• For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here.
    (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation)

Search 69,459 Camino Questions

Hiking both directions

myopic seeker

New Member
This may be the raving of a lunatic, but my dream is to start in LePuy, hike to Santiago via SJPDP and then RETURN via the ruta Norte and end my hike in Vezelay. I am a fit appalachian trail hiker, and I have already been training for my camino for nearly a year, so I am at least not completely delusional. My hike would begin in late Feb/March 2013 and end in July. How difficult is it to hike these trails in the "wrong" direction? Anyone here done this hike?
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
I met a trio returning to Vezelay from Santiago. They had found that using the guidebooks backward was confusing but possible. They had gotten lost a lot, so bought maps. A GPS might solve the problem!
 
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
Be encouraged - many have travelled thus. The time would have been when it would, logically, have been not worthy of note.
Your walking experience stands you in good stead.
When we were cycling the route - in Cacabelos - we met a cyclist returning home to Holland. His pace was unrushed, unhurried and his approach thoughtful.
I wish you the very best.
Do keep us updated of your progress.
 
Hi! Just an idea but might it be easier to do it the other way round? I understand that you probably have reasons for doing it the way you intend, but it might be easier to walk back along the Frances. It is very well marked (maybe del Norte is as well, I don't know) but it also has a steady stream of pilgrims coming towards you to reassure you that you're on the Way.

On the other hand, if you started on del Norte you'd be walking that route when the daylight is shorter, which could be a consideration depending on the distance between accommodation etc.

Good luck, sounds great! Buen Camino!
 
The good news is that in France you should have no problem at all walking "backwards" because the routes (well the Le Puy route for sure) are a part of the GR (Grande Randonnée) long distance trail system which means they are not exclusively Caminos as such and are trail-marked in both directions. Like this: http://photo.ortho.free.fr/images/plage/balises_gr.jpg

That being said, along the lines of what tyrrek said above it might be best to walk it the other way. For one I am not entirely sure that the Vezeley route is a GR route the entire way. The Le Puy route is for sure though, as I've walked it myself towards Santiago and it is very well trail-marked. I have also walked the Norte and Frances, and the Norte is not nearly as well marked as the Frances, which is completely covered at this point in terms of trail marking (if in the other direction). I imagine with the ubiquitous markings and the constant stream of people coming in the other direction, the Frances is probably much easier than the Norte to walk backwards. Plus as I said once in France you will have no problems with trail markings whatsoever.

By the way if you want to know how to connect the Vezelay with the Norte route I made a post on that here: el-camino-del-norte/topic6173.html#p95551

Buen Camino!

James
 
3rd Edition. More content, training & pack guides avoid common mistakes, bed bugs etc

Most read last week in this forum

Good morning! My name is Samantha, and I am planning my first camino for May 2025. I am a bit overwhelmed trying to make a list of everything I need to have planned prior to starting. Does anyone...
Good evening all! We began our yearly route to Santiago, today! We 4 Peregrinos resumed our Camino at Rabanal del Camino and walked to Acebo. We encountered Snow, Hail Stones and rain. We loved...
Hi I'm Keith 60 years young from Newcastle upon Tyne UK.arriving on the 1635 Edinburgh ryanair flight on 9th September 2024 anyone like to share my express bourricot
June 22 -@Amachant (SJPP)
I loved my 2022 Camino Frances!! Leaving Los Angeles on May 26 for Lisbon. Will walk the Portuguese Costal route and the spiritual variant. Starts from Porto on June 4 and arrive in Santiago on...

âť“How to ask a question

How to post a new question on the Camino Forum.

Forum Rules

Forum Rules

Camino Updates on YouTube

Camino Conversations

Most downloaded Resources

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
Official Camino Passport (Credential) | 2024 Camino Guides
Back
Top