Camino Frances Gentle Walking: Sarria to Santiago (self-guided)

Arrival at the Galician town of Sarria. There are public transport options to get to Sarria from Santiago de Compostela or A Coruña airports, but they are complicated and we recommend you contract a private transfer with us. With its Celtic origins, Sarria was a major medieval centre for pilgrims. The ancient atmosphere can still be felt in the beautiful old quarter streets. Walk around town and get your first stamps on your Pilgrims passport.

As soon as you leave Sarria you will find yourself immersed in the Galician countryside. This is a gentle walk along country lanes with hamlets and lush vegetation surrounding you. You will overnight in the hamlet of Morgade. 

Start walking up and down the hills of Galicia through forests and rural landscape to reach the town of Portomarín over the River Miño. This town has the peculiarity that it was moved in 1962, when a reservoir was built in the River Miño leaving the old town under the water. The old church was moved stone by stone to the new location. This church is a good example of a fortress church with towers and battlements, very typical of the military orders that guarded the Camino in the middle ages and protected the pilgrims from thieves.  

Today`s walk involves a prolonged uphill up to the hamlet of Ventas de Narón

Today´s walk is gentler and there are places to stop along the way to enjoy a break, a picnic and to talk to locals and other walkers. The stage ends in the town of Palas de Rei. Now you can really start to feel the buzz and atmosphere of The Camino as there are lots of walkers overnighting here on their journey. 

Today you will be walking a very beautiful stretch of the Camino. You will cross roman bridges and several rivers mostly through delightful woodland to get to the town of Melide, famous for its bars where they sell octopus cooked in Galician style. Melide is also where pilgrims from the Camino Primitivo (Oviedo way) join the main Camino Francés.  

Today's stage is a similar length. You will be walking amongst woodland, meadows and small orchards, and passing through many small and charming villages.  You will overnight in the small town of Arzua which is famous for its local cheese.

Today you will be walking amongst woodland, meadows and small orchards, and passing through numerous small and charming villages.

The Camino weaves its way towards Santiago amongst forests and agricultural fields with many ups and downs as rivers cross from north to south.  

You wll feel the buzz now as more and more pilgrims join you for the last stretch. As the last overnight stopping point before Santiago, traditionally pilgrims would purify themselves in the Sionlla River here at Lavacolla before entering the holy city. Today the washing stream is barely a trickle.

Today is the last day walking and you will make your way through forest and rural areas to the famous Monte do Gozo, from where you will be able to see for the first time the towers of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. From here you only have 5 more km to the Plaza del Obradoiro, where all pilgrims celebrate their longed arrival surrounded by the beautiful facade of the Cathedral, old stone buildings, like the Parador de los Reyes Católicos, and the town hall. Do not forget to get your Compostela (certificate in Latin of your pilgrimage). 

Your journey ends after breakfast. It’s possible to extend your stay in Santiago de Compostela  or continue on to Land´s End - Finisterre.