What is the level of difficulty of the Camino?
Camino routes range from Easy (Grade 1–2, under 5 hours/day, flat terrain) to Challenging (Grade 5, over 7 hours/day, 1000m+ ascent). The easiest routes are the Camino Portugués Coastal and the Camino Inglés. The most demanding are the Camino Primitivo and the full Camino Francés from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Most first-time pilgrims walk a Moderate or Easy route over 6–10 days.
This guide explains how we grade Camino routes by difficulty and what each grade means in practice. For advice on choosing the right route for your experience level, see our guide to the best Camino for beginners and easiest Camino routes. To assess your fitness and prepare, visit our Camino fitness hub.
Table of contents
How We Grade Camino Routes
We grade each walking holiday based on three factors: distance per day, gradient (ascent and descent), and trail type (mountain track, forest path, paved road). Every trip on our site shows its difficulty grade clearly in the Quick Facts box.
- Our three grades are:
- Easy (Grade 1–2) — Under 5 hours walking per day. Gentle terrain, no steep climbs, accessible paths. Ideal for first-time walkers, families, and those returning to walking after a break. Some light training walks beforehand will help you enjoy it more.
- Moderate (Grade 3–4) — Around 5–7 hours per day, usually under 20km. Up to 1,000m ascent daily with some steeper sections. Suitable for walkers with average fitness and some walking experience. We recommend a few 3–4 hour walks in the weeks before you travel.
- Challenging (Grade 5) — Over 7 hours or more than 20km per day. More than 1,000m ascent with steep and technically demanding sections. Best for experienced walkers in good physical condition. Train with 4–5 hour weekend hikes, including mountain terrain if possible.
What Makes the Camino Hard?
The physical difficulty of the Camino depends on more than just distance. These are the factors that catch walkers out most often:
Elevation and descent — Climbs are tiring but descents are harder on knees and feet. The O Cebreiro stage on the Camino Francés and the mountain sections of the Primitivo are the most demanding on the network.
Consecutive days — Walking 15–20km once is manageable. Walking it six days in a row is a different challenge. Fatigue builds up, and the later stages of any route are harder than the first.
Heat — Summer temperatures in inland Spain regularly exceed 30°C. See our guide on walking the Camino in hot weather for practical advice.
Pack weight — A heavy backpack multiplies the difficulty of every stage. Our luggage transfer service moves your bag between hotels each day so you walk with just a light daypack — making any grade significantly more manageable.
Blisters and foot problems — The most common reason walkers struggle or stop. Read our guides on avoiding blisters, treating blisters and foot care while walking before you go.
How Hard Is the First Day of the Camino?
The first day often surprises walkers — not because of the distance but because your body is not yet adapted to consecutive walking days. Read our dedicated guide on how hard is the first day of the Camino for a stage-by-stage breakdown of the most demanding opening sections.
Camino Routes by Difficulty Level
- The Camino Portugués Coastal from Vigo is the easiest option — flat, scenic and averaging just 16km per day. Perfect for first-timers.
- The Camino Inglés from Ferrol is slightly more varied but still gentle, with 17km per day and a short overall distance. A great first Camino.
- The Camino Francés from Sarria is Moderate — 18km per day on rolling Galician hills. The most popular beginner route thanks to its excellent infrastructure and atmosphere.
- The Camino Portugués from Porto is also Moderate, with 20km per day and beautiful scenery throughout. A step up from Vigo but very manageable.
- The Camino del Norte moves into Moderate–Challenging territory — 25km per day with significant climbs along the northern coast. Best for walkers with some experience.
- The Camino Primitivo is the most physically demanding route — very high ascent, remote mountain terrain and 22km per day. Not for first-timers.
- The full Camino Francés from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is also Challenging — 25km per day including the famous Pyrenean crossing on day one. Best tackled by seasoned pilgrims.
Camino Routes by Difficulty Level
Bar length indicates relative difficulty · km = average daily distance
Am I Fit Enough to Walk the Camino?
Fitness is relative — what matters is being honest about your current level and choosing a route and pace that matches it. Our Camino fitness hub has a straightforward self-assessment to help you decide. If you need to build fitness before your trip, follow our 6-month training plan or our how to train for the Camino guide. Short on time? Our last-minute training tips cover what to do in the final weeks.
For tips on staying healthy and comfortable on the trail, see our 15 tips to stay fit and healthy on the Camino and our guides on common mistakes to avoid and tips for inexperienced walkers.
Making Any Camino Easier
Regardless of the grade you choose, these steps will significantly reduce the difficulty of any route:
Transfer your luggage with our luggage transfer service — included in all CaminoWays packages. Start with an Easy Walking tour with shorter daily stages of 8–15km. Use the split option on longer stages to break them into two shorter days. Stretch morning and evening — our 5 useful stretches for walkers video covers the essentials. Fuel properly on the trail with our snacks for walking guide.
Plan Your Camino
Use our Award-Winning Camino Planner to find the right route and grade for your fitness level, or contact our travel team for personalised advice.
FAQs
The Camino ranges from Easy to Challenging depending on the route and section. The last 100km of the Camino Francés from Sarria and the Camino Portugués Coastal from Vigo are the most accessible for walkers of average fitness. The Camino Primitivo and the full Camino Francés from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port are the most physically demanding.
Which is the hardest CaminThe Camino Primitivo is widely considered the most physically demanding — high elevation, remote terrain, long stages and basic infrastructure. The opening stage of the full Camino Francés over the Pyrenees from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is one of the hardest single days on any Camino route.
The Camino Portugués Coastal from Vigo to Santiago (100km, 6 days) is the flattest and least physically demanding of the main routes. For a full comparison see our easiest Camino routes guide.
This depends on the route and your pace. Most standard itineraries average 18–25km per day. Our Easy Walking tours cover 8–15km per day — a much more comfortable starting point for first-time or inexperienced walkers.
Age is not a barrier to walking the Camino — pilgrims in their 70s and 80s complete it every year. The key is choosing the right route and grade for your fitness level. See our dedicated guide on walking the Camino at any age for honest, practical advice.
The first day is often harder than expected — not because of distance but because your body needs time to adapt to consecutive walking days. Read our full guide on how hard is the first day of the Camino for a detailed breakdown.
