Camino Frances

How fit do I need to be?

The Camino Francés suits hikers with moderate fitness who enjoy long-distance trekking. The full route mixes flat sections with tougher ascents and descents, so it takes endurance, and some multi-day hiking experience helps. We offer sections of different lengths, so you can split the journey into easier stretches - there are options for all levels. It’s ideal for first-time pilgrims and experienced hikers looking for a social, culturally rich journey.

Before your tour, we recommend hiking regularly and incorporating some hilly terrain into your routine. Be sure to check the daily distances and elevation changes outlined in your itinerary.

Where is it toughest?

Two sections stand out. Stage 1 crosses the Pyrenees with some steep climbs, and the Col de Lepoeder is one of the most physically demanding days. This area is snow-covered in winter, so we only offer this stage once the snow has melted. After León, the route climbs to the highest point of the Camino, Cruz de Ferro (4,935 ft).

What is the terrain like?

Expect a mix of dirt tracks, minor roads and established footpaths. Some sections are smooth and easy underfoot, while others are uneven or rocky, with gradual inclines and occasional steep climbs through rolling countryside and forest.

How is it graded?

The full route is graded Easy to Moderate, with the Pyrenees crossing near the start graded Moderate to Challenging. Each tour variant has its own grade, and the profile varies by section. Individual days can also be easier or tougher than the overall rating suggests.

Our Camino tours include small rural hotels and hostals along the route - a hostal is simply the Spanish word for a small, family-run hotel or guesthouse. You'll always have a private room with an en-suite bathroom. In the bigger hubs like Leon, Pamplona, Sarria, and Santiago, you'll stay in 3-star hotels, with the rest of your nights in a mix of rural hotels and hostals.

If you'd prefer something a little more special, we also offer a boutique-style option with stays in stylish hotels and pazos (country manor houses), chosen for their service, little extra touches, and elements of luxury.

In smaller villages, accommodation can be limited, so occasional transfers or a slightly longer walk may be needed if your first-choice stay is full - and because the Camino is so popular, we'd recommend booking well in advance. If any of your listed accommodations aren't available, we'll provide an alternative of the same or better standard.

Extra nights can be added at any stage of your tour, giving you a rest day between the longer walking days. We'd especially recommend an extra night in Santiago de Compostela, both to recover after your tour and to attend the Pilgrim's Mass, held at noon each day in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela - one of the highlights of any Camino journey. Many people also choose to extend their Camino on to Finisterre, which we can arrange for you too.

Yes, solo travelers are very welcome on this tour. There will be a supplement because some costs, like transfers, aren't shared. Or if you'd like to book a single room, just ask. These are available for a supplement.

We don't arrange for solo walkers to room together, but it's rare to walk alone for long - the nature of the Camino means you'll soon fall in with other pilgrims along the way.

A light continental breakfast is included each morning, which can sometimes be as simple as coffee, bread and orange juice.

Lunch and dinner aren't included so you're free to choose from the available options, and every town you stop in along the way has evening meals available, and a Pilgrim's Menu (typically three courses with wine and water for a modest price) is widely available most evenings.

On our ‘In style’ tour variant, evening meals are included for most of the tour at a selection of local restaurants.

Please let us know in advance of any dietary requirements. On rare occasions, an overnight stop in a very rural area won't have breakfast available at your accommodation - this is always flagged in your tour information, and there's usually a café nearby for a breakfast snack instead.

You can start your Camino Francés on any day of the week, with most itineraries running from around March or April through to October or November.

Spring (April to June) brings mild temperatures, blooming landscapes and fewer crowds than summer, though spring showers are still possible. Summer (July and August) is the busiest season, with a lively, sociable atmosphere among fellow pilgrims, but it also brings real heat, especially across the meseta plateau and inland Spain. Fall (September to early November) offers comfortable temperatures, attractive fall colors and quieter trails as the summer crowds thin out, though there's still a chance of rain. The first couple of days from St Jean Pied de Port over the Pyrenees is only available from April to mid October due to the snow and ice in the mountains.

If your route takes you through Pamplona (stage1 from St Jean Pied de Port to Logrono) during the Festival of San Fermín (usually in July), be aware that accommodation there is in high demand and may carry a premium, so it's worth booking as early as possible.

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg/44lbs per person.

It's vital that you adhere to these limits. Heavier bags, or additional items might not be transferred, and you may be charged locally. Airlines may have different allowances, but our luggage handlers do not have the same capacity or equipment, and their health and safety is our priority.

The Camino Frances is very easy to follow, marked throughout with yellow painted arrows and the yellow scallop shell on a blue background. Some stages or sections offer alternative paths, but the route is well waymarked throughout.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

Our walks usually begin and end at a central point in town (such as a church, bus stop, etc.). Access routes to your accommodation are not included in our km daily figures. However, the Macs app will guide you to your accommodation.

Recommended Reading:

Although not essential you may wish to purchase this book for some further background:

• A Guidebook to the Camino de Santiago by John Brierly

Camino Frances tours start and end at different points along the route, from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France through to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, so getting there and away depends on which stage or combination of stages you book.

SAINT-JEAN-PIED-DE-PORT, FRANCE

Closest airport: Biarritz (BIQ)

Flying in. Fly to Biarritz Airport (BIQ). You can fly here from the UK, although some routes run only in summer, so you may need to connect via another European airport. From outside the UK, fly into Paris (CDG or ORY) first, then take a high-speed SNCF train from Gare Montparnasse to Bayonne (around 4.5 hours) or an internal flight to Biarritz.

From Biarritz Airport. Take the local bus (routes 3, 4 or 36) from outside the airport to Bayonne train station (20-30 minutes), then the mountain railway up to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (1 to 1.5 hours). You can book train tickets in advance with SNCF.

Private transfer. We can arrange a private transfer from Biarritz Airport to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.

LOGROÑO, SPAIN

Closest airport: Bilbao (BIO), or San Sebastián (EAS)

By air. Bilbao Airport (BIO) is the closest airport. Take the Termibus bus to Logroño (around 2 hours). San Sebastián Airport (EAS) is the other option, with a local bus to Logroño (2 hours 15 minutes, check with La Estellesa).

By train or bus. Logroño is 3 hours 20 minutes from Madrid (MAD) and 4 hours from Barcelona (BCN) by train, or 4 hours from Madrid and 6 hours from Barcelona by bus. Tickets for these routes often can't be booked more than one to three months before departure.

BURGOS, SPAIN

Closest airport: Madrid (MAD)

To and from Madrid. Take the RENFE train (around 2.5 hours) or the ALSA bus (around 3 hours)

LEÓN, SPAIN

Closest airport: Oviedo (OVD)

Via Oviedo. Oviedo Airport (OVD) has flights from London. Eight buses a day run from Oviedo to León (1 hour 30 minutes, timetables with ALSA).

Via Madrid. Madrid (MAD) is the best airport if you are traveling from outside Europe. From there, León is 2 hours 45 minutes by RENFE train or 4 hours by ALSA bus.

Private transfer. We can also arrange a private transfer between León and Oviedo Airport.

O’CEBREIRO, SPAIN

Closest airport: Santiago de Compostela (SCQ)

To and from Santiago. Take an ALSA bus between Santiago and Piedrafita do Cebreiro (around 2.5 hours), plus a short taxi ride up or down the hill to O Cebreiro.

Private transfer. We can also arrange a private transfer between Santiago Airport and O Cebreiro

SARRIA, SPAIN

Closest airport: Santiago de Compostela (SCQ)

Flying in. Direct flights to Santiago run from London. From outside the UK, fly to Santiago via Paris.

From Madrid. Take the fast RENFE train directly to Sarria (around 4-5 hours). Book to Lugo and get off at Sarria, the stop before. To reach Madrid city center from the airport, take a train, bus or the underground.

From Santiago. Take a bus to Monforte de Lemos, then a short train journey on to Sarria. Alternatively, travel by road and change buses in Lugo. The Monbus Santiago-Lugo route stops in Arca, Ferreiros, Arzúa, Melide, Palas de Rei and Guntín,

Taxi transfers. We can arrange taxi transfers in Spain at a supplement, including from Santiago, Vigo (VGO) and A Coruña (LCG) airports, and between Sarria, Santiago, O Cebreiro and Vigo.

LUGO, SPAIN

Closest airport: Santiago de Compostela (SCQ)

Flying in. Direct flights to Santiago run from London. From outside the UK, fly via Paris or Madrid.

Transfers. On the In style tour - a private transfer from Santiago Airport to the accommodation in Lugo is included, as is a transfer back to the airport at the end of your stay.

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, SPAIN

Closest airport: Santiago de Compostela (SCQ)

Flying home. Direct flights run from Santiago to London (STN, LGW and LHR). For onward travel, you can fly from Santiago to Paris (CDG or ORY) or Madrid (MAD), with long-haul connections to the US and beyond.

To/from the airport. A bus runs between the airport and Santiago city center every half hour from. It stops at points across the city, including Pazo de Congresos, Capilla San Lázaro, the bus station, the railway station, Rúa da Rosa and Plaza de Galicia.

Onward by train or bus. RENFE trains run from Santiago to Madrid (around 3 hours on the fast service). ALSA operates bus connections from Santiago to other Spanish cities.

Private transfer. We can also arrange a private transfer to Santiago Airport.

You'll need good hiking shoes or boots, comfortable hiking clothes, waterproofs, a daypack, and we recommend hiking poles. A portable charger for your cell phone is essential. On booking, our Trip Info will give you a complete packing list.

On certain days you can shorten the route or skip it entirely by using a taxi or public transport.

Book as early as you can - the Camino Francés is hugely popular, with hundreds of thousands of pilgrims on the trail each year, so planning ahead helps secure your preferred dates and accommodation.

Local tourist taxes apply in some towns and villages along the route. You'll need to pay directly at your accommodation (often in cash), usually less that 5 Euros per person, per night.

Your Pilgrim Passport (Credencial del Peregrino) and scallop shell will be waiting for you at your first night's accommodation. The Passport is both a practical document and a beautiful keepsake of your journey, officially issued by the Church of St James. Along the way, you'll collect stamps (sellos) from albergues, churches, cafés and other stops - aim to collect at least two stamps per day during the final stretch of your hike.

To qualify for your Compostela Certificate, you need to have walked at least the final 100km of the Camino Francés into Santiago de Compostela, with your stamped Passport serving as proof. Once you arrive in Santiago, head to the Pilgrim's Office to collect your certificate - you'll find its exact location in our app.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation