Pyrenees & Basque Country(Walking Holiday)

Camino Santiago Frances

French way / Camino Frances
Section 1

A taste of Pyrenees & Basque Country

From St-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Pamplona: 68km
5 Days/4 nights camino santiago grade half Board en-suite available year round From €320
The Camino Frances / French Way is the most traditional of all the pilgrims’ ways to Santiago de Compostela and the best known internationally.

This Walking Holiday explores the 1st section of the Camino Frances / French Way. It starts in France at St-Jean-Pied-de-Port and finishes in Pamplona, the town famous for its Bull Run festival. At first it follows the ‘Route Napoleon’ over the Roncesvalles Pass (1500m), and then crosses the Basque country onto more gentle terrain.

Everyday, during the walk, you are guaranteed a high level of comfort and gastronomy. The Camino is clearly marked with the “Scallop Shell” showing you the way. This walk can be physically demanding and requires a reasonable level of fitness. However, it’s a highly rewarding walk that includes numerous cultural highlights.
Santiago section 1
maps
French Way in Yellow
Use the navigation tools on the left to zoom-in
Day By day
camino compostela frances Gradients
PuceDay 1 – To Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
You will be booked in a hotel in the heart of the small town. The rooms are en-suite.

camino compostela frances Town: ATM, shops, all facilities.
Accommodation: Charming 2* Logis de France hotel in the centre of the town, en suite. Patrick, the owner, is also the cook… and a very good one at that!

Day 2 – Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port To Roncesvalles (8h, 26km, +1250m -540m).
This first day is considered the most difficult as the Camino crosses the Pyrenees. The “Camino Napoleon” kicks off with a steep climb, on through orchards and past country houses and then, later, through Alpine style meadows, before weaving its way alongside leafy beech woods towards the border and the descent into Roncesvalles. The Valcarlos Camino mainly follows the road which runs through the valley alongside the river Nive or river Valcarlos. Don’t miss the “Collegiate Church” in Roncesvalles.

NOTE: If you would like to walk at a more relaxed pace, we can split this walking day into 2 stages (12km & 14km), staying overnight in the village of Valcarlos. Here you will be staying a charming 2* hotel. We recommend taking this route during the winter months when snow can make the higher route impassable.

camino compostela frances Town: ATM, shops.
Accommodation: 2* hotel within a fully renovated 15th-century monastery, en-suite
Meal: Half Board
PuceDAY 3 – Roncesvalles to Zubiri (7h, 22km, +90m -550m)
The Camino crosses two beautiful mountain passes and continues on through beech and oak woods and meadows before coming to Espinal, where the panoramic views of the countryside with the Pyrenees in the background are a sight to behold. The river Arga runs alongside this part of the Camino and continues its course all the way to Larrasoana.

camino compostela frances Town: ATM, Shops.
Accommodation: Renovated 2* hotel; comfortable, family-run and very friendly! En-suite.
Meal: Half Board

PuceDAY 4 – Zubiri to Pamplona (6h, 20km, +/-250m)
The Camino runs along the river Arga, at the foot of a group of hills covered in beech, oak and Scots pine. As we approach Pamplona, the landscape shows the obvious influence of civilisation; with its conifers, reforestation and farmlands.

camino compostela frances Town: ATM, shops, all facilities.
Accommodation: 3* hotel; a renovated 16th-century house in the historic center of the town, en-suite.
Meal: Breakfast

PuceDAY 5 – Pamplona, end of the walking holiday
After breakfast we bid you farewell.

camino compostela frances Meal: Breakfast
how to get there
It is best to fly to France (Biarritz or Paris), then come back from Spain (Bilbao, Santander or Madrid)

1 – To France

2 – Flying back home from Spain

  • From Bilbao
    A large amount of the passenger traffic at Bilbao Airport comes from internal flights and you can fly from Bilbao to any of the following Spanish Airports: A Coruna, Alicante, Barcelona, Badajoz, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Jerez, Lanzarote, Madrid, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Santiago de Compostela, Seville, Tenerife, Valencia and Vigo.
    There are also European flights to Brussels, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Lisbon, Milan, Munich, Paris and Stuttgart.
    At the moment, easyJet, Iberia and AerLingus fly from the UK and Ireland to Bilbao. easyJet offer daily flights to Bilbao from London Stansted Airport, Iberia flys from Gatwick or Heathrow via Madrid and AerLingus operate out of Dublin.
  • From Santander
    Ryanair are the only low-cost airline that currently offer direct flights to Santander. They offer flights from London Stansted and now Dublin, Frankfurt, Milan and Rome, as well as Reus and Madrid in Spain.
    Iberia offer a good selection of internal flights from Alicante, Barcelona, Gran Canaria, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Seville and Valencia.

    For more info see: http://www.spanish-airport-guide.com/
To the beginning of your walking holiday: St-Jean-Pied-de-Port

From Biarritz (2h)

1 – Shuttle bus to Bayonne train station
Bayonne-Anglet-Biarritz Airport is located just 3 Km from Biarritz. However it is a much better option to go to Bayonne train station (not Biarritz). Take the STAB line 6 to Bayonne train station (direct). The journey takes approx. 20 minutes and will cost €1.20. See http://www.bus-stab.com. The bus stop is in front of the terminal. Alternatively, there is a taxi rank in front of the terminal; cost is €25-€30.

2 – Train to St-Jean-Pied-de-Port
There are direct trains from Bayonne to Saint Jean Pied de Port at 18h13 (1h22 travel). See http://www.voyages-sncf.com/leisure/fr/launch/home/

From Paris (6h30)

Take a train to St-Jean-Pied-de-Port
Departs every day at 12.10, arrives at 18:30
Back Home, from Pamplona

1 – The Burundesa bus company links Pamplona with Bilbao (2h) with 10 departures a day. It is possible to fly from there with Aerlingus.
See: http://horarios.renfe.es/hir/ingles.html

2 – The Burundesa bus company links Pamplona with Santander (2h) with 2 departures a day. From the bus station in Santander, simply get a direct city bus to the airport (20min), and Ryanair operates flights from there.
See: http://horarios.renfe.es/hir/ingles.html

Spanish airport info: http://www.spanish-airport-guide.com/
WEATHER
camino compostela frances
Average temperatures		 camino compostela frances
Average rainfall
about the walking holiday
hotels
These hotels and guesthouses have been carefully selected for their comfort, location, friendliness and character, and are subject to availability. If the hotel described is not available we provide an alternative with the same standard of comfort & price.
Luggage
We will transport your luggage from one hotel to the next. You only need to carry your backpack during the day!
Included Not Included
  • Luggage transferred from hotel to hotel
  • Rooms en-suite
  • Half Board during the hike
  • Detailed Walking Notes
  • Map
  • Pilgrim passport
  • Flights
  • Insurance (recommended)
  • Drinks
  • Dinner first and last nights
  • Transfer from/to airport
Prices Guided
Basic Price + HB + Luggage transfer + Guide (€ pps)
Start dates
price pps
French Way
Section 1		 07/05/11 470
prices SelF-Guided
Period Price
(€)		 Single Room
(€)		 Split Day 2 Please note:

If you would like to stay in Pamplona during the Fiesta de San Fermin (6-14th July) an, additional fee of €80 per person will apply.
Single room Double room (pps)
High Season
April, May,
June, September		 420 103 116 95
Mid Season
July, August,
October		 380 88 106 90
Low Season
January, February, March, November,December		 320 73 106 90
If you plan to walk Section 1 or Section 2 of the Camino Frances and intend to be in Pamplona or Puente de la Reina between the 5th and 14th of July, there is an extra €80pps per night spent between these 2 dates in one of these 2 locations. This is because of the San Fermin Feria in Pamplona http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Ferm%C3%ADn. All hotels double their prices and rooms must be booked at least a year in advance if you wish to be in Pamplona or Puente de la Reina on these dates
Options
Extra Nights
St Jean, Pamplona, Santander & Bilbao (€)		 Picnic lunches Transport
To St Jean From Biarritz aiport or Hendaya- 1h
(€pp)

For info on transfers for more passengers or from other airports, please ask us.
2*Hotel
B&B (€)		 3* Hotel
B&B (€)
Single Double
(pps)		 Single Double
(pps)
60 44 95 65 (sandwich, fruit, chocolate bar)
€30		 2-8 people
€40pp
Special rates for groups of 6+