Which Camino section would you recommend for a week in April?

[Smallfry79]

Hi all,
Im looking for advice or opinions on which section of the camino to choose.
Planning for a group of us to do a week next April on the Camino.
We have never done anything like this before.
We are reasonably fit but not exactly mountain climbers, all women in mid 40s.
Suggestions are between San Sebastian to bilbao or one of the last legs ending up in Santiago.
Has anyone done either or both of these? Which would you recommend and why?
We will be booking a package with accommodation and luggage transfers.
Thanks in advance for any advice.

Are you planning to do more in
the future? If not I’d do the last 100km from Sarria.

Thanks for your reply. No plan to do any more for now.
I suppose it depends how much we like this one 😂
Im thinking a last leg too but others saying other routes easier or more scenic.

Have a look at the Camino Ingles. It starts in Ferrol, ends in Santiago and qualifies for Compostela. The shorter route is from A Coruna, but it doesn't meet the criteria for a Compostela, so it depends on whether you want one or not!

I have friends who did this route and they enjoyed it a lot. The Sarria route is often very crowded being the last stage on the Frances, and one of the single stages that qualifies for Compostela. It can be jammed with Spanish schoolkids on trips too.

caminoways.com/camino-ingles

If you want more information about the different routes, backpack advice, clothing and equipment etc.. or anything to do with the Camino, you could sign up for the Camino de Santiago.me website which has great message boards and lots of information from past, present and future peregrinos. A very good resource imo.

Buen Camino!

www.caminodesantiago.me/community/

Oh I hadnt thought about over crowding, id definitely rather avoid that if possible.

Ill take a look at that site now, thank for the recommendation.

The Norte Camino which runs through San Sebastián and Bilbao has quite long stages and quite a lot of up and down. For a first time Camino, I’d either recommend the Camino Frances or the Portuguese. You can do the last 100 km of each of those from either Sarria (Frances) or Tui/ Vigo (Portuguese) and finish in Santiago de Compostela, which is very special. However one other option would be to think about doing the first week of the Frances, starting at St Jean Pied de Port to Logrono. It’s generally quieter than the last 100km and gives a really authentic Camino experience. Then if you loved it (which I suspect you will), you could start from where you left off the following year.

Also to add…towards the end of April will be nicer weather with more wild flowers. I’ve walked the Frances twice, once starting end of April and the poppies were stunning.

So much choice! Thank you for your advice, im getting more excited already!

My friend is just back from the Portugal Camino and said it’s a hilly one.