CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

LE PUY ROUTE THROUGH RURAL

CAMINO DE SANTIAGO - LE PUY ROUTE SUMMARY The French route along the Camino de Santiago starts in the town of Le Puy and follows the pilgrims path south to the Pyrenees, close to the Spanish border. Otherwise known as the ‘Via Podensis’ the trail follows the popular GR65 path passing many churches, cathedrals and small medieval villages en-route. People of all ages and all walks of lives undertake this pilgrimage for many different reasons. Meeting fellow pilgrims, sharing stories and like many of those who choose to walk the Camino de Santiago, gain a very special spiritual insight.

Modern pilgrims choose to walk the French Camino for personal, spiritual or religious reasons or simply to take some time out from their busy modern lives. Whatever your reason for starting, you are sure to become addicted to this wonderful journey through its breathtaking landscape in rural France.

Macs Adventure offers the route between Le Puy and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in many different sections depending on how much time you have. They range from a week long or if combined will form a pilgrimage of over 6 weeks in length. Once a fairly quiet route, it is now becoming one of the more popular Tour: Camino de Santiago - Le Puy Route routes to travel along the Camino. Code: WFSCDSLP S1-6 Type: Self-Guided Walking Holiday Price: See Website HIGHLIGHTS Single Supplement: See Website Dates: May to October Walking Days: 5-8 • Beautiful churches and medieval villages along the French Way Nights: 6-9 Start: Le Puy en Velay • Experiencing the local French cuisine and local wines along the trail Finish: St Jean Pied de Port • Meeting fellow pilgrims, hearing their stories and travel tips along the way Distance: 87 - 159 km per section Grade: Moderate • Completing a unique and rewarding journey through rural France

Is the French Camino For Me? The Camino attracts a wide range of pilgrims from around the world who walk for many different WHY CHOOSE A SELF GUIDED WALK ON THE CAMINO WITH US? reasons. If you are looking for an uplifting and life changing journey along one of the Camino routes then Macs Adventure is a small, energetic company dedicated to delivering adventure excellence. Our the French Camino may be the one for you.. Medieval involvement with the Camino began in 2006 when a close friend walked the Camino and was enthralled by villages and local French cuisine are highlights! the experience of the pilgrimage but less so with the basic accommodation and food in the hostels and refuges. We decided to use our long experience of organising unforgettable walking holidays with carefully selected accommodation to offer the Camino pilgrimage with hand-picked accommodation for those walkers who prefer a little more comfort. WHAT’S INCLUDED? Accommodation: Along the trail you will be stay- We know the Camino intimately and are passionate about delivering outstanding walking holidays on the ing in rural hotels and B&B’s. Camino where every last detail is taken care of. Each holiday we offer is unique and can be tailor made to Meals: Breakfast and an evening meal is included meet your requirements. Carefully selected accommodation with breakfast and an evening meal are every night (except in Cahors) included aswell as baggage transfers, a guide book, detailed maps and emergency support. Extra nights Baggage Transfer: Daily Transfers Included Information Pack : Guide Book, detailed maps are advisable and available as options. and Info Pack.

MINOE SANTIAGO CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

LE PUY ROUTE THROUGH RURAL FRANCE

DETAILED ITINERARIES ITINERARY: WFCDSLP2 Day Route Km STAGE 2 - NASBINALS TO CONQUES The French Route along the Camino can be split 1 Arrive in Conques Walking Days: 5 into shorter week long stages. You can walk 2 Walk to Decazeville/ 20-23 Nights: 6 Livinhac each of the stages individually over a period of Average Daily Distance: 17km 3 Walk to Figeac 26-29 months or years or combine them to walk the Grade: Moderate 4 Walk to Cajarc 30 entire route in one push over 6 weeks walking. Description: This stage of the camino 5 Walk to Limongne en 18 passes through some beautiful villages ITINERARY: WFCDSLP1 such as St Come d’Olt and Estaing. Many 6 Walk to Lalbenque 24 of the sections on this stage are fairly 7 Walk to Cahors 21 8 Onward Travel STAGE 1 - LE PUY EN VELAY TO short and will leave you time in the NASBINALS afternoon to explore the surrounding villages. Total Distance 157- Walking Days: 5 163 Nights: 6 Average Daily Distance: 23km Day Route Km Grade: Moderate Description: Take time to explore the old 1 Arrive in Nasbinals ITINERARY: WFCDSLP4 town of Le Puy before setting off on your 2 Walk to St Chely 17 pilgrimage journey. The first section to St D’Aubrac STAGE 4 - CAHORS TO LECTOURE Privat D’Allier is mostly uphill and you pass 3 Walk to St Come D’Olt 16 Walking Days: 5 through a variety of different terrain en- 4 Walk to Estaing 16 Nights: 6 route to Nasbinals. Ranging from gorge 5 Walk to Espeyrac 25 6 Walk to Conques 13 Average Daily Distance: 25km crossings to vast open paths with fabulous 7 Onward Travel Grade: Moderate views. The Margeride Plateau with its Description: This stage starts by passing characteristic villages and secluded a 12th Century fortress in which hamlets are highlights along this section. Total Distance 87 is worth a visit. You will pass many chateaus and the small hilltop town of Auvillar with its circular medieval market Day Route Km ITINERARY: WFCDSLP3 hall. 1 Arrive in Le Puy en Velay STAGE 3 - CONQUES TO CAHORS Day Route Km 2 Walk to St Privat 23 D’Allier Walking Days: 6 3 Walk to Sauges 18 Nights: 7 1 Arrive in Cahors 4 Walk to Les Faux 26 Average Daily Distance: 27km (dinner not included) 5 Walk to Aumont Aubrac 21 Grade: Moderate 2 Walk to Montcuq 33 6 Walk to Nasbinals 26 Description: Visit the abbey of Conques 3 Walk to Durfort 22 7 Onward Travel before you set off today with its 4 Walk to 16 Romanesque sculpture and Artifacts. 5 Walk to Auvillar 21 6 Walk to Miradoux 17 There are a couple of sections on this 7 Walk to Lectoure 15 Total Distance 114 stage that are long but provide wonderful 8 Onward Travel views and you can make stops in the picturesque villages along the way. Total Distance 124 CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

LE PUY ROUTE THROUGH RURAL FRANCE

ITINERARY: WFCDSLP5 next section is fairly flat and easy walking recommend that you book this trip early as the passing many churches before arriving in area is always popular and the hotels and B&B’s St Jean Pied de Port. do fill up early. STAGE 5 - LECTOURE TO AIRE SUR ADOUR Single Rooms/Solo Walkers Day Route Km Walking Days: 6 The Camino is available to solo walkers at a Nights: 7 supplement. Single rooms are available although 1 Arrive in Aire sur Adour Average Daily Distance: 19km a single occupancy supplement is payable. 2 Walk to Miramont 20 Grade: Moderate Sensacq Description: This stage starts in Lectoure Compostela/Pilgrims Passport 3 Walk to Larreule/ 25 - a Spa town which is one of the oldest overnight Casteide The pilgrims passport is issued by the church of towns in the Gers. The path carries on to Candau St James and you can collect it from the local La Romieu with its impressive church and 4 Walk to 23 church in the village before you start walking. cloisters. Follow on to Montreal du Gers 5 Walk to Navarrenx 20 You need to get the passport stamped in which is a small town with interesting old 6 Walk to 18 churches, restaurants and hotels along the way. houses and a 13th century church. The last 7 Walk to St Palais 18 For the other sections of the trail, the passport is 8 Walk to Larceveau 17 section follows farmland and through used as a souvenir with all the colourful stamps 9 Walk to St Jean Pied de 18 you will receive. Nogaro before reaching Aire sur Adour. Port 10 Onward Travel Meals Day Route Km Total Distance 159 A local breakfast is included each morning aswell as an evening meal each night (apart from in 1 Arrive in Lectoure Conques). Lunch is available locally and can be NAVIGATION 2 Walk to La Romieu 19 bought from a local shop or village en-route. 3 Walk to Condom 16 This route is waymarked and follows the GR65. 4 Walk to Montreal du 17 Red and white horizontal stripes are markers on Baggage Transfer Gers the route and these can be found on sign posts, 5 Walk to Eauze 16 Your bags will be transferred from your rocks and on wooden posts. 6 Walk to Nogaro 20 accommodation as per your itinerary and moved 7 Walk to Aire sur Adour 28 Additional Nights onto your next overnight accommodation. You 8 Onward Travel are limited to one piece per person and the There is so much to see and do along the route maximum weight per piece of luggage is 12kg. that many of our clients choose to add extra Total Distance 116 nights along the walk either as a rest day or Equipment simply to do some extra sightseeing/walking. If Your information pack has a detailed equipment you are walking the whole route solo try not to ITINERARY: WFCDSLP6 list which includes standard walking gear such as add too many extra nights along the way as you good walking boots or shoes, lightweight clothes, STAGE 6 - AIRE SUR ADOUR TO ST will lose touch with those you have met. We waterproofs and a day pack. JEAN PIED DE PORT would definitely recommend extra nights in the larger towns and villages. Availability Walking Days: 8 Nights: 9 Accommodation The Camino is best enjoyed from May to Average Daily Distance: 22km October. Any earlier and there will be snow Grade: Moderate The accommodation on this route will be a underfoot especially as you cross the Pyrenees. Description: Aire is an ancient Roman mixture of rural 2 star hotels and B&B’s. They all You can start on any date that suits your travel town with a wonderful cathedral which is offer a warm welcome to walkers, traditional plans and you will find up to date availability on worth a visit before you set off today. The hospitality and delicious local food. We do our website. CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

LE PUY ROUTE THROUGH RURAL FRANCE

Price Getting from St Jean Pied de Port phone: +44 (0) 141 530 8886, Fax/Post: Download or request a booking form and post it By Air: to Macs Adventure Ltd, 44 Speirs Wharf, DATES & PRICES The closest airport to St Jean Pied de Port is Glasgow, G4 9TH, UK or fax it to +44 (0) 845 which is on the west coast of France, 527 5688. Please see our Website for a current list of other close airports are Pau in France. prices. Pamplona and San Sebastian are also close in Spain. BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE Included By Train: •Accommodation in small rural hotels and Financial Security B&B’s From St Jean Pied de Port you can take the •Breakfast each morning and an evening meal In accordance with "The Package Travel, each night (apart from Conques) mountain railway to (1hrs 30 mins Package Holidays and Package Tours approx.) and then the airport bus to Biarritz •Daily luggage transfer Regulations1992" all passengers booking with (25mins), or any other onward jouneys from • Macs Adventure Ltd are fully protected for the A Cicerone Guidebook (The Way of St Bayonne throughout France. initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all James) France monies paid to us, including repatriation if •A detailed information pack for the group required (this insurance will not cover repatriation leader including route notes, maps, local RECOMMENDATIONS information on arrival. to the country of origin for the passengers outside of the EU), arising from cancellation or •Emergency support from our local and UK offices in the event of a problem. Visas curtailment of your travel arrangements due to Please check your visa requirements with the the insolvency of Macs Adventure Ltd Excluded foreign office before travelling to France 9280. www.fco.gov.uk. UK passport holders do not • Return travel to France • need a visa if they are staying for less than 3 ABTA Member Statement Lunches, snacks and drinks. months. • Travel Insurance. Macs Adventure Holidays is Travellers to France may need to supply their a Member of ABTA. ABTA • Personal Equipment. airline their date of birth, nationality and passport and ABTA Members help • Taxi transfers or public transport should you number before flying. holidaymakers to get the need to skip a stage. most from their travel and assist when things Language TRAVEL INFORMATION don’t go according to plan. We are obliged to It is highly recommended to know some of the maintain a high standard of service to you by French language before you set off on the ABTA’s Code of Conduct. Getting to Le Puy Camino. Not many people speak English in rural By Air : France and you will find it difficult if you can’t communicate The closest International Airport to Le Puy is Lyon, which is approx. 150km away. Many HOW TO BOOK International flights fly into Lyon so its very easily accessible from Europe and overseas.

By Train: You can catch the train from Lyon to Once you have read all the information in this Le Puy which takes approx. 2 and a half hrs. Up factsheet or our website and decided on your preferred itinerary, visit our website or give us a to date timetables can be found at the French call to confirm availability. You can then book Rail Network: http://www.sncf.co.uk/ securely online at www.macsadventure.com by