French Way by bike from León

Frequently Asked Questions

• How many kilometres are cycled per day on the Camino de Santiago?

  Doing the Camino by bike allows the ‘bicigrino’ to cover more kilometres per day than a pilgrim on foot, easily double. The number of kilometres cycled per day depends on several factors:

  • physical capabilities of each person;
  • time available;
  • route and section chosen (technical difficulty of the terrain);
  • availability of accommodation.

  A priori, a pilgrim can cycle between 50 km and 100 km per stage. In flat stages, such as those of the Meseta, you can easily cover up to 100 km per day, although in stages with slopes, such as the arrival at Roncesvalles or O Cebreiro, it is perhaps more convenient to establish shorter stages.

• What kind of bicycles can I rent to do the Camino de Santiago?

  We have high quality mountain bikes and electric bikes that you can rent during the whole Camino. Check the details here.

• What services are included in the Camino de Santiago by bike?

  The Camino de Santiago by bike includes the following services:

  • Accommodation
  • Dossier with information about the stages
  • Pilgrim's credential
  • On-the-road helpline
  • Travel insurance

  In addition, you can customize your trip by adding the following optional services:

  • Luggage transport between stages
  • Breakfast or half board
  • Extra night at the beginning or end of the stage
  • Bicycle rental

  Unlike the group trips, no guide or support vehicle is included between stages. However, you will have a 24-hour hotline where you can contact us in case of any problem or unforeseen event, which we will solve quickly.

• Can I bring my own bicycle for a trip on the Camino de Santiago?

  Yes, you can do the Camino with your own bike. The important thing is that it is in good condition before starting to avoid problems. Remember that you can also rent a bicycle with us (MTB, e-Bike, etc., with equipment included) which you will find directly at your first shelter, and we will indicate where to return it at the end of your journey.

• Where will I leave the bicycle each night at the accommodations?

  Do not worry, most accommodations on the Camino have secure spaces for bicycles. They are usually garages or enclosed areas with security measures. When we organize your trip, we ensure that each accommodation guarantees this service. Additionally, if it is an e-Bike and you need to charge it overnight, the accommodations will provide you with a power outlet and electricity.

• Does the French Way from León entitle you to the Compostela?

  Yes, definitely. From León it is about 300 km to Santiago, well above the minimum. It is the ideal option if you want a longer experience than the last 100 km without doing the complete Camino.

• What should I see in León before starting the Camino Francés by bike?

  Save the afternoon you arrive for León Cathedral, whose stained-glass windows are considered among the most beautiful in Europe. Close by you have the Collegiate Church of San Isidoro, with Romanesque frescoes nicknamed «the Sistine Chapel of Romanesque art», the former Hospital de San Marcos with its great Plateresque façade, and Gaudí's Casa Botines.

  For dinner, head to the Barrio Húmedo and the Barrio Romántico: heritage and tapas in equal measure before you get on the bike the next day.

• What is it like leaving León by bike towards Astorga?

  Leaving León is the least attractive part of the trip: residential and industrial areas with quite a lot of traffic. As far as Hospital de Órbigo you can follow the traditional route beside the main road or take a slightly longer alternative away from the traffic.

  After the bridge at Hospital de Órbigo you choose again between road and countryside; the countryside option climbs to the Cruz de Toribio, with good views. To enter Astorga, instead of carrying your bike up the steps of the footbridge over the railway, stay on the main road.

• Is it better to ride down from the Cruz de Ferro to Molinaseca by road or on the trail?

  By road. On the Astorga–Ponferrada stage, after the Cruz de Ferro, an 18 km descent to Molinaseca begins. The walking trail has narrow paths, a stony surface, steep gradients and stretches along the edge of ravines, so we recommend the tarmac: the LE-142 road runs parallel to the trail.

  Before the climb, stop to refuel in Rabanal del Camino, and save lunch for Molinaseca.

• What is the stone ritual at the Cruz de Ferro?

  The Cruz de Ferro is one of the great landmarks of the Camino Francés, and you ride past it on the Astorga–Ponferrada stage. Tradition says you leave at its foot a stone brought from home or picked up where you started the Camino; if you set off from León, it can be a stone from there.

  It is a short stop in the middle of the climb from Rabanal del Camino, just before the long descent towards Molinaseca and Ponferrada.

• What should I see in Astorga at the end of the first bike stage?

  Astorga is small but packed with monuments, so try to arrive with time to spare. Don't miss the Cathedral of Santa María, Gaudí's Episcopal Palace, the modernist Casa Granell, the Museo de los Caminos and the town's Roman remains.

  It marks the end of the 49 km from León and is a good place to rest before the much more demanding stage to Ponferrada.