"Sometimes you walk alone, but you always carry the stories and smiles of other pilgrims with you."

French Way on foot from O Cebreiro to Santiago: 7 stages

Information about the trip: French Way on foot from O Cebreiro to Santiago: 7 stages

This is one of the most popular walking tours of the Camino de Santiago. Perfect to discover local customs, food and wine, meet other pilgrims and enjoy the unique atmosphere.
This Camino starts in O Cebreiro, a charming hamlet,  great example of traditional houses of Celtic design. It covers the last 150 km of the Way, in the region of Galicia.

Enjoy the Camino and don't worry about nothing, we organize accommodation, luggage transfer and all the services you need. Think only about walking.

Travel itinerary (Summary)

  • DAY 1:  Arrival to O Cebreiro
  • DAY 2: Stage 1, O Cebreiro,Triacastela  20,6 km 3/5
  • DAY 3: Stage 2, Triacastela, Sarria  24,7 km 3/5
  • DAY 4: Stage 3, Sarria, Portomarín  22,2 km 3/5
  • DAY 5: Stage 4, Portomarín, Palas De Rei  24,8 km 2/5
  • DAY 6: Stage 5, Palas De Rei, Arzúa  28,5 km 3/5
  • DAY 7: Stage 6, Arzúa, Rúa  17,7 km 2/5
  • DAY 8: Stage 7, Rúa, Santiago De Compostela  21 km 2/5
  • DAY 9: Return

Travel itinerary (Detailed)

  • 1

    Arrival to O Cebreiro


    160 km/ 99 mi separate the start of this itinerary from Santiago de Compostela, the final destination.
    Fill in for Pilgrims pass “La Credencial” and enjoy first class monuments in the old town.
    We will begin our Pilgrimage in the hamlet of O’ Cebreiro, which is the beginning of the Camino de Santiago in Galicia and home of what is known as the "Eucharistic miracle of O' Cebreiro"

  • 2

    Stage 1, 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.

  • 3

    Stage 2, 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.

  • 4

    Stage 3, 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.

  • 5

    Stage 4, 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).

  • 6

    Stage 5, 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).

  • 7

    Stage 6, 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.

  • 8

    Stage 7, 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.

  • 9

    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

  • 8 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.
  • Pilgrim's passport.
  • Maps and tracks of the stages.
  • Telephone assistance (English-speaking)

    • Not included

    • Lunches.
    • Flights or trains.
    • Single room supplement: 280 Eur
    • Dinner supplement: 240 Eur
    • Superior category supplement: 240 Eur
    • Superior category single room supplement: 380 Eur
    • Superior category dinners supplement: 320 Eur
    • Tourist taxes.

      • Accommodations

      All accommodations have rooms with en-suite facilities.

      Conditions


      Price per person based on double room

      Daily departures form April to October

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