Hotel or Inn midway SJDP to Roncevalles

[MicheleL]

Hello, does anyone know if there is a mid-stop from SJDP to Roncesvalles? I am not sure we are up for the full length on Day 1. I see there is a hostel but I stay in the hotels. This is my 2nd time only and last time I started in Pamplona and did segments and this time I wish to start in SJDP.
Thank you !

 

[Jarrad]

Agh! Edited to point out that there are no hotels -- I did not catch that when I first saw your post. But see my updated note on Borda below.

If you can handle a night in an albergue, option is Le Refuge Orisson. Beautiful views, definitely book in advance. The communal dinner is awesome and you can order a sandwich for the next day.

Up the road a bit further is Borda. I have not stayed there, but I have only heard good things about it. They have one private room with a king bed and a shared room of four single beds.

I'm debating stopping at Orisson again next spring. I can do the full stage to Roncevalles (and you can too!), but it felt so nice to break it up on my last Camino and the hospitality was exceptional. Lots of different suggestions here on the forum about whether to stay at Roncevalles or continue on a bit to get out of the rhythm of the traditional stages. You really can't go wrong either way.

Buen Camino!

 

[J Willhaus]

You might consider walking through Valcarlos. I believe there may be private rooms there.

 

[J Willhaus]

Orrison and Borda on the Nepoleon are open bunk rooms for the most part. You could wLk part way and then arrange a taxi back and forth on this route.

 

[trecile]

The other option, if you want to do the Napoleon route, and you can't get the private room at Borda is to book two nights in SJPdP and use Express Bourricot's Mountain Express. This splits the stages more evenly than walking to Orisson or Borda because you walk farther than that the first day to the Virgin of Orisson. The Express Bourricot picks you up and takes you back to St Jean. The next morning they bring you back to where you left off.

Passengers transport - Express Bourricot

www.expressbourricot.com

 

[JabbaPapa]

There are some more comfortable lodgings in Valcarlos, but if you do want to walk the Napoleon route, then it's either the Albergues up there, or travel to-and-fro as suggested.

 

[Grousedoctor]

The Valcarlos Route would be my suggestion based on your criteria. Having walked both routes, and yes they are different, both are excellent first days on the Camino. If you look at the stage profile on Gronze.com, you’ll see that the village of Valcarlos is approximately half way to Roncesvalles. The first 12 km or so getting to the village are quite pleasant walking through the valley. It’s really only after that that you start your climb over the mountain. You’ll also see on Gronze a number of places that offer private rooms. I know most pilgrims want to take the Napoleon Route, and on a clear day, the views are magnificent, but both routes are quite good for getting you over the Pyrenees. Buen Camino!

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

The official website for Valcarlos has a page for travel services including lodging. There isn't an English version of the page but many browsers have ways to translate webpages. The Chrome browser may do that for you automatically.

Servicios Turísticos - Ayuntamiento de Luzaide / Valcarlos

luzaide-valcarlos.net

 

[sillydoll]

The Valcarlos Route would be my suggestion based on your criteria. Having walked both routes, and yes they are different, both are excellent first days on the Camino. If you look at the stage profile on Gronze.com, you’ll see that the village of Valcarlos is approximately half way to Roncesvalles. The first 12 km or so getting to the village are quite pleasant walking through the valley. It’s really only after that that you start your climb over the mountain. You’ll also see on Gronze a number of places that offer private rooms. I know most pilgrims want to take the Napoleon Route, and on a clear day, the views are magnificent, but both routes are quite good for getting you over the Pyrenees. Buen Camino!

I agree. Val Carlos (Valley of Charlemagne) is the authentic walkers route while the Napoleon is a military, high level alternative used to escape ambush attacks from the densely covered hills and valleys on the lower route. The first 12km might be easier than the start of the Napoloeon but the second half is much steeper.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

The first 12km might be easier than the start of the Napoloeon but the second half is much steeper.

Let me clarify a bit by saying that this means that the second half of the Valcarlos route is steeper than the first half of it. The steepest 3 km of the Napoleon Route is on its first half and is a match to the steepest 3 km of the Valcarlos Route found on the second half of the Valcarlos.

If you are interested, a graph of the steepness of the two routes and some notes can be found here:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/camino-photos/elevation-profiles-of-the-tracks-from-st-jean-pied-de-port-to-roncevalles.8856/

 

[Kathy F.]

Don't be afraid.
I've done the Valcarlos in one day to Roncevalles in snowy, rainy weather, and the Napoleon with an overnight stop in Orrison, in gorgeous, sunny weather.
Do not assume you will be unable to go from SJPDP to Roncevalles in one day. Hundreds of thousands have done it before you and will do it after you. It will be tough, in spite of any training you may (should) have done.
I found the albergue in Orrison over-rated on many levels. I would not stay there again. I know this goes against many who post here.
I'm an out of shape old lady traveling solo. If I can do it, anyone can.

 

[woody66]

Hi ! I stayed here in Valcarlos hosts were great apartment was lovely and in the restaurant next door celebrated my 70th Birthday ! You still cross the mountains but have a few more choices and the scenery is varied and worth the walk! Buen Camino
Woody

Apartamentos De Montaña Mendiola - Casa Ferran-Casa Karrikaburu
Address:Elizaldea, 113, 31660 Valcarlos, Spain
Phone: +34 601 54 11 57
GPS Coordinates: N 043° 5.711, W 01° 17.910

 

[Hans-Georg Goebel]

Orrison and Borda on the Nepoleon are open bunk rooms for the most part. You could wLk part way and then arrange a taxi back and forth on this route.

Borda has no bunk beds but only single beds, excellently separated from each other, 3 rooms with 4 beds each and a double room

 

[Ken & Liz]

We recently stayed in Borda and booked the private room. Fantastic, it was snowing on the top so very cold in Borda, the room has an open fire and a basket of wood to keep the fire going. Well worth the cost

 

[Jodean]

The rooms and beds in Borda are comfy and beautiful, they are not bunk beds. We were 4 women to a room, each with a single bed with separating walls between the beds and curtains, with linens and blankets. We 4 shared a shower and a separate toilet with 2 sinks in the room. It is absolutely nothing like Orisson.

 

[Annw]

I had only previously stayed in small hotels, but last trip I stayed at Borda. Individual bed with curtain, light, and electric outlet for charging; plenty of privacy. Lovely pilgrim dinner. Opens mid-late afternoon. I shared the room and bathroom/shower/loo with 3 lovely women from Australia. Would definitely be comfortable staying here again.

 

[CaminoSuze]

Hello, does anyone know if there is a mid-stop from SJDP to Roncesvalles? I am not sure we are up for the full length on Day 1. I see there is a hostel but I stay in the hotels. This is my 2nd time only and last time I started in Pamplona and did segments and this time I wish to start in SJDP.
Thank you !

You could walk to Orrison or the Virgin and use Express Bourricott or taxi back to SJPDP to your hotel. Next day they will drop you back to where you left off.

 

[J Willhaus]

Borda has no bunk beds but only single beds, excellently separated from each other, 3 rooms with 4 beds each and a double room

Ok, when I say "open bunk," I mean a room with multiple beds in the same room. Could be bunk beds or just twin beds.

 

[WalkinRon]

All the above comments about Auberge Borda's accommodations are correct. However, I just want to add that Laurent has created the perfect environment for the spirit of the Camino! The communal meal was the best. Everything one might need is thoughtfully provided from the laundry to a simple lunch to take with. When I stayed there it was a one-man operation. He will return to open and let folk in by three o'clock. So if you arrive early, hang out at Orrison with a bowl of soup and/or a cold beer until then. For me, Borda was the perfect start to my Camino.

 

[domigee]

Borda has no bunk beds but only single beds, excellently separated from each other, 3 rooms with 4 beds each and a double room

The double room has 2 single beds, a private bathroom and a lovely wood fire

 

[alhartman]

In 2010 stayed at Gite Ferme Ithurburia in Honto (coming in from Ostabat and skipping SJPdP) on the Vezeley route. It was a very French gite with a great meal. We were 2 in a 3 bed room but i think they have 4-5 double rooms. It was a wonderful way to say goodbye to the French pilgrim culture. I would strongly recommend as a nice introduction to French hospitality you get along LePuy. Its only about 9 k from SJPdP so leaves another 20 or so to go up Lepoeder and down into Roncevalles. I dont see Honto mentioned often in forum as a stopover; mostly Orisson and Borda, but it is a great gite experience. Gronze shows they have only 17 beds.

 

[trecile]

Its only about 9 k from SJPdP

Actually only 5.2 km

 

[MicheleL]

In 2010 stayed at Gite Ferme Ithurburia in Honto (coming in from Ostabat and skipping SJPdP) on the Vezeley route. It was a very French gite with a great meal. We were 2 in a 3 bed room but i think they have 4-5 double rooms. It was a wonderful way to say goodbye to the French pilgrim culture. I would strongly recommend as a nice introduction to French hospitality you get along LePuy. Its only about 9 k from SJPdP so leaves another 20 or so to go up Lepoeder and down into Roncevalles. I dont see Honto mentioned often in forum as a stopover; mostly Orisson and Borda, but it is a great gite experience. Gronze shows they have only 17 beds.

Thank you very much. I will look into this! At Lopoeder into Roncevalles do you pass thru SJDP? and then pick up the trail?

 

[trecile]

Thank you very much. I will look into this! At Lopoeder into Roncevalles do you pass thru SJDP? and then pick up the trail?

Here's the map of the route from SJPdP to Roncesvalles. It reads from right to left (east to west). As you can see, Collado de Leopeder is part of the descent to Roncesvalles. I recommend taking the trail to the right at the fork, represented by a dotted line - it's a gentler descent.

 

[bestfootforward]

Hello, does anyone know if there is a mid-stop from SJDP to Roncesvalles? I am not sure we are up for the full length on Day 1. I see there is a hostel but I stay in the hotels. This is my 2nd time only and last time I started in Pamplona and did segments and this time I wish to start in SJDP.
Thank you !

Hello! If you can get a bed at Orisson, o'night there. You won't regret it, not only for the way it breaks up the climb, but for the wonderful way to start your Camino. It's the essence of the Camino in every way. Buon Camino