Yesss I can plan my next Camino, begin may. What is the best way to travel to SJPP from Holland?

[Yellowfriend]

I am so glad that I can take 6 weeks off. So now the real planning begins, ahhhhh. Without a organisation and booked hotels I Will do it alone . How do you travel fromHolland to SJPP. And are there more people who Will start begin May? How is the weather then mostly?
I am so excited

 

[SYates]

Good for you ;-)
As an example, from Amsterdam you could fly to France and then take a train/bus to SJPdP, see https://www.rome2rio.com/de/s/Amsterdam/Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port for various options.
Beginning of May you will have hundreds of pilgrims starting with you at the same date - no worries ;-)
Weather: Pretty much all - warm, but not too hot, but also cold/rain and perhaps even a sprinkle of snow in the mountains, but mainly warm, and yes, rain in Galicia.

Buen Camino and welcome to the forum, SY

 

[Yellowfriend]

Good for you ;-)
As an example, from Amsterdam you could fly to France and then take a train/bus to SJPdP, see https://www.rome2rio.com/de/s/Amsterdam/Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port for various options.
Beginning of May you will have hundreds of pilgrims starting with you at the same date - no worries ;-)
Weather: Pretty much all - warm, but not too hot, but also cold/rain and perhaps even a sprinkle of snow in the mountains, but mainly warm, and yes, rain in Galicia.

Buen Camino and welcome to the forum, SY

Thank you! Would it be better to start in the middle of may because of the weather (rain in Galicia?)

 

[SYates]

Not really any difference - Galicia is so green for a reason ;-) Buen Camino, SY

 

[Yellowfriend]

Good for you ;-)
As an example, from Amsterdam you could fly to France and then take a train/bus to SJPdP, see https://www.rome2rio.com/de/s/Amsterdam/Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port for various options.
Beginning of May you will have hundreds of pilgrims starting with you at the same date - no worries ;-)
Weather: Pretty much all - warm, but not too hot, but also cold/rain and perhaps even a sprinkle of snow in the mountains, but mainly warm, and yes, rain in Galicia.

Buen Camino and welcome to the forum, SY

So it will be completely different than my trip from Porto,to Santiago, When I only met sometimes Some pelgrims . Looks like in this time and this CF there are always people for and behind you walking?

 

[SYates]

Yes, you will meet a LOT more pilgrims on the Camino Frances than on the Camino Portuguese - A LOT more! Buen Camino, SY

 

[Yellowfriend]

Yes, you will meet a LOT more pilgrims on the Camino Frances than on the Camino Portuguese - A LOT more! Buen Camino, SY

But are there stages where I can walk alone or
Is it not possibly because it is so
crowdy?

 

[SYates]

In May you will always have some other pilgrims in sight unless you start a bit later, let the bubble pass and walk into the afternoon. No worries! Pilgrims are good company ;-) Buen Camino, SY

 

[MinaKamina]

I am so glad that I can take 6 weeks off. So now the real planning begins, ahhhhh. Without a organisation and booked hotels I Will do it alone . How do you travel fromHolland to SJPP. And are there more people who Will start begin May? How is the weather then mostly?
I am so excited

Take the train.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

I am so glad that I can take 6 weeks off. So now the real planning begins, ahhhhh. Without a organisation and booked hotels I Will do it alone . How do you travel fromHolland to SJPP. And are there more people who Will start begin May? How is the weather then mostly?
I am so excited

Hi, last year I took the train from Rotterdam.
Booked at www.treinwinkel.nl.

Wish you well and a Buen Camino, Peter.

 

[SabsP]

Train to Brussels-South then TGV Paris CDG then metro to Montparnasse and then another TGV to Bordeaux or Biarritz. Then local train to St-Jean.
Tickets for TGV must be booked in advance and sometimes you can find a real bargain.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Train to Brussels-South then TGV Paris CDG then metro to Montparnasse and then another TGV to Bordeaux or Biarritz. Then local train to St-Jean.
Tickets for TGV must be booked in advance and sometimes you can find a real bargain.

The one and only.
Wish you well, Peter.

 

[nedspencer]

Hello
I have some friends in Netherlands who will be walking in May
Would it help if I put you in touch with them?
They don't use this forum but I could ask them to e-mail you?
Or if you send me any specific questions you may have I can forward to them?
Ned

 

[Yellowfriend]

Hello
I have some friends in Netherlands who will be walking in May
Would it help if I put you in touch with them?
They don't use this forum but I could ask them to e-mail you?
Or if you send me any specific questions you may have I can forward to them?
Ned

Yes that would be nice, I mail you my mailadres, Thanks!

 

[whariwharangi]

I am so glad that I can take 6 weeks off. So now the real planning begins, ahhhhh. Without a organisation and booked hotels I Will do it alone . How do you travel fromHolland to SJPP. And are there more people who Will start begin May? How is the weather then mostly?
I am so excited

SJPdP is connected by SNCF TER train to Bayonne.

Bayonne is connected to the rest of France by SNCF rail.

SJPdP is connected by CONDA (ALSA) bus to Pamplona.

Pamplona is connected to the rest of Spain by Renfe train and various bus companies.

The closest airport to SJPdP is Biarritz (BIQ).

So your options are to travel:

-from Holland to Biarritz by air, probably via Brussels.

-from Holland to Bayonne by train via Paris.

-from Holland to anywhere Spain by air and connect to Pamplona.

 

[Saint Mike II]

Thank you! Would it be better to start in the middle of may because of the weather (rain in Galicia?)

It rains approximately 200 days per year in Galicia - I think July/August are the "drier" months - but even then you might run into a storm coming in off the Atlantic - and as the "mountains" on the Eastern border of Galicia (with Castile) are around 1500 metres they cause a build-up and down comes the rain. So bring a reasonable quality rain jacket (at least one that comes down a bit below your waist. You will see a style of poncho that covers you and your backpack - I have not (personally) used one and for me the water dripping onto my legs would be a real pain. I can put up with wet legs/wet shorts, but not those drips. I second the "welcome" - you now have access to one of the greatest "on line guide books" in the world - but its one that is totally dedicated to the Camino - all 12 routes.

 

[Yellowfriend]

It rains approximately 200 days per year in Galicia - I think July/August are the "drier" months - but even then you might run into a storm coming in off the Atlantic - and as the "mountains" on the Eastern border of Galicia (with Castile) are around 1500 metres they cause a build-up and down comes the rain. So bring a reasonable quality rain jacket (at least one that comes down a bit below your waist. You will see a style of poncho that covers you and your backpack - I have not (personally) used one and for me the water dripping onto my legs would be a real pain. I can put up with wet legs/wet shorts, but not those drips. I second the "welcome" - you now have access to one of the greatest "on line guide books" in the world - but its one that is totally dedicated to the Camino - all 12 routes.

Thanks! I don't understand exactly what you advice with the rain jacket. Should I Use a poncho or did you mean that a poncho drops? And better wear a normal rain jacket?
Thanks for your welcome on this unmissable forum

 

[Deleted member 3000]

better wear a normal rain jacket?

With the jacket you will need a pack cover. In heavy rain the water will run down the back of your jacket into your pack cover. I suggest a poncho that covers the gap between your body and your pack; Packa, Altus, and Ferrino are good brands.

 

[Saint Mike II]

Thanks! I don't understand exactly what you advice with the rain jacket. Should I Use a poncho or did you mean that a poncho drops? And better wear a normal rain jacket?
Thanks for your welcome on this unmissable forum

As the poncho (or at least the ones I have tried) ends about 350mm (say 12-14 inches) from the ground the water runs off the poncho onto my legs (and then into my shoes/boots) and this is the part I don't like. When I wear a good quality rain jacket (and as Falcon correctly points out a good rain cover for my backpack) I don't get these irritating drips/drops. Of course if its really heavy rain then I find the nearest suitable shelter and even take-off my wet boots & socks. Hope this helps with the understanding. If you google "ponchos" you should find a picture of the combined - try this link:

http://www.wildearth.com.au/buy/sea.../APONCHO15dl?gclid=CIuFmLKi6s8CFdeSvQod3cgGuA

Good luck