Stroll
Camino Primitivo
Camino de Santiago

Camino Primitivo

Walk the oldest of all the Camino routes, tracing the path of the very first pilgrim across the rugged mountains and lush forests of Asturias and Galicia from Oviedo to Santiago de Compostela.

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Tips, tricks, and trail insights - everything you need to know about multi-day walks in Camino Primitivo.

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Overview

The Camino Primitivo has a legitimate claim to being the original pilgrimage. In 814 AD, King Alfonso II of Asturias walked this very path from Oviedo to Santiago de Compostela after hearing of the discovery of Saint James' tomb, making him the first recorded pilgrim. Over twelve centuries later, the route remains one of the most rewarding and least crowded of all the Camino paths.

From Oviedo, the trail crosses the Cantabrian Mountains through remote Asturian villages and mist-covered peaks before reaching Lugo, whose remarkable Roman walls are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The second half winds through quiet Galician hamlets and ancient woodlands before joining the Camino Francés for the final stretch into Santiago de Compostela.

With fewer than five percent of pilgrims choosing this route, the Camino Primitivo offers a depth of solitude and scenery that the more famous paths simply cannot match. This is the Camino at its most elemental.

Available Strolls

Retorta Burdecedo Spain Field and town Camino Primitivo
Self-Guided

Camino Primitivo: The Original Way - 11 Days

Duration11 days
Walking Grade
3
From£1,090
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Camino Primitivo: Final Stage - Lugo to Santiago - 8 Days
Self-Guided

Camino Primitivo: Final Stage - Lugo to Santiago - 8 Days

Duration8 days
Walking Grade
3
From£800
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The Camino Primitivo experience

Wonder
Walk the oldest Camino de Santiago route, first walked in the 9th century by King Alfonso II
Visit the Cathedral of Oviedo, considered the spiritual birthplace of the Santiago pilgrimage
Finish inside the UNESCO-listed walled city of Lugo before the final stage to Santiago de Compostela
Wellness
A quieter, more challenging route away from the tourist trail, through Asturian and Galician villages
Long sections of off-pavement walking through pristine countryside and ancient forest paths
The convergence with the Camino Frances near Melide brings a festive energy to the final days
Nature
Lush green hills, wooded river valleys, and the authentic sounds of rural Galicia
Galicia's ancient stone bridges, medieval churches, and moss-covered waymarkers define the final stages
Tiny hamlets and remote Galician villages that have welcomed pilgrims for over a thousand years
Coming soon
Local recommendations are coming soon.

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More About This Destination

There are better times than others to walk the Camino. On almost all of the Caminos, spring and autumn are the best times. Mid-summer can be a little warmer. Early winter is possible, but the accommodations along the route are less likely to be open.

You will have to check the weather for each destination, especially through the Pyrenees. We have provided more detailed information on the specific walk's website page for each destination.

Frequently asked questions

Unfortunately, walkers cannot travel with the luggage. The information you are provided with has details for local taxi numbers, bus and train timetables should you wish to not walk on any day. Your accommodation hosts will also have up to date information and advice should you wish to travel to the next destination by local transport. As always, you can call us in the office should you need help during your walk.

Santiago, of course! This city is worthy of an extra day and not just to further explore the grand cathedral. Santiago boasts a wealth of medieval architecture, tapas bars and restaurants. We can also arrange an onward walk to the coastal point of Finisterre. Regarded as the end of the world by the Romans, many pilgrims continue on walking for several days to reach Finisterre. Having completed the Camino, it is an extra 4 days to reach Finisterre with a transfer back to Santiago on the fifth day.

Of course, please let us know at the time of booking if you would like to extend your time in Santiago.

We don't allow children under the age of 16 to do this walk.

Subject to a single occupancy payment, single rooms are available. However, due to the limited accommodation single rooms might not always be available for every night of the tour, but we will let you know your options throughout the booking process.

We wouldn’t suggest completing the itinerary in less than 8 days and 7 nights.

Of course, we’re happy to discuss your needs. If you feel you would prefer the ultimate Camino walk, you may wish to look at walking the full Camino route for 40 days or Leon to Santiago in 16 days.

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