Once you have gotten all relevant information and you have decided that the Circuit de l’Abbaye is what you want to undertake, the first step is to register here. Be careful if you register later in the season, as in the beginning of September many accommodation providers close for the off-season.
Then, while your Pilgrim’s Kit is on its way, you can prepare according to the outline below.
Get Physically Fit
There are as many preparation and training methods as there are walkers. Here are a few suggestions to get you started. If long-distance walking is new to you, begin training 3 to 9 months in advance, at least 2 or 3 times per week, with your gear. Gradually increase your distance until you reach at least 15 km per day. On the Circuit, the average distance walked on a given day is 18 km, but there are also 25-km days. Read our Release from Liability Clause to familiarize yourself with the risks involved in long-distance walking.
Study the Route
To enhance your experience on the Circuit de l’Abbaye, we encourage you to study the route. Discover the different localization tools available, such as our interactive map. Make reservations for your lodging, starting with places where accommodation is scarcer, such as Saint-Étienne-de-Bolton and Owl’s Head sector. You can look up alternative lodging services such as AirBnb, but we do not list them on our directory.
Get Equipped
To avoid injuries and ensure that your journey on the Circuit de l’Abbaye is an enjoyable one, it is important to be smartly equipped. There is no universal list: some will find that there are items missing from our list (below) while others will find that there is just too much. It is up to you to decide what you consider to be essential.