Two men cycling the Camino Frances route in Spain

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Cycling the Camino Frances

The French Way by Bike!

At Follow the Camino we have been organising cycling holidays along the Camino since 2006. The most popular route for cyclists (by far!) has been the French Way, or Camino Frances.  This Camino covers some of the most striking parts of Spain and Galicia. Cycle through historic places such as O’Cebreiro, Burgos and Pamplona, and important pilgrimages towns such as Sarria and Arzua.

We have divided the cycling route of the Camino Frances into three managable stages:

  1. Roncesvalles, on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees, to Burgos in the heart of the province of Castilla-Leon.
  2. Burgos through the mostly flat terrain of the spanish plains to the bustling city of Ponferrada. This is where you will see the imposing castle built by the Knights Templar.
  3. Ponferrada over the glorious O Cebreiro Mountains to the lush green hills of Galicia and finally Santiago de Compostela.

These 3 magnificent stages are each 7 days long. They allow cyclists on the Camino de Santiago to experience a variety of landscapes while staying in carefully selected authentic accommodation. Expect genuine casa rurales, family-owned hotels and lovely pensiones.

You will also have the opportunity to experience the cultural and social scene along the way, accompanied by some of the finest local food and drink! Cycling the Camino is a treat forll the senses.

Included in the cycling tours is a specially chosen, high quality rented bike that is delivered to your first hotel.  Renting bicycles means we can choose the st bicycle for the Camino. We also provide a helmet, gel saddle, water bottle holder, panier rack and bag and repair kit with all bicycles. For your convenience and reassurance we also include Bike Breakdown Third Party Insurance.

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Starting in Roncesvalles, this leg of the French Way will bring you to the vibrant city of Burgos. This section is great for cyclists who want to enjoy different landscapes, from the foothills of the Pyrenees to hilly fields of sunflowers, from woodland to red earth vineyards. It also has many historical cities as well as picturesque towns, and visitors can enjoy different regional cultures as they journey from the Basque Country to Castilla y Leon, not to mention the wine-dedicated region of La Rioja.
Starting from Burgos, medieval city and home of a UNESCO World Heritage cathedral, this section of the French Way by Bike offers some of the best historical and cultural vestiges of the whole Camino Frances. It passes through Leon and the vast Castilian Plateau (Approx. alt. 900m) before reaching another medieval bastion – the buzzing city of Ponferrada. The mostly flat and gentle terrain makes it accessible to any cyclist with an average level of fitness.

Starting in the mountain-hugging town of Ponferrada and finishing in Santiago de Compostela, this section covers both the Castilla y Leon and Galicia regions. Leaving the medieval city of Ponferrada behind us, this Camino crosses the magnificent O’Cebreiro Mountains before heading towards the heart of Galicia and its lush green hills.


This section can be physically demanding and requires a good level of fitness, but it is also a highly rewarding leg of the Camino, offering beautiful landscapes and numerous cultural sights.

Starting in Roncesvalles, cycling the full French way will bring you to the most stunning places of the Camino. Passing by the most important regions of Spain will teach you a lot about Spanish culture. This trip is amazing for the cyclist who loves to see different landscapes. It's also the best way to see many picturesque towns along your way.


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