Camino A La Vuelta 2027

We’ll pick you up from your hotel in Madrid, and together we’ll travel by van through the Sierra de Guadarrama and over the plains of Castile to the historic city of León. On the way, we’ll stop for lunch in Rueda, famous for its exquisite verdejo white wine.

Arriving in León, a city founded in 68 BC, you’ll feel the weight of history at every turn. Together, we’ll stroll through the elegant old quarter to admire its crown jewel, the spectacular Gothic cathedral, whose stunning stained-glass windows are considered the finest in Spain. We’ll also visit the striking Museo Casa Botines de Gaudí, an architectural gem and a superb example of Spanish Modernism.

No visit to León is complete without a tapas crawl around the Barrio Húmedo, or “wet district”, famous for its lively bars and gourmet small plates!

Before dinner, we’ll head to the Madres Carbajales convent to get that all-important piece of documentation that will record our pilgrimage – the credencial del peregrino.

Today’s route finishes in the historic town of Astorga. Located at the convergence of the Camino de Santiago and the Vía de la Plata, Astorga offers a rich cultural legacy stretching from Roman times through to 20th century Modernism. We’ll admire the majestic Palacio de Gaudí, which houses a museum dedicated to the Camino de Santiago, and enjoy a dinner of traditional cocido maragato (meat stew with beans served one element at a time).

From Astorga, the Camino climbs gently up to the foothills of your first mountain pass. Once we’ve reached the top of Foncebadón, we can relax and enjoy the sweeping downhill ride to Villafranca, with gorgeous views of vineyards stretching out endlessly on both sides.

Just outside of Foncebadón, we’ll come across the famous Cruz del Ferro, the highest point of today’s ride and also the highest point of the Camino Francés, where pilgrims traditionally leave a small stone as a symbol of leaving behind their burdens before arriving in Santiago.

Continuing on the Camino, we’ll pass through the medieval town of Molinaseca before finishing the day’s cycle route in the ancient city of Ponferrada, historically a stronghold of the Knights Templar and still dominated by their imposing 12^th century castle.

From Ponferrada, we’ll travel by van to the town of Villafranca del Bierzo, where we’ll stay in the renovated, comfortable and modern Parador.

The village holds huge cultural significance for the Camino de Santiago. The 9th century church of Santa María do Cebreiro is one of the oldest and best-preserved along the whole Camino, and is said to house the Holy Grail! Its bells once rang through the mists to guide pilgrims to safety, and the views when the skies are clear are astounding.

From O’Cebreiro, it’s downhill all the way to Sarria. We’ll visit the Benedictine monastery of Saint Julian in Samos, whose foundation dates all the way back to the 6th century, and follow country roads through pine and eucalyptus forests towards Sarria, where we’ll stop to have lunch and soak up the Camino atmosphere.

After lunch, we’ll travel by van to the Parador in Monforte de Lemos, a charming little town with excellent wines.

Luckily Galicia is criss-crossed by country roads, giving us the opportunity to get off the beaten path. We’ll discover some hidden routes that take us away from the crowds of the Camino. We’ll ride along peaceful paths with fabulous views and historical castle ruins.

We’ll spend tonight in Arzúa, which is famous for its local Arzúa-Ulloa cheese, which has Protected Denomination of Origin status.

Along the way, we’ll pedal past Lavacolla hill, where medieval pilgrims would tidy themselves up before reaching Santiago. From there it’s on to Monte do Gozo (Mount of Joy), so named because it offers pilgrims their first glimpse of the Cathedral of Santiago.

The official end-point of the Camino in Santiago de Compostela is the Cathedral, located in Plaza del Obradoiro. We’ll take a break in the plaza to celebrate our achievement and soak up the amazing atmosphere. There is something indescribably human about the sight of hundreds of daily pilgrims arriving into the plaza, just as countless others have done over the centuries.

Inside the Cathedral, pilgrims traditionally embrace the statue of St James and visit his tomb. Our next stop is the Pilgrims’ Office, where we can obtain our Compostela pilgrim certificates.

Arrival airport: Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas (MAD)

Direct flights to Madrid are available from a number of destinations worldwide.

Your guides will pick you up from Madrid airport, or your city centre hotel, and transfer you by van to the start of the tour in León.

Please consult with your Bike Spain Tours travel coordinator if you wish to book extra nights in Madrid before the start of the tour. Some of our favourite hotels are:

• Ocean Drive Madrid****: Elegant, modern option with a rooftop pool.
• Petit Palace Posada del Peine****: Charming historic option, in operation for over 400 years.

Departure airport: Santiago–Rosalía de Castro Airport (SCQ)

Direct flights available to Newark (EWR).

Santiago de Compostela is well-connected with Madrid and other destinations in Spain via air and high-speed train (approx. 3 hours).