Love Spain 2026 Camino de Santiago Greatest Hits Tour
May 29 - June 13, 2026
Please check out the daily details of our Love Spain 2026 Camino de Santiago Greatest Hits Tour itinerary from May 29 - June 13, 2026 below. Participants can choose to participate in one of four activity options that best suit their interests, abilities, and preference. Participants in all options reside in the same accommodations in the evenings, take part in all full group activities, and get the same free day schedules, which allows for families and friends to fully participate in their area of biggest interest, yet still feel fully part of the broader community of people participating in the group as a whole. We hope you build lasting relationships and cool friendships with other participants in the full group! The options are as follows:
Option 1: Road bike 1,027 kilometers over 10 cycling stages. This means a daily cycling stage average of just over 100 kilometers per cycling day and a motivating goal to cycle 1,000 kilometers. All routes have been carefully chosen for their beauty and should be doable by a cyclist with moderate fitness. Road bikes are recommended - either bring your own (recommended) or rent one with us in Spain. We will be in northern Spain so expect a very pleasant mild climate for the rides - perfect for cycling. You can see the approximate overall route below. There will be one train transfer from Oviedo to Leon at the end of a stage. Otherwise, all routes every day will begin at the hotel and finish at the following night’s hotel.
Option 2: Walk 251 kilometers over 10 full-day hiking stages. This means a daily hiking stage average of just over 25 kilometers per hiking day. This is the in line with the daily average of pilgrims doing any of the Camino de Santiago routes carrying their own packs. Since hikers will have full luggage transport provided from point to point and be able to hike only with day packs, this itinerary will be challenging but doable for the average hiker. Some days will be harder than others depending on the terrain, wind direction, and climate conditions. Stages will often coincide with the starting or ending points of the overall itinerary lodging and have been carefully chosen for their overall beauty. You will be walking on four different Camino de Santiago routes - the French Camino (5 days), the Northern Camino (2 days), the Camino Olvidado (Forgotten Camino) 2 days, and the Camino Primitivo (Primitive Camino) one day.
Option 3: Walk 131 kilometers over 10 half-day hiking stages. This means a daily hiking stage average of just over 13 kilometers per hiking day. This option is included for Camino de Santiago hikers who want to spend more time en route sightseeing, stopping in restaurants and cafes, talking to other pilgrims, etc. Each of the ten walking days will be an abridged version of the full hiking stages walked by those choosing option 2. Possible segments each day are described in the itinerary below, but may vary some, where possible, depending on the most ideal walking segments of each individual stage. All hikers (full day and half day) will complete the Camino de Santiago by hiking the last 12 kilometers together on the 10th and final hiking day into Santiago de Compostela - the completion of the walking itinerary.
Option 4: Join the trip as a friend or family member of any of the cyclists or hikers. If you choose this option, you will have to fit in as much as possible, taking into consideration the overall logistical requirements on the trip. You will still be able to participate with everyone else in all group activities and meals, all activities on free days, and where possible every day, spend enjoyable time sightseeing, shopping, and relaxing en route. You can also volunteer to take on a support role on behalf of the broader team. This will always be very appreciated! You will have an adventure of a lifetime, feel like a central part of the trip community, and see many parts of Spain from a very unique vantage point!
All participants in options 1-3 will be able to use a pilgrim passport (a minimum of two location stamps per day are required) to earn an official pilgrim certificate called a “Compostela” upon arrival in Santiago de Compostela, which is a wonderful momento of the trip. Minimum travel requirements in order to obtain the certificate are 300 kilometers for cyclists and 100 kilometers for hikers. Rest days are interspersed regularly throughout the itinerary in scenic, relaxing locations so everyone (both cyclists and hikers) have a chance to enjoy the many splendid sights along the way.
Participants should fly into Pamplona on Friday, May 29 by early to mid afternoon at the latest and fly out of Santiago de Compostela on Saturday, June 13. We have a lot of experience with international travel so let us know if we can help you find the best fares and itineraries. Accommodations throughout are centrally located and extraordinarily relaxing allowing you to mix biking, hiking, great scenery, tourist attractions, comfort, and a great cause! We will be staying a total of three nights at pilgrim hostels so that you get a feel for the genuine pilgrim experience and the rest of the nights will be at luxurious four star hotels and above, including a total of nine nights at paradors - luxury hotels owned and operated by the Spanish Ministry of Tourism often in historic, ancient buildings like castles, monasteries, etc.
A portion of your registration fee will go to support local leadership development in Europe via NOVO and Impact Europe.
The 2026 Love Spain Camino de Santiago Greatest Hits Tour begins in Roncesvalles and finishes in Santiago de Compostela traveling mostly east to west across green northern Spain.
Itinerary
friday, MAY 29
All participants should fly into the Pamplona, Spain airport arriving by mid afternoon at the latest. You will then need to seek transport to nearby Roncesvalles (we may be able to pick you up at Pamplona airport but his is not guaranteed) where we will start our trip by staying at the Albergue de Peregrinos de Roncesvalles (see photo on the left). We will have a group dinner in the evening at the Albergue and there is an evening blessing for pilgrims at the nearby chapel. We will also pick up our pilgrim passports in the afternoon, cyclists will prepare bicycles, and we will have a general introductory/organizational meeting for all trip participants. Then, get a good night’s sleep in preparation for the first stage the following day.
saturday, MAY 30
After breakfast, cyclists will depart for a 103-kilometer ride finishing In Villamayor de Monjardin (see photo on the right) where the group will stay at the Albergue Oasis Trails and possibly the Albergue Municipal if required. Here is the Strava route for the day. The first 70 kilometers of the route will largely be in descent, but there is a sting in the tail at the end of the stage with a climb up to our destination.
The walkers will be driven from Roncesvalles to Puente La Reina (about 1 hour and 10 minutes) for a photo at the historic bridge on French Route of the Camino de Santiago. Full day hikers can either start at Puente La Reina or be driven forward to Maneru. The route for the full day walkers is 31.2 kilometers if starting at Puente La Reina or 26.3 kilometers if starting in Maneru and finishing in Villamayor de Monjardin. The half day walkers can be dropped in the village of Villatuerta, walk through Estella, and finish in Villamayor de Monjardin for a total of 13.3 kilometers. All walkers will finish at the lodging for the evening. Two great references describing the walk options this day are this link for the Camino route between Puente La Reina and Estella, and this link: for the Camino route between Estella and Villamayor de Monjardin.
sunday, may 31
Cyclists will ride northward on a 118 kilometer ride through Basque Country to the gorgeous coastal city of San Sebastian (photo to the left) where the entire group will stay at the conveniently located Hotel Ilunion San Sebastian. Here is the Strava route for the day.
The full day walkers will start walking early after breakfast from the lodging in Villamayor de Monjardin and finish off in the stunning town of Viana (approximately 30 kilometers). The half day group will be driven forward from Villamayor de Monjardin to Los Arcos and will walk 18 kilometers to Viana. See this link for the Camino route between Villamayor de Monjardin and Los Arcos and this link for the route between Los Arcos and Viana. After time to sightsee and eat in Viana all walkers will be driven from there to our hotel in San Sebastian (about an hour and 45 minutes).