Walking the Via Podiensis: How to Plan Your Stages—Without Being Too Rigid
- Camino Way of Life
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
If you’re preparing to walk the Via Podiensis, one of the first questions that arises is: How should I plan my stages?
Many pilgrims look for a tidy, pre-set itinerary—Day 1 here, Day 2 there—something that feels safe, structured, and predictable.
If you’re walking the Le Puy route of the Camino (the GR65), this post will help you plan your stages with clarity and flexibility — because on the Via Podiensis, we offer a different kind of guidance.
Why Fixed Stages Don’t Work Well on This Route
Pre-planned stages often look beautifully organized on paper, yet they rarely reflect the lived rhythm of the Camino. Distances feel different when you’re walking them. Weather, terrain, early aches, your energy levels, the people you meet, and those unexpected moments of grace—these shape your days far more than any chart ever could.
And the Via Podiensis has its own personality. Its climbs, its stone villages, its long quiet stretches, and its subtle cultural rhythms make it unlike any other Camino route. It takes a few days simply to feel its tempo.
Start Slowly—Your Body Will Thank You
We strongly encourage pilgrims to begin gently, especially during the first week. These early days are when:
Your legs and lungs are learning the particularities of this path.
Your body is building stamina, day by day.
Your pace is finding its natural flow.
After about a week, something remarkable happens: you become Camino-fit. Distances feel easier, hills less intimidating, and your confidence grows. If you want to walk longer days after that, you’ll be ready. But it’s important not to rush the beginning.
The start of the Via Podiensis is beautiful, yes—but also physically and mentally demanding in ways that can surprise even experienced walkers.
Because Everything Is New—Give Yourself Time to Adapt
Even if you’ve walked other Caminos, this one is different.
New country.
New language.
New customs.
New ways of booking accommodation.
New rhythms of hospitality.
New food, new schedules, new sounds.
There’s a lot to absorb in the first few days. It’s perfectly normal to feel a little overwhelmed. Which is why…
We Recommend Booking Your First 3–5 Nights
Having your first few nights reserved offers a gentle buffer as you step into a new country and a new way of walking. It gives you:
A soft landing into a different culture.
Time to understand how things work in France.
Space to settle into your rhythm without rushing from bed to bed.
A sense of security while your body finds its footing.
Once you’ve had those initial days to breathe, adjust, and attune both to the path and to yourself, you’ll be able to choose your distances more intuitively.
If you’re walking in May or September—the busiest months—you may feel more comfortable booking a few additional nights. And if there’s a particular gîte you’ve set your heart on, it’s wise to reserve it in advance.
If you’re walking as a group of three or more, a bit more planning will make your journey smoother.
Walk With the Path, Not Against It
The Via Podiensis is one of the easiest Caminos to walk flexibly. Villages are frequent, distances are varied, and you’ll find plenty of options for reshaping your days. You don’t need rigid stages; you only need awareness and a willingness to listen—to the route and to your own body.
So rather than squeezing your journey into pre-cut pieces, we encourage you to:
Understand the general flow of the terrain.
Choose a few places you’d love to experience.
Stay open to shorter or longer days as needed.
Let your body guide you—especially at the beginning.
Trust that the Camino will place you exactly where you need to be.
To help you prepare your Camino in France, we offer:
Rob’s guide: Walking the Via Podiensis made simple.
A downloadable PDF that contains everything you need to plan and navigate your walk:
Maps and elevation profiles
Town-exit maps
Information blocks showing distances, services, breaks, and overnight options
A complete listing of all the gîtes along the way
…and so much more
Walking the Via Podiensis made simple with : Via Podiensis Guide
Kate’s French for the Camino course
French for the Camino is a practical, beginner-friendly course designed specifically for pilgrims walking the Via Podiensis. It gives you just the right amount of French to navigate your journey confidently,
Kate's course to help pilgrims : French for the Camino
Our FAQs page
Clear, detailed answers to the most common questions—waymarking, costs, fitness, seasons, and more.
For all the answers to your questions: FAQs
Bon chemin à tous!
Comments