Walk the Camino de Santiago along the French Way

Sunday, October 18, 2026

Welcome dinner, hosted by Insider’s Camino. Over dinner, writer and journalist, Giles Tremlett, gives us an overview of the history of Spain, its diversity, and its contradictions.

Monday, October 19

Our guide meets us in the hotel reception for a short walk to the Prado Museum. Here we are given a guided tour of the collection highlights. These include Velázquez’s Las Meninas, Van der Weyden’s Descent from the Cross, The Garden of Earthly Delights by Bosch and works by Goya including his Black Paintings, Las Pinturas Negras.

We then take a panoramic bus tour of the centre of Madrid, finishing at the Anglican Cathedral of the Redeemer, where guests receive the Pilgrim blessing, their Pilgrim’s Passport, and the Concha Shell. Lunch will be a light, finger buffet lunch at the Cathedral.

Dinner is at Restaurante Botín, the world’s oldest restaurant. Here, we take a privately guided visit before the restaurant opens.

Flamenco show at Las Carboneras flamenco tablao, located just across from Restaurante Botín.

Tuesday, October 20

We leave Madrid for a 3.5 hour drive to the 11th-century walled city of Astorga, at the crossroads of the Camino de Santiago and the Roman Silver Road. We visit the 15th-century Cathedral of St Mary and the 19th-century Episcopal Palace designed by Antoni Gaudí.

We enjoy a light lunch at a local restaurant, close to the Cathedral. We continue our journey to Portomarín. Travel time is approximately two hours, not including comfort stops.

Dinner close to the hotel.

Wednesday, October 21

After breakfast we take a short drive to Sarría for our first day’s walk to Portomarín.

This stage is known for its beauty. It is also where we pass the 100 km marker of this ancient route. This is the minimum distance to be traveled on foot to receive the Compostela certificate. We pass through the villages of Barbadelo and Ferreiros, admiring their Romanesque churches en route, before arriving at Portomarín.

This is a gentle stage. The ground is soft and wavy, taking us through clusters of chestnut and oak trees, meadows, and farmland.

On approaching the town of Portomarín, we cross the bridge over the Belesar Reservoir, and the Miño River and into the town.

We meet in the hotel reception for a short walk to our restaurant for dinner.

Thursday, October 22

After breakfast, we leave Portomarín and cross the Belesar Reservoir, starting with a steady, comfortable climb through the forest. The climb can be demanding at
times, but it rewards walkers with sweeping views of the Galician countryside. The path winds through peaceful hamlets like Gonzar and Ventas de Narón, where cafés
offer rest and refreshment.

En route, we see the famous Cruceiro stone crosses, including the Cruceiro of Lameiros dating back to the 17th-century.

As you approach Airexe, the trail levels out, making for a pleasant finish.

We arrive at the village of Airexe, stamp our passports, and take a short bus ride to the Hotel, Parada das Bestas a renovated 18th-century country house in a rural setting where we spend two nights. Tonight we meet for dinner in the hotel dining room.

Friday, October 23

This beautiful stretch of the Camino Francés winds from Airexe through rolling Galician countryside, quiet hamlets, and tree-lined paths before reaching Palas de Rei, a lively town with cafés, shops, and a lovely Romanesque church for a well-earned rest stop.

As more pilgrims join the route, you’ll notice the trail becomes more social, continuing through oak and eucalyptus woods, small creeks, and the rural villages of San Xulián and Casanova. With gentle ups and downs and consistently charming scenery, the walk to O Coto feels peaceful and rewarding. From there, we take the
bus back to the hotel.

Saturday, October 24

We return to O Coto and walk to Arzúa, following a lively stretch of the Camino that leads through Melide, famous for its pulpería octopus restaurants, and a perfect stop for lunch.

After Melide, the flow of pilgrims grows as the Camino Primitivo joins the Francés, guiding us over a medieval bridge at Ribadiso da Baixo and past the granite stepping stone at O Rañado, known for its unique artisan stamp.

Reaching Arzúa, early arrivals can taste the creamy local cheese the town is known for. We then take a quick bus ride to our accommodation for the next two nights on the Botana family estate, at A Paínza.

Sunday, October 25

This is a gentle, pretty stage which takes us through meadows and woods of oak and eucalyptus trees and small villages. En route to Pedrouzo, we pass through Boente, with its beautiful statue of Santiago the pilgrim. The villages of Calzada, Salceda, and A Rúa add charm to the journey, with their stone houses and small chapels.

With Santiago now within reach, many pilgrims walk this stage with a mix of anticipation and nostalgia, savoring the final full day on the trail.

On arrival in Pedrouzo, we take the bus back to Arzúa for our second night here. Pilgrim’s mass for our group in a small chapel followed by an aperitivo style dinner and music with an opera singer singing the Pilgrim’s hymn and music related to the Galician culture.

Monday, October 26

After breakfast, we travel back to O Pedrouzo to begin the eighth stage of the Camino to Santiago de Compostela.

The Way passes next to the airport and starts the gentle descent towards Lavacolla. Lavacolla is located very close to the Monte do Gozo, a hill from where pilgrims catch their first glimpse of Santiago’s Cathedral. While the last miles take us through more urban terrain, these are also significant miles for every pilgrim who walks them as Santiago de Compostela approaches. Both the pilgrims who are walking the entire 12 miles today day and the pilgrims who prefer to walk part way will come together to walk our last mile to the Obradoiro Square to the Cathedral.

This evening, we walk over to the 12th-century church San Fiz de Solovio for our Holy Communion. From here, we walk to dinner at a favorite local restaurant, serving Galician specialities with a modern twist.