Camino del Norte

Camino del Norte Gijón – Santiago

Pilgrims have traveled to the sanctuary of Santiago in Santiago de Compostela since the year 814 AD. The Camino de Santiago is considered a spiritual expedition in its original form. A spiritual quest, a sense of physical achievement, unique friendships and the experience of stunning landscapes are all reasons why thousands of people make this pilgrimage every year. It’s traditionally done on foot, but completing this expedition by bike is a magical way to see even more of this beautiful area and complete the 200 km required to officially become a ‘pilgrim’. We’ll take the Camino del Norte from Gijón in Asturias, along its stunning rugged coastline, towards Galicia and then on to Santiago de Compostela. You’ll also experience magnificent mountain landscapes and, quite possibly, the best food Spain has to offer along the way.

Itinerary

Day 1 – Gijón to Cudillero
Setting off from Oviedo, we’ll face a challenging and rewarding first day, much of it along the beautiful Asturian coast. We’ll pass small hamlets and villages, many with traditional hórreos (small granaries or storehouses raised on pillars). The day’s route ends in one of Asturias’s most famous coastal villages, Cudillero, where we’ll spend the night.

Day 2 – Cudillero to Navia
Today is a much quieter day with fewer hills and shorter climbs. The scenery remains impressive and for much of the day we can see the Cantabrian Sea shimmering to our right. Your Asturian cider at the traditional sidrería will be well earned at the end of a memorable day!

Day 3 – Navia to Ribadeo
Another exceptional day along the coast to the lively town of Foz, with its incredible beach. A long, steady day in the saddle and again an opportunity to enjoy the ocean waves and sea breeze. We then cross the Puente de los Santos over the Eo River, entering Galicia for the first time and reaching our destination, Ribadeo.

Day 4 – Ribadeo
Rest day and the chance to explore the surrounding coast. Just a short train or bike ride away is the region’s most famous wonder, the Praia das Catedrais, with its arch-shaped rock formations jutting out from the coastline. It’s the second most visited site after the ‘other’ cathedral.

Day 5 – Ribadeo to Meira
As we start to move away from the coast and inland, the scenery and terrain become quite spectacular as we tackle some steeper climbs. This is the most challenging day of the tour, but there’s a great variety of scenery to enjoy in this province: sea, mountains and forests are all experienced firsthand. This area is sparsely populated and we’ll only pass through one sizeable town all day.

Day 6 – Meira to Lugo
The shortest day of the trip is not lacking in charm, as this section takes us through peaceful wetlands, charming stone buildings and religious architecture typical of the region. Along the way we’ll pass through Vilalba, whose origins date back to the 13th century. Our destination for the day is the vibrant city of Lugo.

Day 7 – Lugo to Arzúa
Starting the morning with a stroll through Lugo’s old town, we head uphill for what will be a day of ups and downs on the bike. You’ll start to feel like a true pilgrim on wheels as you join the ‘Camino Francés’ halfway through the day.

Day 8 – Arzúa to Santiago de Compostela
On our final day of cycling, we continue on the main route towards Santiago de Compostela. Joining a growing number of pilgrims on this rolling route, we’ll naturally end up at the famous Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

Daily Distances

• Day 1: Gijón-Cudillero: 55 km
• Day 2: Cudillero-Navia: 53 km
• Day 3: Navia-Ribadeo: 55 km
• Day 4: Ribadeo (rest day): 0 km
• Day 5: Ribadeo-Meira: 52 km
• Day 6: Meira-Lugo: 55 km
• Day 7: Lugo-Arzúa: 70 km
• Day 8: Arzúa-Santiago de Compostela: 40 km
• Total: 390 km

Difficulty Level

Challenging adventure (5/5). Rolling/mountainous terrain with perhaps three climbs per day on the most challenging days. Long total distance, but daily distances are manageable. Cyclists should have a good level of fitness and cycling experience. They should be competent cycling on trails and loose gravel, and regular cycling, gym sessions or other cardiovascular activity is recommended before taking part in this tour.

Logistics

The tour begins at a designated hotel in Gijón on the morning of the first day, where we’ll hold a briefing and then collect the bikes. This is a “self-carry” bike adventure, so all your belongings will need to be transported with you in provided panniers, making it a true pilgrimage. The first three days follow the coast to Ribadeo before turning inland through the Cantabrian mountain range to our final point, Santiago de Compostela. Luggage will be transferred by vehicle throughout the route. On arrival in Santiago de Compostela, we’ll spend a night there before the tour ends the following day. There are several options for returning home which can be discussed before or when booking.

What to Budget For

• FLIGHTS ARE NOT INCLUDED. The nearest airports are:
  • Starting point: Asturias or Santander
  • End point: Santiago de Compostela or A Coruña
• Other meals are not included – Budget approximately 20 euros per day
• Travel insurance (mandatory)

What to Bring

Travel light! Personal luggage will be transported in a support vehicle throughout the trip, however there will be limited space in the van. The weather is usually very good in northern Spain in late August, so it’s generally recommended to pack for good weather, but remember to bring light rain gear, as this is Spain’s “greenest” region. A complete packing list will be provided after booking.

What’s Included?

• Breakfasts, lunches, refreshments.
• 3-4 star accommodation or rural lodging.
• Tips for luggage, porters and hotel service.
• Support vehicle.
• Mechanical assistance.
• Bike guide.
• Luggage transport from hotel to hotel.
• Electric bike rental included.
• MTB Spain t-shirt.

Payment and Cancellation Policy

To confirm the trip booking, payment will be made in three stages:

• 25% at the time of booking.
• 50% remaining must be paid 2 months before the trip.
• final 25% must be paid during the last month before departure.

Cancellation Policy

• Up to 60 days before the trip: full refund of amounts paid.
• Between 59 and 31 days before: 50% refund.
• Less than 30 days before the trip: no refunds will be given.