Well sorry for the long absence! I dropped offline and into Camino life and can't wait to go back (but unfortunately it won't be soon)! I won't say the Camino was an easy experience for me, or necessarily what I expected, despite my research. I've decided to call it an exercise in resilience...
I visited nepal Nov 23 and was told the followi g by many trekkers and guides. The law to have guide in western nepal, ie Annapurna etc was passed and brought into law for season from april23 but was not implicated or enforced because if objections by businesses and trekkers alike. Hundreds of...
I did the Annapurna Circuit in October/November 2023. Most people had guides. A few did not, so I think they were getting through even though the law had changed.
I couldn't imagine not having our guide. It made the experience so much richer for me and he was beyond helpful when altitude...
I’m on the Frances now. I was expecting it to be much crazier than it is. We are bookingahead one day and there have been a couple of times we’ve had to be creative but we’ve found solitude when we wanted it and we’ve found parties when we wanted company. Such a great experience.
Yes, clearly it is because you managed, right?
So why stir the pot?
Never mind those folks, Barbara. Everyone has opinions. (I didn't see your post but would have happily agreed.)
I do too. But these days it's an unpopular thought around here.
That said, I take my phone because at this point...
Here is my "Live in the Camino" thread for the Camino de Madrid for anyone who may be interested in skimming or looking at the pictures I posted.
Also, I just took a screenshot of my spreadsheet distances between the places I stayed. I think my itinerary worked out well. I never taxied or bussed...
Another splendid example of the real value of this forum to those of us for whom a Camino is a regular event. A detailed journal full of practical information.
Once you’ve got the ‘can I take my poles in hand luggage’ and ‘should I really book ahead if I want three adjoining private rooms, a...
The one positive about doing the WHW in mid to late August is that the Scottish school term begins again on the 13th or 14th August so that means many locals won't be on the trail.
I heard that Scots make up a large percentage of the walkers.
English schools return in September however...
Possible, yes, but as always a lot of factors are involved.
Which camino and when being the two most important ones.
On a remote camino I would suggest even if just for emergency purposes a phone would be very important, let alone for navigation should you lose the trail. Also for calling the...
Nita, welcome. Hopefully by the time you read this you have already booked, I'd hate you to miss out on a fantastic experience!
I walked the Primitivo mid July last year, so the same timeframe as yourself. It's a wonderful Camino.
I am a seasoned traveler but I still also occasionally book...
I agree with both Margaret & @amandurr
Many of the places you’ll stay at, are not near food stops .. & with private kitchens (not for pilgrim use ). It is much easier to do the booking including the dinner etc at one time. Less complicated in my opinion. Rather than explain later that...
Thank you so much for all of the advice--I will prepare for the weather rainy or hot. I appreciate the tips about the albergues, were there any particular towns/stops you would recommend reserving ahead due to them being full?
O
My main thing is having a bed booked ahead. I do understand the trade off between booking versus pitching up though and it nearly always seems to work out for folks either way.
I have never booked it all up in advance before (normally work a couple days out) but am quite looking forward...
I have exactly the same attitude as you. "I hate committing myself to fixed stages and would only do so if I was certain where I would find myself at the end of the day. I've sometimes set off with a 20km day in mind and ended up walking 40+km" What to do wrt the bed race ? Im planning the full...
I am always keen to book a bed ahead due to my slow walking so just didn't want to take any chances. (I know something normally turns up but it will play on my mind). Anyway thanks to folks on her I managed to nail everything down in less than an hour with the following itinerary - Ferrol -...
This is helpful, thank you! I've read that May is the most popular month for the WHW as well, but I'm sure it will be quite busy in August still. I can still find single beds available along the WHW but I'm aware if I don't want to camp and want to keep the trip down in costs I'll need to book...
Just finished the WHW, mid-May and it was very, very busy. All accommodations were fully booked and folks were being shuttled to nearby places through their tour companies. I have been told by the locals that May is the busiest month. I had to book out accommodations a full year ahead. If you...
We just completed this trip from Oloron to Obanos. We booked all our stays in France: the Metairie in Eysus, the monastery in Sarrance, L’Aire d’Aspe in Accous, and the pilgrim hostel in Urdos. After that, in Spain, we did not book ahead.
Just out of curiosity, where did you stay in Bruma? The reason I ask is that according to Gronze there are only roughly 80 beds in the immediate area, and with an average of 100 people a day going through in June '23 alone, it stands to reason that some days a significant number of people are...
This site is run by Ivar at in Santiago de Compostela.
This site participates in the Amazon Affiliate program, designed to provide a means for Ivar to earn fees by linking to Amazon