Stage of the Camino
Stage Pedrafita do Cebreiro to Sarria (By bike)
From Pedrafita do Cebreiro To Sarria
Plan your CaminoOrigin
Destination
Distance
40.00 km
Duration
3.00 h
Difficulty
Moderate
Ascent
450 m
Descent
1110 m
Stage of the Camino
Stage Description
A transitional stage through the mountains of Lugo, mostly downhill, which feels like a reward after the great effort of climbing to O Cebreiro. The route picks up the Camino at altitude and still has a few short climbs to tackle, such as the Alto de San Roque and the Alto do Poio, the highest point of the Camino in Galicia. From there a long, exhilarating descent unfolds through oak and chestnut woods, with views over the Lugo valleys, passing through Fonfría and Triacastela. From there the route can continue via Samos, with its impressive Benedictine monastery, or take the shorter San Xil variant. The day ends in Sarria, the most popular starting point for those covering the final 100 kilometres. The descent, technical in places, calls for careful use of the brakes.
This stage of around 40 kilometres links Pedrafita do Cebreiro with Sarria across the eastern mountains of Lugo. Although its profile is clearly downhill, it retains a few opening climbs before a long descent, making it a comfortable yet technically demanding day for the cyclist.
From Pedrafita, the route regains the altitude of O Cebreiro and runs along the crest of the sierra amid landscapes of great beauty. Beyond Liñares it crowns the Alto de San Roque, presided over by the striking statue of the pilgrim leaning into the wind, and shortly afterwards the Alto do Poio, at around 1,335 metres, the highest point of the Camino Francés in Galicia.
From the Poio the descent proper begins. The path drops between Fonfría and Biduedo through a string of small Galician hamlets, with their hórreos and woods of oak and chestnut, down to Triacastela, a historic Jacobean stage-end. The surface and the gradient demand careful riding and good use of the brakes.
From Triacastela, the cyclist can choose between two historic variants. The route via Samos, a little longer, allows a visit to one of the oldest and most monumental Benedictine monasteries in the West. The alternative via San Xil is shorter and more rural. Both converge on the way to Sarria, a lively town closely tied to the Camino, as it is the most common starting point for those wishing to earn the Compostela by walking the final hundred kilometres to Santiago.
From Pedrafita, the route regains the altitude of O Cebreiro and runs along the crest of the sierra amid landscapes of great beauty. Beyond Liñares it crowns the Alto de San Roque, presided over by the striking statue of the pilgrim leaning into the wind, and shortly afterwards the Alto do Poio, at around 1,335 metres, the highest point of the Camino Francés in Galicia.
From the Poio the descent proper begins. The path drops between Fonfría and Biduedo through a string of small Galician hamlets, with their hórreos and woods of oak and chestnut, down to Triacastela, a historic Jacobean stage-end. The surface and the gradient demand careful riding and good use of the brakes.
From Triacastela, the cyclist can choose between two historic variants. The route via Samos, a little longer, allows a visit to one of the oldest and most monumental Benedictine monasteries in the West. The alternative via San Xil is shorter and more rural. Both converge on the way to Sarria, a lively town closely tied to the Camino, as it is the most common starting point for those wishing to earn the Compostela by walking the final hundred kilometres to Santiago.
Last updated: 16/06/2026
Where to Sleep
Accommodations in this Stage
Find the perfect place for your rest in Pedrafita do Cebreiro o Sarria.
Start your adventure
Ready to walk this stage?
We design your personalised Camino de Santiago experience.
Plan your CaminoWalk this route with us
Fancy walking this route?
We don't have a ready-made package for this route yet, but we'll organise it around you. Tell us how you'd like to experience it and a specialist will reply within 24 h.
Request your proposal