Overview
The Camino Frances Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Logroño route is an eight day inland journey along the most popular camino route’s first section. Take on some of northern Spain’s most elevated Pyrenean trekking spots, including Roncesvalles Pass (1,057m), Alto de Mezquiriz (929m) and Alto de Erro (801m). Your halfway mark is the ancient city of Pamplona, with Catedral de Pamplona at its heart. The second half is not as taxing, with the rolling hills of Navarra and the vineyards of La Rioja. Accommodation is in small hotels and guesthouses, located close to camino, with luggage transfers.
- Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
- Roncesvalles Pass
- Pamplona
- Logroño
- La Rioja wine region
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
Arrive in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, a medieval town located at the foot of the Pyrenees in French Basque Country, which marks the starting point of the Camino Frances. If time allows, stroll through the cobbled streets and along the river, or visit La Citadelle, which overlooks the town from the hillside and offers panoramic views of the surrounding area.
- Accommodation: Hotel Ramuntcho or similar in St-Jean-Pied-de-Port
Day 2: Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port – Roncesvalles | 25km
Today’s route is one of the most challenging, yet rewarding stages of the tour, especially if following the Route Napoleón over the Roncesvalles Pass. The Route Napoleón starts with a steep climb, providing extensive views over the Pyrenees, as the route leads past country houses and through alpine meadows before reaching Croix Thibaud. Continue on the trail, crossing the Spanish border before beginning your descent into Roncesvalles. An alternative trail along the valley (the Valcarlos Route) is available for those who prefer a less strenuous option, or for those travelling in winter and early spring, when there may be snow on the ground at higher points of the route.
- Walking for the day: 25km, 7h
- Accommodation: Hotel Roncesvalles or similar in Roncesvalles
Day 3: Roncesvalles – Zubiri | 21km
From Roncesvalles, follow the camino through wooded areas of beech and oak trees, before reaching Espinal. After crossing the two mountain passes, Alto de Mezquiriz and Alto de Erro, descend towards the village of Zubiri, the end point of today’s route. According to legend, the name of the Zubiri’s medieval bridge, Puente de la Rabia, originates from the belief that any animal to pass under the bridge’s arches would be miraculously healed of their ailments.
- Walking for the day: 21km, 5h
- Accommodation: Hosteria de Zubiri or similar in Zubiri
Day 4: Zubiri – Pamplona | 20km
Leave Zubiri and follow the Arga River to the town of Larrasoaña, historically an important stop for pilgrims and the perfect place to take a break. The paths may be busier during the second half of the day, as you approach the bustling city of Pamplona. Explore the city’s historic quarter and medieval streets, and be sure to visit Catedral de Pamplona. Spend the evening trying the local food and wine, or Hemingway fans can go for a coffee in one of the writer’s favourite haunts, Café Iruña, in Plaza del Castillo.
- Walking for the day: 20km, 5h
- Accommodation: Hotel Ciudadela or similar in Pamplona
Day 5: Pamplona – Puente la Reina | 24km
Leaving Pamplona behind, continue on the camino towards Alto del Perdón (Hill of Forgiveness). The pilgrim sculpture at the top is one of the most popular spots to have a camino photo, and also has great view over Pamplona and the valley. Begin your descent towards the town of Puente la Reina (Queen’s bridge). Wander through the medieval alleyways and and visit the impressive 11th-century Romanesque bridge, built over the Arga River by orders of Queen Doña Mayor.
- Walking for the day: 24km, 6h
- Accommodation: Hotel Jakue or similar in Puente la Reina
Day 6: Puente la Reina – Estella | 21km
From Puente la Reina, today’s route begins with a gentle descent of almost 5km, before facing the challenging climb up to the village of Mañeru. The ascent is not very long but has quite a difference in altitude. Head through Cirauqui, where the routes passes a medieval Gothic church and follows the Roman road. The last section of this stage involves another descent down to Estella, today’s final stop.
- Walking for the day: 21km, 5h
- Accommodation: Alda Estella or similar in Estella
Day 7: Estella – Los Arcos | 21km
Just outside of Estella, the trail leads towards Bodegas Irache winery, alongside the wine museum and free wine fountain. After tasting the local wine, continue on the route, following tracks through vineyards, olive groves and tranquil farmland. For the final 12km, from Villamayor de Monjardín to Los Arcos, there are no villages along the way, so be sure to have sufficient water and snacks for this section of the walk.
- Walking for the day: 21km, 5h
- Accommodation: Hostal Suetxe or similar in Los Arcos
Day 8: Los Arcos – Logroño | 28km
From Los Arcos, begin the final stage of the tour, following the route across rolling countryside, leaving the Navarra region and entering La Rioja, the world-famous wine region. Pass the dramatic ruins of Castillo de Clavijo, before reaching Logroño, the capital of La Rioja and home to some of the best tapas restaurants on the camino. Head to Calle Laurel to sample local Rioja specialities, a street renown for its tapas offerings.
- Walking for the day: 28km, 7-8h
- Accommodation: Hotel Los Bracos or similar in Logroño
Day 9: Departure from Logroño
Departure after breakfast, or extend your stay with an extra night.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their proximity to the camino, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Important: We aim to book you into each town listed on the itinerary. However, in case of low availability, we may book you two nights in the same town with provided transfers. Also, on some occasions, your accommodation can be located a few kilometres away from the trail, so we organise transportation to/from your accommodation.
Click to view default hotels
- Hotel Ramuntcho (Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port)
- Hotel Roncesvalles (Roncesvalles)
- Hosteria de Zubiri (Zubiri)
- Hotel Ciudadela (Pamplona)
- Hotel Jakue (Puente de la Reina)
- Alda Estella (Estella)
- Hostal Suetxe (Los Arcos)
- Hotel Los Bracos (Logroño)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included (usually a simple buffet breakfast/coffee and toast/bread/croissant) on all days. When no restaurant location is available on the route, lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Where no dinner is included, most places serve hearty pilgrim menus – you can get a three course dinner including wine for about €14-18 per person.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated moderate and there is an average daily walking distance of 23km. A good level of fitness is required to get the most out of this tour. Day two involves a demanding crossing of the Pyrenees, however, there is the option of a less strenuous detour for this section. The route follows a mixture of dirt roads, woodland paths and minor roads. The route is way-marked with yellow painted arrows and the symbol of a yellow shell on a blue background, it is well-signed and easy to follow (read more about difficulty grades).
We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from the beginning of March until mid-November. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, meaning you can start your trip on any date during the season.
The best months for this walking holiday are April to June and September to October, as during the summer months it may become too hot and crowded. For more information, see our blog on the Best time to walk the Camino de Santiago.
Getting there
FCO up-to-date travel advice about France and Spain
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended arrival airport for this tour is Biarritz, or alternatively, you can fly to San Sebastian. The recommended departure airports are Bilbao and San Sebastian.
By train or bus
If you are able to travel to France without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail with railway stations in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and Logroño. For more details, see the national rail operators SNCF Connect and Renfe, or use the Omio planner above.
Arrival in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port:
- From Biarritz Airport, there are regular bus services to Bayonne (30mins) and from Bayonne there are direct train services to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (1h 5mins). For more information, visit Txik Txak or use the Omio planner above
- From Pamplona, there is a daily bus service to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port leaving at 12.00 (1h 45mins). For more information and tickets, visit Alsa or use the Omio planner above
Departure from Logroño:
- Take a train or bus, either to Madrid (3.5-4h) or Barcelona (4-6h), or other destinations in Spain. For more information, visit Renfe or use the Omio planner above
- The closest airports are San Sebastian (see La Estella for information about bus connections or use the Omio planner above) or Bilbao Airport (see Alava and Biskaia for information about bus connections or use the Omio planner above)
Inclusions
Included
- 8 nights accommodation
- 8 breakfasts
- Detailed tour materials (including maps, Pilgrim’s Passport, scallop and luggage tags) to be delivered in Roncesvalles. Digital tour materials for the stage Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles are sent via email before your departure
- Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel (one piece per person, up to 20kg)
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches and dinners, drinks and snacks
- Additional luggage
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on the spot)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers
- Extra nights
- Due to issues with the postal and courier services in France, your tour materials are sent to the accommodation in Roncesvalles. Please purchase your own Pilgrim’s Passport in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (available from many places). You will then receive additional Pilgrim’s Passports in Roncesvalles
Spain’s legal requirement for personal information
Please note: in December 2024, the Spanish government introduced a new law making it a legal obligation for all visitors to Spain to share personal details with their accommodations and car rental companies. Consequently, as we book your accommodation for you, we are obliged to pass these on to our local partners on the ground. After booking your holiday, we will send you a form to complete requesting all the legally-required information, including: name, nationality, gender, passport number, DOB, address, phone numbers and email address. This applies to all travellers aged 14 and over. If you are travelling with people under 14 years old, you need to declare your relationship to them. We apologise for any inconvenience. For more information, see here.
