkarreta and Lintzoain, you will get to the bridge Puente de la Rabia that will lead you towards Zubiri. From Zubiri to Pamplona the Camino de Santiago will take you through wooded sections on the shores of the river Arga, you will also pass the bridge of Iturgaiz, the Señorío de Arleta, the chapel of Trinidad de Arre, Burlada and the bridge of Magdalena and you will go into the streets of Pamplona, a city where we recommend you to sop and enjoy all its beauty. Continuing your route you will pass by the famous curve of the bull running of San Fermín festivities and you will pass in front of the city council of Pamplona, you will also cross the towns of Cizur Menor, Zariquiegui and Obanos from Navarre and finally on the banks of the river Robo you will enter today’s destination: Puente la Reina.

• Day 4
• Puente la Reina
• Logroño
• 71 Km.

You will leave behind Puente la Reina with a hard climb until Mañero, between vineyards and grain fields you will traverse the villages of Cirauqui, Iguste, Villuerta and Estella. You will descend until the wine fountain Fuente del Vino and towards the monastery of Irache, once surpassed you will have two options to continue to Los Arcos, The first option continues straight through forested stretches and the mountainside of Montejurra, the other option turns right and is the most traditional, it passes by Azqueta and Villamayor de Monjardín. Both routes join together before you arrive to Los Arcos. Once you pass the last houses of Los Arcos you will go on until the town of Sansol, Torres del Río with its steep streets and Viana. You will end today’s stage of the Camino de Santiago entering the province of La Rioja through the stone bridge over the river Ebro and you will finally get to Logroño.

• Day 5
• Logroño
• Santo Domingo de la Calzada
• 50 Km.

On its way through Logroño, the Camino de Santiago passes by the square Plaza de Santiago where is erected the church of the same name and the arch of Puerta del Camino. You will begin an ascent towards el Alto where you will have wonderful views over Logroño. You will continue until Nájera and its monastery of Santa María la Real. You will face the second part of the stage crossing the stream of Valdecañas and the towns of Azofra and Cirueña that will lead you to your destination, Santo Domingo de la Calzada.

• Day 6
• Santo Domingo de la Calzada
• Burgos
• 75 Km.

Before you confront with the last kilometres of the Camino de Santiago in La Rioja and the first ones of Castilla y León you will cross the river Oja and through small trails and corn fields you will get to Belorado. An easy stretch will take you to Villambistia and Espinosa del Camino. From this point, the profile of the stage toughens up a bit until you reach the remains of the monastery of San Félix, San Juan de Ortega, Agés and Atapuerca. After leaving Atapuerca you will abandon the asphalt and you will progress by a stone path between the mountains until you get to a wooden cross. A descent with views over the valley of the river Pico will take you to the village of Villaval, Cardeñuela Riopico and soon after Orbaneja Riopico. After you will find two signs indicating the direction towards Villafría or Castañares. We recommend you to continue towards Castañares as the other option is more annoying. From this point, the signs to Burgos invite you to go on by the walkers of the highway and passing through the bridge of El Cid you will enter in Burgos where you will spend the night.

• Day 7
• Burgos
• Frómista
• 65 Km.

Leaving behind Burgos, its cathedral and streets you will cross the river Arlanzón to walk towards Tardajos, a town that you will cross by the Calle del Mediodía, following by the road you will get to Rabé de las Calzadas. What awaits you from now on is the Castillian plateau, with long straight lines at an altitude of 800 metres of height and more. After the ascent that will bring you to the valley, you will descend to reach Hornillos del Camino. With a very similar path as the one you did in the first part of this stage, you will climb through a ground trail of the Castillian plateau. You will arrive to the village of San Bol and after another hour you will get to the town of Hontanas. In the distance, you will distinguish the ruins of the convent of San Antón whose arches rise above the road. After crossing the triumphal arch you will get to Castrojeriz, the last town of Burgos. You will face the climb to Teso de Mostelares and you will gradually discover the landscapes of Tierra de Campos. The Camino de Santiago will bring you to the fountain Fuente del Piojo and the bridge Fitero over the river Pisuerga. You will leave Burgos to go deep into Palencia pedalling towards Itero de la Vega and two kilometres after the irrigation canal of the Pisuerga, after passing the town and the temple of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción you will find the Castile canal and you will finally arrive to Frómista.

• Day 8
• Frómista
• Sahagún
• 60 Km.

You will resume the Camino de Santigo by bike pedalling next to the road until you get to the first nearby town, Campos. You will traverse the villages of Revenga de Campos, Villarmentero de Campos and Villalcázar de Sirga, where you can admire the southern façade of the Templar church Santa María la Blanca where is represented a Pantocrator surrounded by the evangelists and apostles. You will proceed towards Carrión de Los Condes and you will enter the Vía Aquitania, the ancient Roman road that connected Bordeaux with Astorga and that still preserves part of the original layout, you will reach Calzadilla de la Cueza and Lédigos. You will exit Lédigos cycling parallel to the national road through a pass that will take you to Terrradillos de Los Templarios. You will cross San Nicolás del Real Camino and the river Valderabuey through a stone bridge, at this point you will find the shrine of the Virgen del Puente. A few kilometres after you will arrive to Sahagún.

• Day 9
• Sahagún
• León
• 57 Km.

You will abandon the town of Sahagún to continue your journey through a wooded area next to the road. You will find a sign that indicates various directions: you must continue straight to follow the French Way that goes by Bercianos and Burgo Ranero. You will cross Bercianos del Real Camino where you will find at the entrance of the town a fountain adorned with a scallop shell. The Camino de Santiago goes on by a wooded trail with a landscape similar to the beginning of this stage, full of vast cultivated plains. You will pass by the streams of Valle de la Granja and Valdasneros and you will continue through long straight lines until the village of Reliegos, where can be found traditional wine cellars made of bricks and adobe. A few kilometres after you will pass near a resting area and you will cross an irrigation canal to enter Mansilla de las Mulas, a path next to the road will take you to Villamoros de Mansilla. Another stretch through the hard shoulder will lead you to Puente Villarente, once surpassed this town you will cross the Arriola canal and you will go on until Arcachueja. From this point, the path hardens with several ups and downs to finally cross the river Torío and enter León where you will end your stage today.

• Day 10
• León
• Astorga
• 50 Km.

Today’s stage is fairly flat, part of the outline goes near the road. On your way through León, you will pass in front of the Real Colegiata de San Isidoro, an imposing Romanesque monument. You will continue by the Parador and you will cross the river Bernesga until you arrive to the town of Trobajo del Camino. The Camino goes on parallel to the road until Valverde de la Virgen, San Miguel del Camino and Villadángos del Páramo. You will keep on cycling surrounded by black poplars till San Martín del Camino and circled by corn fields until Puente de Órbigo, soon after you will come across the river Órbigo that you will cross through the famous bridge of El Paso Honroso. Leaving behind Hospital de Órbigo by the main street of the town, Calle Principal, you will find a sign that will indicate two possibilities: you can go straight and the route will take you through a path next to the road or you can turn right and the trail will take you to Villares de Órbigo and Santibañez de Valdeiglesias through an agricultural landscape with low mountains. This last option is usually the one preferred by pilgrims, both routes merge in Santo Toribio. You will pass by Santibañez de Valdeiglesias and the path will keep going with several ups and downs through a stony trail, from this point you will enjoy amazing views over the city of Astorga and the mount Teleno. You will continue until San Justo de la Vega where you will cross the river Jerga and soon after you will traverse the pedestrian bridge over the rail tracks until you finally enter Astorga.

• Day 11
• Astorga
• Ponferrada
• 53 Km.

After breakfast, you will abandon the city of Astorga and you will keep going towards Valdeviejas where you can seal your pilgrim passport at the chapel Ecce Homo. You will cross the road and continue pedalling through the Camino de Santiago until Murias de Rechivaldo, Santa Catalina de Somoza, EL Ganso and the town of Rabanal del Camino. Leaving behind Rabanal del Camino you will keep going by a path surrounded by bushes and one kilometre after you will ascend to Foncebadón. You will arrive to the Cruz de Ferro (the iron cross) located at 1500 metres high and a few kilometres after you will start a hard climb to El Acebo. Again next to the road, you will begin a difficult descent, you will go across the medieval bridge over the river Meruelo and you will enter in Molinaseca where we recommend you to buy water and provisions if needed. A trail with some ups and downs will lead you to the village of Campo, you will continue near to the river Boeza and you will traverse several neighbourhoods until you pass over the river and finally reach Ponferrada.

• Day 12
• Ponferrada
• O Cebreiro
• 52 Km.

Following the signs indicating the Way of Saint James, you will go through the Avenida de la Libertad and many streets that will take you outside of the city. You will proceed through paved roads surrounded by vineyards and crops across several towns such as Compostilla, Columbrianos, Fuentes Nuevas and Camponaraya. You will continue by lovely landscapes sprinkled with vineyards until Cacabelos and after a hard climb, you will get to Villafranca del Bierzo. The second part of this stage announces a tougher profile than the first part with even more drop in the final stretch. You will abandon Villafranca through the hard shoulder of the road, you will pass several viaducts of the A-6 motorway before you take a detour to Pereje. You will keep going by a pedestrian lane till there and after to Trabadelo, La Portela de Valcarce, Ambasmestas, Vega de Valcarce and Ruitelán. You will arrive to Las Herrerías, after leaving behind this village you will begin the real ascent towards O Cebreiro. You will pass by the town of La Faba and the astonishing views over the meadows and the Atlantic forests will accompany you until Laguna de Castilla. Approximately 700 metres after you will find the first Jacobean milestone marking the remaining distance to Santiago. You will enter Galicia and a kilometre after you will get to O Cebreiro.

• Day 13
• O Cebreiro
• Sarria
• 47 Km.

Located at the height of 1200 the town of O Cebreiro offers superb views of one of the most renowned landscapes of Galicia, the Courel mountain range. You will climb towards the top Alto do Poio, the highest point of the Camino de Santiago in Galicia located at 1335 metres then you will descend gradually to Triacastela with the amazing views offered by the French Way of the Camino de Santiago. From Triacastela there are two routes to get to Sarria but we recommend you the one that passes through Samos, even though it is longer the monastery deserves a stop and is really worth a visit. To take this itinerary you have to follow the road towards the south in direction to San Cristovo do Real, the Camino is indicated with yellow arrows. After a few kilometres skirting the road, the route goes deep into the forest and crosses various villages such as Renche, Freituxe and San Martiño do Real. Your journey goes on by trails and paved tracks that will take you to traverse the small towns of Gorolfe, Veiga and Aguiada until finally reach Sarria.

• Day 14
• Sarria
• Palas de Rei
• 48 Km.

In this stage start the last 100 kilometres of the French Way of the Camino de Santiago. After traversing Sarria and continuing by a wooded area you will face the first ascent of the day until you get to Barbadelo. You will keep going through several towns with views over the green meadows until you descend by a stony path that will take you to cross the bridge with views to the river Miño and you will reach Portomarín. You will continue your journey through a pine forest and then while bordering the road you will pass by different villages, among them is Castromaior where can be found the remains of a pre-roman fort. Before you arrive to Ligonde you will find the stone cross cruceiro de Lameiros, one of the most renowned of the Way of Saint James. After going through the Ligonde mountains you will arrive to Palas de Rei where you can visit the San Tirso church. You will spend the night at Palas de Rei.

• Day 15
• Palas de Rei
• Santiago
• 68 Km.

Today you will complete the last stage of the French Way of the Camino de Santiago by bike, first, you will encounter the town of Furelos, with its medieval bridge and Stone houses until you reach the village of Melide. Once there if you wish you can eat the famous octopus “pulpo a feira”. Following after passing by a eucalyptus woods you will cross the stone path of river Catasol, one of the well-known and photographed of the Way of Saint James. You will reach Arzúa where you can taste some of the best typical products of the area such as the Arzúa – Ulloa cheese. Which owns a designation of origin. You will keep going through paths with easy slopes and crossing meadows and streams without losing from sight the road. Before you get to Pedrouzo you can visit the shrine of Santa Irene dated from the Middle Ages. While abandoning Pedrouzo you will face the final stretch of the Camino de Santiago, you will climb to the Monte do Gozo from where you will enjoy a spectacular view of Santiago de Compostela and its cathedral. After a descent, you will pass by various residential areas until you reach the old quarter of the city and finally the Plaza del Obradoiro and the cathedral of Santiago in front of you. You can apply for the Compostela certificate at the pilgrim office.

You can visit the cathedral and if you wish you can attend the pilgrim mass officiated every day at noon.
Galicia is not just the Camino de Santiago, get to know the best places of Galicia with Galician Roots: the Cíes Islands, endless forests in a Fraguas do Eume, a Costa da Morte, the Rías Baixas, infinite vineyards in a Ribeira Sacra and impressive cities such as Santiago, Lugo, Ourense, Coruña and much more…
And if you wish to do a customised trip do not hesitate to contact us and we will plan and organise your journey around Galicia.