Cycling the Camino de Santiago

For those people who have more time to dedicate to this extraordinary route, we recommend taking around 18 days to cover all of the Camino Francés, which is around 800km. We say ‘around’ because on this trip you stop thinking in terms of kilometres after a couple of days, and more in terms of ascents and descents. On this route you are best to opt for a tailor made vacation, so that you can get advice from Camino and cycling experts in advance: where to stay, which are the hard bits, which bits are easier on the chafing, and many other delights. You will have your bags transported and your tour operator can build plenty of rest time into your itinerary, too.

When you take on the entire Camino Francés by bike, every day of cycling will bring an epiphanous ‘étape’. The landscapes change dramatically from the high peaks of the Pyrenees to the mountains of León; La Rioja’s Ebro River valley to Castille’s high plateau. You will cycle on average 50km each day with climbs of between 220m to 1,177m starting in Roncesvalles, close to the French-Spanish border. Cyclists can also opt to start in Pamplona, which cuts out the Pyrenees. This slightly shorter and kinder version is 700km long and takes about two weeks, but you will still get your Compostela certificate.

The Camino de Santiago is different for every participant. Some take it on simply for the adventure, others for spiritual solace. The adventurers often like to travel in a small group, sharing Camino camaraderie along the way and having everything organised in advance, as well as having an expert guide to keep them on the straight and narrow en route. Taking on the Camino by bicycle can be easier and indeed more exciting when you have a group of likeminded travelers cheering you up a particularly steep section. Soul searching is much more of a solitary experience for others, or perhaps something you want to do with a close friend or loved one, in which case you will probably be better opting for a tailor made vacation. On this kind of trip, you are given your bikes, road maps and travel tips; accommodation is booked and your bags are transported for you. You will also have access to 24/7 support if you need it.

Ah, gorgeous Galicia. With its green valleys and Atlantic coast you start to feel as if you are descending to the sea once you cross the borders into this autonomous region. After the mountains, you will cycle through more rolling countryside with fecund farmland, traditional villages, river trails and chestnut forests. You won’t be able to resist stopping at some of the cafes and restaurants, however, with Galicia proffering its own unique gastronomic delights. In Galicia it feels as if you are cycling through a crossroads between Celtic and Spanish heritage. With ancient monasteries to dine at and exquisite country hotels to collapse in at the end of the day, you may not want to get back in that saddle.

Arriving into Santiago de Compostela is like the Champs-Élysées for Camino cyclists, although your ‘tour’ should hopefully not feel like the penance that the pros take on. Everyone is overjoyed to see Santiago’s imposing cathedral come into sight, where you join other pilgrims who have arrived here from so many different directions and on different modes of transport. You can refuel with superb food in the city’s Old Quarter and take time to chill out in this historic, UNESCO town, after collecting your 'Compostela' Certificate at the Pilgrims’ office. If you aren’t too exhausted, you may want to extend your trip by cycling out to the coast at Finisterre. This additional 90km journey takes two days, cycling out to a rocky peninsula that was thought to be the ‘end of the world’ in ancient times. It is certainly a great place to bring your Camino cycling vacation to a close, with a celebratory Atlantic dip.