Your itinerary
Day 1
Day 1: Sarria
Welcome to Sarria, the Camino’s most iconic launchpad. You’ll meet your Contiki crew in the town where pilgrims roll in from all over to kick off the walk to Santiago. The centre’s packed with Camino history (churches, chapels, monasteries), so you can wander and get a feel for what you’re about to do. Later, we’ll keep it chill on Rúa Maior — the main strip with the perfect energy for a welcome dinner and that pre-Camino buzz.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2
Day 2: Sarria to Portomarin
Okay, time to get walking! Fuel up on breakfast, lace up and set off from Sarria on a 22km walk to Portomarín (with a Local Guide), keeping things steady on mostly flat paths. Don’t worry, we’ll take care of your luggage – magically transporting it from one camino spot to another for you. By the evening, we’ll roll into Portomarín. The rest of the evening is yours. Find cosy spot for dinner in the village and putting your feet up after a big day on the trail.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3
Day 3: Portomarin to Palas de Rei via Castromaior and Eirexe
After breakfast, we’ll kick off walking day two from Portomarín and ease back into the Camino rhythm on a 22km stretch. Expect a steady climb after crossing the River Miño, with the trail rising towards the Serra de Ligonde.We’ll pass through classic Galician hamlets like Gonzar and Ventas de Narón, then stop at Castromaior to check out the Romanesque Church of Santa María.Next up: Eirexe and its Romanesque church, with a carved portal featuring Daniel with animals and Pilgrim Santiago (a proper Camino moment).Tonight’s finish line is Palas de Rei, where you can switch off, refuel with a walkabout dinner, and get those legs ready for the next day.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4
Day 4: Palas de Rei to Melide via Casanova and Leboreiro
After breakfast, we’ll get moving again with a shorter 14km Camino day, keeping things light and steady. The trail trends downhill, so it’s a good one for finding your pace and enjoying the countryside.The road leads us to the village of Casanova, with quiet paths and those classic Galicia green views along the way. Next up is Leboreiro, a small, charming spot that’s perfect for a quick pause and a few extra camera-roll moments.We’ll finish in Melide, a lively market town with plenty going on. It’s also the place for Pulpo a la Gallega (AKA Galician-style octopus), so if you’re keen to eat like a local, this is your chance.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5
Day 5: Melide to Arzua via Boente and Ribadiso
Melide, you were marvellous. After breakfast, we’ll keep the Camino momentum going on a 14km walk towards Arzúa, with easy-going trails that mix forest track and quiet road.Along the way, we’ll cross little streams and pass through sleepy villages before reaching Boente and the Church of Santiago, a classic Camino checkpoint.Next stop: Ribadiso, a tiny medieval hamlet with a stone bridge, old-world vibes, and a riverside setting that basically demands a slow wander (and a quick photo stop).By evening, we’ll hit up Arzúa. This town is known for its local cheese, so make sure you sample some while you’re here. Oh, and if you’re up for a wander, the churches of Santa María and A Magdalena are worth a look before you settle in for the night.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6
Day 6: Arzua to Amenal
Grab brekkie as we tackle a bigger Camino day with 23km on the cards, winding through woodland trails, sleepy villages, and little stream crossings that keep things feeling properly rural. Along the way, the Chapel of Santa Irene is worth a stop for its unique statue of Santiago, and the hamlet of Rúa is a great little pause point before we push on.The final stretch into Amenal follows a mellow mix of quiet country roads and forest tracks, perfect for settling into that steady walking rhythm before a well-earned rest.
Meals: Breakfast,Dinner
Day 7
Day 7: Amenal to Santiago de Compostela via Lavacolla
Ready for the final push? This 16km trail eases you towards Santiago through eucalyptus-lined paths.Along the way, we’ll pass Lavacolla on the outskirts of the city, where pilgrims once washed in the river before arriving in Santiago. It’s a lil’ reminder that you’re walking the same route as generations before you.Next up is Monte do Gozo (Mount of Joy), where the cathedral spires finally come into view. Then it’s into Santiago de Compostela itself, a UNESCO-listed city with serious atmosphere and plenty to explore once you arrive. With a shorter walk today, there’s time to make pilgrim mass at 12pm if you’re keen, then we’ll check into our central hotel and head out for a group dinner to celebrate. You made it!
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8
Day 8: Santiago de Compostela
Grab your final brekkie of the trip. It’s check-out time and the adventure officially ends. You came, you walked, you conquered.
Meals: Breakfast
What’s included
What’s not included
Additional information
Sarria Orientation Walk & Pilgrim Passport Collection
Discover Sarria’s medieval heart with a relaxed orientation through cloisters, chapels and stone lanes along Rúa Maior. Meet your fellow travellers and meet your Tour Director before you collect your Pilgrim Passport (Credencial), the small booklet that records your progress with stamps at churches, bars and albergues along the route.
Gain context for the days ahead as you pass the former monastery of La Magdalena and parish churches that have welcomed pilgrims for centuries. Your first “sello” marks the beginning of a tradition shared by millions who have walked toward Santiago.
Guided Camino Stage: Sarria to Portomarín (22 km)
Join a guided walking stage through oak and chestnut woodland, over farm tracks and village lanes as yellow arrows and scallop shell waymarkers keep you on the path to Portomarín. Pace yourself through classic Galician scenery before crossing the River Miño into one of the Camino’s most storied hill towns.
In Portomarín, learn how the medieval heart was moved stone by stone above the reservoir in the 1960s, including the fortress-like Church of San Nicolás. The river views, arcaded square and pilgrim buzz set the tone for the journey ahead.
Camino Stage: Portomarín to Palas de Rei via Castromaior & Eirexe (22 km)
Walk a steady climb from the Miño valley toward the Serra de Ligonde, threading through hamlets like Gonzar and Ventas de Narón. Pause at the Romanesque Church of Santa María de Castromaior and continue to Eirexe to admire its carved portal featuring Daniel among beasts and the pilgrim Santiago.
This stage blends rural rhythm with centuries of sacred art. With every waymark you feel the lineage of devotion beneath your boots, arriving in Palas de Rei ready for a quiet evening in a true Camino town.
Camino Stage: Palas de Rei to Melide via Casanova & Leboreiro (14 km)
Enjoy a gentler, downhill-leaning day across meadows and shaded lanes, passing the tiny village of Casanova before reaching Leboreiro. Photograph the Church of Santa María de Leboreiro and its traditional hórreo granary—icons of Galicia’s agrarian heritage—before rolling onward to Melide.
Melide buzzes with market-town energy and Camino camaraderie. Seek out a traditional pulpería to sample pulpo a la gallega—tender octopus with olive oil, sea salt and paprika—an enduring taste of the route that pairs perfectly with a cool Ribeiro white.
Camino Stage: Melide to Arzúa via Boente & Ribadiso (14 km)
Trace a mix of forest track and quiet country road to Boente to visit the Church of Santiago, a classic place for a stamp and a reflective pause. Continue to Ribadiso’s medieval stone bridge over the Río Iso, where waterside cottages recall the Camino’s centuries of hospitality.
Finish in Arzúa, home of creamy Arzúa–Ulloa cheese with protected status. Evenings here feel unhurried—perfect for stretching weary legs and savouring the mellow, woodsmoke-scented air of inland Galicia.
Camino Stage: Arzúa to Amenal via Santa Irene & Rúa (23 km)
Walk through eucalyptus and pine, where resin and damp earth perfume the trail. Pause at the Chapel of Santa Irene to see its statue of Santiago and pilgrim-famed fountain, then weave past the hamlet of Rúa across rolling farmland dotted with stone horreos and wayside crosses.
Today’s distance settles you into a purposeful rhythm. Between birdsong and the crunch of gravel, the Camino’s quiet rituals—greeting fellow walkers, sharing wayfinding tips—become part of the experience itself.
Final Camino Stage: Amenal to Santiago via Lavacolla & Monte do Gozo (16 km)
Follow eucalyptus-lined paths toward the city outskirts, passing Lavacolla, where tradition holds that pilgrims once washed before entering Santiago. Crest Monte do Gozo (Mount of Joy) for that electric first glimpse of the cathedral spires—the view generations have dreamt of.
The approach into Santiago is charged with anticipation and shared smiles. With a shorter mileage, there’s time to pause for photos and reflection before stepping into the UNESCO-listed old town to complete your journey at the cathedral’s threshold.
Santiago de Compostela Old Town & Cathedral Precinct
Enter the vast Praza do Obradoiro and take in the Baroque west front of the Cathhedral of Santiago de Compostela, crowning a city whose granite lanes echo with pilgrims’ steps. Soak up the atmosphere as musicians play under arcades and gaita bagpipes drift across the square.
Explore the UNESCO-listed Old Town, where Romanesque foundations meet later Gothic and Baroque layers. When timing allows, many walkers choose to attend the midday Pilgrim’s Mass—a reflective close to the journey and a moment shared with pilgrims from around the world.
Dining Summary
- 2 Dinner (D)
- 7 Breakfast (B)
Included Experience
- Pick up your Pilgrim Passport in Sarria AKA your official record for the journey ahead. You’ll get it stamped along the way as proof you’ve completed the final 100km of the Camino.
- Kick things off at the iconic starting point for many pilgrims. You’ll pick up your first stamp in your Pilgrim Passport here – a small moment that marks the beginning of something big.
- Sarria: Drop your main bag at hotel reception each morning and it’ll be delivered straight to your next stop while you hike. You’ll walk with just a daypack, so it’s all the Camino vibes with none of the heavy lifting.
- Portomarin: Step into the historic village of Portomarín and take in its unique charm as you pass through. It’s a chance to pause, explore and soak up a little more of the Camino’s rich story.
- Santiago de Compostela: Head to Monte do Gozo for a pretty special moment, with your first view of Santiago’s cathedral in the distance. After all those steps, that’s when it really starts to feel real.
Operated By
Contiki