Camino de Santiago Bike Tour from Burgos

We’ll pick you up from your hotel in Madrid, and travel by van up to the city of Burgos. Founded in 884, the ancient city of Burgos is steeped in Camino history, and boasts a majestic cathedral with UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

After the bike fitting and a short city tour, we’ll enjoy a traditional Spanish dinner at a restaurant facing the Cathedral. We’ll also collect our credenciales – the all-important document that certifies our status as official pilgrims.

After breakfast, we’ll depart Burgos and head to the village of Castrojeriz by van, and begin our first cycling route from there.

We’ll take the twelfth-century Fitero bridge across the Pisuerga River into the province of Palencia, and cycle through an endless sea of golden wheat fields, with the occasional “lighthouse” of a medieval church spire or a stone pigeon coop.

Next, we’ll cross the Canal de Castilla into the town of Frómista, famous for its Spanish Romanesque architecture. From here, we’ll continue across the plains of the meseta and go through several other small medieval villages before stopping for the evening in Carrión de los Condes.

Carrión is the final resting place of Saint Zoilus (Zoilo in Spanish), who was executed in Córdoba under Emperor Diocletian (r. 284-305). His relics have been enshrined, along with those of nineteen other martyrs, in the twelfth-century Renaissance Benedictine monastery of San Zoilo de Carrion, our hotel for the night!

The first of these is Calzadilla de la Cueza, tucked away in a basin and hidden from sight almost until we stumble upon it.

Just before reaching Sahagún, the midpoint of the Camino Francés and the endpoint of today’s stage, we’ll cross into the province of León, and the so-called “Leonese desert”. Despite its small size, Sahagún boasts some of the most important Arab-influenced church architecture in Castile, as well as an important Catholic historical heritage, product of its association with the monastic Order of Cluny.

After lunch in Sahagún (during which we’ll have the opportunity to try the local delicacy of leeks), we’ll travel by van to the historic city of León, founded by the Romans in 68 BC and whose cathedral boasts the largest stained-glass windows ever made.

We’ll spend the late afternoon visiting the cathedral and wandering around the quaint streets of the barrio húmedo (known for some of the best tapas bars in Castile). Tonight, we’ll stay at the exclusive five star Parador de León, a beautifully-converted 16th century monastery, complete with cloisters and chapter house.

We’ll begin the day with a van transfer from León to the historic town of Astorga, located at the convergence of the Camino de Santiago and the Vía de la Plata. After visiting Astorga’s cathedral, pilgrim hospital and Episcopal Palace (designed and built by Antoni Gaudí), we’ll begin the day’s ride.

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.

Villafranca del Bierzo was originally founded to provide pilgrims with refuge and sanctuary before beginning the most difficult part of their pilgrimage. The town boasts a long and storied history, and is replete with churches and monuments, testament to its importance as a stop on the ancient Camino de Santiago route.

O’Cebreiro 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.

After a quick transfer to the village of Arzúa, 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.

Congratulations on the completion of your pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela!

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 Burgos.

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)

Note: Santiago airport will be closed for renovations from 23rd April – 27th May 2026. From 28th May onwards, there will be a new direct flight route from Santiago SCQ 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).