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Highlights
Take the road less travelled on this winter route to Santiago
Savor delicious cuisine as you stop in sleepy villages to sample traditional tapas, Galician stews and world-famous local wine.
Uncover the beauty of the Spanish countryside as you pause to admire the gorgeous mountains, vineyards, rivers, canyons and gold mines.
Unearth the history of the Winter Way as you follow roman roads, cross Romanesque bridges and explore beautiful ancient chapels.
Collect your pilgrims certificate in Santiago, where you can attend the time-honored pilgrims mass and visit ancient relics.
Do you want to walk the Camino de Santiago without the crowds? Are you looking for something to do during the winter months? Then check out the Winter Way (Camino de Invierno).
The Winter Way (Camino de Invierno) is the route to Santiago that pilgrims traditionally chose in colder months, to avoid the snowy paths of O Ceberiro. You will follow in their footsteps, travelling through vineyards, canyons and historic goldmines on this wonderful Spanish walking holiday. The Camino de Invierno can be taken all year round, offering a spectacular alternative to the conventional walking route.
Starting at Ponferrada, you will explore over 250 km of the Winter Way, discovering gorgeous natural landscapes and vibrant Spanish cities alike. You will meet fellow pilgrims, savor authentic Spanish cuisine and soak up wonderful historic architecture. Your luggage will be transferred between each of your comfortable hotels, so you can focus on enjoying this self-guided walking adventure.
Do you want to walk the Camino de Santiago without the crowds? Are you looking for something to do during the winter months? Then check out the Winter Way (Camino de Invierno).
The Winter Way (Camino de Invierno) is the route to Santiago that pilgrims traditionally chose in colder months, to avoid the snowy paths of O Ceberiro. You will follow in their footsteps, travelling through vineyards, canyons and historic goldmines on this wonderful Spanish walking holiday. The Camino de Invierno can be taken all year round, offering a spectacular alternative to the conventional walking route.
Starting at Ponferrada, you will explore over 250 km of the Winter Way, discovering gorgeous natural landscapes and vibrant Spanish cities alike. You will meet fellow pilgrims, savor authentic Spanish cuisine and soak up wonderful historic architecture. Your luggage will be transferred between each of your comfortable hotels, so you can focus on enjoying this self-guided walking adventure.
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Camino Invierno de Santiago Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Check in day
Make your own way to Ponferrada, where you will check in to your hotel ahead of your walking adventure. Straddling the river Sil and surrounded by mountains, Ponferrada is a beautiful town that overflows with history. After exploring the local area, you should get a good night’s rest to help you on the trail tomorrow.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Ponferrada
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Setting off on the Camino de Invierno
After a filling breakfast at your hotel, you will set off for the ancient Roman gold mines of Las Médulas (a UNESCO world heritage site). You will pass through spectacular landscapes, with views over the Bierzo valley and glimpses of an ancient castle. After crossing the Isorga stream, you will soon find yourself in the historic site of Las Médulas where you will enjoy a hearty dinner and spend the night.
Overnight Location: Bed and Breakfast in Las Médulas
Distance: 27.8km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 An ancient road to O Barco de Valdeorras
Today you will follow an ancient Roman route on the Camino Invierno to O Barco de Valdeorras, famous for its world class wine. Passing into the region of Galicia, you follow the course of the river Sil before you cross a gorgeous Romanesque bridge to reach your destination. In O Barco de Valdeorras you can check out the 14th century fortress of O Castro or take a boat ride across the river.
Overnight Location: Bed and Breakfast in O Barco de Valdeorras
Distance: 27.2km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 A gentle day to Rua de Valdeorras
The walk to Rua de Valdeorras is considerably shorter than your previous days on the trail. Take your time to savor its landscape and visit some of the beautiful little chapels that are scattered along the way. Passing through lovely vineyards, you have plenty of time to stop and enjoy a local glass of wine before you have your dinner at Rua de Valdeorras, your destination for the evening.
Overnight Location: Bed and Breakfast in A Rua
Distance: 12km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Through the gold country to Quiroga
You will continue to chase the river Sil and admire its spacious canyons. Traveling through the heart of gold country, you will enjoy the lovely mountain views and a gorgeous baroque church just waiting to be explored. After passing a local olive mill you will descend to Quiroga for a good meal and rest.
Overnight Location: Bed and Breakfast in Quiroga
Distance: 26.5km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 A historic trail to Monforte de Lemos
Be sure to eat a hearty breakfast as you set off for your longest day of walking yet. Passing a thousand-year-old chapel and crossing an ancient Roman bridge, your route today is pulsing with history. You will cross over gurgling streams and enjoy the shade of leafy forests, before taking a well-earned rest at your hotel in Monforte de Lemos.
Overnight Location: Bed and Breakfast in Monforte de Lemos
Distance: 35.4km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 A rural path to Chantada
Deep in the heart of wine country, you will pass through lovely sleepy villages with their traditional local architecture. You will feel the shade of mighty oaks and the peaceful breeze on your skin as you savor the views of the river Miño and the far stretching vineyards of Galicia. You will spend the night in Chantada, famous for its medieval heritage and hearty stews.
Overnight Location: Bed and Breakfast in Chantada
Distance: 30.5km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 A steep ascent to Rodeiro
After a peaceful night’s sleep at your hotel, you will have a challenging climb on the Camino Invierno to Mount Faro. Having reached the summit, you will be rewarded with a spectacular view of all the major Galician mountains. After catching your breath and admiring the landscape, you will descend the other side of the mountain to reach Rodeiro.
Overnight Location: Bed and Breakfast in Rodeiro
Distance: 25.4km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 Converging routes on the trail to Lalín
The Winter Way will converge with another route to Santiago today, known as Via de la Plata. You can therefore expect to come across more pilgrims and enjoy sharing stories of the trail so far. You have reached the center of the Galician community and shouldn’t leave the region without sampling some of its comforting stew!
Overnight Location: Bed and Breakfast in Lalín
Distance: 21.8km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 A short walk to Silleda
After a good 8 days on the Camino Invierno, you will be relieved to enjoy a shorter day of walking. Taking narrow paths through peaceful woodland, you will have plenty of time to admire the landscape and enjoy the sound of birds and rivers. You will arrive in Silleda in no time at all, indulging in a delicious meal and unwinding at your lovely hotel.
Overnight Location: Bed and Breakfast in Silleda
Distance: 15.3km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11 A quiet path to Ponte Ulla
The Camino de Santiago will continue through small villages and quiet paths. Today will be mostly easy walking on good terrain but should be prepared for a very sharp descent at the end of the day. Ponte Ulla sits in the bottom of a steep valley and is famous for its dramatic, eye-catching bridges.
Overnight Location: Bed and Breakfast in Ponte Ulla
Distance: 19.7km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12 Arriving at Santiago
Starting with an ascent to the Pico Sacro, you will finally reach the cathedral of Santiago. After an epic journey on the Camino de Invierno you can go the Pilgrim Mass in the Cathedral, collect your certificate from the pilgrim’s office and visit the tombs and relics. Santiago is a major city, so you won’t be short for something to do this evening.
Overnight Location: Bed and Breakfast in Santiago de Compostela
Distance: 20.9km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 13 Check out
All good things must come to an end! Today, you will check out of your hotel in Santiago and set forth on your onward journey. If you would like some time to relax and unwind in the city, you can pre-book some extra days in the hotel.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
2024 Departures:
- Single room: from EUR1429*
- Sharing a double room: from EUR849*
2025 Departures:
- Single room: from EUR1499*
- Sharing a double room: from EUR800*
Accommodation on Camino Invierno de Santiago Tour
During this trip you will mostly stay in hostels and pensions. These accommodations have the necessary services to cover the basic needs of cleanliness and rest. Officially, hostels and guesthouses are 1-star accommodations. However, this rating should not be taken into account when evaluating the level of comfort and quality of their services.
Single Rooms and Solo Travellers
Rooms are double occupancy. You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel where possible. Solo travellers may be required to pay a supplement.
What’s Included in Camino Invierno de Santiago Tour?
Meals
12 breakfasts are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 12 nights are included.
Transportation during the Tour
Transportation for your luggage is included throughout the tour (max. 20 kg per backpack – 1 piece of luggage per person). Airport transfers are not included, but private transfers can be arranged as an optional extra.
Also included
- 24-hour emergency line
- Maps for all stages
- Guided Tour in Santiago de Compostela (old town)
- Galician cheese tasting in Santiago
- Pilgrim pass
- Pilgrim scallop
Not included
- Guide services
- Insurance
- Personal expenses
- Personal transfers not specifically listed as included
Optional Extras
- Half board supplement
- Picnic Supplement
- Private transfers
- Extra piece of luggage
- Extra nights
- How hard is Camino Invierno de Santiago Tour?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Spain?
- I’ve never been on a self-guided trip! How does it work?
- Are meals included on Camino Invierno de Santiago Tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Ponferrada to start this tour?
- Where does Camino Invierno de Santiago Tour end?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Spain?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Spain?
We rate the difficulty this tour as a 4 / 5. With its mix of medium to high difficulty stages, pilgrims will encounter steep ascents, lengthy walks, and breathtaking views along the way. The biggest difficulty on this tour is walking multiple very long days in a row.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
Self-guided travelling is not difficult! For many, it is a preferred type of travel, since you are in charge of your own time and pace. You are provided with all the information you’ll need to follow the route each day and often have access to phone support or other kinds of assistance. However, self-guided travelling requires good navigation skills and those who don’t feel confident in unknown places should consider booking guided tours.
12 breakfasts are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover hiking. Get your travel insurance.
The nearest major airport to Ponferrada is Asturias Airport (OVD), which is approximately 200 kilometers away. From the airport, you can rent a car and drive to Ponferrada, or you can take a combination of buses and trains. Another option is to fly to Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) or Santiago de Compostela Airport (SCQ) and then take a train or bus to Ponferrada.
The tour ends in Santiago de Compostella.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
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