French Way on foot from Ponferrada to Santiago: 9 stages

Information about the trip: French Way on foot from Ponferrada to Santiago: 9 stages

Travel itinerary (Summary)

• DAY 1: Arrivo Ponferrada
• DAY 2: Stage 1, Ponferrada, Villafranca Del Bierzo  23,2 km 2/5
• DAY 3: Stage 2, Villafranca Del Bierzo, O Cebreiro  27,8 km 4/5
• DAY 4: Stage 3, O Cebreiro,Triacastela  20,6 km 3/5
• DAY 5: Stage 4, Triacastela, Sarria  24,7 km 3/5
• DAY 6: Stage 5, Sarria, Portomarín  22,2 km 3/5
• DAY 7: Stage 6, Portomarín, Palas De Rei  24,8 km 2/5
• DAY 8: Stage 7, Palas De Rei, Arzúa  28,5 km 3/5
• DAY 9: Stage 8, Arzúa, Rúa  17,7 km 2/5
• DAY 10: Stage 9, Rúa, Santiago De Compostela  21 km 2/5
• DAY 11: Return

Travel itinerary (Detailed)

• ProgramDAY
  1
  Arrival to Ponferrada

  
  210 km/ 130 mi separate the start of this itinerary from Santiago de Compostela, the final destination.
  Fill in your pilgrim’s passport (La Credencial) and discover Ponferrada.
  Ponferrada is the last major urban area before Santiago and the Templar Castle is well worth a visit.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  2
  Stage 1, from Ponferrada to Villafranca Del Bierzo

  
  Distance : 23,2 km Difficulty : 2/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. The stage runs through the basin on which El Bierzo lies, surrounded by the Cantabrian Mountains, the Galician hills, and the Aquilanos mountains.
  As we leave Ponferrada, the route avoids industrial areas by diverting through two small villages, Columbrianos and Fuentes Nuevas, and from there, a plain leads us to Camponaraya.
  Shortly after passing this town, we will need to cross a hill and pleasant vineyards, which will take us to Cacabelos, where the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Sorrows appears on the way out.
  We will pass through the small village of Pieros to reach Villafranca del Bierzo, where the entrance rewards all the effort as we pass through the famous Door of Forgiveness of its Church of Santiago.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  3
  Stage 2, from Villafranca Del Bierzo to O Cebreiro

  
  Distance : 27,8 km Difficulty : 4/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. The route moves onto the small village of Pereje and then Trabadelo, La Portela and Ambasmestas.
  The Camino runs parallel to the road and then goes through the villages of Ruitean and Las Herrerias. This is when the climb really begins, with a short but very difficult ascent.
  We reach Cebreiro and now there are now only 150 kilometres to go before you reach Santiago.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  4
  Stage 3, from O Cebreiro to Triacastela

  
  Distance : 20,6 km Difficulty : 3/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. You are now in Galicia, and O Cebreiro offers us one of the most beautiful landscapes on the Way, as a place of great tradition and mysticism , with its emblematic Romanesque church of Santa María de O Cebreiro.
  Then you will start the climb towards the Alto de San Roque and later to the Alto de O Poio (1,335 m), which is the highest point in Galicia on the French Route, offering spectacular views.
  After crossing the Alto do Poio, the descent to the hamlet of Triacastela begins.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  5
  Stage 4, from Triacastela to Sarria

  
  Distance : 24,7 km Difficulty : 3/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. From Triacastela, there are two ways to reach Sarria, via San XiI or via Samos, (the latter crosses Samos, with its beautiful Benedictine monastery but is more dangerous).
  The path to San Xil is well signposted and runs through a mainly hilly landscape. Initially, you will be walking on a road, but this soon changes into forest bridleways. The next village is Fonte dos Lameiros, with its large pilgrim shell monument, and then after some undulating hills, you will reach San Xil, before continuing onto Sarria through different villages.
  Sarria is the main town between Ponferrada and Santiago de Compostela. The Romanesque Church of Our Saviour, with its Gothic façade, and the convent of Magdalena are well worth a visit, as are the Rua Maior main street and the ancient medieval castle tower.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  6
  Stage 5, from Sarria to Portomarín

  
  Distance : 22,2 km Difficulty : 3/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. Expect a peaceful walk in shady oak woods through pretty villages on quiet country roads.
  The village of Barbadelo (580m) has a beautiful Romanesque church that is worth a visit. The village of Ferreiros is also on route. When you arrive in Portomarín, you can chill out at one of the numerous outdoor cafés in the main square.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  7
  Stage 6, from Portomarín to Palas De Rei

  
  Distance : 24,8 km Difficulty : 2/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. The day starts by crossing over the Belesar dam footbridge, followed by a gradual climb ending in the village of Ligonde.
  This stage runs mainly along andaderos (paths), next to the road, or in some cases along paved trails. There are many signs indicating that we are on a pilgrim route, including the famous "cruceiros" (crucifixes). Check out the Cruceiro of Lameiros and the Monastery of Our Saviour of Vilar de Donas (2 km detour off the Camino).
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  8
  Stage 7, from Palas De Rei to Arzúa

  
  Distance : 28,5 km Difficulty : 3/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. On this stage, you will move into the province of Corunna, where you will find expanses of eucalyptus and pine trees and numerous medieval bridges, such as those in Leboreiro and Furelos, as well as one of the most idyllic locations on the Camino in Ribadiso do Baixo near Arzua. Melide, which is famous for its octopus, is an obligatory stop for pilgrims and lovers of good food, whilst Arzua is famous for its designation of origin cheese.
  This long walking day can be split into two with an overnight stay in Melide (15km + 14km).
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  9
  Stage 8, from Arzúa to Rúa

  
  Distance : 17,7 km Difficulty : 2/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. Today’s route is a nice and easy walk over gentle slopes and through woodland, alternating with stretches near the road, which we will have to cross sometimes, before ending in Rua (500 m before the village of Pedrouzo).
  Don't miss the beautiful sculpture of Saint James the Pilgrim in the Church of the same name in Boente.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  10
  Stage 9, from Rúa to Santiago De Compostela

  
  Distance : 21 km Difficulty : 2/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. The last stage on your Camino de Santiago. The proximity of your goal will bring mixed feelings. On one hand, you will be eager to reach the desired end of the journey, yet on the downside, the feeling that comes to every pilgrim is that the journey is over.
  A stage of anxiety and joy, where distance does not matter, because you are “already there”.
  The route today is flat, except for the climb to San Marcos, from Lavacolla, passing Monte do Gozo and down to Santiago de Compostela.
  The entire city of Santiago de Compostela is magical, but especially its Cathedral, which deserves a special visit.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  11
  Return

  
  After breakfast, go to exchange your pilgrim’s passport, if you haven’t already done it. Alternatively, we suggest you visit the cathedral and the surrounding areas or attend a pilgrim mass.surrounding areas or attend a pilgrim mass.

Included

• 10 nights in handpicked hotels and inns, all with en-suite accommodation, on a bed and breakfast basis.
• Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel: 1 bag max. 20kg/ 44 lbs per person.
• Travel insurance.
• Credencial (Pilgrim's passport).
• Maps and tracks of the stages.
• Telephone assistance (English-speaking)

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Not included

• Lunches.
• Flights or trains.
• Single room supplement: € 290
• Dinner supplement: € 290
• Superior category supplement: € 325
• Single room superior category supplement: € 330
• Dinner superior category supplement: € 320
• Tourist taxes.

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Accommodations

All accommodations have rooms with en-suite facilities.


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Conditions

Price per person based on double room

Daily departures form April to October


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