Camino Francés Full Journey: 46 Days Walking Across Spain

After 46 days walking across northern Spain, we finally reached Santiago de Compostela.

This video is our complete Camino Francés journey from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. We walked the Camino slowly, averaging about 16 km (10 miles) per day with no rest days, staying mostly in private rooms and often choosing quieter off-stage towns along the route.

If you’ve ever dreamed about walking the Camino de Santiago, this video shares what the experience really looked like for us: the beautiful landscapes, historic towns, difficult climbs, quiet mornings, pilgrim meals, moments of exhaustion, and the small experiences that made the journey unforgettable.

Watch the Full Camino Video

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Our Camino Francés Route Across Spain

We walked the Camino Francés over 46 days beginning in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and ending in Santiago de Compostela.

Some of the highlights along our route included:

• Crossing the Pyrenees on the Valcarlos Route
• The vineyards of La Rioja
• Burgos Cathedral
• The Meseta
• León Cathedral and the Parador de León
• Cruz de Ferro
• O Cebreiro
• Portomarín
• Santiago de Compostela

One thing that made this Camino especially meaningful was slowing down. Instead of rushing between major stages, we often stayed in smaller towns between the traditional guidebook stops. It gave us quieter evenings, shorter walking days, and a chance to experience parts of the Camino many pilgrims pass through quickly.

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Why We Chose a Slow Camino Francés

The slower pace changed the experience completely.

Instead of rushing to the next destination, we had time to enjoy the journey itself: long coffees in small villages, quiet mornings walking through vineyards and farmland, historic churches, pilgrim lunches, and conversations with other pilgrims along the way.

Choosing off-stage towns also made a huge difference, especially after Sarria when the Camino becomes much busier. Many of our favorite accommodations and memories came from smaller towns that many pilgrims simply pass through.

Walking slowly helped us notice more: the changing landscapes across northern Spain, the rhythm of daily life on the Camino, and the simple moments that often became the most memorable parts of the journey.

By the time we reached Santiago, it felt less like completing a challenge and more like spending 46 days immersed in the Camino experience.

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What It’s Really Like Walking the Camino Francés

SPeople often ask what a typical day on the Camino Francés looks like. After 46 days walking across northern Spain, we realized there really is no “typical” day and that’s part of what makes the Camino so memorable.

Most mornings started around sunrise. We would quietly pack up our room, step out into still-sleeping towns, and look for the first café opening for coffee and breakfast. Some mornings were cold and foggy, especially in Galicia. Other days began with soft golden light over vineyards, farmland, or tiny stone villages that felt almost untouched by time.

Because we chose shorter walking days (averaging about 16 km (10 miles) per day) the Camino felt less rushed than our first Camino in 2023. Instead of focusing on reaching the next major stage town, we spent more time enjoying the spaces in between. Some of our favorite overnight stops ended up being small towns many pilgrims simply pass through.

The rhythm of the walk slowly became part of daily life:
wake up, walk, stop for coffee, follow yellow arrows, find lunch, wash clothes, rest tired feet, and do it all again the next morning.

Some days felt effortless. We would walk through vineyards in La Rioja, along the Canal de Castilla near Frómista at sunrise, or across quiet farmland under wide Meseta skies. Other days were harder.

The Camino still challenged us physically.

There were steep climbs in the Pyrenees on the Valcarlos Route, long stretches of heat, sore feet, and blisters for Lynn. By the final days into Santiago, we were walking through heavy rain with soaked shoes and tired legs. The crowded sections after Sarria felt completely different from the quieter parts of the route we had grown used to earlier in the journey.

But the difficult moments are only part of the story.

What stays with us most are the smaller moments:
illuminating the altar in Navarrete, attending pilgrim mass in O Cebreiro, watching the sunrise over the Meseta, arriving at Cruz de Ferro, and the haunting ruins of the San Anton Monastery.

The Camino has a way of simplifying life. After a while, your world becomes very small:
your backpack, the next town, a hot meal, a comfortable bed, and the people you meet along the way.

Walking slowly helped us notice more of those moments.

By the time we reached Santiago, it didn’t feel like we had completed a race or checked something off a list. It felt like we had spent 46 days slowly crossing northern Spain on foot — experiencing its landscapes, history, food, small towns, and daily rhythms in a way that would have been impossible any other way.down and making simple moments feel important.

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Private Accommodations on the Camino Francés

For this Camino, we stayed in private accommodations for all 46 days.

Our stays included a mix of small albergues with private rooms, pensiones, hotels, casas rurales, and a few historic properties along the route. Some accommodations were very simple, while others became memorable parts of the journey themselves.

Because we walked shorter stages and often stayed in smaller off-stage towns, we were usually able to find quieter accommodations away from the busiest Camino crowds. This became especially valuable after Sarria when the number of pilgrims increased significantly.

Many of our favorite stays were in small towns that other pilgrims simply walked through on their way to larger stage destinations.

We booked all accommodations ahead of time (about 6 months in advance), especially in smaller towns where private room availability can be limited. Planning shorter stages gave us more flexibility to choose places we were genuinely excited to stay rather than simply stopping wherever we could find space at the end of a long day.

For us, having a private room helped make the slower Camino pace sustainable over 46 consecutive walking days. It provided a quiet place to rest, recover, do laundry, organize gear, and recharge before the next day’s walk.

IIf you’re interested in planning a Camino with private rooms see our Private Rooms on the Camino Francés post to learn about:

• Booking accommodations
• Private room costs
• Camino planning
• Total Camino costs

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Our Camino Francés Packing Gear

For this Camino, we carried our own backpacks and tried to keep our gear relatively simple.

Some items that worked especially well for us included:

• Trekking poles
• Dry bags and packing cubes
• Lightweight layers
• Trail shoes
• Rain gear
• Small day-to-day essentials that made long walking days easier

See our Camino Francés Packing List post for what we brought and what we’d change

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Tips for Walking the Camino Francés

Every Camino is different, but here are a few things that helped us:

You Don’t Have to Walk Traditional Stages

Some of our favorite days were shorter walks between less crowded towns.

Start Early

Walking during the cooler morning hours made a big difference, especially in warmer sections of the Camino.

Book Ahead If You Want Private Rooms

Private accommodations in smaller towns can fill quickly.

Don’t Rush

The Camino is not just about reaching Santiago.

Some of the best memories happen in the spaces between the major landmarks.

Everyone Walks Their Own Camino

There is no single “right” way to walk the Camino.

Some people walk fast. Some walk slowly. Some stay in dorms. Others choose private rooms. Some walk for religious reasons, while others walk for adventure, reflection, or simply to spend time outdoors.

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Camino Francés FAQ

How long did it take you to walk the Camino Francés?

It took us 46 days to walk from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

How long is the Camino Francés?

The Camino Francés is roughly 780 km (about 500 miles) long, depending on the exact route and detours you choose along the way.

What was your average daily distance?

We averaged about 16 km (10 miles) per day by walking shorter stages and often staying in smaller off-stage towns.

Did you carry your backpacks?

Yes. We carried our own backpacks for the entire Camino.

Did you use luggage transfer services?

No. For this Camino, we carried our own packs the entire way.

Did you stay in albergues?

We stayed in private accommodations, including private rooms in some albergues, hotels, pensiones, and casas rurales. See our Camino Francés Private Room and Full Cost Breakdown video for the details.

Which route did you take over the Pyrenees?

We walked the Valcarlos Route. See our Day 1-2 on the Valcarlos Route video to see what it’s like.

Why did you choose a slow Camino?

We wanted a quieter and less rushed experience than our first Camino. Walking shorter stages gave us more time to enjoy small towns, historic sites, cafés, photography, and the overall rhythm of the journey.

What was the hardest part of the Camino?

For Lynn, one of the hardest days was the long walk out of León while dealing with a painful blister. For both of us, the descent after Cruz de Ferro was probably the most difficult stretch of the Camino on both of our journeys. By that point you’re already tired, and the steep rocky downhill feels relentless on sore feet and legs.

Many pilgrims also consider the crossing of the Pyrenees one of the hardest parts of the Camino, and it is definitely a challenging day, especially if you are walking all the way from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles in a single day. The long climb, changing weather, and overall distance make it a demanding start to the journey.

What was your favorite section of the Camino?

Some of our favorite sections included Baque Country, Bierzo, the Meseta (especially at sunrise), León, O Cebreiro, and many of the smaller off-stage towns where the Camino felt quieter and slower paced.

When did you walk the Camino Francés?

We walked the Camino Francés in September and October 2025.

Do you need to speak Spanish to walk the Camino?

Knowing some basic Spanish is helpful, especially in smaller towns, but many pilgrims successfully walk the Camino without speaking much Spanish.

What does it cost to walk the Camino Francés?

The total cost for 2 of us was $11,015.13 including transportation and accomodations before and after we walked. Our average daily cost while walking (accomodations, food, incidentals, and activities) for two people. See our Camino Francés Private Room and Full Cost Breakdown video for the details.

Was the Camino crowded?

Some sections were quiet, especially when we stayed in smaller towns. The Camino became noticeably busier after Sarria, where many pilgrims begin their journey.

Would you walk the Camino Francés again?

Yes. Walking the Camino slowly changed the experience for us, and we are already planning our third Camino Francés (even slower)- but before we do that we are going to try a couple of different routes.