Winter Way on foot from Ponferrada: 11 stages
Information about the trip: Winter Way on foot from Ponferrada: 11 stages
Despite its name, the Winter Route is ideal to walk any time of year. Stretching 266 km from Ponferrada to Santiago de Compostela, it offers a great alternative for those wanting to avoid crowds, especially during the busy summer months.Originating in the Middle Ages, pilgrims chose this lower-altitude path to bypass snowy mountain passes, following the Sil River as they entered Galicia. Today, the Winter Route still preserves that peaceful, authentic spirit.
Along the way, walkers enjoy quiet trails, stunning Romanesque churches, and unique landscapes amid the vineyards of Ribeira Sacra.
A perfect path to experience the Camino de Santiago with calm, nature, and true authenticity.
Travel itinerary (Summary)
- DAY 1: Arrival in Ponferrada
- DAY 2: Stage 1, Ponferrada, Las Medulas 27,8 km 3/5
- DAY 3: Stage 2, Las Médulas, O Barco de Valdeorras 27,2 km 3/5
- DAY 4: Stage 3, O Barco de Valdeorras, Rúa 14 km 1/5
- DAY 5: Stage 4, Rúa, Quiroga 26,5 km 3/5
- DAY 6: Stage 5, Quiroga, Monforte de Lemos 33 km 2/5
- DAY 7: Stage 6, Monforte de Lemos, Chantada 30,4 km 4/5
- DAY 8: Stage 7, Chantada, Rodeiro 25,4 km 3/5
- DAY 9: Stage 8, Rodeiro, Lalín 21,98 km 2/5
- DAY 10: Stage 9, Lalín, Silleda 15,7 km 1/5
- DAY 11: Stage 10, Silleda, Ponte Ulla 19,7 km 2/5
- DAY 12: Stage 11, Ponte Ulla, Santiago de Compostela 20,9 km 1/5
- DAY 13: Return
Travel itinerary (Detailed)
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1
Arrival in Ponferrada
Fill in your pilgrim’s passport and explore this city.
Visit its Templar castle and enjoy its local gastronomy.
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2
Stage 1, from Ponferrada to Las Médulas
Distance : 27,8 km Difficulty : 3/5
Breakfast and start of the stage. This first stage through El Bierzo runs through hills covered with vineyards, small villages, and traditional architecture. After the climb to Villavieja, we will walk along paths surrounded by centuries-old chestnut trees, visit the impressive Templar Castle of Cornatel, and admire the unique formations of Las Médulas, a legacy of ancient Roman mining.
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3
Stage 2, from Las Médulas to O Barco de Valdeorras
Distance : 27,2 km Difficulty : 3/5
Breakfast and start of the stage. Today we leave El Bierzo and La Cabrera behind and enter Galicia. After reaching the Pedrices pass, we will descend comfortably through the Valdebría valley to the Cabrera River, a tributary of the Sil. We will cross it and then continue along its course, discovering the landscapes of Valdeorras, a land of renowned wines.
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4
Stage 3, from O Barco de Valdeorras to A Rúa
Distance : 14 km Difficulty : 1/5
Breakfast and start of the stage. Today’s stage is completely flat and without difficulty, highlighting the pleasant stretches along the Sil River, through riverside vegetation and riverside paths. It is a short day due to the lack of services beyond A Rúa, where it is advisable to stay overnight and regain strength before the next three, much more demanding stages.
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5
Stage 4, from A Rúa to Quiroga
Distance : 26,5 km Difficulty : 3/5
Breakfast and start of the stage. After the peaceful day along the Sil, today we face a longer but still manageable stage, although there are few services in the small villages along the way. We will walk mostly along the hillside, with spectacular views of the river deeply set at the bottom of the valley. We enter the Ribeira Sacra, a land of great wines and a remarkable concentration of medieval churches and monasteries.
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6
Stage 5, from Quiroga to Monforte de Lemos
Distance : 33 km Difficulty : 2/5
Breakfast and start of the stage. Today we leave the Sil riverbank to venture into the mountains and the valleys of the Lor and Saa rivers, on a varied and pleasant stage. Until 2021, this section connected Quiroga with Monforte de Lemos, but it was divided due to its difficulty and pilgrims’ complaints. The day ends in Monforte de Lemos, capital of the Land of Lemos and the Ribeira Sacra, the second most populated city in Lugo and located in the Cabe River valley.
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7
Stage 6, from Monforte de Lemos to Chantada
Distance : 30,4 km Difficulty : 4/5
Breakfast and start of the stage. Once again, a long stage with hardly any intermediate services, running mostly on asphalt. Fortunately, we will enjoy the extraordinary landscape of the Codos de Belesar, with terraced vineyards suspended almost vertically above the Miño River. The descent to the riverbed follows a cobbled path with a 300-meter elevation drop, not suitable for bicycles. We should regain our strength at the bottom, as another 300 meters of uphill elevation still await us.
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8
Stage 7, from Chantada to Rodeiro
Distance : 25,4 km Difficulty : 3/5
Breakfast and start of the stage. Today we will cross the Sierra do Faro which, at 1,153 meters above sea level, is the highest point of the Winter Way. Despite the elevation gain, the ascent is gradual and very pleasant. We recommend not missing the small chapel and its viewpoint, located just 400 meters from the route; from there, on a clear day, we can enjoy panoramic views over much of Galicia.
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9
Stage 8, from Rodeiro to Lalín
Distance : 21,98 km Difficulty : 2/5
Breakfast and start of the stage. Much of the stage runs through a beautiful rural setting with rolling landscapes. In the first kilometers, we will repeatedly cross the Arnego River, with medieval bridges such as the Ponte de Pedroso. We can extend the stage to the small hamlet of A Laxe, where this Winter Way meets the Vía de la Plata, also known as the Camino Sanabrés.
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10
Stage 9, from Lalín to Silleda
Distance : 15,7 km Difficulty : 1/5
Breakfast and start of the stage. Today is a short stage made up of gentle slopes through farmland, woodland and villages.
As we leave Lalin, the day starts with a climb to Botos before continuing on through several villages. The stage ends in Silleda, a modern town with all the necessary facilities.
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11
Stage 10, from Silleda to Ponte Ulla
Distance : 19,7 km Difficulty : 2/5
Breakfast and start of the stage. Starting with an easy stroll towards Bandeira, a town famous for its empanadas (Galician pies), the stage continues downhill through farmlands and villages.
Just before the descent to Ponte Ulla, take a visit around the old castle and its 360-degree panoramic views.
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12
Stage 11, from Ponte Ulla to Santiago de Compostela
Distance : 20,9 km Difficulty : 1/5
Breakfast and start of the stage. The last stage to Santiago approaches the city from one of the quietest directions.
The last few kilometres to Santiago still reflect the rural atmosphere of Galicia and it is sometimes difficult to believe you are so close to such an attractive city.
Finally, you reach Santiago and its world-famous Cathedral.
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13
Return
Take time to explore this gem of a city, which is small yet vibrant. In Santiago, you will find not only pilgrims but also locals and students, enjoying a few bites and glasses of wine in the many bars, restaurants and cozy cafés.
Included
- 12 nights in handpicked hotels and inns, all with en-suite accommodation, on a bed and breakfast basis.
- Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel: 1 bag max. 20kg/ 44 lbs per person.
- Travel insurance.
- Pilgrim's passport.
- Maps and tracks of the stages.
- Telephone assistance (English-speaking)
- Lunches.
- Flights or trains.
- Dinners.
- Single room supplement: € 370
- Superior category accommodations supplement: € 390
- Single room superior category supplement: € 450
Not included
Accommodations
All accommodations have rooms with en-suite facilities.Conditions
Price per person based on double roomDaily departures from March to October
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