Ride the Camino de Santiago from Sarria to Santiago through Galicia's forests and stone villages, with six days on horseback and rural hotel stays.
Number of Nights: 7
Difficulty: Intermediate
Price: 3699 EUR
Location: Galicia
Galicia, Spain
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From Sarria to Santiago de Compostela
Imagine riding the Camino de Santiago on horseback, feeling the fresh Galician air and listening to the sound of hoofbeats as you make your way through forests and small stone villages. Sharing the trail with pilgrims from around the world, exchanging a greeting and feeling that you, too, are part of a story that has been unfolding for centuries. From Sarria to Santiago de Compostela, approximately 125 kilometres and six days on horseback await us, taking us through green meadows, tree-lined paths and villages that invite us to pause and look around. There will be time to talk, enjoy the silence and feel the trust between you and your horse grow. Each day will bring new landscapes, encounters and memories, with the anticipation of reaching Santiago accompanying us along the way. And then the moment will come to enter the Plaza del Obradoiro and gaze upon the Cathedral. Standing before it, everything experienced along the Camino will take on a special meaning: the kilometres shared, the companionship of our horses and the joy of having arrived together.
We invite you to join us on this journey, discover Galicia from the saddle and find out what the Camino has in store for you.
Our experience begins with a transfer from Santiago de Compostela airport at 17:00, heading to Sarria, the starting point of our horseback pilgrimage.
Our arrival will give us our first taste of the atmosphere of the Camino: a town where travellers from different places come together, united by the excitement of heading towards Santiago. It will be time to settle in, rest after the journey and prepare for the adventure that begins the following day.
Planned distance: 20 km
The first steps of a journey that leaves a lasting impression
Our horseback adventure begins in Sarria, where the excitement of setting off blends with the feeling of becoming part of a centuries-old tradition. Leaving the town behind, we venture into rural Galicia: paths through oak trees, green meadows and small stone villages that retain the quiet rhythm of country life. The steady pace of our horses invites us to notice the details, breathe deeply and begin to feel the spirit of the Camino.
Through shaded stretches and clearings that open onto the landscape, we make our way towards the Miño valley. Our arrival in Portomarín, overlooking the waters of the reservoir, offers a beautiful scene to bring our first day to a close.
We have begun to cover kilometres, but also to gather memories: our first greetings with fellow pilgrims, our growing trust in our horses and the feeling that something special has just begun.
Planned distance: 24 km
Through lands of age-old hospitality
We leave Portomarín behind and climb towards the Galician interior. The route gains altitude and leads us through villages, farmland and places where everyday life remains closely tied to the land. The climbs and descents set the rhythm of the day, while the landscape changes with every turn of the trail.
Here, places such as Gonzar, Castromaior and Ligonde recall the long history of pilgrimage. Ligonde once had a pilgrims’ hospital that welcomed even Charles I and Philip II: a reminder of the hospitality that has accompanied those travelling to Santiago for centuries.
From the saddle, that history feels close at hand. The sound of hoofbeats accompanies our conversations and moments of silence as we find our own travelling rhythm. Palas de Rei welcomes us at the end of the day with the satisfaction of having made progress and the growing camaraderie of those sharing the same adventure.
Planned distance: 21 km
Through forests, villages and stone bridges
Today’s journey takes us through a succession of small villages and stretches of woodland, where the shade of the trees and the stone of the old buildings give the Camino an intimate character. The surroundings of San Xiao do Camiño and O Leboreiro retain the simple beauty of places built to last, where a church, a path or a bridge tells part of the story of the journey.
Along the traditional route, the medieval bridge at Furelos offers one of the most evocative sights of this stage. Spanning the river, it reminds us of the generations of travellers who passed this way before us. Shortly afterwards, Melide comes into view, marking the end of our day’s ride.
By now, the Camino is beginning to feel familiar: we recognise its waymarks, enjoy its pauses and feel a closer bond with our horses. Each arrival brings the pleasure of rest, and each new departure the desire to discover what lies ahead.
Planned distance: 30 km
The Galicia of rivers and tree-lined paths
We set off from Melide and continue west, crossing a landscape of villages, small valleys and paths that connect some of the most enchanting corners of the French Way.
On the traditional route, Boente and Castañeda precede Ribadiso, where a bridge over the River Iso and the old buildings beside the water create a scene that invites us to pause and take it in. Further ahead lies Arzúa, known for its cheesemaking tradition.
The route continues into the lands of O Pino, the last municipality before Santiago. Melide, Arzúa and O Pino share a culture deeply connected to pilgrimage and to the flavours of inland Galicia.
This will be a day to enjoy the unfolding landscape and the pleasure of travelling on horseback. The kilometres fill with small scenes: a greeting as we pass, a house beside the path, reflections on the water or a moment of calm beneath the trees. Santiago draws closer, and with it comes a growing excitement that will accompany the rest of our journey.
Planned distance: 24 km
The excitement of knowing Santiago is near
We begin this day with a different sense of anticipation: our destination is now close. Heading towards Santiago, the traditional Camino connects villages such as O Amenal, San Paio and Lavacolla as we gradually approach the outskirts of the city. The rural landscape begins to give way to a more populated setting, heralding the arrival we have imagined so often.
The day ends at Monte do Gozo, the “Mount of Joy”, associated with the delight of pilgrims catching their first glimpse of the Cathedral’s towers. From here, Santiago ceases to be merely a name on the itinerary and becomes a real presence before us.
It is a moment to pause and reflect on what we have experienced: the forests, the villages, our companions and the horses that have brought us this far. We still have the entrance into the city ahead of us, but we can already feel the emotion of having come so far.
Planned distance: 6 km
An arrival that will stay with us
Our final day is short in distance and rich in meaning. We leave Monte do Gozo and descend towards Santiago as the trail becomes streets and the landscapes of the previous days fall behind us. The city welcomes us with the life of its neighbourhoods and, finally, with the stone and beauty of its historic centre.
Our arrival in the Plaza del Obradoiro marks our long-awaited encounter with the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Before its façade, each person finds their own way to experience the moment: a smile, an embrace, a silent gaze or the emotion of having fulfilled a long-held wish.
Here our journey comes to an end. We arrive carrying memories of our horses’ steady steps, green trails and shared stories. And as we gaze upon the Cathedral, we realise just how much six days of travel can hold: landscapes, friendship, gratitude and memories that will stay with us long after we return home.
The Camino lives on in our memories
After breakfast, we will transfer back to Santiago de Compostela airport.
It will be time to say goodbye, taking with us the sights and emotions of this pilgrimage: the stone villages, the green of Galicia, the companionship of our horses and the joy of having shared the Camino.
