SELF-GUIDED WALKING TOURS ALONG THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO
Our Self-Guided Tour packages are the best way that we could think to put our knowledge for pilgrims who prefer to travel alone instead of part of a group.
We spend the majority of the year on foot along the Camino and know it better than we know our own backyard. Over the years, we have fostered personal relationships with the shop-keepers, restaurant staff, and B&B owners that support pilgrims on their journey.
Self-guided tour packages offer complete flexibility with regards to your starting day, your 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 in putting together one of a kind trips to suit your needs.
WHAT WE PROVIDE
After getting to know what you are looking for (see the survey below) and agreeing on all of the options, we put together a package detailing your itinerary. We book and confirm all accommodations, provide luggage tags for transport, and, most importantly, we deliver to your first hotel a package detailing your journey. This package includes a guide book, maps of how to get to each accommodation, luggage tags, the “credencial” Pilgrim´s Passport which you get stamped along the way. If a taxi is required to get you to your preferred accommodation, we arrange that as well and provide information about that.
We do all the logistics so that you are free to walk without hurry or worry, knowing you have a bed at the end of the day! If something should go wrong along the way we also provide a contact number to reach us directly.
SELF-GUIDED ITINERARIES
We arrange Self-Guided itineraries on most of the Caminos and we are always researching new ones!
The most popular itineraries we offer are the “Last 100 Kilometers” and “Every Inch of the Camino Francés,” which are also the two most popular stretches of the Camino de Santiago.
We can also provide 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
We send you lots of information prior to your departure including a suggested packing list, travel advice and Frequently Asked Questions. We are on hand via email or phone to help out with any questions you have before you start your trip.
We send you a full list of hotel information at least 30 days before the start of your Camino adventure. You will pick up your detailed Andaspain Orientation Pack at your first hotel. As this is a self-guided not a guided walk, we will not be there in person to meet you.
ACCOMMODATION
We find you good quality but simple accommodation on the Camino itself. We know you don ́t want to walk extra kilometres to find your place to stay! We provide Andaspain maps with address, phone number, photo, Google map and if needed directions on how to get to your hotel or pension. All the accommodation we book for you will have en-suite bathroom facilities.
If you would like upgraded hotels or to stay in casas rurales slightly off the Camino just let us know!
At busy times of year and if you are planning with short notice we might have to ask you to be flexible about having to spend two nights in one place or travelling by taxi to find suitable accommodation.
FOOD
On our self-guided trips, we include breakfast every day. You can easily pick up lunch ingredients for a picnic at a supermarket or find cheap baguettes or set 3 course lunches along the way. Similarly, with dinner you can find a reasonable 3 course “pilgrim´s set meal” for around 12€. We don´t normally include dinner as we think it makes your day less flexible. You might meet other pilgrims and want to join them for dinner! But if you stay at a Casa Rural or Pazo which is not in a village or town we can include dinner.
LUGGAGE & TRANSPORTATION
Luggage transportation is included on every day you walk. This is for 1 bag with a 20kg weight max. On the Camino del Norte the limit is 15kg. If you have more bags or more weight we can arrange transfer with an additional cost.
The luggage transfer service is door to door, meaning that you only need to tag your bag and leave it at the reception. We provide the tags. If you choose to stay in casa rural off the Camino, we will arrange taxis to transport you to and from the accommodation.
SUPPORT
We prepare a very thorough and detailed package that you will collect at your first Camino hotel. Included in this package is your Camino guidebook, maps to your hotels, suggested restaurants, information on any pre-booked taxis, taxi numbers should you need and of course our emergency phone number for Andaspain should you need it.
The Camino is very well marked and follows mainly forest trails, paths between villages and some secondary roads. The distances we plan for you are normally the typical stages of the Camino. We can tailor-make your walk and adapt the walking stages as you wish to be longer, shorter, add rest days in particular places etc.
On your self-guided trips, you don´t have anyone with you walking or in a support vehicle. Having said that the Camino is a friendly, helpful, safe place to be! Knowing you have a place to stay at the end of your day means to can relax and take as long as you like to get there!
CUSTOM SELF-GUIDED ITINERARIES
We can customise your own self-guided itinerary as we know that one’s Camino can be very different to another’s. Please contact us for inspiration if you need help deciding the best walk for you. Use the form below. We’ll be in touch with you as soon as humanly possible.
START YOUR CAMINO HERE
We have put together a short survey to help us understand what your Camino needs are. Fill it out, whack submit, and relax. 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.