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Highlights
The Camino Francés from Sarria to Santiago, in short stages, is ideal for families with children.
Begin your journey in medieval Sarria, the gateway to the last crucial hundred kilometers.
Traverse Galician forests, meadows, and rivers, captivated by chestnut trees and oaks.
Discover historic sites like Castro de Castromaior and unique cemeteries along the way.
Experience the anticipation as you approach Lavacolla, preparing for the final leg to Compostela.
Want a slower pace on the Camino Frances? Whether you just want more time to savour the journey and the villages, or if this is your first Camino and you want to ensure the days aren’t too long, then this is the tour for you. This is also a popular family route, and suitable for children who like spending time outdoors!
Spend 12-days along the most popular section of The Camino Francés, walking from Sarria to Santiago. You’ll enjoy the shorter stages, giving you time to relax, explore, and not overly tax your body.
The route from Sarria to Santiago is, without a doubt, the most popular of all the routes on the Camino de Santiago. These one hundred kilometers are essential to achieve the Compostela, the testimony of having finished your journey.
If you prefer, it is also possible to do this route in the traditional stages or with an extra stop in Melide.
¡Buen Camino!
Want a slower pace on the Camino Frances? Whether you just want more time to savour the journey and the villages, or if this is your first Camino and you want to ensure the days aren’t too long, then this is the tour for you. This is also a popular family route, and suitable for children who like spending time outdoors!
Spend 12-days along the most popular section of The Camino Francés, walking from Sarria to Santiago. You’ll enjoy the shorter stages, giving you time to relax, explore, and not overly tax your body.
The route from Sarria to Santiago is, without a doubt, the most popular of all the routes on the Camino de Santiago. These one hundred kilometers are essential to achieve the Compostela, the testimony of having finished your journey.
If you prefer, it is also possible to do this route in the traditional stages or with an extra stop in Melide.
¡Buen Camino!
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Camino Frances: Slower-Paced Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival to Sarria
Sarria is, for many, the starting point of the Camino de Santiago, since it is very close to the last hundred kilometers, which is the minimum distance to walk to obtain the “Compostela”. That´s why the medieval Sarria does not disappoint. The first day is a day to acclimatize, rest and prepare for the adventure that will begin the next day. Arrival in Sarria on behalf of the client.
Overnight Location: Bed and breakfast in Sarria
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Walk to Morgade
This first stage is smooth, without many slopes, with a comfortable route. Leaving Sarria will meet many other pilgrims who, like you, begin their adventure. You enter the deepest and most beautiful Galicia.
Overnight Location: Bed and breakfast in Morgade
Distance: 3 hrs, 12.6km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Walk to Portomarín
In the middle of the Galician forests, today you will be captivated by the beauty of the chestnut trees, oaks, rivers and meadows. The old town of Portomarín is located under the waters of the Belesar reservoir. The river Miño will be the one that announces that are already arriving to your destination.
Overnight Location: Bed and breakfast in Portomarín
Distance: ∼2 hrs, 8.2km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 Ascend to the Monte de San Antonio
Begin descending to the Belesar Reservoir and, once you have reached this point, you will ascend to the Monte de San Antonio. During this stage you will be able to visit the Castro de Castromaior, which is located on top of a hill.
Overnight Location: Bed and breakfast in Ventas de Narón
Distance: ∼3 hrs, 13km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Walk to Palas de Reis
Today you will pass through the village of Lestedo, just after the town of Eirexe, where it is worth visiting its unique cemetery. Walking through lush forests, you will arrive at the town of Palas de Reis, one of the most traditional on the Camino de Santiago.
Overnight Location: Bed and breakfast in Palas de Reis
Distance: ∼3 hrs, 11.8km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Walk to Melide
Leave the province of Lugo behind to enter the province of A Coruña. Get out of Palas through “Campo dos Romeiros”, a key point for the pilgrims’ meeting, and walk towards Leboreiro, a pleasant way surrounded by lush forests. Fonally, you reach Melide crossing the river through a medieval bridge.
Overnight Location: Bed and breakfast in Melide
Distance: ∼3 hrs, 14.4km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Continue trekking to Arzúa
Once again, there are few kilometers that awaits you today. Enjoy some of the charming towns along the way such as Boente and Castañeda until you reach Arzua, a town famous for the cheese.
Overnight Location: Bed and breakfast in Arzua
Distance: ∼3 hrs, 14.1km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 Walk to Salceda
Quiet stage and shorter than the next one, which will take you to the place of Lavacolla, the one prior to your arrival in Compostela. You will continue walking and enjoying nature as you pass.
Overnight Location: Bed and breakfast in Salceda
Distance: ∼3 hrs, 11.3km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 Enjoy the nature of the Camino de Santiago
Continue enjoying the nature of the Camino de Santiago. This will be the shortest stage of your journey. A day to take it easy and prepare to face the last sections with full energy.
Overnight Location: Bed and breakfast in O Pedrouzo
Distance: ∼2 hrs, 8km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 Arrive at Lavacolla
Arrive at Lavacolla, the town where the airport of Santiago de Compostela is located. Tradition says that this was where the pilgrims used to wash just before entering Compostela, which would give the name the etymological meaning of “washing the neck”, lava-colla.
Overnight Location: Bed and breakfast in Lavacolla
Distance: ∼3 hrs, 9.5km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11 Arrival to Santiago de Compostela
You are already at the gates of Compostela. The path runs through fairly quiet sections, between rural areas and small villages. Your greatest difficulty today will be the ascent to Monte do Gozo, but as soon as you reach the top, everything will be joy, as its name suggests. From there, you can have your first panoramic view of the city and the towers of the cathedral, your final destination. Once in Monte do Gozo, the stage is already downhill or flat and immediately you will find yourself on the urban route, which you will enter through San Lázaro neighborhood.
Overnight Location: Bed and breakfast in Santiago de Compostela
Distance: ∼2,5 hrs, 9.9km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12 Departure
Buen Camino, see you soon!
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
2024 Departures:
- Single room: from EUR1332*
- Sharing a double room: from EUR745*
2025 Departures:
- Single room: from EUR1389*
- Sharing a double room: from EUR745*
Accommodation on Camino Frances: Slower-Paced Tour
This tour is based on bed and breakfasts. In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
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 the Camino Frances: Slower-Paced Pilgrimage?
Meals
11 breakfasts are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 11 nights are included. Accommodations before the tour are not included but can be added as a supplement.
Transportation during the Tour
Transportation for your luggage is included throughout the tour (max. 20 kg – 1 piece of luggage per person).
Also included
- 24-hour emergency line
- Galician cheese tasting in Santiago
- Maps for all stages
- Guided Tour in Santiago de Compostela (old town)
- 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 the Slower-Paced French Way (Camino Frances) Pilgrimage?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Spain?
- Are meals included on the Slower-Paced French Way (Camino Frances) Pilgrimage?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Sarriá to start this tour?
- Where does the Slower-Paced French Way (Camino Frances) Pilgrimage end?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Spain?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Spain?
We rate this tour as a 2 / 5. The Camino Francés from Sarria to Santiago is an easy and family-friendly walk, with short stages and gentle terrain, providing a relaxed and enjoyable pilgrimage experience.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
11 breakfasts included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover walking. Get your travel insurance.
The best way to reach Sarria is to fly into Santiago de Compostela airport and first get a shuttle bus to the central bus station of Santiago (with www.empresafreire.com; every 30 min).
From there you can travel to Lugo with the same company (Freire) OR with ALSA www.alsa.es and then take another local bus from Lugo to Sarria (35 mins; min 6 services a day). Check timetables at www.monbus.es
On workdays (Mon to Friday) there is also a direct bus from Santiago de Compostela bus station to Sarria with company Monbus (Check www.monbus.es). But remember that you first have to travel into town to the central bus station (with www.empresafreire.com; every 30 min. aprox)
The tour ends in Santiago. There is a shuttle bus to the airport of Santiago from the center of Santiago with different stops in the city.
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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