Best Time to Walk in spring

[jane barclay]

I'm sure this question has been asked before but I'm not finding the exact answer. My husband and I are planning to walk the Le Puy route as far as Cahors in the spring of 2025. We plan to book our accommodation in advance (that's just who I am.... I need to know I have a place to stay or I will be stressed about it!), shorter days of ~20km or so. We can't leave until to end of April at the earliest. I understand that the route, especially as far as Conques, gets quite busy in May with French holiday walkers. Would it be better to leave end of April to try and get ahead of the crowd, or wait until later in May when maybe the busyness has subsided? I see that there's a holiday on May 20. Is there a sweet spot? Does it matter at all if we are booking ahead?

 

[John Gilliland]

I'm sure this question has been asked before but I'm not finding the exact answer. My husband and I are planning to walk the Le Puy route as far as Cahors in the spring of 2025. We plan to book our accommodation in advance (that's just who I am.... I need to know I have a place to stay or I will be stressed about it!), shorter days of ~20km or so. We can't leave until to end of April at the earliest. I understand that the route, especially as far as Conques, gets quite busy in May with French holiday walkers. Would it be better to leave end of April to try and get ahead of the crowd, or wait until later in May when maybe the busyness has subsided? I see that there's a holiday on May 20. Is there a sweet spot? Does it matter at all if we are booking ahead?

Booking ahead will help. I would start trying to book now and that way you should be fine even with all the May holidays.

 

[Tincatinker]

I'm sure this question has been asked before but I'm not finding the exact answer

That’s because there isn’t an exact answer. Too many variables; too little precision.

If you can settle your travel dates and pre-book your accommodations you do not have a problem. If you can’t nail down the accommodation string you’ll have to decide whether to wing it or not.

A couple of stressful days on the internet should crack it

 

[CTLawGal]

I am also walking that route in May 2025 - starting in Geneva in mid April, reaching Le Puy May 2, I've booked my route (I'm that kind of person too, even if it means less spontaneity, it also means less anxiety - particularly during May when there are lots of "bridge" holidays (I.e., holidays that are 1-2 days near weekends that cause many French to take advantage of getting a full week (or even 9 days) while only using 2-3 vacation days).

I was thinking that more people might be more interesting on some parts of my 50 day walking plan, especially since I expect the first 3 weeks to be fairly solitary walking from Geneva - a nice mix of solitary at first then meeting more people. My French is good, so I also thought it would be a nice opportunity to use it while walking through a part of France I don't know at all, and also might make evenings more interesting I also prefer walking in colder weather, so that was a motivating factor, to finish before it gets deep into June.

So if you can make your bookings now, I would say do it and hope for glorious spring weather with a blooming countryside (but be prepared for spring rains). That's what I'm hoping for anyway! (I had originally thought to walk this route in fall, but in an earlier post somewhere on this forum, a pilgrim had shared pictures that inspired me to reconsider and pick spring instead.)

 

[jane barclay]

I am also walking that route in May 2025 - starting in Geneva in mid April, reaching Le Puy May 2, I've booked my route (I'm that kind of person too, even if it means less spontaneity, it also means less anxiety - particularly during May when there are lots of "bridge" holidays (I.e., holidays that are 1-2 days near weekends that cause many French to take advantage of getting a full week (or even 9 days) while only using 2-3 vacation days).

I was thinking that more people might be more interesting on some parts of my 50 day walking plan, especially since I expect the first 3 weeks to be fairly solitary walking from Geneva - a nice mix of solitary at first then meeting more people. My French is good, so I also thought it would be a nice opportunity to use it while walking through a part of France I don't know at all, and also might make evenings more interesting I also prefer walking in colder weather, so that was a motivating factor, to finish before it gets deep into June.

So if you can make your bookings now, I would say do it and hope for glorious spring weather with a blooming countryside (but be prepared for spring rains). That's what I'm hoping for anyway! (I had originally thought to walk this route in fall, but in an earlier post somewhere on this forum, a pilgrim had shared pictures that inspired me to reconsider and pick spring instead.)

Were you able to book right through to SJPP? And what did you find was the best way to make reservations? I see that some places do not accept bookings until some time in the new year.

 

[CTLawGal]

I did book, but all hotels, not gites, I think there are a couple where I couldn't book yet, so I've flagged them and will check back as the new year gets closer. I looked at places available, tried to contact them directly where possible, Hotels.com or other service where not... It's a lot for 50 stays...

 

[jane barclay]

I did book, but all hotels, not gites, I think there are a couple where I couldn't book yet, so I've flagged them and will check back as the new year gets closer. I looked at places available, tried to contact them directly where possible, Hotels.com or other service where not... It's a lot for 50 stays...

I agree, it's a lot. But the planning and anticipation is part of the fun!

 

[Lleslie]

We walked mid May thru June 2018 - prebooked the first 10 days to Conques and then 2-3 days ahead after that. Had trouble finding accommodation on the Aubrac for one stage - ending up doing 27k (longer than we wanted) due to the Transhumance (late May) - the cows gathered in Nasbinals in their floral head dresses, tractors decked out in flowers, people in traditional clothing was a real highlight Best to check out the date for next year and book your accommodation early if you are planning to be in the area at that time. Bon Chemin

 

[Rick2203]

Yea, that is the crowded season for that part of the Le Puy route, but it is still far less crowded than most anytime on the Camino Frances.

If you are pre-booked, then you will be fine.

I walked that trail last year at that time without any pre-booking and made it through with only limited fretting and suffering.

 

[CorinneH]

My husband and I walked from Le Puy to Cahors (where covid ended our walk) in 2023 and again from Le Puy to Santiago de Compostella in 2024. We walked from about May 10 in 2023 and encountered quite cool, wet weather. (The Aubrac was downright cold, but we loved it anyway.) We had only booked our accommodation a few days in advance, and that was nowhere near enough. It was a bit of a disaster, really.

In 2024, we started May 27, had better weather, booked all the way to Cahors before we started (and then 3-5 days in advance from there to St Jean PDP), and had a much more enjoyable experience.

You will have a great time, regardless, as the route is spectacular! Bon Chemin!

 

[Leigh Lorayne]

I walked in 2033 starting the end of April through to Saint Jean Pied de Port ending early June. Prebooked all gites. It was a wonderful Camino. Beautiful flowers. Definitely pilgrims but not overcrowded from my perspective. No stress for accommodation while others who hadn’t booked ahead spent some stressful time finding accommodation in some places.
Bon Chemin! You will love it.

 

[futurefjp]

It may have been already answered, but there are a lot of public holidays in May which I found getting a bed difficult...

 

[Bedspring]

We plan to book our accommodation in advance (that's just who I am.... I need to know I have a place to stay or I will be stressed about it!),

Possibly, just possibly this is what you could learn on Camino, do not book anything, learn to live with the uncertainty. What is the worst that will happen, a Taxi to a Hotel off route, could you survive that?

 

[Lexicos]

I walked in May this year, from Le Puy to Lectoure and didn’t book in advance but booked a day ahead. I struggled on 3 nights but locals and the Tourist Office jumped in and saved the day.

I’m going back in May 2025 to continue. The public holidays do make it difficult, that’s true, but nearly every place I stayed at had empty beds!!! Go figure. People book then don’t show up I guess.

Anyway if you get stressed, book ahead and well in advance. Less flexible but less stress.
I plan to wing it except for the first couple of days. But then it’s not my first camino and I’m going solo, which helps.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

walked in May this year, from Le Puy to Lectoure and didn’t book in advance but booked a day ahead. I struggled on 3 nights but locals and the Tourist Office jumped in and saved the day.

I’m going back in May 2025 to continue. The public holidays do make it difficult, that’s true, but nearly every place I stayed at had empty beds!!! Go figure. People book then don’t show up I guess.

Anyway if you get stressed, book ahead and well in advance. Less flexible but less stress.
I plan to wing it except for the first couple of days.

I walked the Via Podiensis in late spring 2018 as far as Auvillar; only booking one day ahead the whole way minus the first and last day. I now prefer to book each day on my Caminos in advance; the majority using Booking.com and I don't mind paying more for the convenience and peace of mind.
I am thinking of various routes and one I am "considering" is repeating the Le Puy this spring, but have not made a final decision. I have looked on Gronze and see very few gites are listed on Booking.com. If I could wing it again, I happily would, but with all of the internet sites that have broadened in recent years, I am not sure it is possible without a lot of stress.
@Lexicos, what method did you use to book ahead day by day, and do you speak French?

 

[Lexicos]

I walked the Via Podiensis in late spring 2018 as far as Auvillar; only booking one day ahead the whole way minus the first and last day. I now prefer to book each day on my Caminos in advance; the majority using Booking.com and I don't mind paying more for the convenience and peace of mind.
I am thinking of various routes and one I am "considering" is repeating the Le Puy this spring, but have not made a final decision. I have looked on Gronze and see very few gites are listed on Booking.com. If I could wing it again, I happily would, but with all of the internet sites that have broadened in recent years, I am not sure it is possible without a lot of stress.
@Lexicos, what method did you use to book ahead day by day, and do you speak French?

I use Gronze Chrissy. It lists nearly all of the gites at every stop along the route and what each has to offer. I speak enough French just to get by, not more. But most will speak enough English anyway. Or you can ask a French speaker to help out. I’ve done that a couple of times. Other times I’ve shared a hotel room with a fellow pilgrim or asked a local to help me out. I plan to do the same this time, in May. I used to get stressed but thankfully I’ve trained myself to adapt and to be flexible and to rely a little bit on The Fates, as it were. And, it certainly amplifies the adventure component of my camino!!
It’s a fantastic route, you’ll like it. Bon Chemin.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

@Lexicos, when you contacted the gites yourself, did you phone them, use email, or Whatsapp to communicate?

 

[Lexicos]

Phone first Chrissy, usually followed up by WhatsApp. Sometimes email, but less often. First and most important is to call, and get a yes or no. WhatsApp is used by many simply to confirm, especially so in Spain. I found that in France, a phone call is sufficient. Most will ask you to confirm by 2 pm on the day of arrival. Of course if you must cancel, the earlier the better.

 

[Smash123]

I walked in 2023 starting in Le Puy on April 2, and ending in Roncesvalles on May 9th. I booked day of, usually and typically by phone, but also email and WhatsApp. Because I was booking that way, the gite hosts tended to warn me if I would have issues in the following days due either to scarcity of accommodation or a glut of pilgrims/hikers. a few of them offered to make a call for me, which I gratefully accepted. I was travelling alone, and speak passable French. Sometimes I would be given the trundle bed in the office, because the gite was full, but I never had to walk on or sleep on the floor. I used the Wise Pilgrim App, and many gites had lists you could photograph that would have gites not in guides.