The Way of St James for beginners: how to plan your first pilgrimage

In short: Yes. Hiking experience helps, but it isn't a requirement. What matters is broken-in shoes, a light backpack and short stages in the first week.

When a first pilgrimage goes wrong, the kilometres are rarely to blame. It is usually small things: shoes that are too new, a backpack that is too heavy or a first day that is too ambitious. A little planning avoids all of this.

Route: start on the short side

You don't have to walk 780 kilometres straight away. A week from Sarria to Santiago is enough to find out whether pilgrimage suits you, and it is also enough for the Compostela. Two weeks will do for the Portuguese Way from Porto. If you have five weeks free, you can walk the whole Camino Francés. You will find a comparison of the routes on our Way of St James page.

Three things to sort out beforehand

First the shoes: break them in over several weeks, including with a full backpack. Then the pilgrim passport: order it in good time, as it often takes a few weeks to arrive. And then the weight: do a test pack and weigh your backpack. Our article on backpack weight will help you sort things out.

The first week

At the start, it is better to walk 15 kilometres than 25. Your body only gets used to the strain after a few days, and this is when most blisters form. If you start in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, you can split the Pyrenees stage to Roncesvalles with a stop at Orisson.

You should reserve accommodation for the first night. After that you will soon see how busy your section is and can decide according to the situation. Our article on albergues and reservations will help you with this.

Typical mistakes at the start

Many people set off too fast because everyone else seems to be walking fast as well. Find your own pace instead, even if that means walking alone. Also drink before you get thirsty, and take your shoes off during breaks. Deal with every sore spot straight away. A day with an open blister is much longer than the five minutes it takes to apply a plaster.