Saint Jean Pied De Port - 2 hours out walking Day 1 place to stay.

[Vonnie]

Hello everyone. So excited to be planning a long weekend on Camino Frances in June. Our plan is to arrive in Biaritz at 12.30pm on a Thu and make our way to start from St Jean. We would like to get some walking in on our first day and I'm looking for suggestions of a good area/place to stay about 2 hours walk from St Jean ? Any tips would be greatly appreciated. We will then have Fri to Sun to get to Pamplona and will get a private transfer back to Biaritz airport early Monday. Any companies for this recommend here ?

Thanks again

Yvonne

 

[irishrock]

Orisson is only 8km out of SJPP...a very popular spot and I'd recommend reservations. I've hiked Camino once, did not stay in Orrison, but loved every second of our 60 minute stop there. On a clear day, the views are simply amazing. They have good food and ice cold beer.

 

[Tincatinker]

Hello everyone. So excited to be planning a long weekend on Camino Frances in June. Our plan is to arrive in Biaritz at 12.30pm on a Thu and make our way to start from St Jean. We would like to get some walking in on our first day and I'm looking for suggestions of a good area/place to stay about 2 hours walk from St Jean ? Any tips would be greatly appreciated. We will then have Fri to Sun to get to Pamplona and will get a private transfer back to Biaritz airport early Monday. Any companies for this recommend here ?

Thanks again

Yvonne

Hi Yvonne, welcome back to the forum. I guess your 2015 plans fell through.
You’ve the option of walking to Orisson or Albergue Borda on the Route Napoleon or the slightly longer but far less steep stroll to Valcarlos for your first day.
No need for a cab to get back, there are bus and train services to suit. Happy planning

 

[trecile]

There's Honto, Orisson, and Auberge Borda.

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port - Roncesvalles (Ruta de Napoleón) | Camino Francés | Gronze.com

Primera etapa del Camino Francés, dura y espectacular como ninguna otra. Por su itinerario principal, conocido como Ruta de Napoleón, cruzamos los Pirineos a través de los Puertos de Cize, ascendiendo desde los 172 metros de altitud de Saint Jean Pied de Port hasta los 1.430 del collado de...

www.gronze.com

 

[Anhalter]

Just a bit of caution regarding Orisson or Borga:
If you arrive at 12:30 noon, theres a chance you won't make it to the pilgrims office before their lunch break (13.00). You would then have to wait till around 14.00, of course only if you want to stop at the pilgrims office. Now let's say you start walking at around 14.30, the way is quite steep, and depending on your training 3 hours can be more likely than 2... I think those albergues hold reservations till 18.00, so still not likely to be a problem, but i just wanted to throw that thought in.

 

[Saint Mike II]

Hola and yes welcome back. As for a first day walk, I am with Tinca - I walked the Valcarlos route (due to extreme weather above Orisson). This first day is not strenuous (imho) plus it has a few coffee & snack stopping options (just near the Franco/Spanish border). Buen Camino.

 

[Marbe2]

Rather than suggest reservations, if you are hiking in June,I strongly urge you to make reservations from Orisson to Pamplona!

 

[estorildon]

Leaving Biarritz around 13h, even if you took a taxi or Express Bourricot direct to SJPdP wouldn't get you to the start point until 15h+. You would need to scramble up the hill to Orisson. I would suggest walking around Biarritz and/or Bayonne for the afternoon and take the train the first thing the next morning. I have never been a user of Express Bourricot but I think they can get you back from Pamplona to Biarritz.

 

[Vonnie]

Thanks to everyone for your input, much appreciated. I think Honto would be a good option but I only see one accomodation there and on booking.com it doesn't seem available past March. I can't see a website. Is there alternative ways to pre-book directly?

 

[mspath]

Vonnie,

For the Ferme Ithurburia at Honto/Huntto have you tried this link ?

You can email the owner direct.

Good luck and Buen camino.

 

[Marbe2]

Leaving Biarritz around 13h, even if you took a taxi or Express Bourricot direct to SJPdP wouldn't get you to the start point until 15h+. You would need to scramble up the hill to Orisson. I would suggest walking around Biarritz and/or Bayonne for the afternoon and take the train the first thing the next morning. I have never been a user of Express Bourricot but I think they can get you back from Pamplona to Biarritz.

I don’t think Express Bourricot operates in and out of Pamplona!!

 

[bernhugo]

Caroline at Express Bourricot is not allowed to pick up in Spain. I went with her in 2011 and she had just been fined by a Spanish court.

 

[estorildon]

Thanks to everyone for your input, much appreciated. I think Honto would be a good option but I only see one accomodation there and on booking.com it doesn't seem available past March. I can't see a website. Is there alternative ways to pre-book directly?

Honto is not a place, it is just an accommodation. There are no villages to speak of in that part of the Pyrenees unless you walk the Valcarlos.

 

[Saint Mike II]

Rather than suggest reservations, if you are hiking in June,I strongly urge you to make reservations from Orisson to Pamplona!

I have to support this post. this first section of the Camino is (imho) restricted in accommodation or stage options. After Pamplona you have a much greater range of albergues and stage lengths.

 

[Saint Mike II]

Honto is not a place, it is just an accommodation. There are no villages to speak of in that part of the Pyrenees unless you walk the Valcarlos.

Hola Don I thought it was the overflow from Orisson.

 

[Vonnie]

I have to support this post. this first section of the Camino is (imho) restricted in accommodation or stage options. After Pamplona you have a much greater range of albergues and stage lengths.

Thanks. Unfortunately this is a short trip ending in Pamplona. I managed to book some places today. Stuck on Zubiri

 

[estorildon]

Hola Don I thought it was the overflow from Orisson.

Some pilgrims are choosing it as the alternative stop, for each his own.

 

[estorildon]

Thanks. Unfortunately this is a short trip ending in Pamplona. I managed to book some places today. Stuck on Zubiri

Palo Avelino?

 

[Franpio]

Orisson is only 8km out of SJPP...a very popular spot and I'd recommend reservations. I've hiked Camino once, did not stay in Orrison, but loved every second of our 60 minute stop there. On a clear day, the views are simply amazing. They have good food and ice cold beer.

Orisson is a great place to stay. Great accommodation. Lovely food. Perfect stop.

 

[Marbe2]

Orrison is a great place to stay. Great accommodation. Lovely food. Perfect stop.

I enjoyed my stay at Orrison, but I respectfully would not call the evening meal good food…nor the breakfast. Suffice to say it was adequate in the middle of nowhere.

 

[trecile]

Palo Avelino?

El Palo de Avellano.

Albergue El Palo de Avellano | Albergue de Peregrinos en Zubiri | Gronze.com

Información del albergue de peregrinos Albergue El Palo de Avellano, en Zubiri: Precio, plazas, características, etc...

www.gronze.com

 

[estorildon]

Hola Don I thought it was the overflow from Orisson.

G'day Mike, I don't know the relationship of Honto to Orrison but I don't think Jean Jacques has any proprietary interest in it. I believe it is privately owned and he is willing to include its guest into the "welcome" meal at his restaurant. I have read that Honto also offers and evening meal.

 

[Hans-Georg Goebel]

Hello everyone. So excited to be planning a long weekend on Camino Frances in June. Our plan is to arrive in Biaritz at 12.30pm on a Thu and make our way to start from St Jean. We would like to get some walking in on our first day and I'm looking for suggestions of a good area/place to stay about 2 hours walk from St Jean ? Any tips would be greatly appreciated. We will then have Fri to Sun to get to Pamplona and will get a private transfer back to Biaritz airport early Monday. Any companies for this recommend here ?

Thanks again

Yvonne

stay the day in SJpdP amd enjoy the beautiful athmosphare

 

[Hans-Georg Goebel]

Hello everyone. So excited to be planning a long weekend on Camino Frances in June. Our plan is to arrive in Biaritz at 12.30pm on a Thu and make our way to start from St Jean. We would like to get some walking in on our first day and I'm looking for suggestions of a good area/place to stay about 2 hours walk from St Jean ? Any tips would be greatly appreciated. We will then have Fri to Sun to get to Pamplona and will get a private transfer back to Biaritz airport early Monday. Any companies for this recommend here ?

Thanks again

Yvonne

stay the day in SJpdP amd enjoy the beautiful athmosphare

 

[Carmel L]

Hi Vonnie
I had same problem in Zubiri in 2017 everything completo but found this lovely little place out of Zubiri but before Larrasoana. They were extremely helpful in picking us up and transporting us to accommodation and then taking us back into Zubiri for a meal. Nice and clean, simple rooms. I found their website on mycaminobed.com. Worth a try. Cheers Carmel

http://www.albergueezpeleku.com

 

[Thornley]

Hotel Akerreta one hour after Zubiri
Easy walk the next day into Pamplona
Enjoy the town and atmosphere.

 

[mspath]

Hotel Akerreta one hour after Zubiri
Easy walk the next day into Pamplona
Enjoy the town and atmosphere.

Here is their web.

 

[Zordmot]

Rather than suggest reservations, if you are hiking in June,I strongly urge you to make reservations from Orisson to Pamplona!

Yep. Found that out the hard way on my first Camino

 

[jeanineonthecamino]

Yes, Refuge Orisson and Albergue Borda - usually reservations are required due to high demand. Especially in summer months. Also worth noting - Orisson website states that all pilgrims need to check in by 6:30pm, which is what time the communal dinner is served. If you ware arriving in St Jean in the afternoon - depending on when you get through the Pilgrim's office and finish any town activities in SJPDP (eating lunch, visiting local sites) - you may or may not have time to get to Orisson before check in ends. I do not know how strict they are with the check in time - but if you decide to reserve with them, it is something worth considering. And if you decide to walk there in the afternoon hours - perhaps call them in advance of your reservation to let them know of your plans. Not sure about Borda's check in times. If you are arriving in the afternoon and do not have a reservation - you can always walk for as long as you want - taxi back to SJPDP then taxi back to where you left off in the AM.

 

[Milinkoto]

I would recommend you go to Orisson or Borda for the first night. It's about 2h to 2h45 min to Orisson, depending on your fitness, and about 15 min more to Borda.

Day 2 - it would be a lot easier walk to Roncesvalles, so you could go slowly, stay at La Virgen de B. and enjoy all that beautiful scenery longer;
You could, also, continue to Burguete or Espinal, as the worst climb would be behind you (the 1st day to Orisson). Espinal is a very nice place and the perfect starting point, for me, for the next day as the 2-hour descent to Zubiri would be in the beginning of the day. You could also continue to Urdaniz (along the road - around 40 min from Zubiri - there's a very nice private albergue, I forgot the name, with a swimming pool and lovely hosts - I slept there in the fall of 2017) or to Larrasoaña (we slept at the municipal albergue there in the spring of 2017; there are very nice private ones as well). Your last day to Pamplona would be around 15 km from Larrasoaña and just a bit more from Urdaniz.

I would also recommend booking to Pamplona in advance.

PS: We sometimes go to places outside of the recommended stages, as we'd like to give business to the other people along the Way as well.

 

[Vonnie]

Hello. Are hiking boots or trail runners recommend for this route? Thanks.

 

[trecile]

Hello. Are hiking boots or trail runners recommend for this route? Thanks.

Whatever you prefer. I wear hiking sandals when I walk. I've only walked between May to October though.

 

[jeanineonthecamino]

Hello. Are hiking boots or trail runners recommend for this route? Thanks.

I prefer trail runners. Hiking boots are not really necessary for most of the Frances route. Some people still like and prefer them, especially if they like the extra ankle support. For me they are unnecessarily heavy and too hot to wear for so many hours a day.

 

[SabsP]

Hello. Are hiking boots or trail runners recommend for this route? Thanks.

Only you and maybe a podiatrist can answer that one. If you are comfortable with your trail runners on your local trails then go for it.
I personally could not walk a Camino without my trusted Hanwag boots.Pes cavus ( high arches ) , backissues, hallux valgus etc here.

Stick to what you are the most comfortable with!

 

[DoughnutANZ]

The lighter the better for me.