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Highlights
Enjoy the first week of the Camino Frances from Roncesvalles to Logroño
Explore the Camino Frances week-by-week, on this first week from Roncesvalles to Logroño.
Enjoy the transition from the Navarrese Pyrenees to the La Rioja region, famous for the wine and delicious food.
Marvel at the history along the route, such as the Puente La Reina medieval bridge, the 14th-century Church of San Pedro and the Comendadoras de Sancti Spiritus monastery.
Walk through olive groves and vineyards, and savour local Spanish cuisine each night.
Want to complete the entire Camino Frances (The French Way) however you don’t have the time to do it completely all at once? Then this is the trip for you, with the Camino Frances broken up into five sections, each roughly one week. Many pilgrims walk only 1 or 2 weeks each year, allowing them to complete the Camino over multiple years. This is the first 1-week section of the Camino Frances, from Roncesvalles to Logroño.
The French Way (Camino Francés) is the most traditional and the most traveled one, by which pilgrims from all over Europe have walked since the Middle Ages. And the starting point is often Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France, or Roncesvalles in Spain. This walking tour starts in Roncesvalles, the first town in Spanish territory, and eventually leads all the way to Santiago de Compostella.
Enjoy this self-guided Camino walking tour, where your bags are transferred each day, leaving you with just a day pack as you explore the Camino. Enjoy the sense of control you have in a self-guided tour, deciding what time you start, when you take a break, and how fast to go.
The beginning of this part of the Camino from Roncesvalles to Logroño starts in a very hilly area, in the heart of the Navarrese Pyrenees. The good news is that you will start walking at a high point on the route and the first stages will be downhill.
Many of the cities through which the Camino de Santiago passes owe much of their development to the pilgrims. This is the case of Roncesvalles, your starting point. Its architecture, born from the functionality applied to the reception of pilgrims, gives us interesting monuments, such as the Church of Santa María, the “Casa de los Beneficiados” or the old Hospital de Itzandegia.
This tour is part of the 5-section complete Camino Frances:
Want to complete the entire Camino Frances (The French Way) however you don’t have the time to do it completely all at once? Then this is the trip for you, with the Camino Frances broken up into five sections, each roughly one week. Many pilgrims walk only 1 or 2 weeks each year, allowing them to complete the Camino over multiple years. This is the first 1-week section of the Camino Frances, from Roncesvalles to Logroño.
The French Way (Camino Francés) is the most traditional and the most traveled one, by which pilgrims from all over Europe have walked since the Middle Ages. And the starting point is often Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France, or Roncesvalles in Spain. This walking tour starts in Roncesvalles, the first town in Spanish territory, and eventually leads all the way to Santiago de Compostella.
Enjoy this self-guided Camino walking tour, where your bags are transferred each day, leaving you with just a day pack as you explore the Camino. Enjoy the sense of control you have in a self-guided tour, deciding what time you start, when you take a break, and how fast to go.
The beginning of this part of the Camino from Roncesvalles to Logroño starts in a very hilly area, in the heart of the Navarrese Pyrenees. The good news is that you will start walking at a high point on the route and the first stages will be downhill.
Many of the cities through which the Camino de Santiago passes owe much of their development to the pilgrims. This is the case of Roncesvalles, your starting point. Its architecture, born from the functionality applied to the reception of pilgrims, gives us interesting monuments, such as the Church of Santa María, the “Casa de los Beneficiados” or the old Hospital de Itzandegia.
This tour is part of the 5-section complete Camino Frances:
Read more
Camino Frances Stage 1: Roncesvalles to Logroño Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Roncesvalles
This Camino Frances walking tour starts in the Navarrese Pyrenees region, where the old medieval streets that started in the interior of Europe came together and are now the traditional starting point of the modern way in Spanish territory. The architecture, the interesting monuments, including the Collegiate Church of Santa María from the 13th century, the house of the beneficiaries or the old hospital of Itzandegia are very worthy of seeing.
Overnight Location: Bed and breakfast in Roncesvalles
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Descend to Zubiri
The first day of the French way from Roncesvalles follows a typical mountain route, but it does not pose any major difficulties. Almost the entire stage descends, although you have to climb two climbs: the high Mezkiriz and the Alto de Erro.
Overnight Location: Bed and breakfast in Zubiri
Distance: 5 hours, 21.4km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Reaching Pamplona
Continue downhill, over gentle hills and leave the mountain path behind you. On today’s stage you will pass through an important medieval town that has grown under the guise of the Larrasoaña pilgrim pass. You will also cross the Arga River several times over numerous bridges. Once in Pamplona, it is inevitable to mention the famous Saint Fermín festivities and the running of the bulls. But in every season this city is worth seeing with its important monumental complex, which is dominated by churches and medieval walls.
Overnight Location: Bed and breakfast in Pamplona
Distance: 5 hours, 20.4km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 Hike to Puente de la Reina
The most important landmark of this stage is the Alto del Perdón, which you reach after a 260 meter climb. The descent is a bit more rugged, quite rocky and therefore a bit slippery. Once at the top, you have to take a short break to enjoy the view. It is quite a windy area, so on the summit you will find not only the pilgrimage monument, but also many windmills. Once in Puente La Reina it is worth visiting the large medieval bridge with its five arches, the 14th-century Church of San Pedro and the Comendadoras de Sancti Spiritus monastery.
Overnight Location: Bed and breakfast in Puente de la Reina
Distance: 6 hours, 23.9km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Descent to Estella
Start the stage with a gentle descent of almost 5 kilometers before you face the ascent to Mañeru, which is not very long but has quite a difference in altitude. Then walk through the town of Cirauqui, where the medieval Gothic church and the Roman road stand out, of which some original sections are still preserved. The last section of the stage, which leads to Estella, goes down again.
Overnight Location: Bed and breakfast in Estella
Distance: 5 hours, 21.6km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Walk to Los Arcos
Immediately after leaving Estella, you will find the famous “wine fountain”, where you are urged to drink in moderation, and also have the chance to buy some wine to take with you. The last 12 kilometers from Villamayor de Monjardín to Los Arcos, although easy to walk, can be a bit difficult between farmland and side streets, with hardly any shade, which is why you should start early, especially in the summer months, to avoid the greatest heat.
Overnight Location: Bed and breakfast Los Arcos
Distance: 5 hours, 21.3km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Arrive to Logroño
This stage has a comfortable start on dirt roads, which make the route very pleasant. Walk through olive groves, almond trees, and vineyards as you enter the land of wine par excellence, La Rioja. Before you reach the end of the stage, you will pass the ruins of Clavijo Castle. The last stretch is easy to walk on pedestrian paths. In Logroño you should not miss the opportunity to take a stroll along Calle Laurel to taste some good local wines accompanied by delicious tapas.
Overnight Location: Bed and breakfast in Logroño
Distance: 7 hours, 27.6km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 Departure
Buen Camino!!! See you next time.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation on Camino Frances Stage 1: Roncesvalles to Logroño
During this trip you will mostly stay in quaint hotels, bed & breakfasts, and pensions along the Camino route. These accommodations cater to pilgrims, providing an authentic Camino experience and modern amenities for comfort. They are most often locally owned and operated.
Single Rooms and Solo Travellers
Rooms are double occupancy. You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel where possible. Solo travellers may be required to pay a supplement.
What’s Included in the Camino Frances Stage 1: Roncesvalles to Logroño?
Meals
7 breakfasts are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 7 nights are included. Accommodations before the tour are not included but can be added as a supplement.
Transportation during the Tour
Transportation for your luggage is included throughout the tour (max. 20 kg – 1 piece of luggage per person).
Also included
- 24-hour emergency line
- Maps for all stages
- Pilgrim pass
- Pilgrim scallop
Not included
- Guide services
- Any personal transport
- Flights
- Meals, drinks, or snacks not previously mentioned
- Tips
- Gratuities for tour guides or other staff if desired
Optional Extras
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- Single occupancy upgrades
- Optional activities or excursions
- Half board supplement
- Picnic Supplement
- Private transfer to Roncesvalles
- Private transfer to the airport
- Extra piece of luggage
- How hard is the Camino Frances Stage 1: Roncesvalles to Logroño?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Spain?
- Are meals included on the Camino Frances Stage 1: Roncesvalles to Logroño?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Roncesvalles to start this tour?
- Is the Camino Frances Stage 1: Roncesvalles to Logroño in English?
- Where does the Camino Frances Stage 1: Roncesvalles to Logroño end?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Spain?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Spain?
We rate this tour as a 3 / 5. Although the terrain is not challenging, you will be walking up to 28 km daily. If you do this in July and August the heat can make this a very challenging walk.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
7 breakfasts are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover walking. Get your travel insurance.
You can get to Roncesvalles via train, car or bus from all major cities in Spain.
Yes, the tour guide is English-speaking.
The tour ends in Logroño.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
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