The famous Way of St. James has been attracting thousands of pilgrims for centuries, who make the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela via various routes. It is of course a very special experience to ride the Way of St. James on horseback. The classic route is the Camino Francés, the French Way, which leads from the Pyrenees through northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela. Divided into four stages (each lasting one week), you can either ride along week by week or combine several or even all weeks. The route starts in Roncesvalles in the Pyrenees and ends after four weeks with the ride to Santiago de Compostela right up to the cathedral square!
You can expect a journey on horseback with some very long daily stages (mostly walking), where the focus is on pilgrimage. After the long days at saddle , you can look forward to comfortable hotel accommodations.

Detailed tour itineraries

Itinerary

Week 1: From Roncesvalles to St. Domingo de la Calzada - Through the Pyrenees
The first stage of the Way of St. James is also one of the most beautiful. Alpine pastures and picturesque forests form a magnificent panorama as you ride from Roncesvalles through the hilly Pyrenees to ride via river Arga to Burlada. The route continues to Pamplona, which you enter via the medieval bridge . This is followed by a climb to Alto del Perdón and Puente la Reina, where the Aragón route merges with the Navarra route, which you are on, and from now on they run together. You reach the beautiful town of Estella with its oriental influences and numerous monuments. You reach Viana via wide fields. The route leads through the La Rioja region with its wine-growing areas to Navarrete, Nájera and finally Santo Domingo de la Calzada. 

Week 2: From Santo Domingo de la Calzada to El Burgo Ranero - From fertile valleys to the plains of Castile
From Santo Domingo you ride pass the vineyards of La Rioja and reach the plains of the Castilla region and Villafranca Montes de Oca. Over the surrounding mountains you reach the famous church of San Juan de Ortega and later Burgos. After a short ride in the car, you arrive from Tardajos and Rabé de las Calzadas through fields of wheat, barley and sunflowers to Horitamas and the monastery of San Anton de Castrojeriz. You climb the Alto de Mostelares and cross the river Pisuerga via the 11th century Fitero bridge . From Carrion de los Condes, you head to the small village Calzadilla de la Cueza and reach the León region and the small town of Sahagún and finally El Burgo Ranero. 

Week 3: From El Burgo Ranero to O Cebreiro - From the Castilian sun to the Galician fog
From El Burgo Ranero you ride to Mansilla de las Mulas and Arcahueja. After a short drive, you reach Virgen del Camino and then ride from there across open fields to Villar de Mazarife and over a stone bridge over the river Orbigo to Hospital de Orbigo. The route continues through small villages to Astorga with its bishop's palace, museum and cathedral. Spend the night in the beautiful Castrillo de los Polvazares and to lead continue your route to Rabanal de Camino and the village Foncebadón in the Monte Irago mountains. After passing the Iron Cross, the highest point of the French Way of St. James (1,500 m), you reach O Cebreiro via Molinaseca.

Week 4: From O Cebreiro to Santiago de Compostela - through Galician villages and hill to the cathedral
Through green hill and forests you ride from O Cebreiro to Tricastela and on to Samos, known for its Benedictine monastery. You pass Sarria and Barbadelo. From here it is only 100 km to Santiago. From Portomarín, the route continues to Ligonde, where the pilgrims' cemetery is located, and Palas de Rei. You will soon reach the town of Melide in the province of A Coruña, known for its famous octopus restaurant, where you will have lunch. Via Arzua, the route continues to Monte de Gozo and finally, on the last day, to Santiago, where you ride into the main square in front of the cathedral early in the morning.

Accomodation
You will spend the night in the most beautiful hotels along the way, some of which are 3-4 star hotels. You will enjoy breakfast and usually also dinner at the hotel. At lunchtime you eat in small restaurants or the support vehicle awaits you with an excellent picnic.

Saddle & Tack: Spanish vaquero saddles and double bridle.

Experience: Saddle fit in all gaits and confident oon trails on different horses. The daily stages are sometimes very long with up to 35km! A good level of fitness is therefore required. The horses sometimes have to be led because of the terrain (in the third week). It is mainly ridden in walk ! Rarely there are also short trot or canter passages. Maximum rider weight: women: 85kg, men: 95kg.

Horses: Andalusians and Cruzados from our own breeding.