Camino - Sarria to Santiago Classic - 7 days

Make your own way to Sarria and the first hotel. A medieval town full of history and Jacobean tradition, Sarria is located on a hilltop with a river on either side affording you great views of the region. It is the most popular starting point to walk the Camino to Santiago.

We recommend visiting the Church of the Convent of La Magdalena before you set out today. On today's walk you will pass through many small villages dotted along areas of cultivated land, grazing pastures and woodlands, and see “horreos”, the typical raised grain silos of the area. It's a relatively easy walk until the steep descent to cross the bridge over the Miño River and the Belesar Reservoir, where you can see ruins of the ancient flooded village. Continue into Portomarin and your accommodation. Distance 22km/13.7mi

The route today takes you past farmland, charming hamlets and calvaries. You will pass through the hamlet of Ventas de Naron, over the gentle Sierra de Ligonde, then downhill through Previsa, Lameiros and Ligonde where you will find a church dedicated to the apostle St James. Emperor Charles V stayed here in the modest village of Ligonde, on 24 March 1520. Continue to Palas de Rei and your accommodation. Distance 24km/14.9mi

Today's walk offers scenic beauty and heritage, from forests and quiet rivers to churches and medieval bridges, taking you through the small towns of Coto and Leboreiro. Crossing the River Seco on the Magdalena Bridge you will reach Furelos. Continue to Melide, one of the larger towns along the Galician section of the Camino, where we recommend trying the local speciality, ‘Pulpa a Feira’, octopus usually served boiled, sprinkled with salt and paprika and drizzled with olive oil. The terrain becomes easier as you walk through the rural landscapes and villages that reflect the tradition and agricultural life of Galicia. Continue to Arzúa, home of the D.O. Arzúa-Ulloa cheese. Distance 28km/17.5mi Optional upgrade available to stay in a 'pazo' (Galician traditional house) a little out of town - supplement applies and must be requested at time of booking.

Today’s walk will bring you to the small town of Rua which has a population of only 50 people. The walking is lovely, with gentle slopes leading past green fields and rural landscapes, gradually becoming more urban. Or if you're booked to stay in Pedrouzo, it's a little along the way. Distance 18km/11.1mi

The last day on the trail is always special. Today you will pass many ancient sites including monuments, chapels and bridges – all have a story to tell. Follow country lanes and forest paths through increasingly populated landscapes. At Monte do Gozo take a small detour for spectacular views of Santiago then continue downhill to the city. Arriving in fabled Santiago de Compostela there is plenty to see and do – or you can simply relax and celebrate the end of your journey. Distance 21km/13mi

Trip arrangements conclude after breakfast. If you'd like to add an extra night, please ask for our rates.