Any overnight stop between SJPdP and Roncesvalles possible?

[Kerryman]

Hi:
We definitely want to start in St Jean PdP but are uncertain if we will be fit enough to do the first stage from St Jean PdP to Roncesvalles in one go.
Is there any option to stay overnight somewhere between the two places?
Or, what could we do if we are up there somewhere and realise we really cannot reach Roncesvalles on foot?
Curious,
Kerryman

 

[Peter Robins]

there are 2 gites on the way up: Honto, 5km from St J, and a new one at Orisson, 2.5km further. There is nothing else so, if you get benighted, you would have to sleep out. (There may be shepherd's huts or the like to shelter in.)

An alternative is to use the road; there is a hotel in Valcarlos or you could hitch a ride or phone for a taxi.

 

[Kerryman]

Peter:

That was quick, and valuable. Many thanks.

If I may ask another question?: We would be planning to go to Bayonne by bus, and then by train on to SJPdP. Only, the usual ALSA bus doesnŽt operate on the day of our arrival in Bilbao in October. As an alternative they quoted us Euro 180.00 for a taxi transfer from Bilbao to Bayonne SNCF station. Dunno if that could be got much cheaper.

Would it be worth considering to go from Bilbao to Pamplona by bus instead, and to go on to SJPdP from there?

Kerryman

 

[Peter Robins]

As an alternative they quoted us Euro 180.00 for a taxi transfer from Bilbao to Bayonne SNCF station.

jokers!

Go to Irun, and then catch a train to Bayonne. If there's no immediate train, walk over the border to Hendaye and catch a train there.

 

[sillydoll]

Huntto or Orisson

Huntto is 5kms from St Jean.
Orisson is 8kms from St Jean. They charge 5 Euros per person. You can book ahead at: refuge.orisson@wanadoo.fr (They also have a very nice restaurant.)
Sil

 

[Kerryman]

Peter and Silly:
Much obliged for your info.

No. we cannot go through Irun, if we did we could not be in SJPdP in time to get even as far as Huntto.

Many thanks,

Kerry

 

[mafoo]

Hello Kerryman,

I did the Camino in July and started in St Jean Pied de Port. I did no training at all and made it to Roncesvalles the first day. Left St Jean at 0730 and arrived in Roncesvalles at 1430. Was an amazing day are already planning to do it again next year.

We did think about stopping the night at Orisson but just grabbed something to eat instead. There is NOTHING at all after this point though.

As for the taxi. I got one from Biarittz to St Jean and that was about 100 euros.

Hope this helps,

Matt

 

[Kerryman]

Matt:
Very helpful, thank you.
We will stay the night in Bayonne and look around there a bit. Then we will take the first or the second train to SJPdP, which will bring us there not before 10.05h. Then we will need to get our pilgrim passports stamped and get some vittles before we can make for the hills.
That timeframe, plus our perceived rustyness of course, prohibits us from planning to do the Full Monty to Roncesvalles on Day One. So we are very happy about having the option to stay at Orisson hostel 8km into the walk.

BTW, I read somewhere that the main ascend is before coming to Orisson.
How high up the mountain is Orisson?

Regards,
Kerry

 

[Shamanca]

Re: Huntto or Orisson

Huntto is 5kms from St Jean.
Orisson is 8kms from St Jean. They charge 5 Euros per person. You can book ahead at: refuge.orisson@wanadoo.fr (They also have a very nice restaurant.)
Sil

Ehm... the one after Huntto is a sort of a hostel NOT a refugio. Last year they charged 28 Euro's, if I remember correctly.
So when you're on low budget, I suggest you take the one in Huntto.

Also... don't forget to bring dinner, breakfast and maybe lunch :wink:

 

[geofones]

Huntto

Its a converted farm they do a decent evening meal. You can sleep in the converted barn - much cheaper, than the house.

 

[Kanga]

Kerry,
Yes, the hard uphill stuff is all between SJPP and Orisson. But it is still a long way from there to Roncesvalles, and absolutely nothing in between; I don't recall seeing any huts - just a few snow fences. For that reason if you are not trail fit or, like me, a bit long in the tooth, it is good to stop at Hunnto or Orisson. Last time I walked I stayed at Hunnto and had the most wonderful french meal imaginable.... It's a wonder I was able to walk anywhere the next day!
Kanga

 

[Kerryman]

Kanga:
Your message and recommendation reaches us after the fact, we left SJPdP on October 3, around noontime.
And stayed at Orisson, which was just perfect. Clean, friendly and excellent food, dinner and breakfast.
It so happened we were and formed a very nice group up there in the evening, and formed a fairly stable group of people meeting again and again on the further Camino.

Looking back, we think we would have been unable to go all the way from SJPdP to Roncesvalles in a single day, it was really demanding, not just because of the distance but also because of the cold, the clouds and the wind up there.

Claus

 

[Kanga]

Thanks for replying Claus. Yes, I did realise after I had sent it off that your original post was pretty old! Glad to hear you met up with a nice group; it just makes the whole camino such a pleasure when you are with good companions.

Kanga.

 

[Kim Wright]

Huntto

Its a converted farm they do a decent evening meal. You can sleep in the converted barn - much cheaper, than the house.

Has anyone ever made a reservation at the hostel in Huntto and if so how did you pay the deposit? I have been in contact with the hostel and they want me to make a deposit into their account but I don't know how to do it. All their correspondence is in French and unfortunately I only speak and read English. Thanks for any help.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I doubt that you need a reservation; it is not a frequently used gite since it is very close to SJPdP. In France direct transfers between persons is possible from checking accounts. If you have a U.S. account, it is not possible. They use booking.com, so you could try reserving there.

 

[Kim Wright]

I doubt that you need a reservation; it is not a frequently used gite since it is very close to SJPdP. In France direct transfers between persons is possible from checking accounts. If you have a U.S. account, it is not possible. They use booking.com, so you could try reserving there.

Thank you very much for your response. I will check booking.com