Where to start?? Can a group stay in mixed accomodation...

Hi eok56, welcome to the Forum.

Q1: I presume that you have calculated your logistics for getting to Sarria for your day 2. Most guides suggest 5 days to walk Sarria to Santiago and, I would expect, you will want to spend some time exploring the lovely city when you arrive, there is much to see. As to pace - Sarria is 115 / 120 k from Santiago giving you 5 20 - 25k days, how leisurely you will find that will depend on how "match fit"you are; how you cope with carrying a pack for those sorts of distances on consecutive days. Frequent advice on this forum to new pilgrims is start slowly. Though if you want a more challenging walk start from Tricastela or even O' Cebreiro.

Q2: There is a broad variety of accommodation along the camino. Your group will find something to suit every taste and budget, but (that should probably be BUT) the chances of those coinciding - so you can socialise in the evenings and start together in the mornings - are slim. It won't be impossible but it will require organisation, probably some intensive web and forum surfing and a lot of careful planning and compromise. Booking in advance in July would be advisable at least some of the private accommodation along the route in the more popular stopping points. Xunta & Paroquial Albergues do not take bookings but most privately run Albergues do, as do the Pensions, Hostals, Hotels and Casa Rurals.

And an entirely personal viewpoint - Albergues are part and parcel of the Camino experience. Not a requisite and certainly not compulsory, but definitely memorable.

You are welcome. Just checked my 2012 notes. I walked Samos ( Lovely monastery, with a cold and damp Albergue (there are alternatives) and I was there in a damp May) to Santiago in 5 days but I had started in France and was well into the groove. Probably a great place to start.

Stern advice here - you will need to consider your and your whole groups fitness and abilities. Practice together, find out if you have a common pace, and remember walking 20k in a day is easy for most people of average fitness levels, in good footwear and carrying a sensible pack weight. Doing it for 7 days consecutively can challenge anyone.

I wish you Buen Camino

Looks as good a plan as any other . The places you have selected should provide for all your groups needs.

A couple of suggestions: The "diversion", side-trip to to Vilar de Donas from Portos, a little before Palas de Rei is well worth it. A mostly 14c but in parts 10c church with some fabulous fresco remnants including an image of the Christ newly awoken in the tomb. I found the image stunning - the unknown artist painted an ordinary man who has been crucified - his wounds clearly visible - and yet he is resurrected. He looks shocked. The pain is still fresh, his death recalled, yet here he is awake, arisen in the tomb. No angels yet. And visit the Iglesia Santiago in Arzua, it has twin images of Santiago Matamoro and Peregrino. I remember it with affection because a young man in the congregation touched my arm, smiled and said , 'the church is modern but the Way is old".

You haven't said whether you are on pilgrimage, out for a hike or somewhere between the two. Personally I've never quite worked that one out.