66 km
Distance
5 days / 4 nights
Duration
Half Board or Only Breakfast
Meals
Hotels and Country Cottages
Accommodation
From 484€ per person
Price
Saint Jean Pied de Port is the traditional starting point of the Camino Francés and the place where some of the most spectacular stages of the pilgrimage begin. This itinerary covers the section between Saint Jean Pied de Port and Pamplona in 5 stages, crossing the Pyrenees and passing through iconic locations such as Roncesvalles.
The first day follows the famous Napoleon Route, considered by many pilgrims to be one of the most impressive stages of the Camino de Santiago. Mountain landscapes, breathtaking views across the Pyrenees and the descent into Roncesvalles make this an unforgettable experience.
Along the way, you will discover some of the most iconic scenery of the Camino Francés, passing through small mountain villages and following in the footsteps of thousands of pilgrims before arriving in Pamplona, one of the cities with the strongest pilgrimage tradition on the entire route.
This itinerary ends in Pamplona, although it is also possible to continue the Camino Francés all the way to Santiago de Compostela by following the complete route from Saint Jean Pied de Port and walking more than 700 kilometres across northern Spain.
At Santiago Ways, we organise the Camino Francés from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona with carefully selected accommodation, luggage transfer and support throughout the route, allowing you to enjoy the experience without worrying about the logistics.
St Jean Pied de Port is the most popular French starting point for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. Approximately 25,000 pilgrims start the Camino Frances from St Jean Pied de Port every year.
St Jean Pied de Port is a beautiful walled city, with its amazing Citadel and the gateway to Santiago. Pilgrims from all over the world come to St Jean Pied de Port to start their Camino de Santiago journey.
Overnight: St Jean Pied de Port
The beginning of this route departs from the city of St Jean Pied de Port and starts by walking up the famous Roncesvalles mountain pass in the Pyrenees. This route is demanding, probably the hardest on the entire Camino Frances.
The so-called ‘Napoleon route’ begins with a steep climb from where we will be able to see beautiful country houses before reaching the typical uplands. On this route, we will also have some spectacular views of the Pyrenees Mountains.
Then we will walk through beautiful forests heading towards the Spanish border and we will head downhill until reaching the town of Roncesvalles. Alternatively, we can also walk to the village of Valcarlos. In Roncesvalles we recommend visiting the Collegiate Church and the Chapel of Santiago.
Length: 23,9 km
Overnight: Roncesvalles
If walking 26 km for approximately 8 hours all one go seems too difficult, we can choose to divide the route into two sections. First we will walk 12 km from St Jean Pied de Port to Valcarlos. Valcarlos is a pretty, welcoming village.
Spending the night in Valcarlos is ideal, especially in the winter months when snow can make the route even more difficult. The second day we will walk for 14 km from Valcarlos to Roncesvalles.
Length: 12 km and 14 km
Overnight: Valcarlos
We will start the day in the town of Roncesvalles. Roncesvalles is a popular starting point for many pilgrims from Spain. In Roncesvalles we recommend visiting the Chapel of St. James as well as the Royal Collegiate of Santa Maria.
The trail between Roncesvalles and Zubiri crosses beautiful forests of beech and oak trees. This trail also crosses two mountain passes: Alto de Mezquíriz and Alto de Erro. After crossing the passes, we will make our way down to the town of Zubiri where we can visit its famous ‘Puente de la Rabia’ located over the River Arga.
Length: 21,5 km
Overnight: Zubiri
Once we leave Zubiri, the trail continues along the River Arga to the city of Larrasoana, an important city during the Middle Ages due to its influx of pilgrims. Little by little we will make our way towards the city of Pamplona.
Pamplona is famous for its running of the bulls, specifically its San Fermin festival. Pamplona is an interesting city to visit; we can go to its old town, visit the cathedral, try its rich local cuisine (don’t forget the wine!), or we can go visit the city’s main square, the ‘Plaza del Castillo’.
Length: 21,8 km
Overnight: Pamplona
We will spend the last day of the first section of the Camino Frances in Pamplona. Pamplona is world renowned for its San Fermin festival, during which the running of the bulls takes place in its streets in July. Pamplona is a city with a great vibe and it is worth thoroughly visiting this city.
All the rooms you book with Santiago Ways to do the Camino de Santiago have a private bathroom and all the necessary services to ensure your best comfort.
Our team checks on site the quality of all the accommodation offered in order for pilgrims to enjoy a comfortable and unforgettable experience on the Camino de Santiago.
When working with quality accommodation with limited capacity, the exact name of the accommodation will be provided 30 days before the start of the Camino.
All accommodation on the Camino de Santiago is subject to availability. In case we can’t offer any of them due to lack of capacity, we’ll accommodate you in one of equal or better quality.
Single rooms are subject to availability. Reservations must be made in advance and come at an additional cost.
All our accommodation has been selected to ensure tranquillity, rest and enjoyment during your Camino de Santiago:
Accommodation in Hotels and Country Cottages.
Rooms with private bathroom.
Meal plan of your choice.
Baggage transfer between stages.
24 hours Telephone assistance on route.
Travel navigation app made for each traveler.
Complete route itinerary.
Assistance vehicle in case of emergency.
Information pack for the Camino de Santiago.
VAT.
Additional single room.
Extra night in Pamplona.
Transfer from Pamplona to St Jean Pied de Port.
Travel assistance insurance.
Cancellation insurance.
In order to resolve pilgrims’ doubts, here we answer the questions that are most frequently asked when we receive your enquiries.
If you have any other questions, you can contact us and we will be happy to help you resolve all your queries.
We want to talk to you now about one of the most charming routes on the Camino Frances. In fact, we refer to the route of the Camino de Santiago from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona. It is one of the most popular for many reasons that we will explain later.
By the way, we offer in this, and in other articles on our web, all the necessary information to be able to complete your adventure on the Camino of Santiago on any of its routes.
There are many reasons to do the Camino de Santiago de Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona. Next, we will detail some of them with the intention of encouraging you to complete one of the most beautiful and popular routes of all the possible itineraries of the Camino.
1.- The natural surroundings: One of the most noteworthy aspects of the Camino from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona is its great landscape and environmental richness. For example, roads littered with forests before entering the final point, Navarre, are impressive.
Also, this section of the Camino Frances from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona includes mountain stretches (two of them) where we can enjoy a wonderful experience.
2.-Historical heritage: In general, the Camino Frances is full of valuable cultural, historical and artistic heritage. However, for its stretch between Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona this is especially visible.
For example, in Saint Jean Pied de Port we can find its genuine medieval bridge and the Rue D’Espagne, a medieval aspect whose charm still remains intact.
The carving of the Virgin of Biakorri, in the area of Aquitaine, in France, is another example of this. Later, in the section of sites of interest, we will detail other places that you cannot miss. However, and to whet your appetite, it must be remembered that these points constitute for themselves another reason why to complete this route on the Camino Frances to Santiago de Compostela.
3.- Gastronomy: one of the most noteworthy points of the Camino Frances of Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona is, without doubt, its great variety and gastronomic richness. This is due to the great variety of cultures that it crosses, even in the culinary sense.
Thus, along the route, and as we will detail in the section of the best restaurants, we can find gastronomic wonders to delight any pilgrim. A journey that, to culminate, has its strong point in one of the gastronomic capitals of our country and, by extension, of the whole world: Pamplona.
4.- Infrastructure: it is necessary to say on the Camino Frances to Santiago from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona that it very wll served in terms of infrastructure. It is for this reason that, ahead of other routes of the Camino de Santiago which are less crowded, the popularity of all the Camino Frances ensures that it is spectacularly equipped.
The road is well signposted, avoids overcrowding, the terrain is well prepared for pilgrimages and, the locals who are found along the way live its culture with more passion (if that is possible) than the pilgrims themselves.
The Camino de Santiago from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona is a route that forms part of the so-called Camino Frances to Santiago. It finishes its route in Pamplona and is divided into four stages. It has a total length of 68 kilometres that run by unparalleled landscapes, cultural and historical.
It is one of the busiest routes and, in addition, it is one in which most of the pilgrimage paths to Santiago converge for many centuries. When we finally get to Pamplona, this route allows us to go around its historic quarter to enjoy one of the key cities since the early Middle Ages.
St. Jean Pied de Port – Roncesvalles
Stage map from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles
Roncesvalles – Zubiri
Stage map from Roncesvalles to Zubiri
Zubiri – Pamplona
Stage map from Zubiri to Pamplona
Here we present all the information regarding the profile of the Camino de Santiago from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona.
In general, we can say that it is a highly recommended section for those who want to start on the route: the highest level of the entire route is the Collado Lepoeder pass at 1430 metres. Later, it includes a steep descent into the town of Roncesvalles.
St. Jean Pied de Port – Roncesvalles
Stage profile from St Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles
Roncesvalles – Zubiri
Stage profile from Roncesvalles to Zubiri
Zubiri – Pamplona
Stage profile from Zubiri to Pamplona
In general, we can say that it is a very recommended section for those who want to start on the route: the highest level of the entire route is the Collado Lepoeder pass at 1430 metres. Later, it includes a steep descent into the town of Roncesvalles.
We also detail what the walking stages are that we must face in this Camino Frances to Santiago from Saint Jean Pied de Port.
Stage from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles
Stage from Roncesvalles to Zubiri
The total length of this section of the Camino de Santiago Frances is 66 kilometres. These are distributed in a total of 4 nights and 5 days. This is the proposed itinerary from Santiago Ways.
In any case, we want you to remember that it is always possible that this duration will lengthen if you fall in love with any of the spots that you may find along the route.
While the question of when to do the Camino de Santiago, in general, depends on the taste of each individual, we want to talk now about what is the best time of the year to complete the Camino Frances to Santiago from Saint Jean Pied de Port.
We will detail according to each month what advantages and disadvantages there are in each of them, although we can anticipate that weather instability is especially noted during the seasons of autumn and winter and that, in general, except in the mountain stages, the temperatures are mild throughout the route.
The month of January is a moment chosen by many people to complete this route, especially taking advantage of the last days of the Christmas holidays. One of the most powerful reasons to do it during this month is the beauty of the environment, especially in mountain regions. You have to go well covered up, warm and prepared for possible rains, yes.
In February the weather is a little milder in respect to mountain temperatures. As we have said, most of the Camino Frances to Santiago from Saint Jean Pied de Port runs through areas of Atlantic or transitional climate. This means that the winters are mild.
In March the temperatures begin to rise. It is the moment when spring begins to show its influence and therefore it is a good time for those who feel the cold. With good planning, we can avoid the rains, yes.
In April the temperature is mild and the rains are more intermittent. The whole environment of the Camino from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona is dressed in beautiful colours that will make our experience unforgettable. In this month, our route can coincide with Easter.
In May there is a potential risk of increased rainfall. However, as we always advise, we will be able to avoid these drawbacks with an adequate forecast especially when it comes to your equipment. The temperatures are mild, even up in the mountains.
When summer comes it is when most pilgrims are encouraged to do the Camino Frances from Saint Jean Pied de Port. They do so for obvious reasons that have to do with increasing temperatures and the lower risk of precipitation.
The same goes for the month of July. In July, it is when the local festivities of Santiago take place, between the 15th and the 31st. This month is another favourite of the year for pilgrims. In fact, temperatures increase even more, which increases the popularity of the itinerary but also the levels of possible precipitation.
August is, by far, the favourite time of year to do the Camino de Santiago from Saint Jean Pied de Port. It is because it is a period of ideal temperatures and, above all, when most people have more available time.
It is the month when the autumn begins and when, in a way, the probability of precipitation reappears. However, this time of year also brings many beautiful colours to the whole landscape.
Although rainfall is more abundant in October, it is a great time to enjoy all the beautiful landscapes that come together along the Camino Frances to Santiago from Saint Jean Pied de Port.
In November, this is the month in which the winter is about to fully begin. Therefore, temperatures fall, although there is still a risk of precipitation. Contrary to what happens during the rest of the winter, in this month the cold is not excessively worrying.
December is also a good time to do the Camino Frances to Santiago from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona because during this month the city is dressed up for its Christmas festivities.
We also want to offer to name of some of the most emblematic places that you will be get to know on this Camino Frances from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona.
The whole historical combination in this town is worth it. However, the Royal Collegiate Church of Santa Maria de Roncesvalles must be highlighted among all the town’s heritage. It is a church of imposing appearance and beautiful architecture.
Between Roncesvalles and Zubiri are these two wonderful spots where we can make a stop to enjoy the views of the surroundings.
Pamplona Cathedral is one of the most interesting architectural monuments due to its appearance and unmistakable facade. It has a gothic interior that constitutes one of the most valuable architectural jewels in Spain and, by extension, in all of Europe.
In Santiago Ways, we offer you the best selection of hotels to make your pilgrimage an unforgettable journey and to give you all the rest you deserve.
Gau Txori: This emblematic restaurant located in Zubiri offers the best of Navarre’s gastronomy. It is an elegant place where you can taste a good menu at a relatively affordable price.
Casa Sabina: This restaurant offers us a popular menu at reasonable prices. It is located in Roncesvalles and is one of the obligatory stops that you mustn’t miss on the Camino de Santiago from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona.
Asador Olaverri: In Pamplona, we can have a celebration after completing the Camino Frances to Santiago from Saint Jean Pied de Port with Navarre specialties and, above all, with its exquisite traditional style roasts.
The Camino de Santiago from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona connects its own history with the Camino Frances. This emerged as an alternative to the so-called Camino del Norte when, as the Reconquest progressed, this route was opened, and was much more practical than the previous one.
Since then, the Camino de Santiago Frances and, of course, the route from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona has been completed by thousands of people. It is, in fact, the most popular route of all possible options on the Camino de Santiago.
So that you have all the information on what other people who have already completed the Camino with Santiago Ways think, here we offer you some of their opinions.
We enclose finally some pictures and videos of the Camino from Saint Jean Pied de Port so that you get an idea of all the beauty that awaits you.
Here you can see all the stages of the Camino de Santiago.
In Santiago Ways, we will advise you on which route of the Camino de Santiago is the best fit for you.
The most reserved routes from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona
Among all the possible options that exist within the Camino Frances, some of them can link directly to the Camino de Santiago from Saint Jean Pied de Port. Others arrive directly in Pamplona and follow the route of this magnificent pilgrimage path.
Now, we want to talk to you about the other most popular route along with the one we are discussing.
Camino Frances from Sarria
With a length of 111 kilometres, the Camino Frances can also start from Sarria. In this section, there is a large number of pilgrims, so it is an excellent opportunity to make friends on the pilgrimage.
Route of the Camino from St Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona
Maps of the Camino Frances from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona
To follow, we enclose the maps of the Camino Frances to Santiago from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona.