Camino Primitivo: Final Stage – Lugo to Santiago – 8 Days

DISTANCE - ABOVE AVERAGE

Distance training is a major consideration in your overall training program. As you progress, incorporate longer walks into your training plan.

Schedule one or two long walks each week, gradually increasing the distance until you can comfortably cover 17-25 km in a single day. Also include walks on consecutive days to help your body adapt to the demands of walking for multiple days in a row. Take every opportunity you can to walk. If you have a fitness watch or phone, you should try to reach >15,000 steps every day.

Ensure you can comfortably walk the average distance per day displayed in the graph, at least one month before you undertake your hike.

ELEVATION - BELOW AVERAGE

Elevation is not a major consideration in your overall training program. However, you should still incorporate some form of resistance training to increase your endurance.

UNEVEN TERRAIN

Preparation for hiking on uneven terrain demands a blend of physical and mental readiness.

Begin with balance-enhancing exercises, such as one-legged stands and stability ball workouts, laying a groundwork for stability and coordination. Strengthening the lower body is especially important, achieved through the incorporation of squats, lunges, and step-ups. Gradually increase the complexity of the terrain on which you walk, moving from gravel paths to rocky trails. Cultivate mindfulness during your practice, directing focused attention to both your immediate surroundings and precise foot placement.

The importance of suitable footwear cannot be overstated; prioritise options that offer robust support and reliable grip to navigate varying terrains with confidence. Build endurance through consistent hikes, progressively increasing distance and difficulty.

AVAILABILITY

This tour is available from 1st April until 15th November. Regardless of when you travel, there are often celebrations along the Camino, specific to individual towns or regions. From Galician literature festivals to the nationwide celebrations of Semana Santa, walking the Camino is a colourful experience.

THE WALKING

The Camino is a well-trodden route, so the trails are very well-defined for the most part. You will follow an ancient pilgrim trail and therefore, whilst sections of the walk will take you deep into the picturesque countryside, you will also walk through urban environments and alongside roads, as you follow the truest route possible.

You should be used to walking up to 25 to 30km with up to 500m of ascent and descent. The kilometres may vary slightly on this walk due to where we have to book the accommodation, and up to 10km on Day 2. On any typical day, you will hike on rocky trails, and farm and forest tracks and cover long sections in the open countryside. You will sustain climbs to hilltop towns, villages, and the rolling countryside. You will also walk on some roads, so please be mindful of all road users at all times.

A moderate active lifestyle makes walking enjoyable, an exercise regime of 2 to 3 times a week is needed, in addition to your usual walks. The route is very well waymarked by the iconic scallop-shell markers and with the many other walkers on the trail, it’s very easy to find your way.

For each of the walks, you will be provided with daily walk notes, a map and the GPX tracks if you wish to use them for your own device.

WEATHER

The route runs across northern Spain and through a variety of terrain. During the early and latter part of the season, conditions can be changeable from temperate warms days through to frosty mornings and very cool nights. From May to September, rainy days are less frequent and temperatures are steadily between 20-24 degrees, however, it is possible that you may experience a few cloudy days. See weather averages here.

HOW TO GET THERE AND AWAY

The tour starts in Lugo and finishes in Santiago. To reach Lugo fly into Madrid or Santiago de Compostela.

The most straightforward way to reach Lugo is from Santiago ( if you want to get a return flight), it is around a 3hr 30min to 5 hrs train or 2 hr bus journey changing once in O Coruna for the train. If you would prefer a private transfer we can always arrange these for you or you can simply get a taxi.

From Madrid, it is around a 6-hour journey from the main Chamartin train station (or 6 hrs on a bus).

There’s plenty of trains that go all over Spain from Santiago de Compostela. There is also an airport in Santiago as mentioned that has flights to all over Europe.

INSURANCE

We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.

For all trips requiring international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance including medical evacuation coverage.

We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred by our suppliers and in the office.  See the FAQ section for more information.