9 Days & 8 Nights

4.8

Camino Stage 4 - Leon to O Cebreiro

Time at the historic city of León with its beautiful cathedral
Enjoying an endless succession of beautiful churches and buildings on the route
Pretty villages and rolling mountains of Galicia
Meeting fellow pilgrims, hearing their stories and travel tips along the way
Reaching the highest point of the Camino Frances – Cruz de Ferro (1504m)

Walk from the beautiful city of León to O'Cebreiro on the Camino Frances. As you leave the plateau of Leon you will see the mountains up ahead as you head to Astorga. This part of the countryside is characterised by broom, heather, oak trees and conifer plantations. Continue your ascent towards Mount Irago before making your way down to the wealthy area of Bierzo. The final stage is challenging and involves a steep climb to O'Cebreiro in the course of only a few kilometres.

From £715.00

Select Date Enquire Tour Brochure

Gallery

All Photos (11)

Itinerary

Expand all

Day 1 Arrive in León and overnight

Your journey on the last 300km of the Camino Frances to Santiago begins in the beautiful city of León. The magnificent Cathedral is the spiritual heart of the city packed with beautiful architecture. Oviedo (1h30 by bus) and Madrid (4h30 by train) are the most convenient airports.

Overnight León

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hostal Boccalino | Hotel

A wonderful accommodation in a prime location in Leon. All rooms have Jacuzzi showers and this is a great spot to wander around the city.

Day 2 León to Villar de Mazarife 12.9 miles / 20.7 km

Follow the discreet shells out of Leon, past the flawless cathedral and out of the city via San Marcos. There are two routes for today. Our route follows a nicer, quieter route to Villar de Mazarife.

Ascent: 144m (472ft) / Descent: 73m (240ft)

Overnight Villar de Mazarife

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Meson Albergue Tio Pepe | Hotel

It is located next to the church in a reformer manor house from 70 years ago, It has a Bar and offers pilgrim menu. It also has a terrace for the pilgrim´s rest.

Day 3 Villar de Mazarife to Astorga 19.1 miles / 30.7 km

Continuing across the plains of Leon you can look forward to reaching Astorga, a lively market town set atop a steep ridge.

Ascent: 195m (640ft) / Descent: 214m (702ft)

Overnight Astorga

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hostal Libertad | Bed and breakfast

The hotel has 23 rooms, all with TV and private bathroom. There is a restaurant with different menus every day, with breakfast served from 07:00.

Day 4 Astorga to Rabanal del Camino 12.6 miles / 20.3 km

Your walk from Astorga to Rabanal del Camino will take you towards the highest point of the entire route(which you will reach tomorrow), beware of the weather as it can change quickly and is unpredictable in this area.

Make sure you have enough layers as you won't be able to pick up any in Rabanal.

Ascent: 316m (1,037ft) / Descent: 29m (95ft)

Overnight Rabanal del Camino

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

El Refugio Hosteria | Hotel

Siblings Cristina, Antonio and Pilar are the second generation at El Refugio Hostería, proudly carrying on the inheritance left by their parents Antonio and Nieves with the help of their other two daughters, María José and María Cruz. The house used to be a haystack where the cattle (mainly sheep and cows) were kept, as well as the grass and leaves used to feed them. Nowadays, it is a rural inn, decorated respectfully with the environment and comfortable.

Day 5 Rabanal del Camino to Molinaseca 15.3 miles / 24.6 km

Climb up to the highest point of your walk, first reach the peak of Cruz de Ferro followed by Alto Altar which sits at 1515 metres. Be aware that you are at an altitude and therefore look after yourself, bring enough food, water and layers to make sure you are always comfortable along the way. After reaching the peak of Alto Altar you will descend down to Molinaseca to spend the night.

Ascent: 418m (1,371ft) / Descent: 990m (3,248ft)

Overnight Molinaseca

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hostal el Palacio | Hostel

A lovely rustic hostel with lovely spacious rooms and all modern amenities.

Day 6 Molinaseca to Villafranca del Bierzo 19 miles / 30.6 km

Follow the path guiding you through the busy city of Ponferrada, this stage involves some road walking as you make your way through the city. When walking through the city you will have plenty of chances to stop for a drink and some food, however, be extra vigilant when following the shells as there will be some 'recommended route' which have been created to take you past specific shops.

Once out of the city you have Villafranca del Bierzo to look forward to, as in its micro-climate vineyards have populated the area.

Ascent: 313m (1,027ft) / Descent: 401m (1,316ft)

Overnight Villafranca del Bierzo

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel San Francisco | Hotel

The hotel had a restaurant and bar which often spills out to the square, it offers clean and welcoming accommodation.

Day 7 Villafranca del Bierzo to Ambasmestas/Herrerías de Valcarce 12.5 miles / 20.1 km

There are different routes which you can choose from which are all outlined in the app. The route you choose will largely depend on the experience you are looking for.

The main route lead you through Valcarce Valley between dirt tracks and paths surrounded by native forests.

Ascent: 209m (686ft) / Descent: 77m (253ft)

The alternative route is not very busy, but more challenging, with steep ascents and descends. Your efforts will be rewarded with the best views.

Ascent: 605m (1,984ft) / Descent: 450m (1,476ft)

Overnight Herrerias del Valcarce

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Posada Real Paraiso del Bierzo | Guest House

This wonderful old butter factory is now a resting place for pilgrims. Family run and very cozy and offers great food after a days walking.

Day 8 Herrerías de Valcarce/Ambasmestas to O Cebreiro 7.1 miles / 11.5 km

Welcome the shortest day, the steep climb through a mainly chestnut woodland on a rocky path up to the village of O’Cebreiro.

O'Cebreiro marks the beginning of the Galician culture and is a foretaste as to what awaits you!

Ascent: 666m (2,185ft) / Descent: 0m (0ft)

Overnight O Cebreiro

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Casa Carolo | Guest House

This rural stone house is located next to the Camino. It offers 10 comfortable rooms and there is a restaurant with panoramic views and a menu with all traditional Galician ingredients.

Day 9 Onward travel

THIS TRIP'S CARBON SCORE

This trip has a carbon score of 10kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 10kg is equivalent to 18 lattes. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.

Reviews

Expand all

Other Information

Expand all

Is it for me?

If you prefer a bit of a challenge, this stage of the Camino Frances is perfect! Expect 7 consecutive walking days through rolling hills with steady ascents and descents. Have the benefit of starting in the beautiful historic Spanish town of León, and we recommend spending an extra night here if you wish to take your time exploring the sites.

Trip Type:

Pilgrimages | For those looking to follow a path of self-discovery. Our Pilgrimage and Camino routes take you on a journey through diverse landscapes and local flavours, while meeting like-minded adventurers along the way.

Activity:

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers, Families with Teens

The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Long-Distance Trails

Grade & Terrain

This itinerary is graded moderate and includes 7 days of walking 14 - 30 km per day. Expect to walk for between 5-8 hours daily. On the Camino, you will follow a mix of dirt trails, minor roads, and established footpaths.

Experience & Fitness

Although the route mostly leads along wide, relatively easy-to-walk paths, the unpaved sections and the daily distances of between 9 and 30 kilometres require a good basic level of fitness and a certain amount of hiking experience. The first section from St Jean-Pied-de-Port with steep ascents and descents in the Pyrenees is the most difficult. The entire 40-day Way of St James naturally requires a great deal of stamina. But the longer you are on the road, the fitter you will become. Pamplona, Logroño, Burgos and León are fascinating cities that you must visit and the smaller towns are also very charming and often offer wonderful regional delicacies.

Accommodation & Meals Navigation What's Included

Included

Accommodation in small rural hotels and hostels, twin/double rooms with en-suite W/C
Daily Breakfast
Baggage Transfers
Any transfer(s) listed in the standard itinerary (if applicable)
Pilgrim Passport and shell
Access to maps, GPX tracks and daily route information with the Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app
All your trip documents provided digitally through your online Macs “My Account”
24/7 Emergency support

Excluded

Return travel to France/Spain.
Lunches, dinners, snacks or drinks.
Travel Insurance.
Personal Equipment.
Taxi transfers or public transport should you need to skip a stage.

Extras

Additional nights’ accommodation

When to go Travel & Transfers

Getting to the Start

By Air: Oviedo is the closest airport and is serviced by EasyJet from London. There are 8 buses a day from Oviedo to Leon which takes 1hr30. Timetables and fares at Alsa. Madrid airport is the best airport if travelling from outside Europe. Connect by train from Madrid. We can also arrange a private transfer from Oviedo Airport to Leon for a hassle-free start to your trip!

By Train: León is 2h45 by train from Madrid. Timetables and tickets at Renfe.

By Bus: León is 4h00 by bus from Madrid. Timetables and fares at Alsa.

Getting from the End

The best place to fly back from would be Santiago de Compostela. From O'Cebriero you would have to take a taxi down the hill to Piedrafita do Cebriero where you would pick up an ALSA bus to Santiago which takes around 2 and a half hours. From Santiago you can fly back to the UK with Ryanair who fly direct to Stansted and Easyjetwho fly direct to Gatwick. From outside the UK, you can fly from Santiago to Paris with Vueling or from Madrid with Ryanair.

We can also arrange a private transfer to take you from O'Cebreiro to Santiago Airport.

Baggage Transfer

At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person. It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.

Baggage transfers are included (max 20kg per person). Your main bag will be transferred each day between your overnight accommodation so that you only need to walk with a day pack.

Info & FAQ

General Information

Extra Nights

There is so much to do and discover on the Way of St. James that many of our customers plan extra nights, either as rest days or to get to know the region even better.

Online Documents

At Macs Adventure we care about the environment! We’re taking action to minimize the impact we have by converting the majority of our tour documentation for online delivery.

On this tour, all your detailed tour information will be digitally delivered. You will have access to this documentation via “My Account” on our website.

Pilgrim Passport

Your Pilgrim Passport (Credencial del Peregrino) and scallop shell will be waiting at your first accommodation. The Passport isn’t just practical—it’s a beautiful record of your Camino journey, officially issued by the Church of St. James. Along the route, you'll collect stamps (sellos) from albergues, churches, cafes, and more. Each stamp is a colorful reminder of your journey. To earn your Compostela Certificate in Santiago, you must walk at least the final 100 km, with your stamps serving as proof of this accomplishment.

Local taxes

Local taxes may apply in some places. Where ever possible, we will pay there taxes in advance for you. It is not always possible to pay the taxes in advance and you will have to pay it directly at your accomodation.

Extra charge

On some days there may be some extra charges on the tour price due to public holiday.

The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes.

Equipment

Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, lightweight clothes, waterproofs and a day pack.

How far in advance do I need to book? How fit do I need to be? Can I walk with my bags? When is the best time of year? What happens if I can’t walk a stage? Can I walk the Camino solo? Do you offer group trips? When can I start? Can I add extra nights on my Camino tour? What type of trails does the Camino follow? What to do in the event of a problem on site? Do I have to pay tourist tax on site? Where do I collect the Pilgrim Passport?

The Ultimate Guide to the Camino de Santiago

Discover the ancient pilgrimage routes that lead to the shrine of the Apostle Saint James in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Each route offers unique charm, challenges, and unforgettable experiences. Decide for yourself which journey is right for you.
Walking the Camino de Santiago

The Camino de Santiago in Spain is the heart of the modern pilgrimage world, and every year, thousands take to its various paths to trek to Santiago de Compostela. A deep spiritual sense accompanies this walk, whether you are looking for it or not. People undertake pilgrimages for a multitude of reasons and it is meeting these fellow pilgrims, hearing their stories and sharing your adventure with them that makes a Camino tour a life-changing event.
Everything you need to know about the Camino de Santiago.

In this video, Rachel and Ewan talk through the main points of walking the Camino. While there are more detailed videos on most of the points covered, this is a great place to start to give you a general overview of what walking the Camino Frances is going to be like.
What to pack for the Camino de Santiago

One of the most important things people think about when walking the Camino is what to pack. There are some essentials, but most people are trying to lighten their load and carry their backpacks with them as they go. This is amazing, but with Macs Adventure, we transfer your luggage for you (which is not cheating!!) so you can pack whatever you like.
How to travel to the Camino de Santiago

How do you get to Sarria? How do you get back from Leon? There are so many start and endpoints on this massive spiritual journey, that we thought it would be helpful to make a video that told you exactly how to get to and from the various points along the route. No longer need you wonder about getting from Biarritz to St Jean Pied de Port, it is all laid out here for you.
How many days to walk the Camino?

With a walk that stretches all the way across the north of Spain, you might imagine that there is a lot of different itineraries on this route. In this video we break down how many days it takes to walk the Camino de Santiago and all the different ways you can break it up.