Camino Francés: Full Route Breakdown & Day-by-Day Stages
Here’s a quick overview of my Camino Francés route, with the actual distances, elevation profiles, and walking times I tracked each day. I’ve also included difficulty levels and where I stayed to give you a realistic feel for the daily rhythm. If you’re planning your own Camino, this breakdown offers a simple snapshot of what each stage looks like before diving into the detailed posts.
For details on packing and general planning, see the packing list and guide or see the Accommodation & Expenses Report here.
Interested in doing both the Camino and Kumano Kodo? Check out my Dual Pilgrim Program Blog Post.
Day 1 — Paris → Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port
Train: Paris → Bayonne, Bayonne → Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port
Distance: 817.9 km (Gare Montparnasse → SJPDP Train Station)
Duration: 6 hr 29 min (transportation time)
Accommodation: Gîte Bidean
Read Day 1Day 2 — Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port → Roncesvalles
Distance: 25.19 km (Gîte Bidean → Roncesvalles Pilgrim’ Hostel)
Elevation gain: 1,339 m
Duration: 7 hr 7 min (with breaks 8 hr 8 min)
Difficulty: Challenging
Accommodation: Roncesvalles Pilgrim’ Hostel
Read Day 2Day 3 — Roncesvalles → Zubiri
Distance: 22.49 km (Roncesvalles Pilgrim’ Hostel → Hostel Suseia)
Elevation gain: 405 m
Duration: 5 hr 17 min (with breaks 6 hr 6 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Hostel Suseia
Read Day 3Day 4 — Zubiri → Pamplona
Distance: 21.25 km (Hostel Suseia → Hostel Plaza Catedral)
Elevation gain: 378 m
Duration: 4 hr 40 min (with breaks 5 hr 23 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Hostel Plaza Catedral
Read Day 4Day 5 — Pamplona → Puente la Reina
Distance: 24.93 km (Hostel Plaza Catedral → Albergue Estrella Guía Peregrinos)
Elevation gain: 469 m
Duration: 5 hr 33 min (with breaks 6 hr 28 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue Estrella Guía Solo Peregrinos
Read Day 5Day 6 — Puente la Reina → Estella
Distance: 21.37 km (Albergue Estrella Guía Peregrinos → Agora Hostel)
Elevation gain: 473 m
Duration: 4 hr 25 min (with breaks 4 hr 46 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Agora Hostel
Read Day 6Day 7 — Estella → Sansol
Distance: 27.96 km (Agora Hostel → Palacio de Sansol)
Elevation gain: 538 m
Duration: 5 hr 30 min (with breaks 6 hr 44 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Palacio de Sansol
Read Day 7Day 8 — Sansol → Logroño
Distance: 21.17 km (Palacio de Sansol → Albergue Santiago Apóstol)
Elevation gain: 367 m
Duration: 4 hr 19 min (with breaks 5 hr 17 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue Santiago Apóstol
Read Day 8Day 9 — Logroño → Nájera
Distance: 28.83 km (Albergue Santiago Apóstol → Albergue Municipal Nájera)
Elevation gain: 427 m
Duration: 5 hr 49 min (with breaks 7 hr 1 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue Municipal Peregrinos de Nájera
Read Day 9Day 10 — Nájera → Grañón
Distance: 28.49 km (Albergue Municipal Nájera → Albergue Peregrinos Parroquial Grañón)
Elevation gain: 483 m
Duration: 5 hr 51 min (with breaks 6 hr 49 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue de Peregrinos Parroquial Grañón
Read Day 10Day 11 — Grañón → Tosantos
Distance: 20.75 km (Albergue Parroquial Grañón → Albergue Parroquial Tosantos)
Elevation gain: 315 m
Duration: 4 hr 4 min (with breaks 4 hr 57 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue Parroquial de Peregrinos Tosantos
Read Day 11Day 12 — Tosantos → Atapuerca
Distance: 25.72 km (Albergue Parroquial Tosantos → Albergue “El Peregrino” Atapuerca)
Elevation gain: 453 m
Duration: 4 hr 53 min (with breaks 6 hr)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue “El Peregrino” Atapuerca
Read Day 12Day 13 — Atapuerca → Burgos
Distance: 22.68 km (Albergue El Peregrino Atapuerca → Burgos Air B&B)
Elevation gain: 145 m
Duration: 4 hr 31 min (with breaks 6 hr 26 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Burgos AirB&B
Read Day 13Day 14 — Burgos (Rest Day)
Distance: 8.27 km (Burgos City Centre)
Elevation gain: 77 m
Difficulty: Easy
Accommodation: Albergue de Peregrinos Casa del Cubo de Burgos
Read Day 14Day 15 — Burgos → Hontanas
Distance: 31.83 km (Albergue Casa del Cubo de Burgos → Albergue Municipal San Juan)
Elevation gain: 268 m
Duration: 6 hr 20 min (with breaks 8 hr 26 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue Municipal San Juan
Read Day 15Day 16 — Hontanas → Boadilla del Camino
Distance: 29.03 km (Albergue Municipal San Juan → Albergue en El Camino0415)
Elevation gain: 280 m
Duration: 5 hr 46 min (with breaks 7 hr 56 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue en El Camino0415
Read Day 16Day 17 — Boadilla del Camino → Carrión de los Condes
Distance: 25.27 km (Albergue en El Camino0415 → Albergue Espíritu Santo)
Elevation gain: 86 m
Duration: 5 hr 10 min (with breaks 6 hr 46 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue Espíritu Santo
Read Day 17Day 18 — Carrión de los Condes → Terradillos de los Templarios
Distance: 26.75 km (Albergue Espíritu Santo → Hostel Jacques De Molay)
Elevation gain: 106 m
Duration: 4 hr 59 min (with breaks 6 hr 36 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Hostel Jacques De Molay
Read Day 18Day 19 — Terradillos de los Templarios → Bercianos del Real Camino
Distance: 24.65 km (Hostel Jacques de Molay → Albergue Parroquial Casa Rectoral)
Elevation gain: 169 m
Duration: 4 hr 57 min (with breaks 6 hr 53 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue Parroquial Casa Rectoral
Read Day 19Day 20 — Bercianos del Real Camino → Mansilla de las Mulas
Distance: 26.37 km (Albergue Parroquial Casa Rectoral → Albergue de Peregrinos Municipal)
Elevation gain: 86 m
Duration: 4 hr 53 min (with breaks 6 hr 25 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue de Peregrinos Municipal Mansilla de las Mulas
Read Day 20Day 21 — Mansilla de las Mulas → León
Distance: 19.33 km (Albergue de Peregrinos Municipal → Air B&B León)
Elevation gain: 107 m
Duration: 3 hr 45 min (with breaks 4 hr 52 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: León AirB&B
Read Day 21Day 22 — León (Rest Day)
Distance: 2.94 km (León city centre)
Elevation gain: 17 m
Difficulty: Easy
Accommodation: Hostel Quartier León Jabalquinto
Read Day 22Day 23 — León → Hospital de Órbigo
Distance: 33.76 km (Hostel Quartier León Jabalquinto → Albergue Verde)
Elevation gain: 199 m
Duration: 6 hr 20 min (with breaks 6 hr 51 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue Verde
Read Day 23Day 24 — Hospital de Órbigo → El Ganso
Distance: 31.03 km (Albergue Verde → Albergue Indian Way)
Elevation gain: 386 m
Duration: 6 hr 15 min (with breaks 7 hr 33 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue Indian Way
Read Day 24Day 25 — El Ganso → Molinaseca
Distance: 32.73 km (Albergue Indian Way → Casa Rural La Torre de Babel)
Elevation gain: 584 m
Duration: 7 hr 2 min (with breaks 8 hr 8 min)
Difficulty: Challenging
Accommodation: Casa Rural La Torre de Babel
Read Day 25Day 26 — Molinaseca → Villafranca del Bierzo
Distance: 31.22 km (Casa Rural La Torre de Babel → Albergue Leo)
Elevation gain: 374 m
Duration: 6 hr 20 min (with breaks 7 hr 27 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue Leo
Read Day 26Day 27 — Villafranca del Bierzo → O Cebreiro
Distance: 28.55 km (Albergue Leo → Albergue Municipal de O Cebreiro)
Elevation gain: 898 m
Duration: 5 hr 56 min (with breaks 6 hr 34 min)
Difficulty: Challenging
Accommodation: Albergue Municipal de O Cebreiro
Read Day 27Day 28 — O Cebreiro → Samos
Distance: 31.14 km (Albergue Municipal de O Cebreiro → Albergue Val de Samos)
Elevation gain: 413 m
Duration: 6 hr 22 min (with breaks 7 hr 22 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue Val de Samos
Read Day 28Day 29 — Samos → A Pena
Distance: 29.21 km (Albergue Val de Samos → Km 100 Casa do Rego)
Elevation gain: 632 m
Duration: 6 hr 9 min (with breaks 8 hr)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Km 100 Casa do Rego
Read Day 29Day 30 — A Pena → Palas de Rei
Distance: 33.32 km (Km 100 Casa do Rego → Albergue Zendoira)
Elevation gain: 650 m
Duration: 6 hr 37 min (with breaks 8 hr 13 min)
Difficulty: Challenging
Accommodation: Albergue Zendoira
Read Day 30Day 31 — Palas de Rei → Arzúa
Distance: 30.00 km (Albergue Zendoira → Albergue de Municipal de Arzúa)
Elevation gain: 576 m
Duration: 6 hr 3 min (with breaks 7 hr 41 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue de Municipal de Arzúa
Read Day 31Day 32 — Arzúa → Lavacolla
Distance: 28.57 km (Albergue de Municipal de Arzúa → Albergue Lavacolla)
Elevation gain: 526 m
Duration: 5 hr 37 min (with breaks 7 hr 48 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue Lavacolla
Read Day 32Day 33 — Lavacolla → Santiago de Compostela
Distance: 10.40 km (Albergue Lavacolla → Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela)
Elevation gain: 150 m
Duration: 2 hr 20 min (with breaks 2 hr 34 min)
Difficulty: Intermediate
Accommodation: (optional if staying in Santiago)
Read Day 33Day 1: Paris → Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port
Route Info
Train: Paris → Bayonne, Bayonne → Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port
Distance: 817.9 km (Gare Montparnasse → SJPDP Train Station)
Duration: 6 hr 29 min (transportation time)
Accommodation: Gîte Bidean
Read Day 1Day 2: Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port → Roncesvalles
Route Info
Distance: 25.19 km (Gîte Bidean → Roncesvalles Pilgrim’ Hostel)
Elevation gain: 1,339 m
Duration: 7 hr 7 min (with breaks 8 hr 8 min)
Difficulty: Challenging
Accommodation: Roncesvalles Pilgrim’ Hostel
Read Day 2Day 3: Roncesvalles → Zubiri
Route Info
Distance: 22.49 km (Roncesvalles Pilgrim’ Hostel → Hostel Suseia)
Elevation gain: 405 m
Duration: 5 hr 17 min (with breaks 6 hr 6 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Hostel Suseia
Read Day 3Day 4: Zubiri → Pamplona
Route Info
Distance: 21.25 km (Hostel Suseia → Hostel Plaza Catedral)
Elevation gain: 378 m
Duration: 4 hr 40 min (with breaks 5 hr 23 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Hostel Plaza Catedral
Read Day 4Day 5: Pamplona → Puente la Reina
Route Info
Distance: 24.93 km (Hostel Plaza Catedral → Albergue Estrella Guía Peregrinos)
Elevation gain: 469 m
Duration: 5 hr 33 min (with breaks 6 hr 28 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue Estrella Guía Solo Peregrinos
Read Day 5Day 6: Puente la Reina → Estella
Route Info
Distance: 21.37 km (Albergue Estrella Guía Peregrinos → Agora Hostel)
Elevation gain: 473 m
Duration: 4 hr 25 min (with breaks 4 hr 46 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Agora Hostel
Read Day 6Day 7: Estella → Sansol
Route Info
Distance: 27.96 km (Agora Hostel → Palacio de Sansol)
Elevation gain: 538 m
Duration: 5 hr 30 min (with breaks 6 hr 44 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Palacio de Sansol
Read Day 7Day 8: Sansol → Logroño
Route Info
Distance: 21.17 km (Palacio de Sansol → Albergue Santiago Apóstol)
Elevation gain: 367 m
Duration: 4 hr 19 min (with breaks 5 hr 17 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue Santiago Apóstol
Read Day 8Day 9: Logroño → Nájera
Route Info
Distance: 28.83 km (Albergue Santiago Apóstol → Albergue Municipal Nájera)
Elevation gain: 427 m
Duration: 5 hr 49 min (with breaks 7 hr 1 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue Municipal Peregrinos de Nájera
Read Day 9Day 10: Nájera → Grañón
Route Info
Distance: 28.49 km (Albergue Municipal Nájera → Albergue Peregrinos Parroquial Grañón)
Elevation gain: 483 m
Duration: 5 hr 51 min (with breaks 6 hr 49 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue de Peregrinos Parroquial Grañón
Read Day 10Day 11: Grañón → Tosantos
Route Info
Distance: 20.75 km (Albergue Parroquial Grañón → Albergue Parroquial Tosantos)
Elevation gain: 315 m
Duration: 4 hr 4 min (with breaks 4 hr 57 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue Parroquial de Peregrinos Tosantos
Read Day 11Day 12: Tosantos → Atapuerca
Route Info
Distance: 25.72 km (Albergue Parroquial Tosantos → Albergue “El Peregrino” Atapuerca)
Elevation gain: 453 m
Duration: 4 hr 53 min (with breaks 6 hr)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue “El Peregrino” Atapuerca
Read Day 12Day 13: Atapuerca → Burgos
Route Info
Distance: 22.68 km (Albergue El Peregrino Atapuerca → Burgos Air B&B)
Elevation gain: 145 m
Duration: 4 hr 31 min (with breaks 6 hr 26 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Burgos AirB&B
Read Day 13Day 14: Burgos (Rest Day)
Route Info
Distance: 8.27 km (Burgos City Centre)
Elevation gain: 77 m
Difficulty: Easy
Accommodation: Albergue de Peregrinos Casa del Cubo de Burgos
Read Day 14Day 15: Burgos → Hontanas
Route Info
Distance: 31.83 km (Albergue Casa del Cubo de Burgos → Albergue Municipal San Juan)
Elevation gain: 268 m
Duration: 6 hr 20 min (with breaks 8 hr 26 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue Municipal San Juan
Read Day 15Day 16: Hontanas → Boadilla del Camino
Route Info
Distance: 29.03 km (Albergue Municipal San Juan → Albergue en El Camino0415)
Elevation gain: 280 m
Duration: 5 hr 46 min (with breaks 7 hr 56 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue en El Camino0415
Read Day 16Day 17: Boadilla del Camino → Carrión de los Condes
Route Info
Distance: 25.27 km (Albergue en El Camino0415 → Albergue Espíritu Santo)
Elevation gain: 86 m
Duration: 5 hr 10 min (with breaks 6 hr 46 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue Espíritu Santo
Read Day 17Day 18: Carrión de los Condes → Terradillos de los Templarios
Route Info
Distance: 26.75 km (Albergue Espíritu Santo → Hostel Jacques De Molay)
Elevation gain: 106 m
Duration: 4 hr 59 min (with breaks 6 hr 36 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Hostel Jacques De Molay
Read Day 18Day 19: Terradillos de los Templarios → Bercianos del Real Camino
Route Info
Distance: 24.65 km (Hostel Jacques de Molay → Albergue Parroquial Casa Rectoral)
Elevation gain: 169 m
Duration: 4 hr 57 min (with breaks 6 hr 53 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue Parroquial Casa Rectoral
Read Day 19Day 20: Bercianos del Real Camino → Mansilla de las Mulas
Route Info
Distance: 26.37 km (Albergue Parroquial Casa Rectoral → Albergue de Peregrinos Municipal)
Elevation gain: 86 m
Duration: 4 hr 53 min (with breaks 6 hr 25 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue de Peregrinos Municipal Mansilla de las Mulas
Read Day 20Day 21: Mansilla de las Mulas → León
Route Info
Distance: 19.33 km (Albergue de Peregrinos Municipal → Air B&B León)
Elevation gain: 107 m
Duration: 3 hr 45 min (with breaks 4 hr 52 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: León AirB&B
Read Day 21Day 22: León (Rest Day)
Route Info
Distance: 2.94 km (León city centre)
Elevation gain: 17 m
Difficulty: Easy
Accommodation: Hostel Quartier León Jabalquinto
Read Day 22Day 23: León → Hospital de Órbigo
Route Info
Distance: 33.76 km (Hostel Quartier León Jabalquinto → Albergue Verde)
Elevation gain: 199 m
Duration: 6 hr 20 min (with breaks 6 hr 51 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue Verde
Read Day 23Day 24: Hospital de Órbigo → El Ganso
Route Info
Distance: 31.03 km (Albergue Verde → Albergue Indian Way)
Elevation gain: 386 m
Duration: 6 hr 15 min (with breaks 7 hr 33 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue Indian Way
Read Day 24Day 25: El Ganso → Molinaseca
Route Info
Distance: 32.73 km (Albergue Indian Way → Casa Rural La Torre de Babel)
Elevation gain: 584 m
Duration: 7 hr 2 min (with breaks 8 hr 8 min)
Difficulty: Challenging
Accommodation: Casa Rural La Torre de Babel
Read Day 25Day 26: Molinaseca → Villafranca del Bierzo
Route Info
Distance: 31.22 km (Casa Rural La Torre de Babel → Albergue Leo)
Elevation gain: 374 m
Duration: 6 hr 20 min (with breaks 7 hr 27 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue Leo
Read Day 26Day 27: Villafranca del Bierzo → O Cebreiro
Route Info
Distance: 28.55 km (Albergue Leo → Albergue Municipal de O Cebreiro)
Elevation gain: 898 m
Duration: 5 hr 56 min (with breaks 6 hr 34 min)
Difficulty: Challenging
Accommodation: Albergue Municipal de O Cebreiro
Read Day 27Day 28: O Cebreiro → Samos
Route Info
Distance: 31.14 km (Albergue Municipal de O Cebreiro → Albergue Val de Samos)
Elevation gain: 413 m
Duration: 6 hr 22 min (with breaks 7 hr 22 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue Val de Samos
Read Day 28Day 29: Samos → A Pena
Route Info
Distance: 29.21 km (Albergue Val de Samos → Km 100 Casa do Rego)
Elevation gain: 632 m
Duration: 6 hr 9 min (with breaks 8 hr)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Km 100 Casa do Rego
Read Day 29Day 30: A Pena → Palas de Rei
Route Info
Distance: 33.32 km (Km 100 Casa do Rego → Albergue Zendoira)
Elevation gain: 650 m
Duration: 6 hr 37 min (with breaks 8 hr 13 min)
Difficulty: Challenging
Accommodation: Albergue Zendoira
Read Day 30Day 31: Palas de Rei → Arzúa
Route Info
Distance: 30.00 km (Albergue Zendoira → Albergue de Municipal de Arzúa)
Elevation gain: 576 m
Duration: 6 hr 3 min (with breaks 7 hr 41 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue de Municipal de Arzúa
Read Day 31Day 32: Arzúa → Lavacolla
Route Info
Distance: 28.57 km (Albergue de Municipal de Arzúa → Albergue Lavacolla)
Elevation gain: 526 m
Duration: 5 hr 37 min (with breaks 7 hr 48 min)
Difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Albergue Lavacolla
Read Day 32Day 33: Lavacolla → Santiago de Compostela
Route Info
Distance: 10.40 km (Albergue Lavacolla → Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela)
Elevation gain: 150 m
Duration: 2 hr 20 min (with breaks 2 hr 34 min)
Difficulty: Intermediate
Accommodation: (optional if staying in Santiago)
Read Day 33