Bilbao Camp
Camping
Day 1
Camino — 6 days (Bilbao, San Sebastian, Getaria, Sarria & Portomarin)
Nine days, four of them walking the last hundred kilometres. Six days walking Sarria to Santiago only, in albergues rather than guesthouses, without the Basque coast.
Old Mule Routes
Runs this trip
Trekking
Nine days, four of them walking the last hundred kilometres
Group Tour
Join a fixed-date departure with other travellers
Top Highlights
GuggenheimNine days: Basque coast, then the last hundred kilometres of the Camino Francés on foot to Santiago. La ConchaPintxos are ordered one at a time standing up and you move bar to bar. SarriaSarria is where most people start, because a hundred kilometres on foot is the minimum for a Compostela and Sarria is just over it. K100 markerThe old Portomarín was flooded by the reservoir in 1962 and the church was moved stone by stone up the hill, numbered as it went. LigondeThe hórreos — raised stone granaries on staddle stones — start appearing here and are everywhere for the rest of the walk.
Itinerary
Nine days: Basque coast, then the last hundred kilometres of the Camino Francés on foot to Santiago.
BilbaoHow the day runs
- 0 hrsTransfer into the Casco Viejo
- MealsDinner
- AccommodationBilbao Camp
Included Activities
- Transfer
- Hotel night
- Guggenheim entry
LANDMARKS Guggenheim Casco Viejo Ría de Bilbao Start point Bilbao, Bilbao Airport (BIO) 00:00 - 23:59Pintxos are ordered one at a time standing up and you move bar to bar. Sitting down to eat six of them in one place is the visitor mistake.
Bilbao, San Sebastian, GetariaHow the day runs
- 1 hrs9:00 AM — the coast road via the txakoli vineyards
- 1 hrs1:00 PM — into the city and up Monte Igueldo
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationSan Sebastian Camp
Included Activities
- Funicular
- Guesthouse in the old town
LANDMARKS La Concha Monte Igueldo Parte Vieja Getaria Sarria is where most people start, because a hundred kilometres on foot is the minimum for a Compostela and Sarria is just over it.
San Sebastian, SarriaHow the day runs
- 7 hrs8:00 AM — west across the north of Spain
- 4:00 PM — the credencial stamped, and boots checked
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationSarria Camp
Included Activities
- Rail
- Pilgrim guesthouse
- Credencial
LANDMARKS Sarria Camino Francés Credencial The old Portomarín was flooded by the reservoir in 1962 and the church was moved stone by stone up the hill, numbered as it went.
Sarria, PortomarinHow the day runs
- 6 hrs7:00 AM — through oak and hamlet to the reservoir
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationPortomarin Camp
Included Activities
- Guesthouse
- Luggage transfer
LANDMARKS K100 marker Barbadelo Portomarín Belesar reservoir The hórreos — raised stone granaries on staddle stones — start appearing here and are everywhere for the rest of the walk.
PortomarinHow the day runs
- 7 hrs6:30 AM — up out of the valley and across the meseta edge
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationPortomarin Camp
Included Activities
- Guesthouse
- Luggage transfer
LANDMARKS Ligonde Palas de Rei Hórreos Melide at the halfway point is where everyone stops for octopus, and the queue at Ezequiel is part of the day.
Portomarin, SantiagoHow the day runs
- 8 hrs6:30 AM — Melide for the pulpo, then on to Arzúa
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationSantiago Camp
Included Activities
- Guesthouse
- Luggage transfer
LANDMARKS Melide Pulpo a feira Arzúa Eucalyptus The botafumeiro — a fifty-kilo censer swung across the transept — is not flown at every mass. It is scheduled or sponsored, and nobody can promise it.
SantiagoHow the day runs
- 6 hrs6:00 AM — Monte do Gozo, then down into the city
- 12:00 PM — the pilgrims' mass, and the Compostela office
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationSantiago Camp
Included Activities
- Compostela
- Hotel in Santiago
LANDMARKS Monte do Gozo Praza do Obradoiro Cathedral Botafumeiro Finisterre was the end of the known world and pilgrims burned their clothes here. Burning things is now discouraged and fined.
Santiago, FinisterreHow the day runs
- 3 hrs9:00 AM — west to the cape
- 2 hrs12:00 PM — the lighthouse and the 0 km marker
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationSantiago Camp
Included Activities
- Bus
- Hotel in Santiago
LANDMARKS Cape Finisterre Km 0 Costa da Morte Santiago flies across Spain and to several European cities directly.
SantiagoHow the day runs
- 1 hrsTransfer to the airport
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationNot included — onward travel
Included Activities
- Airport transfer
- Day 1Transfer
- Day 1Hotel night
- Day 1Guggenheim entry
- Day 2Funicular
- Day 2Guesthouse in the old town
- Day 3Rail
- Day 3Pilgrim guesthouse
- Day 3Credencial
- Day 4Guesthouse
- Day 4Luggage transfer
- Day 7Compostela
- Day 7Hotel in Santiago
- Day 8Bus
- Day 9Airport transfer
- Day 1 · 1 nightBilbao Camp
- Day 2 · 1 nightSan Sebastian Camp
- Day 3 · 1 nightSarria Camp
- Day 4 · 2 nightsPortomarin Camp
- Day 6 · 3 nightsSantiago Camp
- Day 1Bilbao to BilbaoTransfer into the Casco Viejo
- Day 2Bilbao to Getaria9:00 AM — the coast road via the txakoli vineyards
- Day 2Getaria to San Sebastian1:00 PM — into the city and up Monte Igueldo
- Day 3San Sebastian to Sarria8:00 AM — west across the north of Spain
- Day 9Santiago to SantiagoTransfer to the airport
Where you'll stay
All accommodations are subject to change
San Sebastian Camp
Camping
Day 2
Sarria Camp
Camping
Day 3
Portomarin Camp
Camping
Days 4, 5
Santiago Camp
Camping
Days 6–8
What you'll eat
8 breakfasts and 6 dinners across 9 days, at camp. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast on day 9.
- DinnerServed on days 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
- BreakfastServed on days 2–9
14 meal services named in the itinerary. Vegetarian and vegan covered; Jain, gluten-free and allergies on notice at booking
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Customer reviews
Overall rating
4.7/5
Based on 16 reviews
Review summary
Food4.6/5
Guide4.4/5
Itinerary4.5/5
Transport4.4/5
Accommodation4.4/5
Tour operator4.3/5
Sort by:Recommended
3
C
Carla Mendes – Toronto2026-01-21 · Verified booking
The trek itself is good but the group was too large for the trail on the summit day. The lead was calm and knew when to slow the group down.
Reply from Old Mule Routes
Thanks for writing this up. We've passed your note to the team.
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5
S
Sameer Khan – Mumbai2026-01-21 · Verified booking
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. The campsites were well chosen — sheltered, and close enough to water. Whoever planned the days knew what they were doing. Would book with them again.
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5
E
Elena Petrova – Amsterdam2026-01-21 · Verified booking
Did this over 9 days and it was the best walking I've done in years. Camp was pitched and the kitchen going by the time we walked in each evening. The team read the group well and adjusted without making a thing of it. Solid operator.
Reply from Old Mule Routes
Appreciate the honest feedback; we're looking at the pacing on that section.
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5
A
Arjun Pillai – Chandigarh2026-01-21 · Verified booking
Did this over 9 days and it was the best walking I've done in years. Tents were warmer than expected and the camp was set up before we arrived. Plenty to eat and they were happy to work around a gluten allergy. Would send friends their way.
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5
E
Elena Petrova – London2025-06-24 · Verified booking
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. Camp was pitched and the kitchen going by the time we walked in each evening. Would send friends their way.
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5
S
Sofia Marchetti – Singapore2025-06-24 · Verified booking
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. Meals were good throughout and the vegetarian options weren't an afterthought.
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5
A
Ananya Gupta – Kolkata2025-06-24 · Verified booking
Well organised from the pickup onwards. The daily distances were honest about what they'd be. Camp was pitched and the kitchen going by the time we walked in each evening. Simple food, well made, and enough of it. Good value for what's included.
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4
H
Hannah Lindqvist – Lisbon2025-06-24 · Verified booking
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb. Solid operator.
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Questions people ask
One other operator runs this trail. See all 2 side by side →