May 21-29: 10 Day Itinerary Feedback

[newbie24]

Hi everyone, we are planning our first camino this May 20-29th 2024 and want to walk the Norte route. This is our first time in Spain and on the camino so we want to do a little bit of everything, tour some important towns/cities, see the regions of northern spain and walk on the most picturesque routes. We are generally fit people, regularly hike throughout the year and dont mind a little challenge . We love everything nature and outdoors!

I apologize in advance for my post not being entirely about the camino route. Please let me know if this isnt allowed and I will find elsewhere to get information from.

But here's what we have been able to list. As you can see, there is too much transit involved and not enough resting time but we are at our wits end about what to change. Please share your advice on what we should cut out and if some routes are better advised than others we have listed. Unfortunately, flights are booked so unable to move dates around.

Thankyou for all the valuable resources available here and for everyone's sense of humor and generosity!

20th May	Arrive Madrid 8AM. Take Flight: Madrid to Irun
21st	Camino: Irún - San Sebastián
22nd (Basque Country)	Camino: San Sebastián – Zarautz Bus/Train to Bilbao
23rd (Basque Country)	Tour Bilbao - Guggenheim Museum, - Cathedral of Santiago, - Castle Rock, SAN JUAN DE GATZELUGATXE Bus/Train to Laredo
24th	Camino: Laredo – Güemes
25th (Cantabria)	Camino: Güemes– Santander Bus/Train to Santillana
26th (Cantabria)	Camino: Santillana del Mar -- Comillas Bus/Train to Colombres
27th (Cantabria)	Camino: Colombres -- Llanes
28th (Asturias)	Tour Llanes, Gijon, Aviles, Oviedo, Navia, Ribadeo Picos de Europa???
29th Wednesday (Galicia)	Coastal train to A Coruña Late Night flight to Madrid
30th May, Thursday	12PM flight from Madrid, 5PM arrive RDU

 

[dick bird]

Tour Llanes, Gijon, Aviles, Oviedo, Navia, Ribadeo
Picos de Europa

I assume you are asking which one, because any of these places would require a day if not two to itself to appreciate on the most superficial level. Looking at your itinerary, I have to say you are trying to crowd in much too much in such a short time, and you are likely to end up exhausted and disappointed if you try to do it all. Spend a day in Bilbao? Why not. And a day in Oviedo? Excellent idea. Everything else? Save it for next time.

And incidentally, I have walked from Irún to San Sebastian. I wouldn´t fancy doing it the day after getting off a transatlantic flight.

 

[naplesdon]

Your itinerary is better suited for a trip in a rental car.

 

[lt56ny]

Hi everyone, we are planning our first camino this May 20-29th 2024 and want to walk the Norte route. This is our first time in Spain and on the camino so we want to do a little bit of everything, tour some important towns/cities, see the regions of northern spain and walk on the most picturesque routes. We are generally fit people, regularly hike throughout the year and dont mind a little challenge . We love everything nature and outdoors!

I apologize in advance for my post not being entirely about the camino route. Please let me know if this isnt allowed and I will find elsewhere to get information from.

But here's what we have been able to list. As you can see, there is too much transit involved and not enough resting time but we are at our wits end about what to change. Please share your advice on what we should cut out and if some routes are better advised than others we have listed. Unfortunately, flights are booked so unable to move dates around.

Thankyou for all the valuable resources available here and for everyone's sense of humor and generosity!

20th May	Arrive Madrid 8AM. Take Flight: Madrid to Irun
21st	Camino: Irún - San Sebastián
22nd (Basque Country)	Camino: San Sebastián – Zarautz Bus/Train to Bilbao
23rd (Basque Country)	Tour Bilbao - Guggenheim Museum, - Cathedral of Santiago, - Castle Rock, SAN JUAN DE GATZELUGATXE Bus/Train to Laredo
24th	Camino: Laredo – Güemes
25th (Cantabria)	Camino: Güemes– Santander Bus/Train to Santillana
26th (Cantabria)	Camino: Santillana del Mar -- Comillas Bus/Train to Colombres
27th (Cantabria)	Camino: Colombres -- Llanes
28th (Asturias)	Tour Llanes, Gijon, Aviles, Oviedo, Navia, Ribadeo Picos de Europa???
29th Wednesday (Galicia)	Coastal train to A Coruña Late Night flight to Madrid
30th May, Thursday	12PM flight from Madrid, 5PM arrive RDU

And incidentally, I have walked from Irún to San Sebastian. I wouldn´t fancy doing it the day after getting off a transatlantic flight.

The first thing I thought after reading arrive in Madrid on the 20th and start walking on the 21st was this is not a very smart idea. It is a very long and for almost all a tough day of walking. I couldn't agree more with @dick bird.

Your itinerary is better suited for a trip in a rental car.

After reading your itinerary and then seeing @naplesdon post I also could not agree more.

This itinerary, to me, looks like a recipe for disaster. But that is just me.
Honestly, and this is not meant to be rude but you are not walking a camino, you just want to walk on the camino for a day or so here and there. My suggestion is to do some half day hikes on or off the camino and go to less places. You could spend a couple of days in San Sebastian and do some hikes and spend a couple of days in Bilbao. I would go online and find out some nice day hikes along the coast that you can take that are very close to the cities you want to visit.
Call you visit what it really. A nice vacation. Do a couple of day hikes, hopefully incorporating walking on the camino. Then when you have more time walk on the camino and truly live the experience.

 

[JerryStroebele]

It's a beautiful coastal area with quaint coastal villages, hopping cities and delightful people. Slow WAAAAY down and enjoy just a few. Like Naplesdon says, rent a car. Maybe in Bilbao. Stick to the east. Or rent in Santander and go west. Buen Camino
ps. I have walked around the Guggenheim several times. Spectacular. Walked through it once. That was enough.