4 Days Camino de Santiago: PLAN?

[JByrne]

We already walked 117Km of Camino deSantiago from Sarria to end in 3 days (75 miles, tough)! Now this year we will start at the very beginning of this holy pilgramge -- is that from St John in France? Heard this part of France is stunning. We will fly to Paris from either Dublin or Glasgow and later make our way to start of this 4-day Camino journey. Could we take a train, or perhaps flying to start of Camino makes more sense. Where will this all take us on a 4 day hike, say we can do 22 miles per day or so? Hostels, inns and small hotels? Towns, villages, sights? We want to cross Spainish border. Later we will take a train to see Barcelona and later still onto Madrid. Lots of logistics and sorry for asking so much. God Bless.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Albergue information:

http://www.gronze.com/camino-de-santiago/caminos/guia-del-camino-frances

 

[JByrne]

Albergue information:

http://www.gronze.com/camino-de-santiago/caminos/guia-del-camino-frances

Thanks, will look at this. FYI, we really need basic information as our "technical" skills are lacking. For example, a map showing our start point is welcome. Yes, a note giving us a good idea of what we can do in four days; we would like to cross into Spain after so many days. etc.etc.

 

[SYates]

We already walked 117Km of Camino deSantiago from Sarria to end in 3 days (75 miles, tough)! Now this year we will start at the very beginning of this holy pilgramge -- is that from St John in France? Heard this part of France is stunning. We will fly to Paris from either Dublin or Glasgow and later make our way to start of this 4-day Camino journey. Could we take a train, or perhaps flying to start of Camino makes more sense. Where will this all take us on a 4 day hike, say we can do 22 miles per day or so? Hostels, inns and small hotels? Towns, villages, sights? We want to cross Spainish border. Later we will take a train to see Barcelona and later still onto Madrid. Lots of logistics and sorry for asking so much. God Bless.

A few thoughts:
If Sarria to Santiago was tough for you, I assume because of the terrain, than the walk over the Pyrenees might be too much for you on your first day. Unless you really train well beforehand. Yes, the Pyrenees are stunning and yes, you will cross the border on the way from SJPDP to Roncesvalles (first or second day).
The traditional starting point of any pilgrimage is the door step of your own home. Anything else is a modern compromise. Actually that is quite liberating - You are free to start where you want to and what you can manage ;-)
4 days is really a bit short to experience the pilgrimage. Especially as it seems that you have actually more time according to your further travel plans (Barcelona/Madrid). The next two big places are Pamplona and then Puente la Reina, both well connected and easy to get to Madrid from there.

So if you want to stay with your 4 days plan, you might want to walk your first day 'only' from SJPDP to Orisson, second day to Roncesvalles, third day to Zubiri and forth day to Pamplona.

Hope that helps, Buen Camino, SY

 

[whariwharangi]

We already walked 117Km of Camino deSantiago from Sarria to end in 3 days (75 miles, tough)! Now this year we will start at the very beginning of this holy pilgramge -- is that from St John in France? Heard this part of France is stunning. We will fly to Paris from either Dublin or Glasgow and later make our way to start of this 4-day Camino journey. Could we take a train, or perhaps flying to start of Camino makes more sense. Where will this all take us on a 4 day hike, say we can do 22 miles per day or so? Hostels, inns and small hotels? Towns, villages, sights? We want to cross Spainish border. Later we will take a train to see Barcelona and later still onto Madrid. Lots of logistics and sorry for asking so much. God Bless.

You could start walking in Paris ... as pointed out there is no official beginning.

There are flights to Bayonne from Dublin and Paris. The train from Paris to Bayonne often makes more sense in terms of time and travel schedules than flying from Paris. Biarritz airport is the closest airport to SJPdP. SNCF TER operates trains and buses connecting Bayonne to SJPdP.

SJPdP to Pamplona is a reasonable goal for a 4 day jaunt.

 

[Cailin O Eire]

Hi I'm going doing something similar, also did Sarria to Santiago last year, loved it caught the camino bug and can't wait to go back. I've chosen to fly Dublin to Biarritz 170€ return first week of June. I read on another forum that you get a bus from Biarritz to Bayonne for about 2€ and a train from Bayonne to St JP for about 10€. Depending on days that suit that flight can be cheaper but Saturday to Saturday is what suited me, if I was to have come home on the Sunday it would have only been 130 odd for flight. I was also advised that an early flight getting into Biarritz is better so my flight arrives at 12:40 and should be in good time to get train to St JP.
Hope that's some help.
Buen Camino