Camino Le Puy Complete: Cycling Le Puy-en-Velay to St Jean-Pied-de-Port

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Day 1: Arrive in Le Puy-en-Velay

Le Puy Camino starts in the charming town of Le Puy-en-Velay, nestled between the Auvergne volcanoes and the Rhone Alpes valley. You feel you are stepping back in time, wandering the cobbled streets of the old town. Enjoy a walk up to Notre Dame de France for some fantastic panoramic views of the city and the surrounding volcanic landscapes.

• Accommodation: Hotel Le Régina or similar in Le Puy-en-Velay

Day 2: Le Puy-en-Velay – Monistrol-d’Allier – Saugues | 46km

The route begins at the cathedral, before passing through Monts du Velay and then descending into Gorges de l’Allier. Pass through a variety of landscapes and terrain, before ending the day in Saugues.

• Cycling for the day: 46km, ↑1050m, ↓6255m
• Accommodation: B&B La Flore or similar in Saugues

Day 3: Saugues – Saint-Alban-sur-Limagnole – Aumont-Aubrac | 44km

The route continues into Margeride and throughTruyère Gorges before reaching the village of Aumont-Aubrac. Cycle past Saint Roch Chapel, the highest point of this stage, with an altitude of around 1,300m. The route continues through Le Rouget-Pers, Saint-Alban-sur-Limagnole and Les Estrets before arriving in Aumont-Aubrac, located in the heart of Lozère, an important location on the pilgrimage route. The heart of the old town was formerly surrounded by ramparts. The Place de L’Hotel-de-Ville was at the old gate of the city. The old town has preserved houses from the 16th and 17th centuries, with sculpted stone facades.

• Cycling for the day: 44km, ↑800m, ↓730m
• Accommodation: Hôtel Prunières or similar in Aumont-Aubrac

Day 4: Aumont-Aubrac – Nasbinals – Estaing | 78km

Leaving Aumont-Aubrac, the route heads through pine groves before reaching Aubrac plateau. Just after the village of Nasbinals, you come to the highest point of the Way of Saint James, Col d’Aubrac, with an altitude of 1,340m. Continue to Aubrac village and Saint-Côme-d’Olt, one of Les plus beaux villages de France (an official accreditation in France) along the Lot River. Its old quarter has a distinctive medieval feel. From Saint-Côme-d’Olt, continue to Espalion along the Lot River. Espalion has a fine medieval bridge over the Lot. The final destination for the day is in Estaing.

• Cycling for the day: 78km,↑655m, ↓1,375m
• Accommodation: Auberge Saint Fleuret** or similar in Estaing

Day 5: Estaing – Espeyrac – Conques | 36km

After leaving Estaing and the Lot Valley on a very steep ascent to Campuac, continue towards Espeyrac and Sénergues. From here, the route descends towards Conques, a jewel of Romanesque art and a must-see on the Chemin du Puy.

• Cycling for the day: 36km, ↑680m, ↓440m
• Accommodation: B&B Au Castellou or similar Conques

Day 6: Conques – Saint-Parthem – Figeac | 43km

Start today along the Dourdou de Conques River to Livinhac-le-Haut. From here, the route begins to ascend towards Figeac by the Célé River, which has many popular attractions, including the beautiful medieval church of Saint-Sauveur, Musée Champollion (a small museum celebrating the life and work of Jean-François Champollion, the genius who figured out Egyptian hieroglyphs), and the Templar Commandery.

• Cycling for the day: 43km, ↑430m, ↓740m
• Accommodation: Hôtel Le Quatorze*** or similar in Figeac

Day 7: Figeac – Bouziès | 54km

Today’s cycle begins by following the river, stopping at multiple villages along the way, such as Boussac, Sainte-Eulalie or Brengues among others. Discover the 13th-century church of Saint-Sulpice in Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie and the Benedictine Abbey ruins in Marcilhac-sur-Célé. From here, follow the Lot River once again before crossing the bridge into Bouziès.

• Cycling for the day: 54km, ↑80m, ↓150m
• Accommodation: Hôtel Les Falaises*** or similar in Bouziès

Day 8: Bouziès – Saint-Cirq-Lapopie – Cahors | 35km

This morning’s ride follows a route cut into the rock on the edge of the Lot Valley, to reach Saint-Cirq-Lapopie. From here, the route begins a steep ascent towards Flaujac-Poujols before eventually descending to the medieval town of Cahors.

• Cycling for the day: 35km, ↑540m, ↓550m
• Accommodation: Brit Hotel Le France*** or similar in Cahors

Day 9: Cahors – Lauzerte | 39km

Cycle out of Cahors via Valentré bridge. The route continues along small tracks and roads to Lascabanes, which had a pilgrim hospital in the 15th century and the tiny church still offers a pilgrim blessing every day at 18.00. After a few kilometres, you come to Tarn-et-Garonne, then follow the road up to Lauzerte, located on a hill overlooking a landscape of vineyards and green valleys. This is a great place to take a break, wandering through the village with its medieval architecture, ramparts and town square.

• Cycling for the day: 39km, ↑285m, ↓185m
• Accommodation: Hôtel du Quercy* or similar in Lauzerte

Day 10: Lauzerte – Moissac – Auvillar | 47km

From Lauzerte, the route descends into Moissac, at at the confluence of the Garonne and Tarn Rivers and the Canal de Garonne. Its abbey is also worth a visit. Continue through Beaumont-de-Lomagne as far as Auvillar, an historic market town.

• Cycling for the day: 47km, ↑245m, ↓370m
• Accommodation: Hôtel de l’Horloge or similar in Auvillar

Day 11: Auvillar – Lectoure – Condom | 59km

The route leaves Tarn-et-Garonne and enters Gers, passing through the villages of Flamarens, Miradoux, Lectoure, Marsolan and La Romieu. Condom is located on the Cèle and Baïse Rivers and is home to the Gothic-style Cathédrale Saint-Pierre.

• Cycling for the day: 59km, ↑555m, ↓590m
• Accommodation: B&B Les Angelots or similar in Condom

Day 12: Condom – Éauze – Aire-sur-l’Adour | 79km

Today’s route passes through Montréal-du-Gers, one of the ancient walled towns of Gascogne and home to the biggest vineyard of Armagnac. The route continues to Eauze, the capital of Armagnac. In AD3, the city became the capital of the Roman province of Novempopulania and it’s worth checking out the archaeology museum in the heart of Eauze, to discover the trails of the ancient city of Elusa. The day comes to a close in Aire-sur-l’Adour, home to the Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste d’Aire and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Église Sainte-Quitterie. The accommodation this evening is just outside of Aire-sur-l’Adour, in Barcelonne-du-Gers.

• Cycling for the day: 79km, ↑220m, ↓240m
• Accommodation: Chambre d’hôtes La Bastide du Cosset or similar in Barcelonne-du-Gers

Day 13: Aire sur l’Adour – Maslacq | 67km

This morning’s route follows a quiet road, passing farms and cornfields, as far as Béarn. The scenery gradually begins to change as the route reaches the Pyrenees-Atlantiques before coming to Arzacq-Arraziguet and the village of Maslacq. From Pomps to Maslacq, you pass through Arthez-de-Béarn, with its distinctive Basque architecture.

• Cycling for the day: 67km,↑710m, ↓790m
• Accommodation: Gîte d’étape La Halte or similar in Maslacq

Day 14: Maslacq – Navarrenx – Saint-Palais | 48km

Today’s route takes you into Basque Country and the Pyrenees. After passing the ancient fortified village of Navarrenx, the first place in France to be fortified with Italian-style ramparts in the 16th century, you cross Gave d’Oloron River to reach Saint-Palais.

• Cycling for the day: 48km, ↑380m, ↓415m
• Accommodation: Hôtel de la Paix*** or similar in Saint-Palais

Day 15: Saint-Palais – Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port | 34km

The last cycling day begins in the Basque Country, passing traditional white and red half-timbered houses. Cross Col des Palombières and, after taking in the view, begin the descent into Saint-Jean-le-Vieux. The last few kilometres lead to Saint-Jacques Gate, at the entrance to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.This village is a small border town on the Nive River but is always a hub of camino pilgrims, as it is the starting point of the Camino Frances to Santiago.

• Cycling for the day: 34km, ↑385m, ↓255m
• Accommodation: Hôtel Ramuntcho** or similar in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

Day 16: Departure

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before departure. We recommend booking additional nights in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to explore the town.

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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.

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Arrival in Le Puy-en-Velay: You can get to Le Puy-en-Velay by train, from Lyon airport. You can also fly to Paris with an onward connection by air or TGV (high-speed) train to Lyon, where you change for Le Puy-en-Velay. For timetables and further information, check the website of  SNCF-Connect.

Departure from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port: From Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, you can take a train to reach Bayonne and from here you can reach various points in France (Pau, Bordeaux, Paris) or Spain (San Sebastian). From Bayonne, you can also take a 30mins bus to the airport in Biarritz.