Walk the Camino de Santiago

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Spain. Your adventure begins in Sarria in the Galicia region of northwest Spain. This autonomous corner of the country has its own distinctive language, cuisine and culture and is home to Santiago de Compostela – the finishing point of the Camino de Santiago. Tonight, you’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm, where you’ll get to know your local leader and small group of fellow travellers. After, collect your 'Pilgrim's Passport', then perhaps head out to a local restaurant for your first foray into the exciting world of Galician cuisine. Fuel up for tomorrow, the first steps on your walk along the final 100 km (62 mi) of this world-renowned pilgrimage route.

Get a gentle introduction to the Camino de Santiago, finding your feet and enjoying your scenic surroundings. Have your ‘Pilgrim’s Passport’ handy as you’ll be getting this stamped at least twice a day throughout your journey. Kicking off from Sarria, walk a mostly asphalt path through beautiful countryside, passing forests of chestnut and oak trees, small farms, villages and wheat fields. You might like to stop for a breather at the Santiago de Barbadelo or the church of San Fiz de Reimondez. Some of the little farms you pass will be selling fresh produce like jams, bread and cheeses – perfect snacks to keep you going! Finish up for the day in the town of Portomarin.

Much of today’s route is along a gravel path along a road with little traffic, often cutting through Galician forests and fields. Walk through the rural Monterroso region and pass by the little villages of Gonzar, Ligonde and Castromaior – take a slight detour to the impressive Roman ruins of Castro de Castromaior. Along the way, stop at some of the stalls selling fruit, snacks and cold drinks – you'll pause at one of them for a delicious lunch of traditional Spanish omelettes. Around halfway, climb a gradual hill to Sierra de Ligonde, then back down toward your destination for the night, Palas de Rei – a town dotted with historical buildings and Romanesque architecture. This evening, why not ask your leader where you could try the region's traditional queimada drink (a fiery cocktail from Galicia).

Get ready for your longest day on this stretch of the Camino de Santiago – from Palas de Rei to Arzua Set out on the undulating asphalt pathway, stopping in the town of Melide – home to around 9000 people, this is one of the most populated spots on your journey. Melide is renowned for its fantastic food, specialising in polbo a feira (a flavoursome octopus dish), which you’ll try for lunch. Maybe follow it up with some sweet melindres (mini glazed donuts popular here). If you’d like to give your legs a rest, you’ll have the option to catch a taxi to Arzua from here. Otherwise, hit the road and continue the final stretch of today’s journey, crossing the Iso River and navigating a series of short but steep slopes. When you arrive, ask your leader about the revered cheese made in this region – definitely a must-try while here!

Depart Arzua this morning and reach a split in the path, where the right follows the main road and the left cuts through shady forest. As the saying goes, the road less travelled is often the most rewarding, so veer left and enjoy a day of peaceful strolling, mostly through forests and little villages and farms – this is some of the best scenery on the whole Camino de Santiago. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants along the way to stop and fuel up. As you draw closer to O Pedrouzo, your base for evening, pass by the Fountain of Santa Irene, the water from which was said to cure diseases of crops and illnesses of children.

Gear up for your final day of walking, conquering the leg between O Pedrouzo to Santiago de Compostela, with each step taking you closer to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Begin through dense green forest – with no cars or houses around, you may like to take this time to quietly reflect on all you’ve achieved over the past week. Next, follow a long stretch of road between Lavacolla and Monte do Gozo, then swap out rural landscapes for urban as you walk the final 5 km (3 mi). Hear Galician bagpipes welcoming you to the cathedral, marking the end of your journey. Pull out your stamped ‘Pilgrim’s Passport’ and receive your Camino certificate, proof that you have walked the 100 km (62 mi) to Santiago de Compostela! If you arrive at the cathedral before noon, you can enter and participate in the pilgrims’ mass, where a list of all those who have collected their Camino certificates in the last 24 hours will be read aloud. Maybe visit the Museum of Pilgrimage to learn about the history of the Camino de Santiago and other places of pilgrimage across the world. This evening, why not treat yourself to a final dinner with the group in town – you’ve earned it!

With no activities planned for today and the walking done and dusted, your adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you’d like to extend your stay in Santiago de Compostela, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.