8 Days on the Camino: Frances. (Guided)
Day 1: Arrive St Jean de Port to Hunto (Orisson) – 7km
Meet your guide at Dublin Airport and fly to Biarritz, Pickup at the Airport and travel to St Jean de Port. This town is the ancient capital of the Basque region with a great medieval atmosphere in its narrow streets. We will have some time to look about the town and get our Camino passports stamped at the official start of your adventure. We then take the Camino for our short walk today. Although it is a short walk today the trail starts to climb as soon as you leave St Jean.
When we reach our accommodation, there is time to freshen up before having out first meal together.
Day 2: Hunto (Orisson) – Burguete: – 18.9Km
This is the most demanding of all the walks we are going to do and the reason that we have shortened it a little the previous day. We will be continuing walking on what is called the “Napoleon Route” named after the Great French General. This route starts to ascend as soon as we start walking. We will be making our way past the town of Roncesvalles onto Burguete. The town of Burguete is famous for Ernest Hemingway with a central square and statue of San Nicolas de Barri (A saintly protector of Pilgrims on the Camino).
(Luggage Transfer To Burguete)
Day 3: Burguete – Zubiri: – 16.2Km
Today’s walk will be a mix of woodland and open countryside and we are still at a height of about 900m so there is still a lot more down than up to go. It is also mainly quite track with very little road. We will be crossing the Puente de la Rabia (medieval bridge). The bridge is called this because it was believed that any animal led 3 times around the central arch would be cured of rabies. Zubiri itself has a population of approx 400 and has grocery shop, bank, restaurants, bars and church.
(Luggage Transfer To Zubiri)
Day 4: Zubiri – Pamplona – 21.2Km
The path today is a tranquil walk crisscrossing the Rio Argo for the first half and the rest will bring us along busy main road leading into the town Pamplona. There are plenty of shaded areas along the way to cool down and water fonts as well. Pamplona itself is a beautiful city and the Camino trail passes right through the heart of it. We can stop here and visit some nice cafes and tapas bars before going to our accommodation in Pamplona.
(Luggage Transfer To Pamplona)
Day 5: Rest Day in Pamplona.
This is the famous city of the St Ferman (Bull Run) and as this is such a lovely city and fits in nicely for a place to stop and let the legs take a break. The city itself is walled and there is an old section that the Bull Run takes place. Hemingway is also famous in the Part of the World after writing about the city and the Bull running festival. So there is plenty to see and do while resting in Pamplona.
Day 6: Pamplona to Puente La Reina. 21 KM
The trail today is mainly on a quite path and not as long as yesterdays trail. There is how ever some hills to cross but these offer great views across Pamplona behind us and to the west of us the Arga Valley opens up and the villages we pass through ahead. The scenery is quite different from what we have walked through before with open farmland around us. Eventually we will make our way into Puente La Reina.
(Luggage Transfer To Puente La Reina)
Day 7: Puente La Reina – Estella – 24.1Km
Today’s walk continues through some wonderful open farmland with a little incline at the start but is quite flat after this leading to lovely lovely peaceful walk all the way to Estella. We pass few through quite a few villages along this way so plenty of chances to get water, snacks etc.
(Luggage Transfer to Estella)
Day 8: Au revoir and Hasta luego to the Camino for now…
Today after some breakfast and getting our things together we say Goodbye to the Camino for Now.
Get a bus to Bilbao airport for our return to Dublin.
