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Accommodation on napoleon route if Orisson is closed

frank john

Member
Time of past OR future Camino
October 2016
October-November 2024
Hello all. I’m walking from SJP in late October. Orisson closes after the 15th of October. Any recommendations if I want to stop before Roncesvalles? Should I just go the Valcarlos route? Thanks for any suggestions. Frank
 
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Valcarlos is roughly 11k from SJPdP. Between Valcarlos and Roncesvalles there are no actual places to stay or get food/water and few buildings at all. Whether by N 135 road or through wood on the camino the climb up to Roncesvalles has several switchbacks and usually took me 5 hours.
 
Your options are the place in Honto (before Orisson) or Refuge Orisson, Albergue Borda, and sometimes Gite Kayola in Orisson (no real town - but the 3 places are in that general area - Gite Kayola isn't alway open - don't know how they decide when to open it - but can be open for overflow at Refuge Orisson).

Beyond that - there are no other options to STAY between SJPDP and Roncesvalles on the Napolean Route.

That said - you can either walk the Valcarlos route instead, or walk straight to Roncesvalles which is what the majority of pilgrims do. It is a hard day - but many do it.

The option other than that is there are shuttles available to take you to/from certain points on the Napolean route. Look at the Express Bouricott shuttle schedule and see the drop/off pick up sites and schedule. If you do that - you can walk to one of the points on the schedule - shuttle back to SJPDP for the night - and then shuttle back to where you left off in the AM. A bit tedious - but that is the best option for those who want to walk the Napolean Route in 2 days but can't get a reservation near Orisson.
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
They just contacted me and recommended another albergue near orisson.
Orisson did? If they will not be open they should change the booking calendar on their site.
Have you tried Borda? I've heard that it's nicer than Orisson.

 
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I just sent them an email. Booking.com said they were filled on October 25!!! Hard to believe. I decided to send them an email.
 
I just sent them an email. Booking.com said they were filled on October 25!!! Hard to believe. I decided to send them an email.
I am not surprisded - both Orisson and Borda fill up months in advance quite frequently. But - don't be afraid to keep checking back. Never know when they will get cancellations.
 
I just sent them an email. Booking.com said they were filled on October 25!!! Hard to believe. I decided to send them an email.
Booking.com may not have all the beds at the albergue. Normally they just have a few. I would contact the albergue directly for this information.
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Transport luggage-passengers.
From airports to SJPP
Luggage from SJPP to Roncevalles
Booking.com may not have all the beds at the albergue. Normally they just have a few. I would contact the albergue directly for this information.
I just sent them an email. Thanks for your help. If I can’t get any beds, should I just walk all the way to Roncesvalles?
 
You can go the Valcarlos route and stay overnight in Valcarlos. It is about half way. It may or may not be good weather over the Napoleon route. If it is cloudy or foggy it won't be a great walk and it will be long. Valcarlos is the winter and/or alternate route.
 
Or you could use Express Bouricout. Then you can walk to for example Le Croix, get picked up, sleep back in SJPDP, and they will deliver you back to the same spot the next day.
 
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Thank you finding it hard to get accommodation so that helped , didn't want to cheat getting transport , was going to take the Valcarlos route but heard not as nice , thank you
 

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