Trip ID :

Original Way - Section 1 - 11 Days/10 Nights - 208 km - From €820 -
From Oviedo to Lugo

This Walking Holiday explores the first section of the Camino Primitivo / Original Way, following the iconic Camino de Santiago de Compostela; the famous Way of Saint James.

This camino was used in the 9th Century by the first devout pilgrims from the kingdom of Asturias. This is the most beautiful section of the Camino, starting in medieval Oviedo.

Every day, during the walk, you are guaranteed a high level of comfort and fine food. This section requires a reasonable level of fitness. However, it’s a highly rewarding walk that includes numerous cultural highlights.

Original Way - Section 1 - 11 Days/10 Nights - 208 km - From €820 -
From Oviedo to Lugo

Day 1 : Oviedo
Day 2 : Oviedo to Grado (30km)
Day 3 : Grado to Salas (19km)
Day 4 : Salas to Tineo (19km)
Day 5 : Tineo to Pola Allende (27km)
Day 6 : Pola Allende to Berducedo (14km)
Day 7 : Berducedo to Grandas de Salime (19km)
Day 8 : Grandas de Salime to A Fonsagrada (25km)
Day 9 : A Fonsagrada to O Cadavo Baleira (24km)
Day 10 : O Cadavo Baleira to Lugo (31km)
Day 11 : Lugo, end of the walking holiday 

View Camino Primitivo in a larger map

DAY BY DAY

---

DAY 1 - Oviedo You will be booked into a hotel in the heart of the town of Oviedo. The rooms are en-suite. Town: Internet, ATM, shops, all facilities. Meal: B&B DAY 2 – From Oviedo to Grado (30km 8h +70m -170m) Our day begins at the Cathedral of El Salvador and, after leaving the town of Oviedo, we head west. We arrive at the chapel of El Carmen in Lampajúa (Llampaxuga) and from here we descend toward Ponte de Gallegos. The Camino then follows a beautiful trail along the river Nora to finish in a steep ascent to the lovely village of Escamplero. As we get closer to the river Nalón, we cross the N-634, and the river. Town: Internet, ATM, shops, all facilities. Meal: Half Board DAY 3 – From Grado to Salas (19km 4h30 +430m -300m) We begin this day with a tough enough start, climbing up for 5 kilometres to Alto del Fresnu. You will then enjoy a gentle downhill walk through hilly farmlands and hamlets until you reach Cornellana. Here we recommend a visit to the monastery (monasterio) of El Salvador. From here to Salas, the Camino follows an upwards trajectory through more farmlands and typical Asturias granaries (“horreos”). Finally, we approach Salas on more gentle terrain. Town: Internet, ATM, shops, all facilities. Meal: Half Board DAY 4 – From Salas to Tineo (19km 5h +600m -50m) This is a tough stage of the Camino, not because of its length (its actually shorter), but because it is ascending constantly. There is practically no break in the climb for almost eight hundred metres. Fortunately, most of the climb is concentrated at the beginning.  Following the national road for a short while, the Camino continues on a quieter, paved path that leads us to La Espina. Here we quit the “Camino Norte” that continues north west. We now enter an area with strong regional character and traditions. Town: Internet, ATM, shops, all facilities. Meal: Half Board DAY 5 – From Tineo to Pola Allende (27km 8h30 +310m -460m) This is another challenging stage of the Camino, with ups and downs throughout the day. After following the road for a short time, the Camino comes to a path descending through woodlands. Then it passes the small villages of Vega el Rey, Berrugoso and Campiello. We finish the day with a steep descent of about three hundred meters to arrive in Pola de Allande. Town: Internet, ATM, shops, all facilities. Meal: Half Board DAY 6 – From Pola Allende to Berducedo (14km 5h +740m -310m) Today is another challenging day, beginning with an ascent of almost 600m, reaching the summit of Puerto del Palo. Here, your climb will be rewarded with amazing views of the Cantabrian Mountains. This is followed by a drop of 250m on what is called the “Camino de los Hospitales", so be prepared and be careful! Finally, passing through some woods, we arrive in Berducedo. Town: Internet, ATM, shops, all facilities. Meal: Half Board

DAY 7 – From Berducedo to Grandas de Salime (19km 4h30 +520m -800m) This is the most rewarding part of the Camino Primitivo, but also one of the hardest. We start by climbing to Aerogenedores at 1100m above sea level, where you will get spectacular views of the Embalse de Salime (artificial lake), the River Navia below and of course the mountains surrounding us!  Then it is a steep descent of 900m in just 7km. Finally, passing the dam, the Camino make its way up to Grandas Salime after a more gentle 350m ascent. Town: Internet, ATM, shops, all facilities. Meal: Half Board DAY 8 – From Grandas de Salime to A Fonsagrada (25km 7h +520m -170m) Today the Camino starts with a steep ascent to El Acebo (1050m) for some fine views of the Cantabrian Mountains. It is now time to bid our farewell to Asturias and to say hello to the land of the Celts - Galicia! After passing the mountain villages of Cabreria, Fonfría, and Barbeito we arrive in A Fonsagrada, for a well-deserved rest! In the town center stands the Fons Sacra. This town bore witness to one of the miracles of the apostle Saint James, who, after being attended to by an impoverished widow, turned the water from this fountain into fresh milk for her children. Town: Internet, ATM, shops, all facilities. Meal: Half Board DAY 9 – From A Fonsagrada to O Cadavo Baleira (24km 7h +320m -540m) After leaving A Fonsagrada, the Camino passes through A Pobra de Buron. This Camino has been referred to as the "Camino de Oviedo". Coming to Hospital de Montouto, we can see the actual hospital sitting on a hilltop. It is now in ruins, but was one of the last to close, and was probably the most important on all the mountain Caminos of Galicia. There is also a magnificent dolmen in the vicinity of the hospital. The Camino then makes its way to the town of O Cadavo, passing quaint villages such as Calzada, Degolada and A Fontaneira. O Cadavo is the second most important town that the pilgrims on the Camino Primitivo will pass on their way to Santiago. According to local history, Alphonse II the Chaste fought the Islamic Army nearby. Town: Internet, ATM, shops, all facilities. Meal: Half Board DAY 10 – From O Cadavo Baleira to Lugo (31km 8h +220m -530m) The Camino continues through lands famous for their slate mines as far as Paradavela. This attractive village, which retains much of its original character, is home to a number of "Pallozas" (primitive thatched dwellings) and other buildings of interest. Then, passing by the convent of San Francisco de Vilabade we arrive later in the pleasant town of Castroverde. After Castroverde, the Camino passes the eery, abandoned village of Soutomerille; nestled in a landscape of great beauty. Finally, crossing farmlands, the Way arrives in "Lucus Augusti", or Lugo, by the Gate of Saint Peter. Lugo is the oldest town in Galicia! Take some time to explore it. Town: Internet, ATM, shops, all facilities. Meal: Breakfast DAY 11 –Lugo After breakfast we bid you farewell. Meal: Breakfast

WEATHER

---

Original Way - Section 1 - 11 Days/10 Nights - 208 km - From €820 -
From Oviedo to Lugo

 FLY IN AND OUT

---

It is best to fly to Santander or to Oviedo, and then come back flying from Santiago de Compostela.

1)    FLY IN

• To Santander

Direct connections to Santander only with Ryanair : from London Stansted, Dublin, Frankfurt, Milan and Rome, as well as Reus and Madrid in Spain.

Internal connections with Iberia from Alicante, Barcelona, Gran Canaria, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Seville and Valencia.

• To Oviedo

2)    FLY OUT

See with Ryanair and Iberia for direct flights from Santiago de Compostela to UK :
- Ryanair : flights to Stansted, Nottingham East Midlands and Liverpool.
- Aer Lingus : flights to Dublin.

Great choice of destinations with Iberia and Spanair : Frankfurt, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Bilbao, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Madrid, Malaga, Palma, Seville, Tenerife and Valencia.

GETTING AROUND

---

1)    GETTING THERE

• From Santander airport

By bus :
- 3 hours journey
- Several buses a day.

• From Oviedo airport

By bus :
- Buses every 2 to 3 hours during daytime
- Cost : €5

By taxi :
 - Cost : €40

2)   GETTING BACK

• To Santiago airport

By bus :
- 1hr30 journey
- 5 buses a day
- Cost : around €10
- See timetable in English: www.empresafreire.com

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FLIGHTS

---

 

• see our Flight Search Map
• www.skyscanner.net

Searches most Airlines for best available connections and prices

• www.spanish-airport-guide.com

Original Way - Section 1 - 11 Days/10 Nights - 208 km - From €820 -
From Oviedo to Lugo

HOTEL AND GUESTHOUSE GRADES - HOW WE CHOOSE YOUR ACCOMMODATION

---

Our accommodation is selected based on a number of criteria, including location, comfort, services, price and character. We always try to book accommodation that is both on/near the Camino and also close to the historical quarter or centre of the town/city. This is facilitated by the fact that the Camino usually goes through the heart of each town and/or city.

In larger towns, which are usually at the beginning and end of each section, we book hotels of a 3* standard. In smaller towns/villages/hamlets in between the larger towns, we choose hotels or guesthouses of a 2* standard. However, there could be some exceptions to this rule, for example, in some small villages, our selection depends on local infrastructure and it may happen that the only possibility is a non-rated guesthouse. This does not mean it is not up to our standards only that it does not have an official classification, which is usually due to the rural and remote nature of parts of the Camino.

Given the reasons stated above, we do believe that a 2* hotel located in the historical centre is a better choice than a 3* hotel located in the outskirts of the town at a distance from the Camino. If our first choice is not available, we will use another accommodation of the same standard and price. If there is no such accommodation available, we may contact you to offer either an upgrade at a premium, or a downgrade with a refund, again based on local infrastructure in each area.

We are determined in our motto: to provide our customers with the best available on the Camino.

Original Way - Section 1 - 11 Days/10 Nights - 208 km - From €820 -
From Oviedo to Lugo

Original Way - Section 1 - 11 Days/10 Nights - 208 km - From €820 -
From Oviedo to Lugo

 

 

LIST OF PRICES AND OPTIONS

---

 

	Base Price (€)	Double/Twin Room (pps)	Single Room	Solo Departure
	High Season Apr, May, Jun, Sep	1090	1306	1467
	Mid Season Jul, Aug, Oct	980	1164	1325
	Low Season Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec	820	973	1165

 

Options	Picnic Lunches	€90 (per person)	includes all walking days
	Airport Transfer 2 - 8 people	€75 (per person)	Transport to Oviedo from Santander For information on transfers for more passengers or from other airports, please ask us.

 

	Extra nights (€) Oviedo / Lugo / Santander	Double/Twin Room (pps)	Single Room
	3* Hotel B&B	65	95

Special rate for group of 6+

INCLUDED Luggage transferred from hotel to hotel Rooms en-suite Half Board during the hike Detailed Walking Notes Map Pilgrim passport

NOT INCLUDED Flights Insurance (recommended) Drinks Dinner first and last nights Transfer from/to airport

 

If you have any questions about prices, please consult our FAQ's or Contact us.