Walking the Camino de Santiago

This eight-day escorted walk by Explore Worldwide traces the last stage of the Camino Frances, the classic pilgrimage trail through Galicia. Beginning in Sarria, a medieval hill town with narrow cobbled streets and the Romanesque Church of Santa Marina, the route passes through eucalyptus woods and rolling farmland. Pilgrims cross a disused railway bridge over a reservoir before reaching Portomarin, a relocated medieval village where remnants of its Romanesque church remain.

Along the way, the walk takes in the historic villages of Melide and Arzua, known for their regional produce and pilgrim customs, including the soft cheese for which Arzua is famous. The final day includes the ascent to Monte Gozo, where the spires of Santiago Cathedral first come into view, ending in the city itself. The last morning offers a guided stroll around the cathedral and its surrounding squares, providing a chance to appreciate the layered architecture and medieval pilgrim heritage.

The route follows unmade paths, village lanes and gentle hills, with some sections taking five to seven hours of walking daily. It’s a steady pace, not a race, with time to notice distinctive stone crosses and old pilgrim memorials en route.

New to Spain? Our Spain guide has the practical essentials: money, plugs, visas and when to go.

These are the places the trip visits, in order. Explore Worldwide publishes the day-by-day itinerary on its own site.