Eblana Travel offers various self-guided walking and cycling tours on the Camino Frances. You can choose an individual stage, a couple of stages, or the whole route from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela.
The Camino French way
This is the Camino French way or the Camino Frances, starting from the Pyrenees and stretching across northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela. The French way is the most popular and well-travelled of the pilgrim roads to Santiago. Three of the main routes through France (from Paris, Vézelay, and le Puy-en-Velay ) feed into it from the French side of the Pyrenees whereas the fourth, from Arles, joins it three to four days later (walking ) in Puente la Reina.
The route, some 778km long, begins either in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (St John at the Foot of the Pass ) on the French side of the Pyrenees, or 27km later in Roncesvalles (Roncevaux in French, the Valley of Thorns ) in Spain. It passes through Pamplona, Puente la Reina, Estella, Logroño, Burgos, León, Astorga, Ponferrada, and Sarria before it reaches the City of the Apostle in Galicia. The route takes, on average, four to six weeks to complete.
Stage 1: St Jean Pied du Port to Estella
You begin the first stage of the Camino from St Jean Pied Du Port on the French and Spanish border. Crossing the Pyrenees, this day is the toughest on the route with steep climbs up to Roncesvalles; you will however be rewarded with stunning views. Leaving Roncesvalles, you traverse mountain passes through beech and oak woods alongside the River Arga. The high mountains and deep valleys of the Pyrenees soon give way to the undulating plain that surrounds the fortress town of Pamplona. You will also pass though Puente la Reina, where all routes from France meet, and Estella, once the capital city of the Kingdom of Navarra.
Duration: Six nights, seven days.
Total distance: 109km.
Accommodation: Two, three, and four star hotels, bed and breakfast.
Prices from €370pp sharing. Single supplement €167
Stage 2: Estella to Burgos
This walk starts in Logroño, once the main city of the kingdom of Navarra, now the main city of the Rioja country. The part of this stage is relatively easy as your walk continues through vineyards and woods to the beautiful villages of Najera and Santo Domingo. The path continues as you make your way down into the valley of the Pico River into Burgos, one of the most important cities on the Camino. You have the opportunity to explore its cathedral, the Huelgas Monastery, and enjoy some wonderful food.
Duration: Eight nights, nine days
Total distance: 161km
Accommodation: Two, three, and four star hotels, bed and breakfast
Prices from €480pp sharing. Single supplement €189
Stage 3: Burgos to Astorga
This walk starts in the once capital city of Castille. On your way to Astorga you will find the lovely historical villages of Carrion de los Condes, Frómista, and Sahagun. In Leon you will have the opportunity to visit the cathedral and San Isidoro before you arrive in Astorga, a city known since the Romans founded it for its cathedral and the Gadi Palace.
Duration: 12 nights, 13 days.
Total distance: 226km.
Accommodation: Two, three, and four star hotels, bed and breakfast.
Prices from €689pp sharing. Single supplement €255
Stage 4: Astorga to Santiago
This walk begins in the city of Astorga. The is one of the most beautiful regions of the whole Camino - the Bierzo and Ancares region with charming villages such as Rabanal, Molinaseca, or Cacabelos where you will walk by ‘Cruz de Ferro’ until you arrive in O Cebreiro, one of the most symbolic places on the French way since the Middle Ages. Continue walking through the villages of Sarria, Portomarin, and Arzua until you arrive in Santiago de Compostela.
Duration: 14 nights, 15 days
Total distance: 266km.
Accommodation: Two, three, and four star hotels, bed and breakfast.
To book contact Eblana Travel on (093 ) 23400/(091 ) 501400, or email [email protected].
