SELF-GUIDED WALKING TOURS ALONG THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO
Our Self-Guided Tour packages are the best way we could think to share our knowledge with pilgrims who prefer to travel independently rather than as part of a group.
We spend most of the year on foot along the Camino and know it better than our own backyard. Over the years, we have built personal relationships with the shopkeepers, restaurant staff, and B&B owners who support pilgrims on their journey.
Self-guided tour packages offer complete flexibility regarding your starting day, ending day, the distance you want to travel in a day, preferred accommodation type, possible rest days, and options to skip individual sections. We pride ourselves on creating one-of-a-kind trips tailored to your needs.
WHAT WE PROVIDE
After getting to know what you’re looking for (see the survey below), we’ll put together a package outlining your itinerary. Once all the details are agreed upon, we arrange all logistics, including accommodations, luggage transportation and taxis to and from accommodations. We then deliver a comprehensive welcome pack to your first hotel, which includes a guidebook, hotel maps, luggage tags, and the credencial, or Pilgrim’s Passport, to collect stamps along the way.
We handle the logistics so you can walk freely, without stress, knowing there’s a comfortable bed waiting for you at the end of the day. Should anything go wrong along the way, we also provide a direct contact number for support.
SELF-GUIDED ITINERARIES
We are able to organize self-guided itineraries on most Camino routes and we are always researching new ones!
Two of our most popular itineraries we offer are the “Last 100 km” and “Every Inch of the Camino Francés,” which are also the two most popular stretches of the Camino de Santiago.
We also offer custom itineraries for the Camino Portugués from Porto (Central, Coastal and Spiritual Variants), Santiago to Finisterre and/or Muxia, Camino Inglés from Ferrol or A Coruña, Camino del Norte, Camino Primitivo, and the Camino Mozarabe.
AN EXAMPLE OF A SELF-GUIDED WALKING TOUR
PRE-DEPARTURE INFORMATION
Before you depart, we’ll send a thorough information packet that includes a suggested packing list, travel advice, and frequently asked questions. We’re available by email or phone to answer any questions as your trip approaches.
You’ll receive your full hotel list at least 30 days before your Camino begins. Your detailed Andaspain Orientation Pack will be waiting at your first hotel. Since this is a self-guided trip, not a guided one, we won’t be there in person to meet you.
ACCOMMODATION
Every hotel, pension and B&B is meticulously chosen for its proximity to the Camino and its charm. For a smoother experience, we prefer accommodations located directly on the Camino. However, if you are interested in an upgraded experience, we are happy to arrange transportation to and from manor houses, paradors, pazos, and casa rurales located slightly off of the Camino. All rooms we book will include en-suite bathroom facilities. Lastly, we provide Andaspain maps with information about your accommodation and how to get there.
FOOD
Breakfast is included every day for all self-guided trips. For lunch, it’s easy to grab ingredients for a picnic at a supermarket or pick up a fresh baguette. Many restaurants along the route offer affordable three-course “pilgrim meals” for around 15 euros. We usually don’t include dinner to keep your evenings flexible—you may want to join new friends you meet on the trail! However, if you’re staying at a casa rural or pazo located outside a town or village, we can arrange dinner for you.
LUGGAGE & TRANSPORTATION
Luggage transfer is included for every walking day. This service covers one bag up to 20 kg (15 kg on the Camino del Norte). If you’re traveling with additional bags or extra weight, we can arrange extra transfers for an added fee.
Your luggage is transported door to door—just tag your bag and leave it at reception each morning. We’ll provide the tags. If you’re staying off the Camino in a casa rural, we’ll arrange taxis to and from your accommodation.
SUPPORT
You’ll receive a comprehensive Welcome Pack at your first hotel that includes your Camino guidebook, maps to each hotel, suggested restaurants, taxi contact info, details of pre-booked transfers, and our Andaspain emergency phone number.
The Camino is well-marked and follows a mix of forest trails, village paths, and quiet roads. The daily distances we plan are based on traditional Camino stages, but we can customize them to your preferences—longer, shorter, or with added rest days.
While no guide or support vehicle travels with you, the Camino is a safe, welcoming, and social place. And knowing your accommodations are sorted means you can walk at your own pace and enjoy the journey stress-free.
CUSTOM SELF-GUIDED ITINERARIES
We can customize a self-guided itinerary just for you—because everyone’s Camino is unique. Need help deciding the best walk for you? Contact us using the form below. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
START YOUR CAMINO HERE
We’ve created a short survey to help us understand your Camino preferences. Fill it out, hit submit, and relax. We’ll create an estimate and send it your way. If you like what you see, we’ll begin organizing your trip.
START YOUR CAMINO HERE
We have put together a short survey to help us understand what your Camino needs are.We will put together an estimate and send it your way. If you like what you see we will begin making plans on your behalf.
FIXED OR CUSTOM ITINERARY
HOW WE BUILD YOUR SELF-GUIDED CAMINO
First things first, we ask you to complete the Self-Guided Tour Survey to help us get our head around what you want your Camino to look like. If you have no idea what you are after scroll to our itineraries to get an idea of what is possible.
Beginning and End Dates
The Self-Guided Camino de Santiago tour offers complete flexibility regarding when you want to begin your pilgrimage and by what day you want to arrive in your destination. We don´t typically arrange trips in the months of November. December, January and February.
Method and Distance
You know your capabilities better than anyone. How far would you like to walk, on average, during a day. Keep in mind that the final itinerary will preserve this request as closely as possible; the location of the accommodation may require that some days be longer or shorter, or for a taxi to shuttle you to and from your point of lodging.
Accommodation type
We offer different levels of accommodation and allow you to mix and match to suit your needs. If you prefer to keep the cost down but splurge from time to time (perhaps on a rest day) we understand completely. We use small boutique hotels, pensions and private albergue who have private rooms with bathrooms. We can upgrade to 4- or 5-star hotels, “pazos” and casas rurales which are like manor houses or farmhouses converted into accommodations. It is important to note that the star system for hotels etc in Spain and Portugal is not always a good method of assessing the quality of accommodations. For example, a 3-star hotel might meet the requirements of 3 stars but a guest house with only 1 star might be far superior in terms of décor and service. We have our favourite places and aim for those!
Rest days
If you plan to cover a large distance, or if your journey takes you through cities with a large number of sights to take in, it might be nice to take a pause. We will advise if your journey takes you through any of those places, and of course you can schedule your own in advance.
Skip a section
It is not always possible to complete the entire 800 kilometers of the Camino Francés at one time. Real world time and budget constraints often limit how much can be walked. We offer the option to skip over certain sections of the Camino and we arrange for your transportation as well. Please keep in mind that if you would like to receive the Compostella Certificate you are obliged to walk at least the last 100 contiguous kilometers.
HOW WE PRICE YOUR SELF GUIDED CAMINO
Fixed Itinerary – A number of our self-guided walking tours follow a fixed itinerary and therefore have a fixed price. Just get in touch and we can send examples of our standard itineraries.
Custom Itinerary – Our custom made to suit your wishes and therefor the price cannot be calculated without getting a bit more information from you.
As mentioned above, at times of peak demand we might have to add on additional costs not planned for in the original itinerary such as upgraded more expensive accommodation and/or taxis to and from accommodations not on the Camino itself.