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June or September ?

weiho

Wei Ho
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Frances , September/October 2018
Hi all. I am planning my Camino next year and have the choice of June or September. I will start from Saint Jean. I’d like to hear your opinion with regarding to weather, accommodation crowdness, natural beauty etc for these two periods. By the way, I’d like to avoid any festivities on the way. Thank you all!
 
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I like June, it's the start of the hot weather, but it's still fresh (especially in the morning!)and the flora is just starting to bloom where as September has a whole summer to get dusty!! I 'm sure you will have a great time whenever you go and, as for crowds and places to stay, I'm sure you will find a bed somewhere,just be prepared for doing a few extra miles when you find your first choice is full! buen camino
 
Thank you all for your reply!
 
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June seems just a little less hot than September -see here the data from Pamplona. On the other side, if you go in September, you will find milder, pleasant weather in Galice.
Both June and September are both in the high walking season -they will not make much difference. See here the stats. Anyway you choose, you will be hardly alone in the paths...Be (mentally) prepared, especially for the "after Sarria" stages.
Not major holidays -just remember that the first two weeks of July is the huge and chaotic San Fermin in Pamplona.
Buen camino!
 
This year was our second camino in September. This time from Astorga to Sarria, and then from Santiago to Finisterra . The weather was perfect, the mornings cool, the albergues and el camino with few peregrinos. Just perfect. No rain , no hot. Too many tourists in O'Cebreiro on Sunday mass
 
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One thing to consider is that there are many student and youth groups out on the Camino between June and August, especially between O Cebreiro and Santiago. They all go back to school in mid-September (usually sometime between Sept 10 - 15), though university students will still be on the trail as they often start in October.

Whatever you decide, enjoy all the planning and Buen Camino!
Faith
 
If you start at the beginning of June, by the time you get into Galicia, the "season" will be in full swing. The universities are out for the summer, and the Camino will become saturated with pilgrims.

In September, the first-half of the month starts very busy, with summer heat and congestion at a seasonal, tail-end.

Were it me, I would try to either start in May, early enough so I arrived at Santiago by mid-June. Alternatively, I would start in mid-September, to allow the remainder of the summer-surge to be walking in front of me. In the latter case, I would plan to arrive at Santiago in mid-to late October.

I hope this helps.
 
One other thing--I think you have more daylight hours in June. I started walking on May 24 this year and it was PERFECT! Lots of pilgrims, but never too many and always able to get a bed. Sunrises are amazing and so are the birds chirping in the morning. I loved being able to start early and end late if I wanted. Also, it's nice to see the sunsets at 10:45 pm!!!! But September, I'm sure, would be just as amazing. This was my first camino and it was incredibly amazing!!!!!
 
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Thank you all again for your reply!
 
We have walked once in September-October and twice in May-June, and expect that our next departure will also occur in May. There are several reasons for this decision, the first one being the lack of flowers across the Meseta in the fall. What was not lacking in the freshly harvested fields was next year's rather aromatic source of nutrition. I must say the manure stench was extremely strong for some very long stretches.

The second issue was the rain in Galicia. I do realize that weather is totally unpredictable, but both times we entered Santiago in June, the sun was shining gloriously. The same could not be said for our October entrance, as well as the previous 6 days, which took place in some serious wetness. We joked that we were walking the Rio de Santiago at that point...

The main reason for the May departure would be the extra amount of daylight hours. We could leave early in the morning without the need of a pesky headlamp, fully enjoying the beautiful scenery. What was even better were the evening hours. We had more "down time" than "chore time", and our clothes had more time to dry. Win-win for us!

Best wishes and Buen Camino!
 
No right or wrong answer here. This year I walked in September and did not have to take my rain gear out of my pack. A bonus (although not for the farmers). But I've also walked in June with virtually cloudless skies all the way. It can get hot in either June or September.
 
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I haven't done June but just finished that route Sept. 15-Oct. 18. Weather was exceptional! Only festivity was a wine festival in Logrono, and I walked right through town that day. I watched a lot of posts from people walking this summer and it looked incredibly hot. They did lots of walking in the dark and had restless nights in hot albergues. Although I walked in the dark a lot, too, and surprisingly loved it.

BTW, allow yourself more time than I did (35 days) and definitely go to Muxia! I had to average 15 miles per day. My trip was indeed crowded, and I had to work to get some time alone. I learned to call and reserve albergues one day ahead of time just to relax my anxiety over whether I'd get a bed. Private rooms were my saving grace so I could get some sleep.
 
I like June I was a summer baby born in June. Walked the Camino Portuguese in June this year and it was hot hot hot,. But I left before 6am each morning walked for about 5 hours and could relax and enjoy the summer sunshine for the rest of the day. The days are longer too so lots more light to enjoy hope this helps.
 
Definitely September. June would be too hot and crowded. My husband and I finished the Camino Frances on 16 October after starting in St Jean Pied de Port on 27 August. it was still quite hot in the afternoons, but we only averaged 20kms per day and started early to beat the hottest part of the day. There were still large numbers walking in September and some people struggled to find accommodation. Best wishes with your walk. It is amazing. We walked every step and had the time of our lives.
 
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Thank you for the very useful advise!
 
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Additional thoughts to other replies, I found Sept eerily quiet in the mornings, but June had great birdsong -frogs croaking and lots of small mammal activity in the countryside and much more daylight as well as more flowers inbloom etc. Paths are drier by September and harvest though. Both times/seasons were great and experiences.
 
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We walked in June 2016 and it was beautiful . We had plenty of wild flowers and also bunches of rain and cool temperatures - we had some warmer days, but only a couple that I would consider actually hot. I wore long sleeves a lot and my jacket more than I expected. I think it really differs from year to year. I went through my pictures from the Camino, and pulled out a few from various spots along the Camino to show how chilly it was - one of these is just a day or so past Burgos, another is several days past Burgos - somewhere on the Meseta. Then a couple more in Galicia.
 

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Thank you very much for sharing the experience and showing the wonderful photos
 
Yes, I saw some of the Camino photos, the flowers in June are really beautiful, specially the poppies
 
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