Why cut in half the stage from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles? It’s one of the most beautiful stretch of the many Caminos de Santiago: walking through the Pyrenees mountains, splendid views on the surrounding Basque Country, herds of sheep and horses roaming free, ethereal sensations, excitement to cross over Spain… and it’s absolutely doable in 1 day!
However, it’s still no walk in the park. It’s long stage with a huge incline, which makes it one of the most difficult of the Caminos. It requires great efforts to complete on a good day and even more so when the weather is bad. There’s also the stressful idea of having to walk over a literal mountain and the fear to arrive in Roncesvalles too late to have a bed. All of it for most pilgrims’ 1st day on the Camino!
Worry not though! If walking Saint Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles in 1 go seems to much for you, there are not one but several easy ways to cut in half this mythical stage and fully enjoy it! Let’s review your options together!
✅ Post checked and updated on February 2025
ℹ️ Information on this page are regularly reviewed but the Camino is constantly changing. Please make sure the info are still valid at the time of your pilgrimage.
Accommodations along the Camino, of course
A lesser-known option: shuttle services
To pick with wisdom and humility: camping out
Recap
Accommodations along the Camino, of course
This is already well known. The idea is to stop at one of the existing accommodation between Saint Jean Pied de Port and Roncesvalles. More and more pilgrims decide to go for this easy option!
Accommodations can be found on the high route through the mountain (the Napoleon route) and on the the low route through the villages of Arnéguy and Valcarlos (valley route or Valcarlos route).
!!! Warning !!! If you chose this option to cut in half your stage, make sure the place you pick is open at the time you’ll be walking! Double-check the information below. Also note that these stops are more and more popular: consider booking your bed ahead, especially during the high season of the pilgrimage (May and September).
On the Napoleon route, through the mountain
🛏️ The Ferme Ithurburia in Honto is the first option after Saint Jean Pied de Port where you can stop for a night.
It’s open from April to October and is at about 5.5km (3.5 miles, ~1h30 walking) from the Saint Jean Pied de Port. It offers accommodation and food as well as some other services.
Contact and reservations: Jeanne Ourtiague 🔗 website and Booking
🛏️ The Kayola gîte is a bit further on the way.
It’s open from April to October and is at about 7km (4.3 miles, ~1h45 walking) from Saint Jean Pied de Port. Kayola is managed by the refuge of Orisson but the gîte only offers accommodation. It’s possible to book a meal at Orisson but you’ll have to get there and back by your own means (1km up to Orisson and 1km back down to Kayola).
Contact and reservations 🔗 website and Facebook page
🛏️ For a long time, the refuge of Orisson has been the last possible option to stop and sleep before Roncesvalles.
It’s open from April to October and is at about 8km (4.9 miles, ~2h walking) from Saint Jean Pied de Port and about 1km after the Kayola gîte. You’ll find accommodation, food and some other services there.
Contact and reservations 🔗 website and Facebook page
🛏️ The Auberge Borda is now the last accommodation available on the Napoleon route!
This brand new albergue will have its first season in 2021. It’s at about 9km (~2h15 walking) from Saint Jean Pied de Port and about 1km after the refuge of Orisson. You’ll find accommodation and food there.
Contact and reservation 🔗 website, Facebook page and Booking
Pic: Marion, Santiago in Love ~ (CC) BY-NC-SA
On the low route, through the valley
Prefer this itinerary from November to March when the Napoleon route is closed or from April to October if there’s bad weather!
Arnéguy
First stop on this route, at about 8km (4.9 miles, ~2h walking) from Saint Jean Pied de Port.. There are no facilities dedicated to pilgrims in the village. However, you’ll find several accommodation and restaurant options.
No pilgrim-only option.
🛏️ Maison Hargina, in the village and on the Camino.
Contact and reservations 🔗 Pays Basque Tourism website
🛏️ Hôtel Clementenia, in the village and on the Camino.
Contact and reservations 🔗 website and Booking
Valcarlos
Second (and main!) possibility for a stop on the low route. The village is at about 11.5km (7.1 miles, ~2h45 walking) from Saint Jean Pied de Port. It offers various options regarding accommodation, restaurants and services.
🛏️ Albergue Municipal Turístico, the only accommodation entirely dedicated to pilgrims. Open all year round.
Contact and reservations 🔗 website
🛏️ Private accommodations also welcome pilgrims:
- Apartamentos Mendiola 🔗 website and Booking
Casa Ferran, at the entrance of the village
Casa Karrikaburu, in the middle of the village - Casa Rural Etxezuria, in the middle of the village 🔗 website
- Pension Etxeale, in the middle of the village 🔗 website and Booking
- Casa Rural Navarlaz-Toki Ona 🔗 website
Casa Toki Ona, in the middle of the village 🔗 Booking
Casa Navarlaz, after the village and last option before Roncevaux (1km/0.6 miles after exiting the village, 300m/0.1 mile away of the Camino) 🔗 Booking
A lesser-known option: shuttle services
Here is an option pilgrims don’t really know about. That’s too bad, because it really is a handy way to cut in half that stage! This service is mostly available during the season on the Napoleon route itinerary…
How does it work?
First of all, know that you have to plan ahead to use a shuttle service, they have to be booked ahead. Taxis don’t need to be. The rest of the process is the same.
On the first day, walk from Saint Jean Pied de Port to a meeting point you and the driver have agreed upon. Your shuttle or taxi recovers you there and drives you back to the village, where you stay a second night.
On the second day, your shuttle or taxi drives you from the village and back where you were picked the day before. From there, simply complete the stage to Roncesvalles.
Photo: Marion – Santiago in Love – CC BY-SA-NC
Transport options
Different type of transportation services offer these round trips to pilgrims: some are companies that specialize in pilgrim services, others are regular taxis companies.
Be careful, they don’t all offer the same exact services! Terms, meeting places and prices are different from one company to the next. Get in touch directly with them to know what’s what and pick a service you’ll be happy with!
Companies that specialize in pilgrim services
Warning: booking is mandatory!
Stops at Huntto, Orisson, the Baikorri Virgen and the Thibault Cross
🚐 Express Bourricot: see « Mountain Shuttle »
🚐 Napoléon Compostelle
🚐 Donkey Service
🚐 Garazi Go
Local taxis
They also offer a shuttle-like service to pilgrim, in addition to their regular ones.
🚕 Transports Nafarroa 📧 giteguill.lopepe@gmail.com 📞 0033 6 75 78 36 23
🚕 Taxi Maïtia 🔗 website
🚕 Taxi Goenaga 🔗 website
🚕 Taxi de l’Ergarai 🔗 website
To pick with wisdom and humility: camping out
Last option to cut in half your stage, the most challenging (some would say extreme): sleep outside! Of course, this option is not for everyone. And as such, it deserves a proper warning!
Sleeping outside on a whim is bad idea, especially if you are unprepared, unseasoned or without appropriate gears. It could lead to bad memories at best, or end badly for you at worst.
Sleeping outside when the weather is bad, without water or without anything to stay warm (just some examples) can quickly become unpleasant and even dangerous! It doesn’t take much to go from a nice experience to survival circumstances, which is NEITHER something to seek OR a positive thing.
The Camino should remain enjoyable and nothing is worth risking your health, or life, to do it.
Always prefer another option, unless you (really!) know what you’re doing and what you undertake by sleeping outside in the mountain. Never plan to camp out if the weather forecast is not favorable.
Let me say it again: it’s better to be experienced to throw yourself into camping out in the mountain.
Now, it’s still possible to have a try at it, even if you’re not an expert. Be confident you can do it, but above anything be honest and humble about yourself. Overestimating your abilities or underestimating what awaits you is the perfect way to get into a disaster: this is the first cause for accidents and pilgrim rescues on that stage.
Take into account your physical abilities, the weather conditions, your capability to face and deal with unexpected situations and problems when you’re alone in the wild. Once again, be honest and humble about yourself. Then, decision is yours. You are responsible for yourself, your choices and their consequences!
Now that everyone is comfortable with the idea of sleeping outside, let’s see how to do it!
Before anything else, be sure you’re well and properly geared up. I won’t elaborate the matter, but if you don’t see exactly what I mean by “well and properly geared up”… it would probably be better for you to pick another option to cut in half your stage!
There are lots of cozy places to pick from, as long as you respect regulations about camping out.
If you prefer more “civilized” spots, the shelters in between the Croix Thibault and Roncesvalles are good options to set camp. The first one is a very basic mountain hut and is less than 1km/half a mile after the Croix Thibault (meaning ~15km/9.3 miles after Saint Jean Pied de Port). The second one is the Izandorre refuge, simple but equipped with a SOS relay. It’s located ~19km/11.8 miles from Saint Jean Pied de Port.
Photo: Pixabay
And again, prefer another option unless you’re already a seasoned camper. Or, confident you’ll have a good experience camping out, whatever happens to you!
Recap
You have 3 options available to cut in half your stage between Saint Jean Pied de Port and Roncesvalles:
- Stop and sleep a night at one of the existing accommodations on the way
- Resort to a shuttle or a taxi
- Try to sleep outside
Buen Camino! 🙂
Reminder of distances and walking times
For an stage estimated at ~27km/16.7 miles
Walking times are purely indicative and rounded up, based on a pace of 4km/h
Don’t hesitate to plan for longer times!
From Saint Jean Pied de Port, going to ➜ Stopover point ➜ still that much to Roncesvalles
On the Napoleon route
5,5km / 1h30 ➜ Ferme Ithurburia, Honto ➜ 21,5km / 5h30
7km / 1h45 ➜ Kayola Gîte ➜ 20km / 5h
8km / 2h ➜ Orisson Refuge ➜ 19km / 4h45
9km / 2h15 ➜ Auberge Borda ➜ 18km / 4h30
12km / 3h ➜ Virgin of Orisson ➜ 15km / 3h45
15,5km / 4h ➜ Croix Thibault ➜ 11,5km / 2h45
16,5km / 4h15 ➜ 1st shelter, shack ➜ 10,5km / 2h15
19,5km / 5h ➜ 2nd shelter, Izandorre refuge ➜ 7,5km / 2h
On the Vlacarlos route
8,5km / 2h15 ➜ Arnéguy ➜ 18,5km / 4h45
12km / 3h ➜ Valcarlos ➜ 15km / 3h45
What about you? Have you cut in half your stage from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles?
What option did you prefer? How did it go? What would you advise future pilgrims to do?
Tell us with a comment! 🙂
