Paths

Towards Compostela – How far should I travel?

PATHS 06 – TOWARDS COMPOSTELLE … WHAT DISTANCE TO COVER?

The choice of distance to walk will be dictated by the number of days available on site, your daily walking distance limit and the type of terrain.

WHAT IS MY DAILY WALKING LIMIT?

For example, if you are used to walking and your limit is about 25 km / day – that is to say about 6 to 7 hours of regular walking at 4 km / hour on a moderately uneven terrain – you can theoretically claim to be able to cover a total distance of 250 km if you have 10 days or 350 km (14 days).

But this calculation – very theoretical – is not at all realistic since you will also have to take into account a few days of adaptation to get your body used to a new regular and sustained effort, a few breaks while walking to recover, a full day of rest from time to time, a little flexibility in the program, the vagaries of the weather and possibly an injury – even a slight one – that could slow you down.

All the more so if it is a first experience for a beginner hiker and without any real knowledge of his or her walking abilities over several days in a row. In short, prudence and moderation should be the main guidelines when choosing the total distance to be covered, even if it means changing the route later.

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF THE STAGES TO COMPOSTELA?

On a route, the average length of the day-stops is not really significant but rather their number and their respective distances. As an example, and as noted in a specialized and renowned guidebook about two of the most famous routes to Compostela:

Voie du Puy (France)

Approximately 750 km – Average / stage : 23 km – 32 stages including 7 over 30 km – 6 between 30 and 25 km – 10 between 25 and 20 km and 9 stages under 20 km

Camino Francès (Spain)

Approximately 800 km – Average / stage: 29 km – 31 stages of which 10 exceed 30 km – 8 between 30 and 25 km – 9 between 25 and 20 km and 4 stages under 20.

Considering these figures and the daily details, it is clear that choosing the distance to be covered and thus determining the itinerary and its duration, is also determining what is acceptable or not for oneself in terms of daily and realistic walking distance.

 

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Towards Compostela – How long to go?

PATHS – 05 : TOWARDS COMPOSTELA … HOW LONG TO GO FOR?

The vast majority of walkers – pilgrims or hikers – cover these great routes in several stages. It is indeed quite rare to be able to complete one of these great pilgrimage routes in one go, simply because of lack of time.

 

This is especially true for walkers from abroad who usually stay in Europe for two to three weeks due to limitations imposed by their professional and/or family obligations as well as their budget.

 

HOW MUCH TIME ON SITE DO YOU HAVE?

When leaving Canada and in the best of cases, you will have to count with one night in the plane, one day upon arrival to reach the beginning of the trek in the region, another day to prepare your departure, compensate for the time difference and leave on the road in the best conditions.

The situation will be the same for the return to the country since another day will be necessary to reach the departure airport, probably the day before with an overnight stay to avoid missing the next day’s flight.

In short, considering 4 days for all these transfers and if everything goes as well as possible, there will be only :

10 days of walking with a total of 2 weeks
14 days of walking with a total of 2 weeks and a half
17 to 21 days of walking with a total of 3 to 3 and a half weeks

On the road from 10 to 21 days: this is the average walking time of the hikers that we meet mostly on these paths.

 

Of course, there are also pilgrims and/or hikers with much more time – fit and highly motivated retirees, professionals on sabbatical and/or students eager for a challenge – who are on their way for several weeks or even months. A long-term immersion on these paths, but not for everyone!

 

Having determined your available walking time with full knowledge of the facts is a good start to the next step: HOW FAR TO WALK?

 

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Le Chemins Compostelle de Conques

Towards Compostela … 200 km and options for the route to follow!

PATHS – 07 : TOWARDS COMPOSTELA … 200 KM AND 3 OPTIONS !

From Canada, to complete the Camino du Puy (France – 750 km) or the Camino Francès (Spain – 800 km), you need to plan for at least 6 weeks of availability, or 42 days, including 32 days of walking.

The difference, 10 days, covers the plane-train-bus transfers to reach the beginning of the route (2 days), to return (2 days) and 1 day of rest per week (6 days).

In both cases, we are talking about an average of 25 km per day of walking, often with longer stages, 6 days out of 7 and no real flexibility except at the expense of rest days to compensate for unforeseen circumstance! It is an option, but one that requires time and a certain habit of hiking, which is not for everyone.

 

Le Chemins Compostelle de ConquesLESS TIME FOR TRAVEL? WHY NOT ONE OF THESE OPTIONS?

  • On the Way of Le Puy (France), between Le Puy-en-Velay and Conques-en-Rouergue
  • 2 major sanctuaries : from the Cathedral of Le Puy to the Basilica of Conques
  • A superb itinerary with a rich medieval heritage, through the Devès mountains, the Aubrac plateau and the Lot valley, a hilly route, of moderate level, with however some short but strong differences in altitude.
  • DISTANCE : 200 KM

 

OPTION 1 : I have a total of 14 days (including 10 days on site):

This route is achievable in 10 days of walking of which 2 exceed 25 km / day and 4 between 20 and 25 km. It is the fast option, of sustained level, without rest day, with quick visits of the sanctuaries of Le Puy, Conques and an overview of the local history along the way.

Le Chemins Compostelle de Conques

OPTION 2 : I have a total of 18 days (including 14 days on site):

Same route but completed in 14 days of walking with stages of less than 20 km per day. Easy to moderate level. Short stages, leaving time for oneself and to appreciate the local history. This is a good option for a first experience towards Compostela but without the discovery stays in Le Puy and Conques.

OPTION 3 : I have a total of 21 days (17 days on site):

This is option 2 but adding time for the sanctuaries: a day and a half visit to Le Puy-en-Velay and its cathedral as well as to the superb medieval village of Conques and its 11th century basilica.

 

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Towards Compostela in France

THE PATHS – 03 : TOWARDS COMPOSTELLE IN FRANCE

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR PATHS TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA IN FRANCE?

In FRANCE, four main routes converge towards SPAIN: the WAY of PUY-EN-VELAY, the WAY of VEZELAY, the WAY of TOURS and the WAY of ARLES. The first three meet near ST-JEAN-PIED-DE-PORT, where many walkers and pilgrims gather before crossing the Pyrenees, in the direction of CAMINO FRANCÈS.

WHAT IS THE WAY OF PUY-EN-VELAY ?

Distance: about 750 km. It starts from the Notre-Dame du PUY-EN-VELAY cathedral, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. It is the best known and most frequented route with the superb Aubrac plateau and the unavoidable basilica of Conques.

WHAT IS THE WAY OF VEZELAY ?

Distance: about 950 km. It starts from the basilica Ste-Marie-Madeleine of VÉZELAY, in the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region. Less frequented, it offers however very beautiful landscapes and cathedrals and abbeys among the most famous of France.

WHAT IS THE WAY OF  TOURS ?

Distance: about 950 km. It starts at the foot of the Tour St-Jacques in PARIS and passes by the cathedrals of CHARTRES or ORLÉANS, before reaching BORDEAUX and the Spanish border. It is the least frequented by walkers despite its low altitude difference which attracts cyclists.

WHAT IS THE WAY OF ARLES ?

Distance: about 1000 km from ARLES in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. It passes through TOULOUSE then crosses the Pyrenees by the COL DU SOMPORT before reaching Spain where it converges with the CHEMIN DE L’ARAGON which leads to the beginning of the CAMINO FRANCÈS. It is a beautiful itinerary, but the steepness of the last part makes many walkers hesitate.

Chemins Carte Compostelle France

 

 

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Choose and Go

THE PATHS – 02 – CHOOSE & GO !

GO ON A PILGRIMAGE ? OR A TOURISM ADVENTURE?

réseau pédestre européen, validation de pèlerinage à Santiago

On the whole European pedestrian network, there would be more than 80,000 km of marked trails “Compostela”! And in 2019, before the pandemic, nearly 350,000 people have applied for a validation of pilgrimage to Santiago!


If these figures leave you dreaming, they suggest that the craze for these paths has largely exceeded the notion of “strict pilgrimage”! It is true that today we still meet authentic pilgrims, but nowadays it is rather a large majority of new walkers who travel on these roads and for many different reasons.


In this sense, initially a “Catholic pilgrimage”, walking to Compostela is no longer reserved solely for a religious approach but has become over time and for most a “discovery experience”: for some “spiritual” to take stock of oneself and find oneself again, “sporting” for others who are looking for the challenge of a long hike, or “tourist” for those who love walking and appreciate the cultural and historical aspects and the reception facilities.

GOING TO COMPOSTELA OR MAKING COMPOSTELA ?

motivations pour partir vers Compostelle, religieux, Pèlerinages, défis individuels, découvertes touristiques

The motivations for leaving for Compostela are therefore numerous and varied. Since the motive for leaving is no longer only “religious” in the strict sense of the term, we can therefore claim that nowadays “leaving for Compostela” or rather “doing Compostela” has in reality become above all an invitation to set out, far from the framework of one’s usual environment, to live “something else” and for some time!

 

AND WHY NOT SHARE THE ROAD?

Pilgrimages, individual challenges, tourist adventures — all these paths are open to everyone. They are above all an invitation to hike, to travel on foot and at your own pace, to meet people and to share. No matter what your motivation is! It is a matter of choosing an itinerary and setting off. To each his own path!

 

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

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Jean-Paul Bordus

Hiking in Europe

THE PATHS – 01: HIKING IN EUROPE

WHY A HIKING TRIP IN EUROPE?

Les Pyrénées, incontournables pour la randonnée

Although Canada offers a vast network of trails of great interest to hikers, hiking in its various regions for several days or longer on a linear route of good distance is quickly akin to an expedition because the transport of a minimum of equipment and food becomes essential, as well as a good mastery of orientation and a taste for camping. This is not for everyone!

If EURO-RANDO has turned to Europe to share its passion for hiking, it is also because the vast majority of European countries also have a vast network of trails, but with one fundamental difference: the presence of well-established reception structures, a wide choice of accommodation and refreshment points that are never far from each other, and an omnipresent historical and cultural heritage, all of which are within reasonable walking distance and generally on well-marked paths.

ARE YOU READY FOR AN ADVENTURE?

En petit groupe accompagné, en rando liberté avec topo-guide ou en famille, vous découvrirez un large choix de circuits pour tous les niveaux et toutes les envies.

Thanks to a long tradition of walking in Europe, a multitude of trails, paths and discovery routes have been and continue to be revived, forming a veritable spider’s web linking the main routes of the ancient pilgrimage routes of the Middle Ages. In short, a real paradise for linear hiking, whether it is for a few days in the region or several weeks from one country to another.

From Canada, EURO-RANDO has chosen to offer hiking tours in FRANCE and SPAIN.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRY A WALKING TRIP?

Nos itinéraires et nos services s’adressent aux marcheurs en général, qu’ils soient débutants ou non, en route dans un but religieux et de pèlerinage ou avec un objectif plus profane, celui de la découverte touristique, historique et culturelle en voyageant à pied.  À chacun son chemin !

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

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Jean-Paul Bordus