10-day Camino de Santiago tour | Tours of Spain

Route

You start in Bilbao, with an optional detour to San Sebastián. You then head via La Rioja and the monasteries of the Sierra de la Demanda towards Lerma and Burgos. The route then follows sections of the Camino Francés via León and Villafranca del Bierzo to Santiago de Compostela, with an optional finale at Cabo de Finisterre.

Pace

A round trip in stages, with a few longer stretches interspersed with rest periods. You’ll stay one or two nights in each region, allowing you to make good progress whilst still having time to really experience the places.

Highlights

The Guggenheim in Bilbao, wineries in La Rioja and the monasteries along the route. Burgos Cathedral and the Palacio Episcopal in Astorga bring architecture to life. The arrival in Santiago is the highlight, with the option of a further trip to Finisterre.

Accommodation

Nine nights spread across several strategic stops along the route, with extra time in La Rioja and Santiago to explore further.

Profile

For travellers who want to experience the pilgrimage route without walking the entire way. Ideal for those wishing to combine culture, scenery and a symbolic final destination.

Day 1: Departure for Bilbao

You’ll collect your hire car at Bilbao Airport, followed by a short drive to the historic centre.

Day 2: Bilbao – San Sebastián

Visit the Guggenheim Museum (closed on Mondays, during the week before Easter and from mid-June to mid-September) and Bilbao’s old town, the Plaza Nueva, the cathedral and the Archaeological, Ethnographic and Historical Museum of Basque Art. Or take a day trip to San Sebastián, the most beautiful seaside resort in northern Spain.

Day 3: Bilbao - La Rioja

Via the motorway, or over the Urquiola Pass, you’ll reach the elegant Gasteiz (Vitoria), after which you’ll continue on to La Rioja, where you’ll stay for two nights at Hotel Finca de los Arandinos.

Day 4: La Rioja

Explore this famous Rioja region with its many prestigious wineries.

Day 5: La Sierra de la Demanda - Lerma

Discover this beautiful mountainous region via the ‘Monastery Route’, with the Monasterio de Suso – partly carved into the rock face – to Santo Domingo de Silos, home to its renowned monastery.

Day 6: Burgos

Discover the charming historic centre of Burgos, with the cathedral as its showpiece.

Day 7: Lerma - León / Villafranca del Bierzo

Via the original ‘Camino francés’, you arrive in Carrión de los Condes, known for its Real Monasterio San Zoilo.

Day 8: León – Santiago de Compostela

Visit Astorga, home to Antonio Gaudí’s Palacio Episcopal, Ponferrada and Villafranca del Bierzo, or explore the spectacular landscape of Las Médulas, a gold mine from the Roman Empire and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then continue on to Santiago de Compostela, the end point of the Camino.

Day 9: Santiago de Compostela

With its majestic cathedral, Santiago is known worldwide as the end point of the long pilgrimage. For a drive along the coast to ‘the end of the world’, Cabo de Finisterre, it is best to allow a full day.

Day 10: Return home

After a rewarding and inspiring journey, it is time to fly home.

Frequently asked questions about this special journey to Compostela

Is a hire car necessary for this pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela?

Yes. With a hire car, you can follow the Camino de Santiago at your own pace and easily reach towns, monasteries and villages along the route. Many stops, such as wineries in La Rioja or smaller pilgrimage sites, lie outside the public transport network.

When is the best time for this pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela?

May to June and September to October are ideal. You’ll enjoy pleasant temperatures for city visits and excursions, without the summer crowds. July and August are livelier along the Camino, but also busier and warmer.

What makes this pilgrimage route different from the classic Camino on foot?

You follow the historic pilgrimage route through northern Spain and discover monasteries, cathedrals and landscapes along the way that you would normally only encounter on foot. Arriving in Santiago provides the journey with a clear and meaningful finale.