Many ‘New Pilgrims’ are worried that the first day of their Camino might be hard.  Particularly if they are walking the Camino Frances, starting in St Jean Pied de Port.     So here are some tips for your 1st day, regardless of where you start your Camino. 

 

Oh, there is another Alternative of course!  I should have mentioned it.

Take the alternative route to Roncevales through the Valley.  This is known as the Valcarlos route.

This map pin is the Municipal Albergue in Valcarlos.

https://goo.gl/maps/7cgSFYE5BfSS8zAN9

 

I haven’t walked this route myself, but friends have and they say it’s really nice.  But it’s not flat!  The climb up to Roncesvalles is about a 700m altitude increase I think.

This link shows the route:

https://www.gronze.com/etapa/saint-je…

 

 

I think I referred to Refuge Orrison as Auberge Orrison!   An Auberge of course is an Inn. 

This is their website:   https://refuge-orisson.com/en/

 

And this is Express Bourricot:  https://www.expressbourricot.com/

I used their map of the Mountain Shuttle in the video.