Getting Ready ^^ountain ^^an Camino a' Paris! 2,279 km - 1,416 Miles - 90 Hiking Days

Getting Ready   ^^ountain ^^an Camino a' Paris!

Plane ticket in hand for flight to Lisbon Portugal August 2nd 

Hostel Reservation for August 3rd & 4th Lisbon Portugal

 1. PoRTUGUESE WAY – CAMINO PORTUGUÉS

 ( Lisbon to Santiago ) 610 km
 2. NoRTHERN WAY - Camino Del Norte ( MOST LIKELY ROUTE)

FRENCH WAY – CAMINO FRANCÉS ( Santiago to St Jean ) 769 km

  3. PARIS AND TOURS WAY – CHEMIN DE PARIS ET DE TOURS ( St Jean to Paris ) 900 

^^ountain ^^an Camino a' Paris!

2,279 km est. - 1,416 Miles est. - 90 est. Hiking Days

  Walking the Portuguese Way in the direction of Camino de Santiago and The Northern Way OR The French Way.  Then the Paris-Tours Way as reverse Camino de Santiago finishing in Paris France.

  ABBY @ Mast General  - wearing her AT shirt - Nice!!

 What a sweetheart !

ABBY - ^^ountain ^^an 

PORTUGUESE WAY – CAMINO PORTUGUÉS

PORTUGUESE WAY

The Portuguese Way Camino Portugués in Spanish or Caminho Portugués in Portuguese (#caminhoportugues) is a fantastic route for pilgrims looking for a more rural experience on the Camino de Santiago.

The Portuguese Camino starts in Lisbon, Portugal’s dazzling capital and home to several UNESCO sites, and takes pilgrims across stunning countryside, villages and towns such as Santarém, one of the last Moorish bastions in Portugal; Coimbra, famous for its UNESCO 13th century university; and gorgeous Porto with its colourful river front and home of Port wine. On the Portuguese Camino route you will walk past terraced fields, lush forests, vineyards and peaceful sleepy villages.

The last 100km of the Camino Portugués is the most popular section, starting in Tui, Galicia, just across the Minho river from Portugal. Explore Tui’s beautiful old town, visit the hilltop cathedral and, if you have time before heading to Santiago, walk across the 19th century International Bridge to Valença do Minho, its Portuguese ‘twin’ town. Read more Portuguese Way Camino articles on our blog. The full Portuguese Way takes just over 1 month to complete or you can choose to walk a section.

Itinerary

Sections	Town	Km	Section Summary
Section 1	Lisboa	–
	Santa Iria de Azoia	26	The Portuguese Way starts in Lisbon, Portugal’s chic and buzzing capital on the Atlantic, also home to several UNESCO sites. Heading North towards Santarém, this first stage quickly leaves the urban landscape behind and enters the quiet farmland area known as ‘the Garden of Portugal’. You will be travelling along the Tejo river valley along a trail that also doubles as the Caminho de Fátima. The final point is Santarém, one of the last Moorish bastions in Portugal, sitting on a hillside over the Tejo valley.
	Vila franca de Xira	13
	Azambuja	20
Section 2	Santarém	32
	Golega	30	From Santarém, the Portuguese Way continues along the Tejo River, heading North-West towards Coimbra heading inland. This stretch of the trail passes beautiful little villages, farmland and olive groves in the heart of Portugal, across woodland and forests before reaching the city of Coimbra, once the capital of Portugal. Coimbra, with its impressive 13th century university (one of the oldest in the world), is the destination for this section.
	Tomar	29
	Alvaiázere	31
	Ansião	12
	Condeixa a nova	32
Section 3	Coimbra	16
	Mealhada	23	From Coimbra, the Portuguese route of the Camino de Santiago heads back towards the Atlantic coast with Porto as a destination. This section of the trail will take you across vineyards, valleys, woodlands and a stretch of Roman road to finish in the centre of Porto, where you can explore its UNESCO World Heritage city centre, stroll along the Riveira (riverfront) and taste some of the local delicacies, not forgetting about the city’s famous port wine.
	Agueda	26
	Albergaria a Velha	17
	Sao Joao da madeira	29
	Grijó	19
Section 4	Porto	16
	Fajozes	23	The fourth stage begins in beautiful Porto and finishes in the border town of Tui, in Galicia. This section of the Camino passes very different landscapes, leaving the Atlantic coast and heading to Santiago across the green countryside of northern Portugal. In this section you will also walk by many lovely little villages with magnificent chapels and churches and some Roman bridges. At the end of your trail, you will reach the Miño river and cross into Galicia to stop at Tui.
	Arcos	11
	Barcelos	20
	Ponte de Lima	33
	Rubiães	18
Section 5	Tui	20
	O Porriño	16	The last 100km section of the Portuguese Way starts in the border town of Tui, with its pretty historic centre and fortress facing its counter-part in Portugal on the other side of the Miño river. This last section of the Portuguese Way to Santiago takes walkers across many wooded areas and small villages, but also reaches the coast in Arcade, famous for its oyster festival. Make sure you sample the Rías Baixas famous Albariño white wine. Another stop includes Padrón, home town of Galicia’s most famous poet: Rosalía de Castro.
	Arcade	22
	Pontevedra	11
	Caldas de Reis	24
	Padrón	18
	Santiago de C.	24

NORTHERN WAY – CAMINO DEL NORTE

NORTHERN WAY

The Northern Way or Camino del Norte (#caminodelnorte) is the Camino route following the gorgeous Northern coast of Spain from San Sebastián to Gijón, Ribadeo and on to Santiago de Compostela. Alternatively you can continue to Oviedo and join the Original Way.

The Camino del Norte starts in the Basque Country, in the chic sea-side city of San Sebastián (Donosti in Basque), a real paradise for foodies: it is in fact in the top 10 cities with highest number of Michelin stars in Europe. The Northern Way follows the coast line for most of the way so you can discover charming fishing villages, swim in beautiful sandy beaches and taste delicious seafood. Feel inspired at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao; stroll by the elegant royal palace in Santander; sample Asturias famous cider; stay in lively seaside towns and admire the natural beauty of the Northern coast of ‘Green Spain’. 

The full Northern Way from San Sabastian to Santiago takes just over 5 weeks to complete.

Itinerary

This is the complete itinerary for the Northern Way (or Camino del Norte), with traditional stages. Please note that “split days” have not been included in the table.

Sections	Town	Km	Section Summary
Section 1	San Sebastian	–
	Getaria	25	The first section of the Camino del Norte (the Northern Way route of the St James Way) begins in the beautiful and sophisticated coastal city of San Sebastián, a gastronomic mecca home to several Michelin-star restaurants. From San Sebastián (or Donosti in Basque), the Northern Way travels West along the green hills of the Basque coastline. The trail passes the historic town of Gernika, made famous by Picasso’s master piece and finishes in Bilbao, where you should visit the impressive Guggenheim Museum. The Basque Country is renowned for its cuisine, its ‘pintxos’ and some of the country’s best chefs so this Camino walk will be an unforgettable gastronomic experience.
	Deba	18
	Markina-Xemein	23
	Gernika	25
	Lezama	21
Section 2	Bilbao	15
	Portugalete	10	The second section of the Camino del Norte, the Northern route of the Camino de Santiago, starts in the Basque city of Bilbao and finishes in the pretty coastal city of Santander, in Cantabria. Explore the old town in Bilbao and its magnificent Guggenheim Museum before you head West along the coast towards Santander. Along this section you will walk by seaside towns, lovely beaches and rocky bays. This is an area of outstanding natural beauty and you will be able to admire the contrast between modernity and tradition, in the many towns and historic stops along the way.The North coast in Spain is renowned for its cuisine so prepare for an unforgettable gastronomic experience on the Camino.
	Castro Urdiales	29
	Laredo	30
	Escalante	14
Section 3	Santander	29
	Arce	20	This holiday will see you travel along the third section of the Camino Norte, Northern Way.This section of the Camino de Santiago begins in Santander and finishes in the charming seaside resort of Ribadesella. The mountains of the North provide a spectacular contrast to the picturesque coastline.This region is renowned for its cuisine, particularly seafood, fish and Asturias famous natural cider.
	Santillana del Mar	27
	Comillas	23
	Unquera	27
	Llanes	26
	Ribadesella	30
	Colunga	21
	Villaviciosa	17
Section 4	Gijón	30
	Avilés	25	Starting in the coastal city of Gijón by the Cantabrian Sea, this is a fabulous Camino trail following the coast most of the way and taking pilgrims through pretty seaside villages and fishing towns in Asturias such as Luarca and Navia. As you cross the bridge over the Eo River you will reach the lively town of Ribadeo, entering Galicia. From Ribadeo, the Camino del Norte heads inland across the rolling green hills towards the once important town of Mondoñedo with its fantastic medieval architecture. All along the Asturian and Galician coast you will be rewarded with stunning scenery and architecture, as well as delicious local food, particularly fish and seafood; not forgetting Asturias famous cider.
	El Pito	28
	Ballota	25
	Luarca	22
	Navia	22
	Ribadeo	31
	Lourenzá	28
	Abadín	25
Section 5	Vilalba	20
	Baamonde	20	The fifth and last section of the Camino del Norte, the Northern Way route of the famous Camino de Santiago, starts in the market town of Vilalba and takes pilgrims across Galicia’s farmland and lush country side all the way to Santiago de Compostela. You will be also joining the famous French Way in Arzúa, so you get the best of both worlds: a less travelled path on the Northern Way and the most popular and social trail on the French Way. One of the highlights of this trip is the magnificent monastery in Sobrado dos Monxes. Since you will be walking over 100km, don’t forget to stamp your pilgrim passport and request your Compostela certificate when you reach Santiago.
	Miraz	15
	Sobrado dos Monxes	26
	Arzúa	22
	Rúa	18
	Santiago de Compostela	21

OR 

FRENCH WAY – CAMINO FRANCÉS

FRENCH WAY

The French Way or Camino Francés (#caminofrances) is the most famous of all the Camino de Santiago routes, featuring in many documentaries, books ad movies such as ‘The Way’.

While St Jean Pied de Port is the official starting point of the French Way, many also choose to start their Camino from other points along the route. The most popular starting point is the town of Sarria, in Galicia, 111km away from Santiago.

The last section of the French Way from Sarria to Santiago is also the most social part of the route, where you will meet many fellow pilgrims and find the real spirit and camaraderie of the Camino!

Along the French Way, you will discover beautiful cities, charming medieval towns and stunning landscapes: the Pyrenees, the vineyards of La Rioja, the vast open spaces of the Meseta, the rugged mountains of Léon and O Cebreiro and finally the peaceful hills of rural Galicia before reaching Santiago de Compostela. You can walk the full walk of 790km in over a month.

Itinerary

^^ountain ^^an will Hike these sections in REVERSE ORDER

Sections	Town	Km	Section Summary
Section 1	Saint Jean Pied de Port	–
	Roncesvalles	26	The first section of the French Way, Camino Francés, starts in St Jean Pied de Port in the French Basque Country, crosses the Pyrenees and finishes in the city of Pamplona, world famous for its Bull Run, San Fermín. This is one of the most challenging but beautiful parts of the route, especially if you take the ‘Napoleon Route’ over the Roncesvalles Pass (1450m). The views of the Pyrenees are worth the effort!
	Zubiri	22
Section 2	Pamplona	20
	Puente de la Reina	23	This section of the Camino de Santiago along the French Way, Camino Francés starts in the city of Pamplona (Iruña in Basque), famous for its San Fermín Bull Run festival taking place from 7th July every year. The section finishes in Logroño, capital of La Rioja wine region, and a fantastic city to discover authentic Spanish ‘tapas’. From the pilgrim sculpture at Alto del Perdón, you will enjoy panoramic views of Pamplona behind and the vast countryside ahead, before continuing on your way. On this section of the Camino, you will walk in the mountains of Navarra and across La Rioja vineyards, passing medieval bridges, castles, churches and picturesque villages along the way, such as Puente de la Reina, Cirauqui, Estella-Lizarra and Viana. Stop at Bodegas Irache and the Wine Museum for a rest and a quick sip at the free wine fountain.
	Estella	19
	Los Arcos	20
Section 3	Logroño	26
	Nájera	26	Section 3 of the Camino de Santiago along the French Way starts in Logroño, capital of the famous Rioja wine region. Explore the city and treat yourself to ‘tapas’ in the lively Calle del Laurel before you start your journey. The terrain becomes easier than in previous stages of the Camino and you will walk sections across undulating farmland and vineyards, passing castles, monasteries and charming villages. One of the highlights is Santo Domingo de la Calzada and its historic centre, an important stop for pilgrims on the Camino since the Middle Ages. You will finish your walk in the majestic city of Burgos, home of ‘El Cid’, where you should visit its magnificent cathedral, possibly the most beautiful in Spain.
	Santo Domingo de la Calzada	21
	Belorado	22
	St Juan de Ortega	24
Section 4	Burgos	22
	Hornillos del Camino	20	Section 4 of the Camino de Santiago – French Way starts in majestic Burgos, hometown of ‘El Cid’ and considered the Gothic capital of Spain. This section of the French Way finishes in the village of Sahagún, in the heart of the Meseta with its vast wide open landscapes. The sounds of nature and endless crop fields will be your companions for this section of the Camino, dotted with hamlets, picturesque sleepy villages and Romanesque churches.
	Castrojeriz	18
	Frómista	25
	Carrión de los Condes	19
	Calzadilla de la Cueza	17
Section 5	Sahagún	22
	El Burgo Ranero	17	Starting in the medieval town of Sahagún, section 5 of the Camino de Santiago along the French Way will take you across the Meseta, the immense Castilian Plateau (900m) and its villages. You will finish this walking section in the city of León, where you should visit the cathedral, the remains of its Roman walls, the Romanesque Royal Basilica of Saint Isidoro and Gaudí’s neo-Gothic Casa de Botines.
	Mansilla de las Mullas	19
Section 6	León	17
	Mazarife	22	Section 6 of the Camino de Santiago along the French Way starts in the lively city of León and finishes in Ponferrada, built by the Templars in the 12th century. Along the way, you will pass the hilltop city of Astorga famous for its chocolates and other sweet delicacies. After Astorga, you will start your ascent to the spectacular and unscathed León Mountains (Montes de León), passing rustic mountain villages and hamlets before reaching El Bierzo region. Your destination for this Camino section is Ponferrada, capital of El Bierzo region and the last city before Santiago de Compostela.
	Astorga	30
	Rabanal del Camino	19
Section 7	Ponferrada	32
	Villafranca del Bierzo	23	Section 7 of the Camino de Santiago along the French Way starts in Ponferrada, with its imposing Templars Castle, and finishes in the market town of Sarria, the most popular Camino starting point. You will begin your journey heading to Villafranca del Bierzo, a gorgeous town surrounded by idyllic countryside. After Villafranca, a challenging ascent will lead to the mountains of O Cebreiro. You will enter Galicia via O Cebreiro, a stunning mountain village in a region of outstanding natural beauty. After O Cebreiro, the Camino will continue along forest tracks towards Sarria, just over 100km away from Santiago. An alternative route will take you by the impressive Samos Monastery.
	O Cebreiro	28
	Triacastela	21
Section 8	Sarria	21
	Portomarín	23	This is the most popular walking tour of the Camino de Santiago. Perfect for those looking to capture the essence of the Camino: a nice walk, good food and wine, discovering local customs, meeting fellow pilgrims and enjoying the unique atmosphere of it all. You won’t forget a single minute of it! This section of the Camino de Santiago starts in Sarria and covers the last 100km of the Camino Francés, the minimum required to apply for your Compostela certificate. The Camino will take you across woodlands, farmland and rustic hamlets, following tracks and paths lined by granite stone walls. The green rolling landscape of Galicia is part of each day’s walk, until you approach your final destination: wonderful Santiago de Compostela.
	Palas do Rei	23
	Arzúa	28
	Rúa	18
	Santiago de C.	19

PARIS AND TOURS WAY – CHEMIN DE PARIS ET DE TOURS

The Paris & Tours Way, Chemin de Paris et de Tours in French or Via Turonensis in Latin (#viaturonensis), is the Camino de Santiago route followed traditionally by pilgrims coming from the North of France and Europe. Paris, the City of Lights, is the starting point for this route. Tour St Jacques, in Rue de Rivoli, has seen pilgrims embark on their Camino de Santiago journey from this very spot for many centuries.

Followed by devoted Medieval pilgrims, the Paris & Tours Way is dotted with towns and sanctuaries of great importance, such as the Basilica of Saint Martin in the splendid city of Tours.

Admiring majestic castles in the Loire Valley, walking across the vineyards of Bordeaux, exploring charming Medieval villages and of course, treating yourself to authentic French cuisine along the way are just some of the things that will make this section of the Camino de Santiago special. Read more Paris and Tours Way Camino articles on our blog.

Itinerary

^^ountain ^^an will Hike these sections in REVERSE ORDER

Sections	Town	Km	Section Summary
Section 1	Paris	–
	Massy	17	The first section of the Paris & Tours Camino de Santiago starts in Paris, the City of Lights, and ends in medieval Orléans. This route crosses one of the most productive agricultural areas of France so it is quite a flat and easy section to walk. Starting at the Tour St Jacques (St James Tower), you will cross the city of Paris and its many interesting sights, such as the Cathedral Notre-Dame, St Michel… along the way to Orléans, you will reach many scenic villages and hamlets with churches, abbeys and castles; a reminder of the area’s important medieval heritage. At the end of this section, you will arrive in Orléans, a city linked to the history of the Kingdom of France.
	Arpajon	23
	Etampes	24
	Angerville	25
	Artenay	35
Section 2	Orléans	26
	Beaugency	29	The second section of the Paris & Tours Camino de Santiago starts at the Sainte-Croix Cathedral in medieval Orléans and finishes in gorgeous Tours. You will walk following the Loire, the longest river in France, and cross beautiful vineyards, fields and woods. On the Paris & Tours Way to Santiago, you will see many amazing cities, full of history, such as Blois and Amboise. You will then cross the Touraine region, famous for its white wine production. This section finishes in the city of Tours, with its stunning old town, where you can visit the St Martin Basilica and the city’s cathedral.
	Suevres	23
	Blois	13
	Chaumont-sur-loire	23
	Amboise	23
Section 3	Tours	29,5
	Sorigny	23	The third section of the Paris & Tours Camino de Santiago starts in the flowery city of Tours and ends in Saintes. You will start your walk from the old town in Tours, on the Loire River, and head South on your Camino walk along beautiful countryside, dotted with pretty hamlets and little towns.On your way you will discover a number of remarkable cities and monuments, such as Poitiers, Saint-Jean d’Angely, Melle and the church of Saint Hilaire, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
	Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine	20
	Dange-St-Romain	24
	Chatellerault	18
	Poitiers	34
	Lusignan	29
	Chenay	20
	Melle	17
	Aulnay	32
	Saint-Jean-d’Angély	23
Section 4	Saintes	35
	Pons	23	The fourth section of the Paris & Tours Camino de Santiago starts in Saintes and ends in Bordeaux, also called “La belle endormie” (Sleeping Beauty).This is a region of outstanding beauty and you will walk along some of the most prestigious vineyards in France. This is quite an easy walking section of the Paris Camino or Via Turonensis. Along the way, you will pass castles, chapels and pretty villages; and discover beautiful cities such as Pons. Your destination is the stunning city of Bordeaux and its breath-taking city centre, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
	Mirambeau	30
	Saint-Aubin-de-Blaye	17
	Blaye	24
Section 5	Bordeaux	28
	Le Barp	26	The fifth and last section of the Paris & Tours Camino de Santiago starts in the lovely city of Bordeaux and ends in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, near the Spanish border. You will cross the Bordeaux region, famous all over the world for its fine wines, and walk across vineyards before arriving at the foot of the Pyrenees. It is a relatively easy section of the Camino, although the last stretch does require some effort. Starting from the suburb of Bordeaux you will cross lovely countryside and vineyards.The many churches, abbeys and streets with the name of Saint James will remind you all the way that you are on the road to Santiago de Compostela. You will pass magnificent cities like Dax before arriving in Saint-Jean–Pied-de-Port, the last town in France and starting point of the French Way to Santiago.
	Saugnacq-et-Muret	27
	Labouheyre	30
	Onesse-et-Laharie	26
	Taller	25
	Dax	24
	Sorde-l’Abbaye	26
	Garris	30
	Ostabat-Asme	15
	St Jean Pied de Port	23

You may have seen Melissa at Lake Watauga !

Experienced Hiker - AT Wanabe - Culinary 

Most Beautiful Green Eyes EVER he he