Specifically the French Way? A former neighbor is going to do it in about 18 months and has invited me to go along. I am thinking about it.
So I follow this young couple. Has more to do with Spain but they have done different one’s. They are great at describing their adventure as they go. Look at all their “Camino” adventures.
If you go, I hope you get to see the running of the bulls!
My husband did it two years ago, but he didn’t do the French route. His route was 310 miles, through Spain.
I walked the Camino in 2005 with my daughter (can’t believe it was that long ago). There are many websites that offer practical information for anyone who wants to walk. I would definitely check those out. Also, there are now groups that will organize everything for you. All you have to do is show up and walk. D and I did all our own organizing. It took some time, but wasn’t that difficult. When we walked, we only met one other group of US walkers. The majority of walkers were from Spain and Germany.
A few recommendations: register for the Credencial (Pilgrim passport) and get the Compostela (certificate of complication of 100K); a great souvenir. Go to the Pilgrim’s mass in the cathedral in Santiago (end of the walk). It’s a celebration of the walk and really quite an experience. Treat yourself and stay in the parador (luxury hotels run by the Spanish government) in Santiago.
There are people on CC who have also done the walk and if you check you’ll find threads on it.
We did the French Way, Camino Frances, in 2024, from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago. We then took a bus to Muxia and walked towards Finisterre along the coast. That was the highlight, wild and isolated.
This year we walked from Le Puy in France to St Jean, the section through France before the French Way, very different from last year.
Last year we started in April and took the lower route to cross the Pyrenees since the pass was closed on and off due to snow. This year, we extended our walk to Pamplona to do the high crossing and the view from the Pyrenees was breathtaking. Don’t miss it if you can even if it’s the very first leg of the Camino Frances.
We booked rooms about 1 week out as we went and then the rest of the way once we figured out our comfortable daily pace, 20km to 25km. We stayed in hotels, airbnb and private rooms in albergues, no dorms. We carried our backpacks, 4 outfits each, but luggage transportation was very common and easy to arrange.
We went early from the start of April and completed near the end of May, about 45 days total, 40 walk days plus 5 rest days. Take a rest day every week or so to refuel and enjoy the good food and culture in places like Pamplona, Burgos, Leon and of course Santiago.
I am not an outdoorsy person by nature. I don’t hike or backpack in the wilderness, but I walk every day and live near hilly roads so that’s my training. As long as you don’t have any physical problem, the route is very doable for most people. It’s well supported and you will not lack people to socialize if you are so inclined.
I walked the Camino Frances in 2017. We didn’t always have advance reservations which was only a problem in two places and then locals helped us find a place to stay. (Saturday night in the big towns were often booked up). We started in St. Jean, had to skip the Meseta because we were meeting a friend in Leon and we weren’t going to make it on time. We took the train from Burgos to Leon. Then walked from Leon to Santiago.
We didn’t use a luggage service to keep us more flexible on where we would stay.
The albergues were the best for that Camino camaraderie with other pilgrims, but every other night or so we stayed in hotels or paradors for the luxury of a private bathroom. The parador in Santo Domingo de la Calzada on the edge of town was very nice. (There are 2 paradors in that town).
Starting mid-May we crossed the Pyrenees doing it in two days-first night Orisson (booked well ahead), second night Roncesvalles (also booked ahead). The Pyrenees were very, very windy those days.
I would recommend rest days to see the sights in Pamplona, Burgos, and Leon.
Definitely take hiking poles. Some downhills are steep with loose rocks.
My Aunt has done it 3 times - most recently at age 79 (her final trip). She did different routes each time and some were a little more challenging than others - mind you, all her Caminos were in her 70s. In her case, they had someone drive their belongings from inn to inn so they only carried day packs.