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The Camino Experience

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What is the Terrain Like?

The terrain of the Camino Francés  is wonderfully varied. Much of the trail is stunningly beautiful and picturesque, and some of it is not so beautiful and picturesque. It is a bit like life in that regard!

The trail traverses three mountain ranges and more than 200 kilometers of high plain. It takes you through vineyards and valleys, beautiful cities, and countless villages, towns, and hamlets.

You walk for several days through the picturesque Basque Country at the beginning, and for several days through the verdant Galician countryside at the end.

You will walk on pavement in all its forms, including cobblestone streets, medieval bridges, one-lane roads, and busy motorways.

The Camino goes up and down and up and down, seemingly endlessly, with elevation changes from 200 to 1550 meters (1000 to 5100 feet). The first 28 kilometers (18 miles) alone, from Saint Jean Pied de Port in France, take you up a staggering, breathtaking 1200 meters (4000 feet).

The best way to preview the terrain of the Camino Francés is with photos.

From Saint Jean Pied de Port, France, to Roncesvalles, Spain, on the High Road (Napoleon Route)

A busy morning leaving the pretty town of Saint Jean Pied de Port, Baasque country, France

One-lane road with a local resident

A trail marker in France, on a one-lane road, brilliantly green year-round

On the steep climb from Honto to Orisson

What a traffic jam looks like on the Napoleon route

A steep stretch shortly before the border crossing from France into Spain

The border crossing from France into Spain – you just step over a cattle guard and you have changed countries!

Snow takes over part of the trail, mid-May, on the last climb before the descent to Roncesvalles

A good break spot, above the clouds and above the first stop in Spain – Roncesvalles

On the Low Road, from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles, Through Valcarlos

The trail through the valley, on the Low Road

The path through the forest on the Low Road

The Chapel at the Ibañate Pass, after the climb from the valley on the Low Road

From Roncesvalles to Burgos

One-lane road, approaching the pretty Basque town of Espinal

The trail after Pamplona, in the fall season (September)

You will cross beautiful old bridges, full of history

The Camino passes through beautiful cities

The small hamlet of Irache, home of the famous wine / water fountain, after Estella

Dirt track, after Estella, on the alternative route

Crossing a busy road, the safest way

The trail goes from road to track, across a road

Walking through the vineyards of Navarra

Approaching Santo Domingo de la Calzada, in the fall season (September)

Approaching Santo Domingo de la Calzada, in the spring season (late May / early June)

The Cathedral in Burgos, as seen from the Camino trail

From Burgos to León: The Meseta

A long road into Hornillos del Camino on the meseta

A rare and welcome source of shade on the meseta

Muddy conditions on the meseta

A flat stretch on the meseta, leaving Boadilla del Camino

A rare shelter for walkers on the long stretch from Carrion de los Condes to Calzadilla de la Cueza

Leaving Sahagún, more flat terrain

Rolling hills, green in the springtime, on the meseta

A long, dry stretch on the old Roman road

Walking the meseta in the spring

Walking on the meseta

Big sky on the meseta

Sometimes meseta seems to go on and on…and on and on and on…

From León to Santiago

A long stretch after Villares de Orbigo

The village of Santibañez

Approaching Astorga, with the spires of the Cathedral in the distance

Leaving the village of Foncebadón

The city center of Ponferrada

Pilgrims walking after the village Trabadelo

Walking up into the clouds

After a climb in the mountains, up to O’Cebreiro

Cobblestone streets in O’Cebreiro

A church in a tiny hamlet after O’Cebreiro

The approach to the historic city center of Santiago

At last! The Cathedral in Santiago

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