Hike El Camino De Santiago

The adventure

For more than a thousand years, pilgrims have walked across northern Spain to the tomb of St James in Santiago de Compostela, and the Camino still carries that steady, shared rhythm. You set off at first light with a scallop shell on your pack, follow yellow arrows through vineyards, wheat fields and stone villages, and greet strangers with "Buen Camino" until they become friends.

On the full French Way, around 780 kilometres from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, you cross the Pyrenees, the open plains of the Meseta, the mountains of León and the green hills of Galicia. Evenings are spent in albergues and village squares over pilgrim menus and cheap red wine, comparing blisters. Then comes the final walk into Santiago, through the old town to the Praza do Obradoiro, where pilgrims drop their packs in front of the cathedral. If you're lucky, the giant Botafumeiro censer swings across the nave during the pilgrims' mass.

Why it’s epic

Walking about 780 kilometres on the French Way, or the final 100 kilometres from Sarria for the Compostela.
Crossing the Pyrenees on the very first day, from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles.
Arriving at the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage old town.
Seeing the Botafumeiro, a silver-plated censer weighing around 50 kilograms, swing high across the cathedral.

What it is

The Camino de Santiago is a network of pilgrimage routes ending at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.

How to do it

The French Way from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port takes about 35 days. Walk at least the final 100 kilometres from Sarria to earn the Compostela certificate.

Top tip

Get your pilgrim passport stamped along the way.

Need to know

Carry a credencial (pilgrim passport) and collect stamps; on the last 100 kilometres you need at least two a day for the Compostela.
Spring and autumn are best, while July and August are hot and very busy, especially from Sarria.
Albergues are cheap and many work on a first come, first served basis, though booking ahead is now common in peak season.
Break in your boots well before you go and keep your pack light.

Plan this trip

Rough cost: £750 to £2,000 per person, including flights from the UK
Time needed: 5 to 35 days
Best time to go: May to June, September to October
Fly into: SCQ airport

Beds and pilgrim menus are cheap, so the length of time off work is the biggest real cost.

Make it happen

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Why it’s on my list

Not done yet. If you’ve done it and have tips, tell me about it.