Spain 8 Day Cycling French Way (Ponferrada – Santiago de Compostela)

CYCLE THE FRENCH WAY (SELF GUIDED)

PONFERRADA – SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

This 8 day cycling Camino trip from Ponferrada, in the region of Leon, will take you through fairytale like forests, quaint Galician hamlets, open countryside and historical towns to end at Plaza Obradoiro in front of the spectacular Cathedral of Santiago in the medieval city of Santiago de Compostela.

This trip covers the last 200kms into Santiago as this is the minimum distance required to cycle in order to obtain the ‘Compostela’ or Certificate of Completion.

This route is recommended for people with a moderate level of fitness and cycling experience as Day 3 is the hardest stage of the French Way in Spain, climbing from 500m up to 1,300m to O’Cebreiro.

The reward for this hard work however is the hauntingly beautiful village of O Cebreiro because of its location, views, church, pallozas and legends. Pallozas are round stone huts with peaked thatched roofs which appeared in this area over 1,000 years ago and were inhabited until the 1960s. Three of the nine Pallozas have been turned into museums where you can learn about the lifestyles of the people who lived in the huts.

The French Way is the best signposted Camino trail with a great range of services (cafes, restaurants etc). As it is the most popular Camino route, it is recommended for those looking to meet other pilgrims and enjoy the social aspect of the Camino.

As part of this trip, you’ll find featured 7 nights in comfortable locally-owned 2/3 star hotels or rural guesthouses with breakfasts and luggage transport between accommodation. Around-the-clock emergency assistance is also included which adds confidence to the detailed walking notes that cover landmarks, distances and things to see over the course of your walk.

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

Day 1 – Arrival day to Ponferrada

Day 2 – Ponferrada – Villafranca del Bierzo (23.5km)

Day 3 – Villafranca del Bierzo – O Cebreiro (29km)

Day 4 – O Cebreiro – Sarria (38.5km)

Day 5 – Sarria – Palas de Rei (47km)

Day 6 – Palas de Rei – Ribadiso (26km)

Day 7 – Ribadiso – Santiago de Compostela (42km)

Day 8 – Departure day from Santiago de Compostela

Total Distance 206km

PRICE 

Mid Season

April, May, June, September & October

Price €850 per person, based on two people sharing a room

Single Room Supplement of €280

High Season

July & August

Price €875 per person, based on two people sharing a room

Single Room Supplement of €315

CUSTOMISE YOUR TRIP

• Add Airport Transfers
• Upgrade to Luxury accommodation at the end of your Camino in the 5 star Parador in Santiago
• Add an extra free day in Santiago de Compostela
• Add a Massage Treatment at the end of your walk

If you choose not to include airport transfers, we will provide detailed advice how to get from /back to the airport.

CALENDAR 

Self guided, tailor made trips are available from mid March to the end of October. Choose a start date that suits you/your group. You can secure your booking with a 20% deposit of the final price and a refundable bike deposit of €200.

CONTACT US 

For further information about this package, contact us on 01 – 442 8921 or email us at info@magichillholidays.com