St Jean Pied de Port – León

Check in at your hotel in the late afternoon in beautiful Saint Jean Pied de Port. Take a stroll past the 13th-century Bishops’ prison, now a museum, the town gate “Porte d’Espagne,” and the impressive fortress.

A tough start to the cycling as you make your way up to Col de Roncesvalles (or Ibañeta), the symbolic border crossing between France and Spain. We recommend doing this during the cooler morning hours. Afterward, a much more pleasant section awaits along forest roads, past Roncesvalles with its well-known church and monastery, and through several other picturesque Basque villages to today’s destination, Zubiri.

54 km

Today’s stage begins as you cycle through the Esteribar Valley, continuing on to Pamplona, the first major city on the Camino Francés and the capital of Navarra. Pamplona is a historic pilgrimage city with much to discover, so be sure to take a stop here. Full of impressions and hopefully some good food, you then continue to Puente la Reina for your overnight stay. Puente la Reina is a medieval town, notable for its Romanesque bridge from the 12th century.

43.5 km

Today’s cycling takes you first to Estella, a fairly small town also called “Estella the Beautiful.” It is a picturesque town with historic houses, a palace, and churches that all contribute to the town’s charming nickname. Afterward, you leave Navarra behind and cycle into the famous wine-growing region of La Rioja. Logroño is the capital of Rioja, and once there, the beautiful Santa Maria de la Redonda Cathedral and the old town are well worth a visit.

69.5 km

From Logroño, you then head your bike toward Nájera. You follow the trail through oak forests, vineyards, and wheat fields in La Rioja, passing Santo Domingo de la Calzada and its remarkable cathedral. Here, a hen and a rooster live in memory of the legend of the young pilgrim who was saved from being hanged by the Apostle James.

The day gives a taste of the next stage of the trail, which crosses the broad Spanish plateau, the Meseta Central, where cereals are grown. The day’s destination, Belorado, is a beautiful Castilian village with a rich history.

70.3 km

Today’s stage takes you through small, simple villages before transitioning into slightly more adventurous cycling as you cross the Montes de Oca. The uphill ride is rewarded with the impressive town of San Juan, one of the highlights along the pilgrim route—not only for its elevated, beautiful location but also for its magnificent monastery.

From here, you continue cycling through open landscapes all the way to central Burgos. Once there, we recommend a visit to Burgos’ beautiful Gothic cathedral, also popularly called “the queen of Gothic cathedrals.”

52.7 km

Today’s ride takes you through Castrojeriz, a beautiful village of Romanesque origin, beautifully situated on a hill. From here, the route continues on flatter terrain through vast wheat fields to today’s destination, Frómista. Here you can well-deservedly relax amid the magnificent setting of the Church of San Martín.

75 km

From Frómista, you continue on to Carrión de los Condes, a large village located along the route. The village retains its original charm with many well-preserved historic houses, churches, and not least the monastery of San Zoilo.

You then continue to Sahagún for the overnight stay, a town that testifies to a grand past with many well-preserved and stately historic buildings.

62 km

You follow the route across the open plains, pass a few more picturesque villages, and finally reach the journey’s destination: the medieval city of León, which proudly features la Casa de los Botines – a work by the Catalan architect Gaudí – a magnificent cathedral, and the church of San Isidoro.

66 km

Breakfast and check-out, after which your journey with us concludes.