Camino & Pilgrimages
42 nights,
hotel-to-hotel
Level: 2 & 2+
Printed route
directions
The most popular route for good reason, the Frances offers iconic sights, historic towns and a sense of community throughout, plus the final stage is the minimum distance needed for a Compostela.
Spanning nearly 800km from the historic starting point of SaintJean-Pied-de-Port in the French foothills, the Camino Frances offers a journey steeped in over a thousand years of history and spiritual endeavour. The route passes through wonderfully varied terrain, beginning with the iconic and challenging Pyrenees crossing, then winding through the lush vineyards of Navarra and La Rioja before reaching the expansive, sun-drenched plateau of the Meseta, a stretch many pilgrims find deeply meditative.
The final section unfolds through the gentle, green hills of Galicia before reaching the Cathedral of Santiago. The Frances is famed for its strong sense of camaraderie among pilgrims and its many highlights, including the magnificent cathedrals of Burgos and Leon, the ancient Templar castle at Ponferrada and the exceptional food and wine of the region. The ultimate cultural and spiritual experience.
TERRAIN
The French Way encompasses the three mountain ranges of The Pyrenees Montes de Oca and Montes de León offering often steep ascents and equally demanding descents, followed by vast expanses of agricultural land of the Meseta and plenty of undulations - some quite steep - in between. Underfoot is a mix of gravel paths, dirt tracks, country roads, and finally smatterings of asphalt the closer you get to Santiago de Compostela.
Follow the Camino Frances from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Logrono, walking through scenic villages, historic towns and the rural landscapes of La Rioja wine country on this unforgettable cultural journey.
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YOUR ACCOMMODATION
To reflect the spirit of the Pilgrimage, we carefully select welcoming, simple accommodation along the route. We offer stays in hotels and guest houses. While these stays may not offer the same level of luxury as our classic Headwater holidays, they provide genuine hospitality and a warm, friendly atmosphere.
You will enjoy private rooms and private bathrooms wherever possible, ensuring a restful night after a full day of walking. On the rare occasions when this cannot be arranged, we will let you know in advance.
Most of the properties we work with are small and family-run, and availability varies depending on how early you book. Full details of your stays will be provided closer to your departure date.
Walk through Rioja's vineyards, medieval towns & Camino trails to Burgos, experiencing Spain's rich culture in Navarrete, Najera on the way to Santiago.
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Start your walk from Burgos to Leon across the Castilian Meseta, a peaceful stretch of the Camino Frances perfect for reflection and mindfulness. Along the way, discover charming villages, ancient castles like Castrojeriz, and Romanesque gems such as the Church of San Martin.
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Walk from Leon to Sarria on the Camino Frances, crossing the Leon mountains and entering green Galicia, home to O Cebreiro and the Cruz de Ferro.
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Walk the final stage of the Camino Francés from Sarria to Santiago through Galicia’s green hills, ending at Santiago Cathedral that has welcomed pilgrims for centuries.
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Journey along the final stage of the Camino Frances from Leon to Santiago de Compostela. Cross the wide plateau, climb through the Leon mountains and walk into the green hills of Galicia, discovering Astorga, the Cruz de Ferro and O Cebreiro before ending at the cathedral, where pilgrims have gathered for centuries.
View the full itinerary here
You can walk the Camino Francés all year round, however, Headwater operates pilgrimages from March to October. Spring: You can generally look forward to warm days, perfect for walking, with chilly nights especially in the mountains. And whilst you can hope for sunshine, you can depend on rain, so come prepared. As it is a bit quieter with nice walking weather, and the countryside coming into bloom, we at Headwater, recommend Spring as one of the best times to walk the Camino Frances. Autumn: Similar to Spring, in Autumn the masses are quelling and colours are reddening, and can look forward to warm days and cool nights, still with a good chance of rain! As such we at Headwater think this is one of the best times to plan your Pilgrimage.
We do not currently have departure dates and prices available on-line. The season may have ended for this tour, or we are still in the process of adding these details to our website.
Please contact our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 to for further details or to discuss alternavie trip options.
Camino & Pilgrimages
42 nights,
hotel-to-hotel
Level: 2 & 2+
Printed route
directions
