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Which Camino and which stages for our first Camino

C

ColinM

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
September 2024
Hi there,
Not sure where to post this so please move as best.

I am looking forward to walking for a week on one of the Camino stages in September due have no idea which would be the best option? My wife and I are in our 50ks reasonably fit - dog walkers rather than hikers so 20km per day would suit but any more than 25km might be a stretch.

We are looking for scenery and company but not so busy we feel like we are in a queue. One of the last 100kms would suit but we don’t need to end in Santiago, have also looked at San Sebastian to Bilbao. We live in Scotland so would like some warm weather for a change .

Would very much appreciate advice and pros and cons between options.

Looking forward to our first Camino experience!
 
Camino Preparation Guide
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Welcome to the forum!

For clarification, we usually refer to "stages" as being the daily sections. So you are asking about a possible 1-week walk or 7-stages on one of the Camino routes.

For walking in September, you need to be aware that it is one of the two busiest months of the year for starting from Saint Jean Pied de Port, and that crowd will be making their way westward. There are bottlenecks at the start, but the numbers spread out and become less of a problem across the middle portion of the Camino Frances. September will probably also be busy on the Camino Portugues from Porto and the Camino Ingles.

What type of accommodation are you seeking? For 1-week in September, I'd probably suggest booking all accommodation.

It is hard to recommend a 7-day section without an anchor at the beginning or the end, or something in between! Every option will have good points and bad, without the special continuity that a longer planned journey to Santiago brings. Maybe you should just pick a city along the Camino that you'd like to visit, and look at where you might walk to. Then, consider the transportation options for getting to and from that city.
 
ColinM said:
One of the last 100kms would suit but we don’t need to end in Santiago
Click to expand...
The main reason to walk the last 100km is to end in Santiago and receive the Compostela. So if that’s not your goal, I would avoid the last 100km, as it can be very busy (FrancĂ©s) and/or not as interesting (in my opinion) as earlier stretches on virtually all routes.

As @C clearly says, getting in and out easily is important with limited time.

Additionally, general Forum wisdom is to recommend the Francés as a first camino.

With all that in mind, the section between Logroño and Burgos could be a good option. Both end points are well-connected cities and the walking distance between them is 121.4km, six stages according to your preferred walking distance. In this short stretch you can experience those two great cities, a classic camino town (NĂĄjera), the vineyards of La Rioja and one of the great camino ‘myths and legends’ (the chickens in Santo Domingo de la Calzada), as well as other things that I have no doubt forgotten.

ÂĄBuen camino!
 
Camino Preparation Guide
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Colin
Consider Burgos to Leon on the French Way. That is 8 stages ranging from 19 to 27 km each day. Burgos Cathedral is a must see. If you find 8 days too many you can catch the train from Sahagun to Leon ( half way between Terradillos and Bercianos) or to your airport of exit. Sahagun has good rail connections. Do remember that the Sahagun station may not be manned so buy your tickets online.
 
Starting in San Sebastian is a god idea because it is really beautiful. Early September may be rather crowded though.
Buen camino
 
Hi
We walked the Camino Portuguese in June from Valença to Santiago. 124km. We took it slow. On our first day only from Valença to Tui and the rest of the way in 8 days. We stopped a lot at small churches and bars for coffee. We really enjoyed walking and not just finishing the days stretch. We pre booked all our accommodation and Pilbeo transfered our luggage. There is a very nice albergue in Pontesampaio. Albergue O Meson with a restaurant. It is a beautiful route and it is really special to end your first camino in Santiago.
 
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Ideal pocket guides for during and after your Camino. Each weighs just 40g (1.4 oz).
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