From Paris to Astorga (or Zamora)

Fly from Paris to Madrid with the cheapest airline available on your travel date (tip: don't overlook Easyjet). Once in Madrid, Alsa has buses from Madrid airport to Astorga (or, if you prefer, to Ponferrada). They have more buses from downtown Madrid (Estación Sur de autobuses) if the schedules of those out of the airport don't suit you. An alternative from downtown Madrid would be to take a train out of Chamartín station (either to Astorga or Ponferrada) but train service is much less frequent than bus one.

Alternatively, Vueling has some dates (it isn't daily) non-stop flights between Paris and Asturias airport. That would be an option to consider if you wanted to make part of the Norte or the Primitivo. Flight to Asturias airport, bus from Asturias airport to Oviedo and bus from Oviedo to Tineo to start in Tineo your Primitivo walk. Or bus from Asturias airpot to Avilés and bus from Avilés to Luarca to start in Luarca your Norte walk. All these bus lines are operated by Alsa.

If you prefer to go to Puebla de Sanabria (on the Sanabrés) or to Zamora, once in Madrid go from the airport to Estación Sur de Autobuses (on the downtown) and take a bus from Madrid to Puebla de Sanabria or to Zamora with Avanzabus. Alternatively, you can take a train out of Chamartín station to either Zamora or Puebla de Sanabria.

To commute from the airport to Estación Sur de Autobuses, you can take a cercanías train from Terminal 4 to Méndez Álvaro train station. I you arrive to other terminal, take a (free) airport shuttle bus to terminal 4. The metro (subway) would be another alternative but it takes much longer and involves minimum 1 change (from line 8 to line 6) although it might be quicker to make the route with 2 changes...

To commute from the airport to Chamartín station, take a cercanías train from Terminal 4 to Chamartín station. If you arrive to other terminal, take a (free) shuttle bus to T4.

Links of the bus companies and the train one to look for info about schedules and fares (note: it's early to book train tickets for June and it may be to book some bus tickets):

http://www.alsa.es
http://www.avanzabus.com
http://www.renfe.com

Fly Paris to Vigo then Renfe train to either Astorga or Ourense. You could fly Paris to Santiago ... but train service is more frequent from Vigo.

Zamora is closer to Madrid so Fly Paris to Madrid and Renfe train to Zamora.

If you don't want to fly take SNCF TGV train from Paris to Irun and Renfe train from Irun to wherever you want to go in Spain.

Here is AENA red de aeropuertos ... perhaps you can find closer airports to your destination.
http://www.aena.es/csee/Satellite/aeropuertos/es/Page/1237548207921//Red-de-Aeropuertos.html

Renfe
http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/

grayland said:

I am taking two grandsons to Paris for a couple of days and then on to a short Camino.
Due to time constraints we will only have about 10 days walking this time.

Trying to work out the best way to reach a starting point

I had thought to walk from near Astorga but cringe at the thought of crowds on the Frances in June. How would we get there.

A second thought would be to start near Orense on the Sanabres off the Via de la Plata.
I did the VdlP last year from Sevillia so do know the route.

The problem would be getting to Zamora (easy from there to a starting point) from Paris.

A third idea would be the Primitivo but 10 days won't cut it.

Any ideas would be appreciated....both to travel and other 10 day routes.

Click to expand...

I guess Madrid or Barcelona would be the best airports for further connections closer to Camino Sanabres. I took a peak for Barcelona.

I think closest airport to Zamora is Salamanca with once per day connection from Barcelona El Prat (BCN) operated by Air Nostrum (through Iberia). Departure 15:20, arrival: 16:40, Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun, cheapest in June 2015 is 80€ (without checked luggage).
There should be plenty of buses for these 66kms from Salamanca to Zamora (and further on to Ourense).
Next closest airport to Zamora would be Valladolid.

But for Ourense:
there are multiple flights every day from Barcelona to Vigo and they are even cheaper - 50€. From Vigo to Ourense is less than 100kms.

Ultreia!

PS (try http://www.skyscanner.net/ for the cheapest flights)

If you want to avoid crowds how about doing the Baztan from Bayonne to Pamplona, then take a bus to Leon and do the Salvador to Oviedo?