As mentioned elsewhere, I made bookings for every single night spent on the camino.

At the end of each stage, the first thought goes towards rest, healing and recovery: the last thing you want is to add uncertainty to an already uncertain journey.

Many “recommended” towns (e.g. Najera) were already sold out, 3-7 weeks in advance. This was problematic: especially along the Meseta, places to stay can be quite distant from each other – one, two hours away. The result is a domino effect for some sections.

I’d rather do “25, then 25” than “15, then 35”. So, I changed up the “recommended” French Way stages to accommodate my new bookings. Your mileage may vary.

Note: this itinerary includes two separate caminos: The French Way and the Fisterrana.

Some statistics on my itinerary:

• Average daily distance: 24.7 km per stage
• Minimum: 16 km (Stage 24)
• Maximum: 40 km (Stage 30)
• Standard Deviation: ±5 km

Getting ready for the Camino

• Minus three weeks: planning your journey
• Minus two weeks: packing up for the Camino de Santiago
• Minus one week: prepare to go offline

Camino Frances, part 1

From France to Burgos, 278 km / 0 km (31.6%)

• Stage 0: Bayonne to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
• Stage 1: Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port – Roncesvalles
• Stage 2: Roncesvalles – Zubiri
• Stage 3: Zubiri – Pamplona
• Stage 4: Pamplona – Puente la Reina
• Stage 5: Puente La Reina – Estella
• Stage 6: Estella – Los Arcos
• Stage 7: Los Arcos – Logrono
• Stage 8: Logrono – Hormilla
• Stage 9: Hormilla – Granon
• Stage 10: Granon – Espinosa del Camino
• Stage 11: Espinosa del Camino – Ages
• Stage 12: Ages – Burgos

Camino Frances, part 2: La Meseta

Burgos – Murias de Rechivaldo, 235 km / 513 km (26.7%)

• Stage 13: Burgos – Hornillos del Camino
• Stage 14: Hornillos del Camino – Castrojeriz
• Stage 15: Castrojeriz – Poblacion de Campos
• Stage 16: Poblacion de Campus – Calzadilla de la Cueza
• Stage 17: Calzadilla de la Cueza – Sahagun
• Stage 18: Sahagun – Reliegos
• Stage 19: Reliegos – Leon
• Stage 20: Leon – San Martin del Camino
• Stage 21: San Martin del Camino – Murias de Rechivaldo

Camino Frances, part 3: To Galicia

Murias de Rechivaldo – Sarria, 143 km / 656 km (16.2%)

• Stage 22: Murias de Rechivaldo – El Acebo
• Stage 23: El Acebo – Ponferrada
• Stage 24: Ponferrada – Villafranca del Bierzo
• Stage 25: Villafranca del Bierzo – La Laguna de Castilla
• Stage 26: La Laguna de Castilla – Triacastela
• Stage 27: Triacastela – Sarria

Camino Frances, part 4: The Black Friday Experience

Sarria – Santiago de Compostela, 141 km / 797 km (16%)

• Stage 28: Sarria – Portomarin
• Stage 29: Portomarin – Palas de Rei
• Stage 30: Palas de Rei – Melide
• Stage 31: Melide – Arca / O Pedrouzo
• Stage 32: Arca / O Pedrouzo – Santiago de Compostela

And, of course, the Fisterrana

Santiago de Compostela to Fisterrra, 83 km / 880 km (9.4%)

• Stage 33: Santiago de Compostela – Negreira (A Pena and Piaxe)
• Stage 34: Negreira (A Pena and Piaxe) – Logoso
• Stage 35: Logoso – Fisterra
• Stage 36: Fisterra – Santiago

The Aftermath: Life after the Camino