- First stage~25 km
- Ascent~1,250 m
- Best monthsMay–Jun, Sep
- StartSaint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
Camino Francés: Saint-Jean to Roncesvalles
The most popular route starts in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. The Route Napoléon climbs over the Col de Lepoeder (about 1,430 m) to Roncesvalles, about 25 km with over 1,200 metres of ascent. Many walkers break it at the refuges of Orisson or Borda.
The Valcarlos route
A lower route follows the valley through Valcarlos. It's sheltered and recommended in bad weather; in winter, the Route Napoléon is usually closed to pilgrims for safety.
Camino Aragonés
A quieter alternative crosses the Somport pass (1,632 m) and descends through Canfranc and Jaca, past the monastery of San Juan de la Peña, to join the Camino Francés at Puente la Reina.
Tips
- Pick up your pilgrim credential and current weather advice at the pilgrim office in Saint-Jean.
- Book your first night's bed in Roncesvalles or Orisson in high season.
- Baggage transfer services carry your pack between stages.
- Fog and snow can appear even in spring: carry layers and follow the waymarks.
Stay near Camino de Santiago
Compare prices and free-cancellation rates.
Combine with
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
A pink-stone Basque town on the Nive, and the start of the Camino de Santiago's crossing of the Pyrenees.
Read guide →
Jaca
Aragón's lively mountain capital: a star-shaped citadel, a Romanesque cathedral and the road to Canfranc.
Read guide →
Biarritz & the Basque Coast
Surf beaches, Belle Époque Biarritz, Bayonne's ham and the harbour of Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
Read guide →Header photo: Photo: Hayden Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
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