We recommend the Camino Frances above all other Camino trails because of the good waymarking, plentiful supply of services and lodgings, as well as the treasure trove of historical and cultural landmarks resulting from 1000 years of pilgrimage.
Our cycling services in Spain are comprehensive. We supply a top quality mountain bike or electric mountain bike. We prebook all your accommodation and transfers for your luggage and accommodation, so you can simply enjoy the ride.
You should be an experienced cyclist, able to carry out simple bike maintenance along the way and be confident in your stamina to complete each days’ planned distance. We can provide additional services such as a pick up if you need an early finish, or even transport your bike forward to the next stop if you decide to take a day off.
Cycling on the Camino crosses a varied landscape, through hamlets, villages and towns which all have close ties to this ancient trail. There is a mix of Camino track and asphalt on the cyclists’ route – sometimes you’ll be glad to avoid very rough paths.
Our Camino Cycle Pack contains route notes, maps and GPS to assist you on the trail – we’ll send that to you at home before you travel.
Every stage has different challenges in terms of the terrain, rocky paths, wooded paths, dirt tracks between villages, long flat days on the great plain of Castile-Leon, a few mountain climbs combined with short sharp ascents. In some stages, you’ll be steered off Camino a little way, taking to tarmac roads running parallel to the Camino.
The bonuses of cycling the Camino include great regional Spanish cuisine, the warm welcome of small family-run lodgings, the famous camaraderie of the Way and becoming part of the 1000-year-old story of this epic pilgrim trail. Arriving in Santiago de Compostela along with scores of other international travellers is a reward that lives in the memory for many years to come.
Price Includes
Price Excludes
Our Mountain Bikes
Our bikes are brand new every season. We work with the Specialized brand, selecting the best model for the mixed terrain of the Camino. The bikes are specially selected and configured for the trail.
Specialized Chisel Expert – 2X
Wheels 29″ `Specialized Crave Comp, ideal for the mix of asphalt, dirt paths and rough terrain
Frame is aluminium
Fork is a Rock Shox Reba RL
Fast Rock Tyres by Specialized
Shimano Components:-
2 plates of 26 & 36 teeth in front and back
11 Speeds (sprockets range from 11 to 42)
Shimano SLX
Bike assistance from our many affiliate bike workshops all along the route.
Your bike will be shipped to your first hotel by a specialist courier and you return it to our base in Santiago de Compostela.
Our Electric Bikes
We work with the Moustache brand of electric bike. The Samedi Off4 is an electric assisted mountain bike.
The built-in engine assists with pedalling through all 4 modes:- Eco, Tour, Sport & Turbo.
Combined Eco and Tour mode powers up to 80km – reduced depending on saddlebags weight.
Frame if Aluminum frame 6061 T4 T6
Fork Suntour XCR 34 fork
Shimano hydraulic disc brakes
Wheels 27.5+ wheels for efficiency and grip on all terrains.
Ergonomic anti-slip saddle for better support in very steep climbs
Battery built-in Bosch Performance CX system.
EMTB mode for increased performance in off-road use.
Shimano SLX 11 transmission.
14×11 / 46 speeds make it even easier to climb the most important height differences or save battery for later.
This bike is a good option for the less expert cyclist on a long distance trail with terrain of varying challenge.
Our Cycle Hire Pack Includes
Choice of MTB or Electric Bike, delivered to your first hotel.
Racks
Waterproof Panniers
Handlebar Extensions
Ergonomic Clips
Speedometer
Tool Kit
Water Tap
Padlock
Pouch for Mobile Phone
Grease and Oil Kit
Gel Saddle Cover
We include transportation to your starting point on the Camino
For hygiene reasons, we require that you supply your own helmet. It is Spanish law that you wear a helmet at all times.
For any traveller on the Camino, nourishment and refreshment is an important part of the daily routine. There are many places to enjoy good local dishes to suit a variety of tastes and budgets. We also aim to cater for those with particular dietary needs.
The local bars and cafes offer light snacks, seasonal plates of freshly prepared food, tapas and refreshments. As you pass through the regions you will encounter local specialities – often of the variety that best sustains a weary, hungry traveller.
All our itineraries are booked for Bed and Breakfast. Half board with dinner is possible too, but these set dinners can become repetitive, featuring similar dishes each night. We encourage you to eat out and try a wider range of local specialities.
Breakfast
Where available we always order a full breakfast spread for our clients. But breakfast does vary between establishments – from just a light pastry and hot drink to a full buffet spread. Whether you have a light or substantial offering, you can top up mid-morning at a cafe on the route. The Spanish habit is to have breakfast between 10 and 11 when cafes and bars fill with locals having their desayuno.
Lunch
Lunches on the Camino are often taken as picnics, and most places have local shops selling items of fresh local produce to purchased each morning before you set out on the trail. Certain lodgings will offer pre-ordered packed lunches. Or check your guide and plan to stop off in a cafe-bar or restaurant on the Way.
Dinner
Spanish people tend to have dinner from 9 pm. But on the Camino, dinner is usually served from 8 pm — so do take advantage of the habitual afternoon “merienda” to keep you going, once you have arrived at your daily destination. That could be cold beer “cerveza” and tapas or coffee and cake.
Pilgrim menus
Many of our lodgings offer 3 course set menus with water, bread and often a glass of wine for just a few euros. These are advertised locally as Pilgrim Menus and available pretty much everywhere along the route. You’ll notice that there are staple common dishes as well as regional recipes according to the season.
Hydration
Hydration is essential — carry between 1.5 and 3l of drinking water, depending on the season, temperatures and distance you plan to cover. Keep a sugary and salty snack handy in your pocket or daypack – this will give you that little extra burst of energy to keep you going.
Merienda
Mid morning/afternoon snacks known as merienda are the perfect way to sustain yourself on the Way. Especially if you are not used to the later meal times which are the norm across Spain. It is customary for Spanish people to have a mid-morning stop for breakfast and late afternoon for a bite to keep them going until the traditional late dinner.
Spanish Gastronomy
The larger towns and cities of the Camino have a variety of lively plazas with bars and restaurants, so there will be plenty of opportunities for you to enjoy a wider range of Spanish gastronomy and a variety of local and world-famous Spanish wines.
Picnic Lunches
Many people enjoy shopping for lunch items and snacks in the local food shops each day. You’ll find little stores offering local produce, fruits and vegetables, cheeses and cured meats, fresh local baked goods – ideal for making your daily picnic for the daily walk. On certain days, Markets also make an appearance in some villages and towns. Our rural lodgings will provide a picnic lunch by request.
Local Wines
Spain has a great wine making culture. All of the regions you cross produce their own vinos (red and white), cervezas (light beer), and licores (strong spirits).
For those looking for non alcoholic drinks there are plenty of choices as well.
Cycling the Full Camino Frances
Starting from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the Pyrenees, the Camino Frances covers some 800 kilometres heading west across the North of Spain.
The major cities of Pamplona, Burgos and León are spread at equal intervals along the road to Santiago de Compostela, with many small towns, villages and monuments peppered in between. The entire route is burgeoning with culture, history and many sights to be seen.
Below is our full Camino itinerary, but this can easily be spilt this into shorter sections to suit your timeframe.
We can also shorten some sections by request.
Minimum bike rental period is one week.
You can also bring your own bike.
Hand-picked and well known to us, you will stay in comfortable, small, family run establishments on the Camino. Your accommodation will include a variety of family run traditional farmhouses, historic homes, and two and three star hotels. All rooms have en-suite facilities.
If your budget allows, we can suggest some superb accommodation upgrades, as we often work with the top-end establishments on the Camino.
We prefer to offer all accommodation on a Bed and Breakfast basis to allow you the chance to try local dishes in the immediate vicinity. This allows you the widest range of Spanish cuisine, and the chance to soak up the local atmosphere, rubbing shoulders with international pilgrims and the local people. We will be happy to make recommendations of where to have dinner.
We provide fully insured and secure luggage transfers. We move your baggage from one accommodation to the next as you cycle. This daily service is organised so that all you have to worry about is carrying a day sack with your essential items.
