Borda/Orisson open for reservations?

[Kgaynor]

I’ve emailed both albergues a while back inquiring about booking for mid-April 2025. They both indicated that they’d take reservations in Nov/Dec. Outside of checking every day, do folks have a general sense of when they typically open for reservations? We are a group of 3 and we want to make sure we’ve got a place to sleep at this stop before buying tickets & traveling 20hrs to get to SJPP.

Thanks in advance!

 

[CWBuff]

Mid_December; sometimes even early January
I would respectfully suggest not to waste your time "now" but start monitoring say after Dec 7h (the day that lives in infamy) just to be sure

Good Luck and Buen Camino

 

[Tincatinker]

I’ve emailed both albergues a while back inquiring about booking for mid-April 2025. They both indicated that they’d take reservations in Nov/Dec. Outside of checking every day, do folks have a general sense of when they typically open for reservations? We are a group of 3 and we want to make sure we’ve got a place to sleep at this stop before buying tickets & traveling 20hrs to get to SJPP.

Thanks in advance!

I would guess that both establishments will do what they’ve said and will open for business around about now. If you can’t spare 5 minutes for an internet check every day try checking every second day or even once a week.

Or, get radical and start planning on a start from Pamplona

 

[auburnfive]

2 years ago we booked on Dec 15 for Borda which was our preferred stop - highly recommended!
We were glad we booked our flight after confirming the booking, turned out Borda was closed due to a family event on the day we had planned to start, and we were able to adjust for the next day.

 

[alexwalker]

They (Orrison) are closed now and will not answer until close to opening in April. About Borda; I know nothing.

 

[trecile]

They (Orrison) are closed now and will not answer until close to opening in April

Orisson no longer takes reservations by email. They have online booking on their website. Borda can also be booked on their own site.

 

[Kgaynor]

Both Borda & Orisson have online booking. All 2025 dates are blocked off. The email I got from both places said they’d release dates for online booking in Nov/Dec.

Thank you to everyone who offered kind suggestions & helpful advice.

 

[Kgaynor]

2 years ago we booked on Dec 15 for Borda which was our preferred stop - highly recommended!
We were glad we booked our flight after confirming the booking, turned out Borda was closed due to a family event on the day we had planned to start, and we were able to adjust for the next day.

Thank you for your insight. I’ve not taken any vacation in almost 2 years and I’m saving it up to walk. I’ve got just enough days to do this route and not a day to spare. I’ll wait to book the bed before booking my flight.

Thanks your kindness.

 

[Kathor1]

@Kgaynor, Buen Camino to you!

I understand that you are anxious to book either Orisson or Borda before you book your flight (is it early in the season?) but I guess you need to be a little patient. The Orisson website says that they will open for bookings in November/December and we are not there yet . To me at least it means any day between the middle of November and the middle of December.

Contrary to some old tales that are still floating about the online booking process at Orisson is nowadays smooth for the majority of users. As to their planning, I checked threads from last year:

One poster said on Nov 21, 2023 that s/he had already booked Orisson for May 2024.
Another poster said on Dec 13, 2023 that booking for Borda 2024 is open.

So that was the situation last year. I am sure that it will be similar this year. Not long now.

 

[Kgaynor]

@Kgaynor, Buen Camino to you!

I understand that you are anxious to book either Orisson or Borda before you book your flight (is it early in the season?) but I guess you need to be a little patient. The Orisson website says that they will open for bookings in November/December and we are not there yet . To me at least it means any day between the middle of November and the middle of December.

Contrary to some old tales that are still floating about the online booking process at Orisson is nowadays smooth for the majority of users. As to their planning, I checked threads from last year:

One poster said on Nov 21, 2023 that s/he had already booked Orisson for May 2024.
Another poster said on Dec 13, 2023 that booking for Borda 2024 is open.

So that was the situation last year. I am sure that it will be similar this year. Not long now.

This is most helpful! I’ve been away from this forum for over 2 years and I should have looked at past posts. Thanks for your post and being kind in your response.

 

[Mahonsk]

I’ve emailed both albergues a while back inquiring about booking for mid-April 2025. They both indicated that they’d take reservations in Nov/Dec. Outside of checking every day, do folks have a general sense of when they typically open for reservations? We are a group of 3 and we want to make sure we’ve got a place to sleep at this stop before buying tickets & traveling 20hrs to get to SJPP.

Thanks in advance!

Just a thought, but could you not just walk from SJPDP straight into Roncesvalles? I see further on in this msg chain that you have no spare days really. Walking from SJ would gain you time. Admittedly it’s a tough walk (I’ve done it) but it could possibly take some uncertainties out for you.

 

[dfox]

I was / am not a vivid hiker, but I do make a point walking 10,000 steps a day!

According to Gonze.com, the distance between SJPdP and Roncesvalles is 24.2 km.

In 2017: I started at 7:30 am and arrived in the albergue ran by Dutch volunteers around 5:00 pm (at an averaged pace of 2 ~ 3 km an hour.) I was in time for a delicious dinner including yummy grilled fresh fish and wine with many fellow pilgrims.

During the slooow hike, I took many many stops and enjoyed the scenery and meeting fellow pilgrims.

(Note: I had my backpack transported and carried a day pack.)

In 2026: nine years older, I may take a "taxi" one way from SJPdP to La Vierge d'Orisson, where the statute of Holy Mother is, and hike to Roncesvalles in the same day.

 

[Kgaynor]

Just a thought, but could you not just walk from SJPDP straight into Roncesvalles? I see further on in this msg chain that you have no spare days really. Walking from SJ would gain you time. Admittedly it’s a tough walk (I’ve done it) but it could possibly take some uncertainties out for you.

For 30 years of my life, I lived in the Rocky Mountains. I now live in northern Canada with no mountains. I miss the mountains tremendously and walking through them means a great deal to me. I need to fill up my senses with their beauty.

I’ll book my night in Borda/Orisson before booking my flight.

 

[Keyser]

Last year Borda was 14th Dec, on the butten.

 

[Tincatinker]

For 30 years of my life, I lived in the Rocky Mountains. I now live in northern Canada with no mountains. I miss the mountains tremendously and walking through them means a great deal to me. I need to fill up my senses with their beauty.

I’ll book my night in Borda/Orisson before booking my flight.

You’ll not get much by way of mountains on the Route Napoleon. If you want some mountain in your pilgrimage look to the Salvador and the Primitivo.

 

[Kathor1]

Hi again, @Kgaynor. I see only now that it says "April/May 2025" in your profile. If you are not aware of it: Often, but not always, during the first week of April, the trail from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles via Orisson and Borda (Napoleon route) is not recommended due to new snow or, more likely, deep patches of old snow in the higher parts. You would then have to go on the alternative trail via Valcarlos. While pleasant, the Valcarlos route does not have the views to the distant snow-covered peaks of the high Pyrenees that you can see in clear weather from some short sections of the Napoleon route.

In such weather/trail conditions, people can stay at Borda and Orisson if they have booked but they will have to go by taxi or transport provided by the accommodation to return back to the valley.

Something to bear in mind if you are not yet aware of this.

 

[trecile]

Hi again, @Kgaynor. I see only now that it says "April/May 2025" in your profile. If you are not aware of it: Often, but not always, during the first week of April, the trail from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles via Orisson and Borda (Napoleon route) is not recommended due to new snow or, more likely, deep patches of old snow in the higher parts. You would then have to go on the alternative trail via Valcarlos. While pleasant, the Valcarlos route does not have the views to the distant snow-covered peaks of the high Pyrenees that you can see in clear weather from some short sections of the Napoleon route.

In such weather/trail conditions, people can stay at Borda and Orisson if they have booked but they will have to go by taxi or transport provided by the accommodation to return back to the valley.

Something to bare in mind if you are not yet aware of this.

Also, I think that both Orisson and Borda don't take advance reservations for the first week of April because the pass often is not passable yet at the beginning of the month.

 

[Kathor1]

Interesting detail: I had a look at the Orisson website. It seems that they are now accepting direct and immediate payment by credit card for the reservation. Or did they do so already in the past? It would mean that there will be no waiting time between making a reservation and receiving an email about payment, as it was in the past. I, too, am now waiting impatiently for the opening of their booking system for 2025.

 

[Kathor1]

I had another look at the Orisson website as it is currently configured. Here is some information that the OP did not ask for but it may be of interest to others and may help to prevent future misinformation based on outdated knowledge.

There are changes compared to earlier years:

Payment is by credit card (Visa and Mastercard) or PayPal. The full price has to be paid during the online booking process. There is a booking fee of €2.​

Cancellation fees:​

• More than 30 days before arrival day: €2
• Between 30 days and 10 days before arrival day: 50 % of the amount paid plus €2
• Less than 10 days before arrival day: no reimbursement

Backpack transport accepted from these companies: Donkey Service, Transport Claudine and Jacotrans.​

There is another novelty but let’s wait until the booking calendar for April-October 2025 is activated.

 

[Kgaynor]

Hi again, @Kgaynor. I see only now that it says "April/May 2025" in your profile. If you are not aware of it: Often, but not always, during the first week of April, the trail from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles via Orisson and Borda (Napoleon route) is not recommended due to new snow or, more likely, deep patches of old snow in the higher parts. You would then have to go on the alternative trail via Valcarlos. While pleasant, the Valcarlos route does not have the views to the distant snow-covered peaks of the high Pyrenees that you can see in clear weather from some short sections of the Napoleon route.

In such weather/trail conditions, people can stay at Borda and Orisson if they have booked but they will have to go by taxi or transport provided by the accommodation to return back to the valley.

Something to bear in mind if you are not yet aware of this.

Our intended date to start walking is April 15th. So hopefully the napoleon route should be available.

I appreciate you checking to make sure that my understanding of the situation is clear. I certainly don’t want any harm to come to me or my sisters-in-laws.

 

[Kathor1]

NEWSFLASH: The Orisson website is now open for reservations for 2025.

 

[Kgaynor]

NEWSFLASH: The Orisson website is now open for reservations for 2025.

View attachment 180999

You made my day!!!! Thank you very much for this. I booked my beds. My 2 sisters-in-laws are coming over tonight to book our flights. Now that I know I’ve got a place to sleep for that first leg, the rest will be much easier. I can go with the flow.

Thank you thank you @Kathor1

 

[CWBuff]

ThanksGiving came a tad early


Good luck and Buen camino!

 

[bestfootforward]

NEWSFLASH: The Orisson website is now open for reservations for 2025.

View attachment 180999

Legend! Thanks. Booked and bunked. Only 182 sleeps to go.........

 

[suseia]

I was / am not a vivid hiker, but I do make a point walking 10,000 steps a day!

According to Gonze.com, the distance between SJPdP and Roncesvalles is 24.2 km.

In 2017: I started at 7:30 am and arrived in the albergue ran by Dutch volunteers around 5:00 pm (at an averaged pace of 2 ~ 3 km an hour.) I was in time for a delicious dinner including yummy grilled fresh fish and wine with many fellow pilgrims.

During the slooow hike, I took many many stops and enjoyed the scenery and meeting fellow pilgrims.

(Note: I had my backpack transported and carried a day pack.)

In 2026: nine years older, I may take a "taxi" one way from SJPdP to La Vierge d'Orisson, where the statute of Holy Mother is, and hike to Roncesvalles in the same day.

This summer my wife and I walked the Napoleon route from SJPP directly to Roncesvalles. The weather was bad, we were a bit worried but the experience was really amazing. we are not hikers at all.. Stopping in Orisson or Borda can be a good idea .. the only inconvinient is that they are not so far from SJPP but there is no other choice to split day one in two as we know.. Buen camino and thanks for sharing very useful suggestions!

 

[trecile]

the only inconvinient is that they are not so far from SJPP

That can be considered a plus - you don't have to leave early in the morning to reach Orisson or Borda. Have a leisurely breakfast, walk around town, pick up snacks at a grocery store, etc. before heading up the hill. It also allows you to spend a bit more time in the beautiful Pyrenees.

 

[akane81]

Yeah, hope someone will give a shoutout when Borda is taking reservations.

Heard Orisson is charging extra for booking of the bottom bunk, it's not much but I rather go to Borda or go back to SJPP.

 

[Kathor1]

Heard Orisson is charging extra for the bottom bunk

You could have checked on their website instead of relying on hearsay.

The Refuge Orisson appears to have remodelled their accommodation offer. It includes two "chalets", each of them with two beds, and some kind of cubicles in two of their dormitories. I am adding a screenshot for general info although their website with all their 2024 information is just one click away ... Individual prices are on their website of course.

2024 - Accommodation at Orisson (36 beds in total):

 

[Kathor1]

This is in fact the novelty mentioned earlier: There is a difference of €5 for the price for bed+dinner for some of the Orisson dormitories, depending on whether it is the upper bunk bed or the lower bunk bed.

Depending on one's disposition, one could say that there is an extra charge for the lower bunk or a reduction for the upper bunk. And that this price structure is typical for the greedy capitalist or a rather smart move from the owner because it will put a stop to any dispute about who has got the right to sleep at which level.

 

[akane81]

Thanks for clarifying!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

That can be considered a plus - you don't have to leave early in the morning to reach Orisson or Borda. Have a leisurely breakfast, walk around town, pick up snacks at a grocery store, etc. before heading up the hill. It also allows you to spend a bit more time in the beautiful Pyrenees.

I walked to Valcarlos on my first day and still had time to walk around SJPdP, including the rampart walls before leaving. Either way, it is a delightful and quaint French town to spend some time before having to head out.

 

[adam lapp]

Keep in mind that in mid April there is a possibility the trail will be closed and you will have to go Val Carlos. When I went April 10 in 2018, napoleon was closed due to snow.

 

[akane81]

Borda is opened for reservations for 2025… I’ve reserved my bed!