Camino de Santiago from St Jean Pied de Port

The Camino de Santiago from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona are the first kilometres on the Camino Frances. On this route you will have the opportunity to depart from the French town of Saint Jean Pied de Port and cross the border on foot, just as Napoleon and his troops did. Hence the first kilometres are known as the Ruta de Napoleon.

The first part of the tour is made through a mountain environment, characterized by the presence of the Pyrenees. Then the terrain eases up and you will have the opportunity to walk surrounded by olive trees and vineyards.

The icing on the cake on this section is found in Pamplona, a city internationally known for the San Fermín festival, which is celebrated every year in July. In it you will find many places to visit and a lively atmosphere to enjoy.

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    ITINERARY
    Day 1
    Arrival in Saint Jean Pied de Port
    Saint Jean Pied de Port is a small village, with a medieval air, located at the foot of the Pyrenees, on the border between France and Spain. The town is characterized by its buildings in reddish stone and its cobblestoned streets.

    We recommend you take advantage of your day of arrival to stroll through its small streets and to visit places as picturesque as the Citadel or the Church of Notre Dame. The vast majority of visitors to the town are pilgrims who stay overnight to begin the Camino Frances.

    Accommodation: Overnight in Saint Jean Pied de Port (France).

    Day 2
    From Saint Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles
    The tour of the first day on the Camino de Santiago from Saint Jean Pied de Port is quite demanding, the stretch that links this French town with Roncesvalles is considered one of the most difficult on the Camino frances.

    During the day, you will have to face a slope of 1,250 metres, but the effort is rewarded by the spectacular landscape of the French Aquitaine and the Pyrenees.

    At this stage you will find two paths. One is the one known as Ruta de Napoleon, which is completed following the ancient Roman road that linked Bordeaux and Astorga, much more beautiful, but more demanding. The other is the so-called Valcarlos variant, which runs much closer to the road, allowing you to split the stage in two.

    Distance: 26 kilometres.

    Accommodation: Overnight in Roncesvalles.

    Option: If you want to have a shorter stage, you can stay overnight in Valcarlos (Spain). This option is especially recommended during the cold months, as it is possible to find snow on the route. Please contact us for more information.

    Day 3
    From Roncesvalles to Zubiri
    The first kilometres today will be made through El Robledal de Brujas, a particularly beautiful and mysterious stretch of the Camino de Santiago. Surrounded by a typical mountain landscape and surrounded by oaks and beech trees, today you will cross two mountain passes. The Alto de Mezkiritz, at 920 metres above sea level, and the Alto de Erro, 800 metres.

    In the company of the River Arga, you will have the opportunity to discover the Estibar Valley. On a pleasant walk along the riverbank you will reach the town of Zubiri, where the stage ends. In the afternoon, you can take advantage of the bucolic environment that surrounds el Puente de la Rabia. An idyllic place to rest and relax!

    Accommodation: 20 kilometres.

    Accommodation: Overnight in Zubiri.

    Day 4
    From Zubiri to Pamplona
    On this stage, you will find two possible routes. One follows the official layout of the Camino Frances and the other runs along the banks of the River Arga, to the city of Pamplona. Both are nice, but we would advise you to walk by the river.

    The main feature of this stage of the Camino Frances from Roncesvalles are the various medieval bridges that you will cross during the route. The day ends in Pamplona, a city internationally known for the San Fermin festival.

    Distance: 20 kilometres.

    Accommodation: Overnight in Pamplona.

    Day 5
    Pamplona
    On the last day you can take advantage, and discover the city of Pamplona, where you will find a wide range of places to visit, such as the Cathedral or Plaza del Castillo, where one of the cafes frequented by the writer Ernest Hemingway is located.

    In Pamplona you will also find a wide gastronomic selection and an exquisite tapas culture. If you have time, we recommend adding an extra night in Pamplona so that you can fully enjoy all that the city has to offer. Please contact us for more information.

    On the other hand, if 5 days and 4 nights on the Camino Frances seem insufficient, do not hesitate to contact us to add some of the stages that link Pamplona and Logroño.

    ACCOMMODATION

    Selection of hotels and cottages

    Our partner travel agencies only works with accommodation that have private bathrooms and that guarantee maximum comfort and convenience to those pilgrims who book with us.

    Since reservations are subject to availability, the name of the hotels and cottages you will stay in will be provided to you 1 month before you start your pilgrimage.

    Booking single rooms

    You can book your stay on the Camino de Santiago by staying in single rooms, which also include a private bathroom. Single rooms are subject to an additional charge for the selected route.

    Accommodation in single rooms is subject to availability in hotels and cottages as it is a highly sought-after service. Reservations must be made in advance.

    Commitment to quality

    To ensure the quality standards of the accommodation with which we collaborate, our partner travel agencies teams travels to each of them to check that their facilities and services, as well as the quality of their attention, are excellent. Only in this way, can we guarantee you the best rest and an unforgettable stay while you are on the Camino de Santiago.

    In addition, if due to the low capacity of some of the hotels or cottages with which we collaborate, there is no availability, we guarantee that they will offer you other accommodation of the same range or even of superior quality.

    Accommodation partners

    All hotels and cottages have been selected with the utmost care, to guarantee your rest and comfort on all stages of the Camino de Santiago

    SERVICES
    INCLUDED SERVICES
    • Staying in hotels and cottages.
    • Accommodation with a private bathroom in your room.
    • Detailed itinerary of the reserved route.
    • Selected meal plan.
    • Baggage transfer between stages.
    • Personal assistance 24/7, by phone, throughout the trip.
    • Emergency assistance car available
    • Information dossier for the Camino de Santiago from St Jean Pied de Port.
    • Taxes included.
    OPTIONAL SERVICES
    • Booking of single rooms at an additional cost.
    • Picnics to go (includes sandwich, drink and dessert).
    • Additional nights (breakfast included).
    • Transfers according to your needs.
    • Assistance insurance during the tour.
    • Travel cancellation insurance.
    TESTIMONIALS
    Excellent and well organised walking
    We walked from Lugo to Santiago. All of the accommodation was very good, good meals and drink. All in all a very good holiday and walking experience. We’ve already booked to do another walk next year as they make it so easy to do.
    Well done!
    They arranged all accommodation and transport of luggage flawlessly. Not a single glitch was experienced. Well done!
    Camino Trail
    Amazing experience and I was very satisfied. I would highly recommend booking with this company as they were organized, helpful and I never had to worry about anything other than enjoy hiking the Camino.
    They really are excellent!
    The tour was really superb! We were impressed with all aspects of communications both during the booking and planning stage as well as during the trip. Transfers were flawless and the standard of accomodation excellent! Highly recommend… And will surely use them again!
    Fabulous experience
    Fabulous experience. Walks in Spain were a very good company to travel with. Highly recommend them. Accommodation was very good and food excellent.