Camino de Santiago — Camino Francés Spain

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Pamplona

The opening days of the Camino Francés: a long climb over the Pyrenees from France to Roncesvalles, then down through the Navarre valleys via Zubiri to Pamplona.

  • 3 days
  • challenging
  • Best Apr–May, Sep–Oct

Photo: Hayden Soloviev · CC BY 4.0

At a glance

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port over the Pyrenees to Roncesvalles (Orreaga), then via Zubiri to Pamplona

Time
3 days
Difficulty
Challenging
Route
One way

Plan your trip

Best months: Apr–May, Sep–Oct

Permits & fees
No permit needed. Carry a Credencial (pilgrim passport) and get it stamped where you sleep; it gives access to pilgrim hostels. You can get one from the Pilgrim's Office, parish churches, pilgrim associations or hostels.
Getting there
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France) is on the regional TER line from Bayonne; check SNCF for any replacement buses. The pilgrim welcome office is at 39 rue de la Citadelle.
Good to know
  • The high route over the pass (Route Napoléon) is closed from November 1 to March 31. In those months, and in bad weather, take the lower route through Luzaide/Valcarlos. Navarre's tourism board puts it at 16.6 km with 908 m of climbing from Valcarlos to Roncesvalles.
  • Navarre's tourism board rates the Pyrenees crossing as hard, so plan it as a full day. From Roncesvalles it measures 21.7 km to Zubiri and 20.3 km on to Pamplona, both rated medium.

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Sources

Official figures where published; other numbers are measured on the map and approximate. Conditions and rules change — confirm with the official source before you go.