Discover northern Spain's meseta and Galician countryside as you cycle the Camino Frances
Looking for an epic bike ride? Check out this self-guided bike ride along the Camino Frances, where you follow the camino for 17 days from Roncevalles to Santiago de Compostela.
Starting from Roncesvalles, you’ll clip in your shoes to commence the pilgrimage along the Camino Francés (French Way)—the most popular route of the Camino de Santiago—to arrive in historic Santiago de Compostela.
En route, you’ll ride across picturesque Spanish countryside including the expansive plains of the “meseta” and the beautiful region of Galicia. You’ll see centuries-old monuments that hold important significance to the French Way, dine on mouth-watering local fare, and make friends with fellow pilgrims sharing the road.
Discover northern Spain from the vantage of your bike and book your Cycling the Full French Camino tour today.
This is an incredible bike ride, though it is not recommended for the inexperienced.
Highlights Of Cycling the Camino Frances to Santiago
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Cycling the Camino Frances to Santiago Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Roncesvalles
Welcome to Roncesvalles! Upon your arrival into this small Spanish village close to the French border, you’ll have a chance to settle into your accommodation followed by an evening of preparing for tomorrow’s ride.
Note that although the complete Camino Francés, or French Way, starts in St-Jean-Pied-de-Port, this section to Roncesvalles is not ideal for cyclists. Therefore, your cycling pilgrimage begins from Roncesvalles.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Roncesvalles
Distance: None
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 Cycle to Pamplona
After a hearty breakfast, you’ll saddle up and head out to start the day’s ride to Pamplona. The route leads you through beech and oak woods, and over medieval stone bridges like the picturesque, Los Bandidos. Make a point to stop in pastoral villages like the small Zubiri to check out the local colour and then carry on to complete the first stretch with your stay in Pamplona, made famous for its running of the bulls festival, San Fermín.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Pamplona
Distance: 42 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Cycle to Estella
As you make your way to Estella, you’ll challenge yourself up the slope to Alto del Perdón. At the summit, take pause to see the remains of what was once a Pilgrim’s hospital, as well as to enjoy the all-encompassing vistas.
As you descend to Puente de la Reina, you’ll cross the popular bridge over the Arga River, built specifically for pilgrims making their journey to Santiago de Compostela.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Estella
Distance: 42 km
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 Cycle to Logroño
Today’s ride proves less tiresome than the previous days where you can indulge in cups of wine from a wine-pouring fountain along the way!
Nearing Logroño, the capital of La Rioja province, you’ll be able to see the twin baroque towers of the Cathedral of Santa María de la Redonda.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Logroño
Distance: 46 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Cycle to Santo Domingo de la Calzada
As you work your way from Logroño, you’ll have every opportunity to take pictures of a number of postcard-perfect churches and monuments. Be sure to capture an image of one such monument in Santo Domingo de la Calzada.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Distance: 47 km
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 Cycle to Burgos
Get an early start to the day as today’s ride is the longest of the tour, though there is always the option to split the day into two and overnight in an alternate town at the halfway point.
If you do decide to complete the full 68 km, before you retire for the evening, you’ll want to visit the impressive 13th-century Cathedral of Saint Mary of Burgos.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Burgos
Distance: 68 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Cycle to Frómista
After yesterday’s arduous ride, relish a lighter cycling day and pull over to visit the ruins of the Convent of San Antón en route to Frómista.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Frómista
Distance: 63 km
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 Cycle to Sahagún
Today you’ll ride across the meseta, the expansive flat plains of central Spain, of which the French Way crosses its northern reaches. You might notice an influx of cyclists as many walking pilgrims choose to ride this portion of the Camino de Santiago – the conditions are perfect for biking!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Sahagún
Distance: 58 km
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9 Cycle to León
The cycling pilgrimage continues through the meseta, amid crops and vast fields as far as the eye can see, until you reach León.
Once the capital of Spain during the Middle Ages, León today remains an iconic stop for pilgrims of the French Way. Dedicate some time to wandering the historic old quarter of the city, stopping to visit the Gothic 13th-century Catedral of León and the Romanesque Basilica of San Isidor.
Overnight Location: Hotel in León
Distance: 53 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 Cycle to Astorga
Nearing the medieval walled town of Astorga, snap an obligatory pic of the Cross of Santo Toribio, an important monument to Camino pilgrims. Then, once in Astorga, visit the Cathedral and the Palacio Gaudí, two attractions made popular by the thousands of pilgrims who visit monthly.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Astorga
Distance: 52 km
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11 Cycle to Ponferrada
You’ll have your work cut out for you with a steep climb to Cruz do Ferro. Here you can take part in the tradition of tossing a stone to the base of the cross to make a wish before enjoying the descent to Ponferrada, though you’ll want to ride through the charming village of Molinaseca and perhaps even go for a dip in the dammed up river Maruelo.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Ponferrada
Distance: 51 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12 Cycle to O Cebreiro
Leaving Ponferrada, you’ll work your way to O Cebreiro in Galicia, a beautiful region of Spain’s northwest.
O Cebreiro is one of the most popular stops of the entire French Way and it is here you’ll be able to take advantage of the stunning mountain views of Lugo and León.
Overnight Location: Hotel in O Cebreiro
Distance: 51 km
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 13 Cycle to Sarria
From here, all the way to Santiago de Compostela, you’ll have the pleasure of riding past stone hamlets and through pastoral Galician countryside, noticing an uptick of pilgrims once in Sarria. This is due to the popularity of this segment of the French Way, as Sarria marks the starting point of the last 100 km of the Camino de Santiago (the minimum distance required to receive the Pilgrim Certificate if you are walking).
Overnight Location: Hotel in Sarria
Distance: 42 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 14 Cycle to Portomarín
Enjoy a shorter ride today as you share the path with walking pilgrims, taking in the rural landscape of woods interspersed with villages.
Finally, you will arrive in Portomarín, one of the most popular spots of the French Way for its underwater ruins of a medieval town it overlooks.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Portomarín
Distance: 23 km
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 15 Cycle to Melide
Most walking pilgrims will complete the section from Portomarín to Palas de Rei, but if you’re on a bike, you’ll have the pleasure of riding to Melide! This portion of the route will lead you through the Sierra de Ligonde, where you’ll get a chance to climb a series of hills and mountains.
Once in Melide, be sure to try the traditional dish: pulpo a feira (octopus).
Overnight Location: Hotel in Melide
Distance: 38 km
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 16 Cycle to Santiago de Compostela
Leaving Melide behind, you’ll pedal alongside quiet wooded areas and quaint pastoral villages to Arzúa. Spend a little time here to taste the local cheese before completing the last leg of the French Way to arrive at your final destination of Santiago de Compostela.
Celebrate with strangers and friends alike in Praza do Obradoiro—where pilgrims commemorate the end of their expedition—and pick up your Compostelana (certificate of completing the pilgrimage). Depending on your travel plans, other notable stops worth your time include the 18th-century chapel in Santa Irena (near the Atlantic coast), as well as the hamlets of A Rúa (south of O Cebreiro) and O Amenal (just east of Santiago de Compostela)
Overnight Location: Hotel in Santiago
Distance: 55 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 17 Depart Santiago de Compostela
Take a few hours to enjoy your last morning in Santiago de Compostela before it’s time to check out and continue your journey home, bringing with you your much-deserved Compostelana.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Cycling the Camino Frances to Santiago Tour Price and Dates
This self-guided biking tour on Camino de Santiago French Way is always run as a custom tour for your group only. The price always depends on the number of people sharing a room.
The best time to travel to Northern Spain for this biking adventure is between April and October, though this tour can be completed year-round.
Prices of Private Self-guided Cycling the Camino Frances to Santiago Tour
Have your own private tour with just your group! Prices below are per person, though prices increase for arriving in Santiago before St. James Day (July 25th) or for arriving in Pamplona during St. Fermin Festivals (6th-14th of July):
- Price per person staying in single room: $2,775 USD
- Price per person staying in double room: $2,375 USD
- Price per person staying in triple room: $2,150 USD
Accommodation on Cycling the Camino Frances to Santiago Tour
This tour is based in hotels and booked in advance for the entirety of the trip (not on a day-by-day basis). The hotels on this tour are 2 and 3-star hotels and offer modern conveniences that can make this trip more pleasant. Rooms are double occupancy, and single travelers will pay a supplement.
In some cases, accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other, comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement of $395 USD to have a private room in a hotel. Contact us and we can try and match single travelers up, where possible.
Hotels on Standard Tour
Hotels along the trail
Relax and enjoy basic, but comfortable lodgings with easy access to the French Way, where most hotels offer a Pilgrims’ Menu.
What’s included in the Cycling the Camino Frances to Santiago Tour?
Meals
16 breakfasts and 9 dinners are included.
Accommodations
The accommodation for 16 nights along the tour is included.
Transportation during the Tour
This tour includes luggage transfers only.
Also Included
- Bike rental
- Saddlebags and helmet rental
- Luggage transfer
- 24/7 phone assistance
- Pilgrim Passport
- Walking notes and maps
Not included
- Anything not listed as included
- Guide services
- Insurance
- Personal expenses
- Transport
Optional Extras
- Extra accommodation charge for arriving in Santiago before St. James Day (July 25th)
- Extra accommodation charge for arriving in Pamplona during St. Fermin Festivals (6th-14th of July)
- Airport transfers
- Extra night before or after the tour
- Pilgrim massage in Santiago de Compostela
Frequently Asked Questions about Cycling the Camino Frances to Santiago
Galiwonders is a specialist tour operator, focusing on pilgrimages along the Camino de Santiago in Spain and Portugal as well as the Via Francigena in Italy. They offer adaptable tours to suit a variety of client needs and focus on truly taking care of their guests.
The tour guides are local experts, living and working right along the Camino. They have visited each hotel and restaurant they recommend, ensuring each is up to standard.
Galiwonders offers constant contact with their guests, ensuring all concerns or questions are addressed immediately so you can relax and enjoy your trip.
Learn MoreCycling the Camino Frances to Santiago Map
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Margot is a new guide with Galiwonders, and loves sharing her pride in her home region of Galicia with visitors. She enjoys sharing the history, stories, legends, and unknown information with tourists to connect them deeply with the region they’re in.
- Q: What is your favourite trip to lead and why?
- A: Any trip around Galicia. Fortunately, I have had the chance to travel far and wide, I’ve visited many counties, many cities, all beautiful and with something special, but I guess the saying "the heart is where home is" is applicable to me.
- Q: What are guests most surprised about in visiting your country?
- A: Tourists usually have a preconceived idea of what Spain is like, and when they are here they are surprised to see that how they thought it was had no similarity to that notion. I find this is especially true with Galicia. The most common ide they have is that it’s all Flamenco, bulls and polka dot dresses. That is just in Andalucia, and in Madrid, for tourists. Each region has its own unique traditions and folk culture.
- Q: What is one experience anybody visiting your country should do?
- A: El Camino de Santiago. It does not matter what religion you belong to. It is the sentiment, the relaxation, the feeling of wholeness one senses while on the Way. It’s the goal of accomplishing a pilgrimage for whatever the reason one may have, reaching the end of the road where all roads meet. Along the way you make friends with people from all over the world, the group gets larger and larger, some speak Spanish, others French, others English, even Chinese. It’s a wonderful multiracial group, and once you all reach Plaza do Obradoiro in Santiago de Compostela, you all embrace. Everyone’s jumping and laughing with sore, bruised feet and sweaty clothes for having accomplished the challenge, feeling so good and wondering why the rest of the world does not embrace this experience.