The way of Saint James – Aire sur l’Adour to St Jean Pieds de Port

The way of Saint James – Aire sur l’Adour to St Jean Pieds de Port

Via Podiensis is one of the four main pilgrimage routes to the Spanish sanctuary of Santiago de Compostela from Le Puy en Velay, a Marian sanctuary since the fifth century. Since the Middle Ages, millions of pilgrims have left from Le Puy to journey to the Spanish Galicia, at the extremity of the Iberian Peninsula, to venerate the relics of Saint James, one of Christ’s apostles. This pilgrimage is today registered on the World Heritage list of UNESCO.
From Aire-sur-l’Adour, you will progressively bring yourself to the base of the Pyrenees Mountains. You will cross the vineyards of Le Tursan, next through La Chalosse – a region of grain-production and animal breeding –, and then the forests of Le Béarn. Your hike will bring you finally to the green hills of the Basque Country. To the south of Saint Palais you will notice the Cross of Gibraltar, the supposed meeting point of the different pilgrimage paths of Santiago de Compostela. These paths bring pilgrims from all over Europe to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, the last stop of the route in France, and the limit of Via Podiensis.

ECO’: Half-board accommodation in hotels with all the facilities

STANDARD : accommodation in 2 star hotels with terroir dinners

COMFORT : accommodation in 3 or 4 star hotels with gourmet dinners

Eco’ tour description

Day 1 : Arrival at Aire sur l’Adour
Day 2 : Aire – Miramont (20 km)
Day 3 : Miramont – Larreule (25 km)
                  Transfer by car from Larreule to Pomps where you stay overnight
Day 4 : Pomps – Maslacq (20 km)
Day 5 : Maslacq – Navarrenx (23 km)
Day 6 : Navarrenx – Saint Palais (30 km)
Day 7 : St Palais –Larceveau (18 km)
Day 8 : Larceveau – St Jean Pied de Port (20 km)
Day 9 : St Jean Pied de Port – Tour ends after breakfast

Standard tour description

Day 1: Arrivée à Aire sur l’Adour
Day 2: Aire – Miramont (20 km)
Day 3: Miramont – Larreule (25 km)
                  transfer by car to Casteide in late afternoon
Day 4: Casteide – Maslacq (24 km)
Day 5: Maslacq – Navarrenx (22 km)
Day 6: Navarrenx – Aroue (18.5 km)
Day 7: St Palais –Larceveau (18 km)
Day 8: Larceveau – St Jean Pied de Port (19.5 km)
Day 9: St Jean Pied de Port – End of the tour after breakfast

Comfort tour description

Day 1: Arrivée à Aire sur l’Adour
Day 2: Aire – Miramont (18 km)
Day 3: Miramont – Fichous (24 km)
                 transfer by taxi from Fichou to Arthez de Bearn in late afternoon
Day 4: Fichous – Arthez de Bearn (21km)
                 return by taxi to Fichou in the morning
Day 5: Maslacq – Castelnau (24 km)
                 transfer by taxi from Arthez to Maslacq in the morning
Day 6: Castelnau – Aroue (16 km)
                 transfer by taxi from Aroue to St Palais for overnight
Day 7: Saint Palais – Larceveau (18 km)
Day 8: Larceveau – St Jean Pied de Port (19,5 km)
Day 9: St Jean Pied de Port – End of the tour after breakfast.

What’s included?

• Accomodation and breakfast
• Dinners according to description and selected range of services
• Hotel to hotel luggage transfer along the trail.
• A set of maps (1/25 000 scale) with the route marked on and detailed route notes describing the trail.
• A daily itinerary together with information about facilities and places of interest along the trail.
• Emergency assistance in English