Silver Way from Seville to Santiago - Bike tour: 17 stages

Information about the trip: Silver Way from Seville to Santiago - Bike tour: 17 stages

Travel itinerary (Summary)

• DAY 1: Arrival to Seville.
• DAY 2:  Stage 1, Sevilla, Almadén de la Plata 69 km 2/5
• DAY 3 : Stage 2, Almadén, Zafra  78 km 3/5
• DAY 4: Stage 3, Zafra, Mérida  62 km 1/5
• DAY 5: Stage 4, Mérida, Cáceres 73  km 4/5
• DAY 6: Stage 5, Cáceres, Grimaldo 54  km 2/5
• DAY 7: Stage 6, Grimaldo, Aldeanueva 68,5  km 3/5
• DAY 8: Stage 7, Aldeanueva, Fuenterrobles  De S. 42 km 2/5
• DAY 9: Stage 8, Fuenterrobles, Salamanca 51,5 km 2/5
• DAY 10: Stage 9, Salamanca, Zamora 67  km 4/5
• DAY 11: Stage 10, Zamora, Tábara 65 km 2/5
• DAY 12: Stage 11, Tábara, Puebla De Sanabria 59 km 3/5
• DAY 13: Stage 12, Puebla De S.,  A Gudiña 52 km 4/5
• DAY 14: Stage 13, A Gudiña , Verín 39,7 km 2/5
• DAY 15: Stage 14, Verín, Xinzo De Lima 37 km 2/5
• DAY 16: Stage 15, Xinzo De Lima, Ourense   48 km 3/5
• DAY 17: Stage 16, Ourense, Lalín 61 km 4/5
• DAY 18: Stage 17, Lalín, Santiago de Compostela  57 km 2/5
• DAY 19: Return.

Travel itinerary (Detailed)

• ProgramDAY
  1
  Arrival in Seville

  
  Fill out your Credential and enjoy the city’s monuments.
  A unique city known for its beauty—be sure to visit it before starting your journey. You can appreciate this in the short distance between the Giralda, the Cathedral, and the Royal Alcázar of Seville.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  2
  Stage 1, from Seville to Almadén de da Plata

  
  Distance : 69 km Difficulty : 2/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. Leaving Seville via Triana, we travel through sun-exposed areas where the heat can be intense depending on the season. The route is flat and without major difficulties, though with a gentle and continuous ascent. We cross the first dehesa (oak pasture) of the Vía de la Plata and there are no intermediate services, so it’s advisable to carry food and water. The second half fully reveals the character of the Vía de la Plata, divided into three sections: 16 km of moderate ascent to the El Berrocal estate (9 km on road, 7 km on track), a beautiful passage through the El Berrocal dehesa, and finally the approach to Alto del Calvario with short but steep ramps. No services here either.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  3
  Stage 2, from Almadén to Zafra

  
  Distance : 78 km Difficulty : 3/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. The route takes us to El Real de la Jara, crossing the Sierra Norte of Seville with frequent elevation changes and beautiful stretches of dehesa and Mediterranean forest. Then, a wide, comfortable track leads to the N-630 and A-66 highways, alongside which we climb the gentle Puerto de la Cruz before arriving at Monesterio, now in Extremadura. The route becomes more monotonous and flat, exposed to the sun and without intermediate services. We pedal along wide dirt tracks through cereal plains and some streams. The towns of Calzadilla de los Barros and Puebla de Sancho Pérez, both offering services, provide rest and shade. The stage ends in Zafra, a city of great cultural interest, with monuments like the Dukes of Feria’s Alcázar, the Collegiate Church of the Candelaria, and the plazas Grande and Chica.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  4
  Stage 3, from Zafra to Mérida

  
  Distance : 62 km Difficulty : 1/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. The route advances over comfortable dirt tracks through gently rolling vineyards. The only notable elevation is a small pass between Zafra and Los Santos de Maimona. Villafranca de los Barros is a pleasant town whose main monument is the Church of Our Lady of the Valley. The second half is long, flat, and highly exposed to the sun, with monotonous stretches along straight tracks. There are no intermediate services except a detour to Almendralejo, which adds about 5 km. The DAY ends in Mérida, capital of Extremadura and former Augusta Emerita, which preserves important Roman monuments and houses an excellent National Museum of Roman Art.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  5
  Stage 4, from Mérida to Cáceres

  
  Distance : 73  km Difficulty : 4/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. The first part of this long and interesting stage has no major elevation changes. We travel along dirt paths between Mediterranean woodland and scrub, passing the Roman aqueduct of Los Milagros and the Proserpina dam. From Aljucén, we cover almost 20 km of solitary and very beautiful paths to Alcuéscar, part of which lies within the Cornalvo Natural Park. Afterwards, with moderate slopes, the route to Valdesalor is pleasant, through dirt tracks, wooded areas, and several Roman milestones. The hamlets Casas de Don Antonio and Aldea del Cano require a small detour but are worth visiting. From Valdesalor, only a gentle ascent remains before entering Cáceres, whose medieval and Renaissance old town is a World Heritage Site.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  6
  Stage 5, from Cáceres to Grimaldo

  
  Distance : 54  km Difficulty : 2/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. A long stage with no major elevation changes, mostly along trails and dirt roads, sometimes rocky. The sun exposure is high, and the end can be tough in hot weather. Until Cañaveral, we follow the original route crossing a plateau and avoiding the N-630. After the town, a steady climb leads to the Alto de los Castaños, followed by a pleasant dehesa until reaching Grimaldo, situated 600 meters from the official path.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  7
  Stage 6, from Grimaldo to Aldeanueva

  
  Distance : 68,5  km Difficulty : 3/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. This stage defines the heart of the Vía de la Plata, combining solitude and monumental beauty. It is the “Queen Stage”: a long DAY where planning is key, as the route lacks services between Carcaboso and Aldeanueva. The path leads along delightful trails to the walls of Galisteo, immersed in a landscape of dehesas and forests. The historical climax is the encounter with the imposing Quadriform Arch of Cáparra, a Roman icon testifying to the millennia-old history of this route. An experience of stillness, history, and nature.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  8
  Stage 7, from Aldeanueva to Fuenterrobles de Salvatierra

  
  Distance : 42 km Difficulty : 2/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. This DAY marks a turning point in the route: we leave Extremadura and its lowlands to enter the Sierra de Béjar, ascending into the colder regions of Castilla y León. The route demands a steady effort until Baños de Montemayor, but the real challenge arrives at the Puerto de Béjar summit. Here, we pedal along a restored Roman road, climbing over 200 meters in a concentrated ascent. After the peak (near 1,000 meters), the stage transforms into a beautiful and peaceful forest walk. The final section has little elevation and offers two intermediate towns for a well-deserved rest and services.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  9
  Stage 8, from Fuenterrobles to Salamanca

  
  Distance : 51,5 km Difficulty : 2/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. This is a stage of deep solitude with no intermediate services outside Morille (the only town). It is divided into three parts: a comfortable approach to Pico de la Dueña, the ascent and descent of this point (where the maximum altitude of 1,147 meters is reached), and a flat final stretch along the road. The morning is more interesting, passing through forests and dehesas after Morille. The landscape becomes monotonous crossing vast open fields afterward. However, the effort is rewarded at the end: Salamanca appears on the horizon, a university city and one of the main monumental complexes of the Vía de la Plata, declared a World Heritage Site.
  There is a marked variant via Pedrosillo de los Aires which shortens the route by 2.3 km.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  10
  Stage 9, from Salamanca to Zamora

  
  Distance : 67  km Difficulty : 4/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. A long, flat stage dominated by comfortable dirt tracks. After leaving Salamanca, the route alternates between solitary paths and proximity to the N-630 highway. The stretch over 20 km to El Cubo del Vino is the most exposed and lacks intermediate services. Afterwards, the path is pleasant, crossing extensive cereal plains. The only service stop is Villanueva de Campeán. The goal is Zamora, accessed via the medieval bridge over the Duero River. The city is famous as the world capital of Romanesque art, offering an extraordinary monumental heritage.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  11
  Stage 10, from Zamora to Tábara

  
  Distance : 65 km Difficulty : 2/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. A flat stage crossing Tierra del Pan (cereal-growing fields). After passing Roales del Pan and Montamarta, the route remains close to the A-66 highway. We pass by the Ricobayo reservoir and the ruins of Castrotorafe. The crucial point is Granja de Moreruela, the great crossroads where the Vía de la Plata splits towards Astorga or Sanabria/Ourense (suggested option). The final stretch is solitary, with moderate elevation changes and Mediterranean forest that breaks the monotony. The stage ends in Tábara, notable for the Church of Santa María.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  12
  Stage 11, from Tábara to Puebla de Sanabria

  
  Distance : 59 km Difficulty : 3/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. This stage marks the beautification and hardening of the route, with a more forested and rugged landscape. It begins with the cultural jewel of Santa Marta de Tera, home to the oldest sculpture of the pilgrim Saint James. The route follows the Tera River, with frequent but moderate elevation changes, crossing mixed forests to Rionegro del Puente. The terrain forces constant ups and downs. The stage culminates in Puebla de Sanabria, a very touristic town with a magnificent medieval old town.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  13
  Stage 12, from Puebla de Sanabria to A Gudiña

  
  Distance : 52 km Difficulty : 4/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. Two mountain passes and the Gateway to Galicia. This mountainous stage is defined by crossing summits. The route demands climbing the Puerto de Padornelo (1,356 m). After services in Lubián, the route faces the second challenge: Alto de A Canda (1,265 m). This final, gentle ascent marks the symbolic entry into Galicia. The environment is fully rural, and it is vital to stock up in Lubián due to the scarcity of services ahead. It is a triumph over the heights that opens up a new landscape.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  14
  Stage 13, from A Gudiña to Verín

  
  Distance : 39,7 km Difficulty : 2/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. This is the most beautiful stage of the Galician section, remaining solitary and mountainous above 1,000 meters. The route demands continuous ascents and descents through eroded terrain covered with pine forests and native trees. The first section passes through beautiful wooded landscapes (Chestnut Route). The DAY culminates in a long descent (partly along the N-525) into the Támega valley, arriving at Verín, dominated by the majestic Monterrei fortress.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  15
  Stage 14, from Verín to Xinzo De Lima

  
  Distance : 37 km Difficulty : 2/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. ToDAY we cross from the Monterrei wine valley to the vast plains of A Limia, overcoming the Alto das Estibadas. The route follows favorable valleys (rivers Támega and Limia) but demands caution due to high summer temperatures. The pilgrim faces endless, monotonous stretches among potato fields, with Xinzo not visible until arrival.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  16
  Stage 15, from Xinzo De Lima to Ourense

  
  Distance : 48 km Difficulty : 3/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. This stage offers a marked contrast. The first part, leaving the A Limia plain, is unfortunate, coinciding with a dangerous road (a variant via the sand pits is suggested). Fortunately, the second half is “blessed glory”: a transition into the Arnoia valley marked by beautiful stretches and ancient trails through native forests. The lands of Allariz offer pleasant surprises: shady oak woods, old villages with legends (such as the Romanesque temple of Santa Mariña), and pre-Roman vestiges. Finally, the two paths separated at A Gudiña meet again in Pereiras, on the outskirts of Ourense city. The stage ends with a less fortunate industrial and urbanized stretch, a usual toll when approaching the city.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  17
  Stage 16, from Ourense to Lalín

  
  Distance : 61 km Difficulty : 4/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. This DAY is the necessary sacrifice to leave the Miño valley and enter inland Galicia. From the Ponte Vella of Ourense, we face a notable and demanding ascent that raises us more than 400 meters in altitude in a short time, setting the tone for the morning.
  As we gain height, we enter the green heart of the community, a landscape dotted with rural treasures: hidden Romanesque churches and centuries-old fountains. The variant via Canedo is recommended to lessen asphalt exposure. The stage’s final reward is Lalín, capital of Deza, famous for its gastronomy. This city is also a historic meeting point: here, the Vía de la Plata joins the Winter Way, signaling the proximity of the final destination.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  18
  Stage 17, from Lalín to Santiago De Compostela

  
  Distance : 57 km Difficulty : 2/5
  
  Breakfast and start of the stage. Leaving Lalín, you will travel among gentle hills and rural villages seemingly frozen in time. Near the end of the path, you can take a detour to the summit of Pico Sacro. This peak is linked to the legend of Saint James. From here, pilgrims have the first view of Santiago de Compostela and a wonderful panoramic view of the countryside.
  The final stage approaches the city from one of the quietest directions; with no busy roads or modern developments.
  Before you know it, you’ll pass the last intersection and descend a cobblestone path through the only remaining medieval gate into the heart of Santiago, straight to the Apostle’s tomb.
  
  

• ProgramDAY
  19
  Return

  
  If you plan to attend the Pilgrim’s Mass at the Cathedral at 12:00, we suggest arriving early (at least 45 minutes before). Later, you can collect your Compostela at the Pilgrim’s Office, the official document certifying that you have completed the Camino de Santiago.

Included

• 18 nights in handpicked hotels and inns, all with en-suite accommodation, on a bed and breakfast basis
• Travel insurance.
• Credencial (Pilgrim’s passport)
• Maps and tracks of the stages.
• Telephone assistance (English speaking)

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Not included

• Lunches.
• Trains or flights.
• Dinner supplement.
• Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel: 1 bag max. 20kg/ 44 lbs per person: € 850
• SOLO traveller supplement: € 850
• Single room supplement: € 790
• Superior category supplement: € 550
• Single room in Superior category supplement: € 900
• Bike rental from: € 450
• Tourist taxes.

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Accommodations

All accommodations have rooms with en-suite facilities.


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Conditions

Price per person based on double room. Ask for Solo traveller supplement.
 
Daily departures form March to October


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