The French Way is Spain’s great journey: from the Pyrenees through the vineyards of La Rioja, across the golden plains of Castile and over the green hills of Galicia to the cathedral of Santiago. Riding the Camino de Santiago by bike lets you cover it in two weeks, with comfortable hotels, luggage transfers and a rest day in León.
Camino de Santiago at a glance
| Format | Self-guided, with daily luggage transfers |
| Duration | 14 days / 13 nights (11 riding days + rest day) |
| Distance | About 750 km (50–90 km a day) |
| Level | Leisure to intermediate |
| Bike | Gravel or trekking |
| Hotels | 3★ hotels and rural inns |
| Best season | March to June and September to November |
| Price | From 1,499 € per person |
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrival in Roncesvalles
Pilgrims have started here for centuries. Visit the collegiate church and soak in the atmosphere of the Camino’s legendary starting point in the Pyrenees.
Day 2 · Roncesvalles to Puente la Reina
68 km · 900 m
Down through beech forests and Navarrese villages like Burguete and Zubiri, through Pamplona, to the famous Romanesque bridge of Puente la Reina.
Day 3 · Puente la Reina to Logroño
70 km · 950 m
Estella, Los Arcos and the first vineyards of La Rioja to lively Logroño.
Day 4 · Logroño to Belorado
72 km
Rioja wine country, Navarrete and Santo Domingo de la Calzada, then into Castile.
Day 5 · Belorado to Hontanas
79 km · 800 m
The Montes de Oca, past Burgos and onto the open plateau to Hontanas, hidden in a valley.
Day 6 · Hontanas to Sahagún
90 km · 500 m
Wide horizons via Castrojeriz and Frómista and its Romanesque church to Mudéjar Sahagún.
Day 7 · Sahagún to León
56 km · 250 m
Quiet paths and villages into León and its Gothic cathedral.
Day 8 · Rest day in León
Time for the cathedral, the old town and tapas.
Day 9 · León to Astorga
50 km · 350 m
Hospital de Órbigo and its medieval bridge, then Astorga and Gaudí’s Episcopal Palace.
Day 10 · Astorga to Villafranca del Bierzo
81 km · 1,000 m
Mountains again: Rabanal, the Cruz de Ferro and the descent into El Bierzo.
Day 11 · Villafranca del Bierzo to Sarria
1,150 m of climbing
The climb to O Cebreiro and into Galicia’s green valleys and stone villages.
Day 12 · Sarria to Melide
63 km
Forests, hamlets and rural paths to Melide, famous for its octopus.
Day 13 · Melide to Santiago de Compostela
52 km
Through Arzúa and O Pedrouzo to an emotional arrival at the cathedral.
Day 14 · Departure
Breakfast and goodbye, or stay longer to enjoy Santiago.
What’s included
- 13 nights in 3★ hotels with breakfast
- Daily luggage transfers
- Telephone assistance
- GPS routes and digital roadbook
- Optional: bike rental, private and airport transfers, extra nights
When to go and who it is for
Spring and autumn are best: mild weather on the meseta and fewer crowds than in summer. Daily distances are steady rather than hard, with real climbs in Navarre, El Bierzo and Galicia. Cyclists receive the Compostela if they ride at least the last 200 km and collect stamps on their credential.
Ready to ride?
See full details, dates and prices on the Camino de Santiago tour page.
Need a bike? Rent a road, gravel or e-bike from our Barcelona shop, or bring your own. Want to change the dates, upgrade hotels or ride it as a private group? Get in touch and we will tailor it for you.
