Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona

You’ll be booked into a hotel in the heart of the small town. While in town, you should visit the 14th Century Gothic church, Notre-Dame-du-Bout-du-Pont, the hilltop citadel (remodelled in the 17th Century), and follow the cobbled Rue de la Citadelle downhill and over the river for views back over St-Jean-Pied-De-Port.

The first day of the Camino is considered the most challenging as it crosses the Pyrenees. The “Camino Napoleon” starts with a steep climb, passing through orchards and later, Alpine-style meadows. The path weaves alongside leafy beech woods until you reach the Spanish border. Alternatively, the Valcarlos Camino follows the road through the valley, running along the River Nive or River Valcarlos. Don’t miss the Collegiate Church as you descend into Roncesvalles.

If you prefer a more relaxed pace, we offer three options:

1. Stay at the Refuge Orisson: This is basic but welcoming accommodation halfway along the route, which splits the day into two parts.
2. Stay 2 nights in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port: You can use a taxi to/from Refuge Orisson to avoid the entire walk in one day.
3. Take the Valcarlos Route: This alternative route splits the day into two stages (12km and 14km), staying in a 2-star hotel. However, this route follows the main road and is not as rewarding as the Camino Napoleon.

Important: The Napoleon Route is closed for pilgrims from November 1 to March 31. During this period, pilgrims must use the Valcarlos route. Traveling on the Napoleon Route during these months is forbidden, and any pilgrim needing rescue from the Pyrenees may be fined €5,000.

The Camino crosses two stunning mountain passes before winding through woods and meadows. It then arrives at Espinal, where you’ll be treated to breathtaking panoramic views of the countryside with the Pyrenees in the background. The River Arga flows alongside this stretch of the Camino, continuing all the way to Larrasoana.

The Camino follows the River Arga, passing the foothills covered in beech, oak, and Scots pine trees. As you get closer to Pamplona, famous for its “Running of the Bulls” festival each July, the landscape becomes more developed, with reforested conifers and farmlands becoming more common.

After breakfast, we bid you farewell. There is a lot to see and do in Pamplona, but we recommend just walking through the city’s streets, admiring the architecture, food, and wonderful people that inspired the great Ernest Hemmingway.