Santander to Santiago and back

Camino del Norte – Circular Tour - NC7

Northern Spain Fly-drive or Ferry-drive
14 Nights From £1,650
Classic car tours
Food tours
Motorbike tours
Camino de Santiago tours
Tour Highlights
  • The ‘Way of St James’, steeped in history

  • Spain’s most beautiful beaches

  • World class wines and gastronomy

  • Breathtaking mountain scenery

  • Magnificent cities, unspoilt villages

  • Ancient architecture; ultra-modern Guggenheim

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14 Nights From £1,650
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Overview

The classic Northern Spain itinerary adapted to combine with the ferry crossings to Bilbao and Santander. The stops are interleaved to keep driving times reasonable so you can cruise to Spain in style with your own car, motorbike or classic car – and discover north-west Spain at a leisurely pace.

Tour Highlights
  • The ‘Way of St James’, steeped in history

  • Spain’s most beautiful beaches

  • World class wines and gastronomy

  • Breathtaking mountain scenery

  • Magnificent cities, unspoilt villages

  • Ancient architecture; ultra-modern Guggenheim

This out-and-back tour is a great solution for those wishing to enter and return via the same Spanish airport, combing well for example with the routes from Manchester and Bristol to Bilbao or Dublin and Edinburgh to Santander.

The route follows close to one of the main ways of St James yet never far from the dramatic coastline and with the stunning Cordillera de Cantabria mountain range as a backdrop. From start to finish you’ll find great walking, superb food and wine, great cities and lovely, well preserved towns to investigate as well as the legacy of hundreds of years of pilgrimage.

The full route takes two weeks but you can do as little, or as much, as you like.

Holiday Code: NC7


Itinerary


Day 4 & 5– Costa Lucense, Galicia

  • Great seafood – famed throughout Spain

  • Playa Catedrales, one of many fantastic beaches

  • Unspoilt coastline with lovely fishing villages

  • Viveiro, lively seaside city with an atmospheric old town

  • Sargadelo pottery, traditional yet with a modern look.

Day 4 & 5 – Costa Lucense, Galicia

Day 6 & 7– Santiago de Compostela, Galicia

  • Journey’s end, for centuries Europe’s most important pilgrim destination

  • World heritage city centred around the magnificent Cathedral, said to house the bones of St James

  • Guided walking tour, there’s so much to discover

  • Lively bar scene, great tapas and young Ribeiro wine, or if you prefer, a drop of Albariñ

Day 6 & 7 – Santiago de Compostela, Galicia

Day 8 & 9– Western Asturias

  • Pretty fishing villages such as Cudillero & Luarca

  • Beautiful beaches & dramatic cliff-top coastal walks

  • Dinosaur coast & Jurassic museum

  • Oviedo, historic Asturian capital & Gijon by the sea

  • National Park of Somiedo – maybe you’ll see bears!

  • Visit a traditional Asturian cider house (sidrería)

Day 8 & 9 – Western Asturias

Day 10 & 11– Picos de Europa

  • Breathtaking mountain scenery, walks & activities for all

  • Wildlife, butterflies to birds of prey, bears too!

  • Make a pilgrimage to Santo Toribio

  • Cable car at Fuente De whisks you up to 1800m

  • Potes, Cangas and Arriondas, historic yet full of life

  • Local mountain gastronomy, cider & Orujo

Day 10 & 11 – Picos de Europa


& why not?

  • Fly into Bilbao and add a night or two in the city

  • Or fly into Santiago or La Coruña and reverse the direction of the trip

  • Add a stop in the Rias Bajas - or stay there instead of Santiago

  • Ask about superior rooms, a larger rental car or better cabins on the ferry

  • or more economical options if you're on a budget...

  • If flying from Stansted, Gatwick or Dublin, take our NC1 Camino del Norte one-way tour

  • Call us to talk through all the options - we'd love to hear from you!

& why not?


Map


What's Included

  • Accommodation in our listed hotels – 2 sharing 1 std. double ensuite, B&B (unless specified)

  • Economy 4-door car hire (talk to us about upgrades)

  • or ferry crossings with Brittany Ferries (vehicle + 4 berth outside cabin, exclusive use)

  • Guide to Northern Spain

  • Restaurant guide covering all regions en-route

  • Instructions to find all accommodation

What's Excluded

  • Flights – but we are able to advise

  • One-way car hire charges, where applicable (see your quote email)

  • The following car hire extras – these can be added at pick-up point

    • extra driver, child seats, GPS

  • Garage parking where applicable (mostly city stops) – please ask us about parking charges

  • Local tourist taxes (where applicable)


Travel Details

Getting There

An out-and-back itinerary, this route is best enjoyed either from the Basque Country (Bilbao), Cantabria (Santander) or Galicia (Santiago or A Coruña). See your flight options in the table below:

Or make the same itinerary fly-drive point-to-point – check our Bilbao to Santiago Coastal Route - NC1.

PLEASE NOTE Flights are not included and some flights are seasonal.

 Ferry: If you wish to bring your own car, classic car or motorbike, we can include the ferry crossings as part of the package – see timetables below:


Flight Options

Choose your preferred UK airport and then select from possible destinations to see airline providers.

Getting Around

For passengers travelling by air we will include a hire car as part of the package. Normally we include a 4 door economy class car but please let us know if you would like something different.

For those coming on the ferry you will use your own vehicle but in either case we will provide full instructions to arrive at each hotel, complete with GPS, as well as a map of the area.


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Our team of experts have over 35 years travel expertise in Spain & Portugal.

You’ll receive friendly, personal service from start to finish of the booking process.

Call and speak to Andy, Leonor or Antonio about your dream holiday in Spain & Portugal...

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Why choose Caminos

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About us

With 40+ years’ experience designing holidays in Spain & Portugal, our friendly, expert team offers personal service from booking to your return. While away, you’ll have ground support from local agents.

Every trip is tailored to your budget and needs.

Call us - we’d love to hear from you!

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About our tours

Discover authentic Spain & Portugal, far from tourist crowds. Stay in charming, trusted places — from castles and palaces to rural guesthouses and Paradores.

Your pack includes maps, guidebook, and touring tips. Plus, our Vamos travel app keeps all your documents and guides in one place.

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Peace of Mind

We’ve been a fully bonded UK tour operator since 1985, so your money and holiday are protected.


We’re also members of AITO (Association of Independent Tour Operators) — the hallmark of trusted, specialist holidays. Independent dispute resolution means you always travel with confidence.