Spain 12 Day French Way (Saint Jean Pied de Port – Logrono)

The French Way is the most famous Camino route to Santiago. It runs from the eastern side of the Pyrenees at Saint Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela in the Northwest of Spain, extending to a distance of 780km. This route follows earlier Roman trade routes and traverses the Pyrenees, beech and pine forests of Navarre, the vineyards of La Rioja, the Meseta of Castile until it reaches the mountains and oak/chestnut forests of Galicia.

This 12 day walking experience takes you over the first section of this Camino from the beautiful French village of Saint Jean Pied de Port to end in the beautiful city of Logroño.

The first walking day crosses the Pyrenees offering spectacular views of the green mountain range. The trail ascends through Alpine style meadows to a peak of 1,450m where it crosses the border into Spain and descends through a remarkable beech forest to Roncesvalles. The Camino continues through pine, beech and oak forests and small villages with traditional style Basque houses to Zubiri. These walking days combine a beautiful rural environment, along the banks of the Arga River, with an urban environment towards the medieval city of Pamplona, loved by Hemingway and home to one of Spain’s most famous festivals. The trail leaves the suburban environment of Pamplona to the top of Alto del Perdon with beautiful views of Pamplona to the medieval town of Puente la Reina, with many legend stories. The path continues through vineyards and wide open countryside to the vibrant town of Estrella with its many historical buildings to end in the beautiful city of Logroño, the capital of the Rioja region.

This trip is not recommend for novice walkers. A moderate level of fitness and walking experience is required due to the steep gradient over the Pyrenees. It is ideal for people who plan to walk the entire Camino in stages over a number of years or those who are seeking to meet other pilgrims and enjoy the social side of the Camino.