Paris to Le Puy

[Stellaluna]

Hello all,
I fly into CDG on June 23 (5:00pm) and don't want to spend any time in Paris as I want to maximize my time on the GR65. Any recommendations on the most efficient way to get to Le Puy? Thanks for weighing in!

 

[OzAnnie]

Hello all,
I fly into CDG on June 23 (5:00pm) and don't want to spend any time in Paris as I want to maximize my time on the GR65. Any recommendations on the most efficient way to get to Le Puy? Thanks for weighing in!

Using site www.rome2rio.
I’d recommend train

 

[Dave]

Hello all,
I fly into CDG on June 23 (5:00pm) and don't want to spend any time in Paris as I want to maximize my time on the GR65. Any recommendations on the most efficient way to get to Le Puy? Thanks for weighing in!

It's tough timing. You probably couldn't catch the 6pm train to Lyon from the airport, so either you need to make the trip into the city, or wait until the 8pm train, which will get you into Lyon at 10pm. From there, you're still 2.5 hours from Le Puy, but I imagine you'd want to sleep.

So, at that point... you'd get into Le Puy the following morning, maybe at 10am? So you certainly could walk to Montbonnet, if you had the energy. You would miss the Le Puy experience, though, and that morning mass can be a great way to kick off the pilgrimage. I'd spend the day there and then head out the following morning.

 

[AJGuillaume]

Hello all,
I fly into CDG on June 23 (5:00pm) and don't want to spend any time in Paris as I want to maximize my time on the GR65. Any recommendations on the most efficient way to get to Le Puy? Thanks for weighing in!

You have probably already booked your ticket, but if not, you could consider flying into Lyon?
Or change your ticket so it includes the internal flight to Lyon?

 

[OzAnnie]

Hello all,
I fly into CDG on June 23 (5:00pm) and don't want to spend any time in Paris as I want to maximize my time on the GR65. Any recommendations on the most efficient way to get to Le Puy? Thanks for weighing in!

Hi again
You mention you want to maximise your time available to use on the route.
Will you be short of time ?

I arrived by plane to Lyon after a delay and missed out on spending any time there. I had booked accommodation for the night.. and train to Le Puy the following morning. In hindsight I wish I'd allowed time to see Lyon. Paris is such a hub and is often a place that you will get a chance to visit more often so missing spending time there 'on this occasion' is understandable.

You would miss the Le Puy experience, though, and that morning mass can be a great way to kick off the pilgrimage. I'd spend the day there and then head out the following morning.

Likewise - the experience at this starting point.. I consider all this to be 'part of the way' and if you aren't stretched for time., I'd consider staying to see Le Puy and go to the morning mass. It's a wonderful exit and beginning. It will be right for you, whichever way you do it.

Buen Camino

 

[Stellaluna]

You have probably already booked your ticket, but if not, you could consider flying into Lyon?
Or change your ticket so it includes the internal flight to Lyon?

Yes, I booked a flight to Lyon. I arrive there at 11pm, so I guess that I will overnight there and then bus or train to Le Puy and then start walking!

 

[Stellaluna]

Likewise - the experience at this starting point.. I consider all this to be 'part of the way' and if you aren't stretch for time., I'd consider staying to see Le Puy and go to the morning mass. It's a wonderful exit and beginning. It will be right for you, whichever way you do it.

This is a good point. Although I have to be back in Paris on July 24 so I have about 28 possible walking days so I do feel a bit stretched for time.

 

[JanieG]

I took the TGV train from Paris to Lyon then took a BlaBlaCar from Lyon direct to Le Puy. All very easy once you have the BlaBlaCar app. Create an alert on the app for Lyon to Le Puy and you’ll start receiving different options for people going that direction with room in their cars within two weeks of your date. You won’t get responses earlier than two weeks before.
My friend had paid SO much money for a taxi which I just couldn’t bring myself to do, and he couldn’t believe that I only spent about €6!

 

[Stellaluna]

I took the TGV train from Paris to Lyon then took a BlaBlaCar from Lyon direct to Le Puy. All very easy once you have the BlaBlaCar app. Create an alert on the app for Lyon to Le Puy and you’ll start receiving different options for people going that direction with room in their cars within two weeks of your date. You won’t get responses earlier than two weeks before.
My friend had paid SO much money for a taxi which I just couldn’t bring myself to do, and he couldn’t believe that I only spent about €6!

Great! This is perfect!

 

[lt56ny]

Hi again
You mention you want to maximise your time available to use on the route.
Will you be short of time ?

I arrived by plane to Lyon after a delay and missed out on spending any time there. I had booked accommodation for the night.. and train to Le Puy the following morning. In hindsight I wish I'd allowed time to see Lyon. Paris is such a hub and is often a place that you will get a chance to visit more often so missing spending time there 'on this occasion' is understandable.


Likewise - the experience at this starting point.. I consider all this to be 'part of the way' and if you aren't stretched for time., I'd consider staying to see Le Puy and go to the morning mass. It's a wonderful exit and beginning. It will be right for you, whichever way you do it.

Buen Camino

I would highly recommend you not rush anything. You are taking a very long flight and a 9 hour time change. I have no idea of your fitness level or your age but that first week out of Le Puy is beautiful but is definitely not a walk in the park. Enjoy Le Puy it is beautiful and rest a little before your Camino. I think you will be glad you recharged your battery before beginning.

 

[naplesdon]

The best laid plans are often not, when traveling in France. I arrived at CDG early morning, took Le Bus to the Gare Lyon and was able to take a morning train I had pre-booked to Lyon. In Lyon I had also pre-booked a seat to Le Puy on a train that departed shortly after noon. So far so good, it was working exactly as I had planned it. Then I got about half way to Le Puy, I don't even remember the name of the town, and the train conductors decided to go on strike. This place only had 2 buses a day to Le Puy and you can imagine how many people on the now aborted train ride wanted to buy tickets for the bus. Of course, not being a local French person, I didn't get to the bus ticket kiosk as fast as the people who knew what was up and so I spent the night waiting for the morning bus. I lived in France for 5 years and sooner of later you get used to this s*#t.

 

[JustinB]

Outbound Sunday, 29 May​

04h 39m, 1 change​

16:58 Paris Gare de Lyon SNCF TGV INOUI 6687 Seat reserved Carriage 2, Solo seat 81, Solo seat, Upstairs 19:49 St-Étienne Châteaucreux

Change, 20 minutes transfer time

20:09 St-Étienne Châteaucreux SNCF TER 889966 21:37 Le Puy-en-Velay

​

My train itinerary from Paris. Hope it helps, I'm skipping Lyon and have a more direct route.

​

 

[mralisn]

Greetings to all,

Thank you for this wonderful thread and all the helpful insight. I too was looking into this same travel in order to start my waddle. After pushing a few buttons recommended above, I think I've figured it out. I hope it's ok to share here to get your input.

I arrive at CDG near 13:30 this summer. I looked at flying to LYS on the 17:40 flight that same day, $100, arriving at 18:45. I could stay the night in Lyon or continue to Le Puy.

On the other hand, I could take the train from CDG to Gare Lyon (2 switches), takes about an hour, about 10euro or so.

From Gare Lyon, I could take the 16:58 train (seems I'll have time to get from CDG to Gare Lyon) to Le Puy (skipping Lyon which I am ok with), $104, arriving 21:37. (Same as JustinB above, later in the summer).

Since such a late arrival, I could have the time to spend the next day exploring Le Puy, getting good rest that night, Mass the next morning, and off I go. Alternatively, I am used to getting up the next morning the very first morning after arrival and completing 30+kms with no problem.

How am I doing so far?

Keep a smile,
Simeon

 

[Stellaluna]

I would highly recommend you not rush anything. You are taking a very long flight and a 9 hour time change. I have no idea of your fitness level or your age but that first week out of Le Puy is beautiful but is definitely not a walk in the park. Enjoy Le Puy it is beautiful and rest a little before your Camino. I think you will be glad you recharged your battery before beginning.

Thanks for this reminder.

 

[Cleigh]

We are arriving in Paris CDG on Sept 1st and will also be travelling to Le Puy to start walking on Sept 4th. We are spending the night at CDG (points) and then would like to train to Le Puy on the 2nd. Is the train right at CDG? A bit of a nervous Nellie so would like this buttoned up before we go. ie: transferring etc. When on the rome2Rio site it takes me to a bus service. Any advice greatly appreciated!

 

[mralisn]

We are arriving in Paris CDG on Sept 1st and will also be travelling to Le Puy to start walking on Sept 4th. We are spending the night at CDG (points) and then would like to train to Le Puy on the 2nd. Is the train right at CDG? A bit of a nervous Nellie so would like this buttoned up before we go. ie: transferring etc. When on the rome2Rio site it takes me to a bus service. Any advice greatly appreciated!

Hi Cleigh,

For the train I took, it was right there at CDG. Once I got through customs after arrival, it was a 10 minute walk to the trains through the airport. Found my platform with plenty of time to spare.

Thank you to all those who contributed here.

Keep a smile,
Simeon

 

[Cleigh]

Fabulous thanks!