Everything You Need to Know About the French Way Camino Frances

Planning Your El Camino Frances

About 60% of all ‘pilgrims‘, as Camino walkers are called, choose the French Way, more commonly referred to as the Camino Frances.  This major pilgrimmage route is on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its importance to Christianity.  Pilgrims walk the Camino Frances to the cathedral in Santiago, Spain, where the remains of St. James are purported to be buried.  

If you’d like more information about the El Camino de Santiago in general, you can find it here.

How Long is the Camino Frances

The French Way Camino route begins in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the Pyrennes, and is usually walked in 8 stages.  The route is 479 miles/771 km long and goes through many historic towns, such as Pamplona, Logrono, Burgos and Leon.

How Long Does it Take to Walk the Camino Frances French Way

If you do not take any rest days, it will take you about five weeks to walk the entire French Way Camino from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, the official starting point of the Camino Frances, in the Pyrénées mountains in the south west of France near the Spainish border.

If you cannot be gone that long, consider doing the French Camino in stages.

8 Stages of the French Way Camino

Here are the eight main stages of the Camino Frances.  If you were to walk it all at the same time, it would take you about 36 days, without any rest days.  Many people do the Camino in stages over several visits.

In order to receive your certificate as a pilgrim, you need to walk at a minimum, the last 100 km/ 60 miles into Santiago in Spain.  Along the French Way, this would mean starting no later than Sarria.

The following table outlines the eight stages of the Camino Frances, the average number of days to complete each stage, the distance, and best and busiest months to do your French Way Camino.

Monthly Weather Averages for the French Way Camino

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port        Burgos        Leon        Sarria        Santiago

Should you go on a guided or self-guided Camino?

I’ll be frank, the Camino de Santiago has gotten pretty crowded, especially the last 100 km, which you need to walk in order to obtain your certificate.  So I can no longer recommend just ‘winging it’ when it comes to accommodations as you may get to a village only to find it full, which means that you’ll have to walk to the next village, which could be many miles away (particularly that last stretch!).

So I highly recommend that you plan and book your lodging in advance.  If you would like to use a company that specializes in this, I recommend my affiliate, Follow the Camino.

Not only will they figure out all the logistics for you, they will transport your main luggage each day, so all you carry is a day pack, and when you arrive at your cozy inn, your bag is waiting for you.  They also offer map, apps and 24/7 assistance, if needed.  So all you have to do is walk and enjoy your Camino!

Email me for my current and exclusive Follow The Camino Promo Code!

Follow The Camino

Follow The Camino specializes in all things Camino!  They offer logistical planning for all of the major Camino routes.

If you would prefer to walk your Camino with a guide, they also offer several options for you to do so:

For example, you can walk the last 100 km/ 60 miles from Sarria to Santiago on a fulled guided tour.  This entitles you to the Compostela, the certificate of completion of the Way of St. James.  By doing your Camino on a guided tour, you will enjoy the comraderie of your fellow pilgrims and all the support you need to successfully complete your Camino Frances!

Other Camino de Santiago Routes

While the French Way Camino is by far the most popular, there are MANY other routes to Santiago de Compostela!

The second most popular Camino route is the Portuguese Way.  And this can be done three ways:  the Coastal route, the regular inland Camino Portuguese, and a diversion of that route, the Spiritual route.

Since pilgrims from all across Europe have traveled to Santiago, there are well worn paths spread out like the veins on the symbolic scallop shell logo of the El Camino, all destined for the catedral in Santiago, where the relics, or remains, of Saint James are said to be buried.

Other Popular Routes of the El Camino de Santiago

• Portuguese Way
  • Camino Portuguese
  • Camino Portuguese Coastal Route
  • Camino Portugues Spiritual
• Camino del Norte
• Camino del Norte Coastal Route
• Camino Primitivo
• Camino de Inviernos
• Via de La Plata
• Le Puy Camino
• Finisterre (from Santiago to the sea)
• General El Camino Information

Follow the Camino offers self-guided tours for all of these routes.  Email me for the current and exclusive Follow The Camino Promo Code.

As mentioned, the Camino Frances can be quite crowded, especially that last stage.  If you want to have a ‘Camino Experience’ but don’t care about picking up your Compostela, consider doing some of the earlier stages.

You can hear my interview with David, who avoided the crowds by walking the first part of the Camino Frances below.  You’ll also learn other ways you can avoid the crowds on the El Camino de Santiago HERE.

What to Pack for your Camino de Santiago

I highly recommend that you arrange luggge transport to your lodging each day so you don’t have to carry everything with you as you walk!  Follow The Camino can do this for you, as well as arranging your lodging.  But what to put in that suitcase for your Camino?

I’ve put together a complete list of what I recommend to take on your Camino as well as for any long distance hike.  You can see the complete El Camino Packing List here.

You can get access to a printer-friendly list, plus an El Camino Travel Planner here.  You’ll also get access to ALL of the Active Travel Adventures travl planners and packing lists. Plus you’ll get the once a month newsletter with new planners and helpful travel tips.  No spam promise – unsubscribe anytime.  Get access HERE.

Listen to my interview about Biking the El Camino below:

Can I HORSEBACK RIDE the El Camino? YES!

Over the centuries, many pilgrims have ridden a horse to Santiago.  While it is no longer common to see, it is possible.  Check with Follow The Camino if you are intersted in riding a horse to Santiago.

The Cathedral in Santiago – The end of the El Camino

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