A source routing method and apparatus are provided. The method includes receiving a data packet that comprises a destination address, a source address, and a payload, determining a plurality of next-hops along a service chain path between the source address and the destination address, generating a source routed data packet that comprises the destination address, the source address, the plurality of next-hops, and the payload, setting the destination address of the source routed data packet to a first next-hop from the plurality of next-hops along the service chain path, and forwarding the source routed data packet in accordance with the destination address.