Route St JacquesA continuous walk along this famous pilgrim's path from Le Puy to Conques with your baggage transported for you. _w=730_h=400_pjpg.jpg)
Moderate
Tour code: 10100 Last Modified: 22nd February 2021 _w=622_h=622_pjpg.jpg)
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Holiday HighlightsSee what's planned
Trip InformationStop for a moment to consider that buron stone hut on the Aubrac plateau, or the ancient bridge over the Allier River. How many feet have passed this way through the centuries on their way to Santiago de Compostela? We follow in the pilgrims’ footsteps between Le Puy and Conques, through summer pastures, forests of oak, beech and chestnut, between villages with bread ovens and ancient oxen shoeing stocks. On the way we hear tales of the Beast of Gevaudan, brigands, the hostelries feeding the pilgrim masses, convoluted thefts of relics and countless miracles. Moving on most days, we stay in small simple hotels. Our bags are transported separately leaving us to carry just our day packs. Daily distances are usually between 10 and 12 miles, with some days being a little longer. If you want to take a day off from walking and travel by road between centres that is easily arranged. Our Holiday Information Sheet has more details. We start in the distinctive volcanic town of Le Puy with a day to explore and walk to the fortress at Polignac. Setting out on our route we head south west passing through the Allier and Lot valleys. We cross the high Aubrac plateau, a rugged area. On arriving in the village of Estaing, on the banks of the River Lot, it is easy to see why it is considered one of the most picturesque in France. Conques makes a fitting finale to our walk. Beautifully situated above the river Dourdou it rivals Estaing in beauty and character. The terrain is largely undulating but varies considerably over the course of our walk. Each day brings something new to enjoy, be it the scenery, the history or the company of our fellow hikers. On all levels this is a marvellous walk and it is clear why it is so popular. Note that flower lovers will particularly enjoy our May departure when the meadows explode with colour. What's included?
What's not included?
Holiday GradeThe Route St Jacques starting in Le Puy is one of the four French traditional pilgrim routes connecting with the Camino de Santiago in Spain. It follows the GR65, a well-marked long distance pathway. Being a Grade 6 moderate holiday there are full day walks with moderate amounts of ascent and descent. Our longest day is on day 5 at 28km (17 miles) taking us from Saugues to Faux but by then our legs should be nicely warmed up. The paths are mostly good, but there may be some steep and rough ground. Some days will be less demanding but equally rewarding. Don't be put off by the ascents and descents as these are spread across the whole day. Our new May departures will also be a good time to see flowers as we make our way along this famous pilgrimage route. The maximum altitude we reach on this holiday is 1,360m. Our bottom line is happy travellers, and to that end we trust our tour leaders to use the itinerary below as a basis for providing you with a great holiday. We expect our leaders to make adjustments to the itinerary if the weather, group ability or other local conditions make that necessary. There are normally more options available to our leaders than those listed below and one or more of these options may well be chosen. All distances, heights & timings are approximate. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we may unfortunately need to withdraw a tour that is currently confirmed to operate and we therefore reserve the right to cancel your booking. We would always do our utmost to give you plenty of notice should we have to do this. Selected elements of this tour, including local attractions and restaurants, may change at late notice. Please ensure you have valid insurance cover before you travel. Proposed ItineraryDay 1Proposed ItineraryDay 1Arrival DayMeals DinnerAccommodation Hotel in Le PuyWe fly into Lyon and transfer by road to Le Puy-en-Velay, a journey of just over two hours. Our hotel is only a stone’s throw away from the busy and attractive centre of town. Transfer Time = 2h Day 2Day 2Le PuyMeals Breakfast & DinnerAccommodation Hotel in Le Puy
Le Puy-en-Velay: In the morning we gently ease into “Pilgrim mode” with a pleasant walk to the impressive Fortress of Polignac. All around us are the “puys”, imposing vestiges of the area’s relatively recent volcanic activity. After lunch back in Le Puy, we spend the afternoon exploring the town’s old streets, visiting the 12th century cathedral and the seemingly inaccessible Chapelle St Michel, perched atop a slim volcanic plug. The chapel’s exquisite polychrome frescos make the climb well worth it. Day 3Day 3St Privat d’AllierMeals Breakfast & DinnerAccommodation Hotel in Privat d'Allier
Le Puy to St Privat d’Allier: The picturesque Place du Plot with its weekly food market is the historical starting point of the “Via Podiensis”, the route we will follow all the way to Conques. A conspicuous sign tells us that our final destination is 205 kilometres away – we had better start going! Our route today follows little paths and pleasant tracks winding through pastures and woods. This really is deepest France and apart from “pilgrims” like us, the villages we go through see few visitors. Day 4Day 4SauguesMeals Breakfast & DinnerAccommodation Hotel in Saugues
St Privat d’Allier to Saugues: After a short and easy climb we arrive at Rochegude and its picturesque Chapelle St Jacques. The view from the chapel plunges down the gorges d’Allier, the route of the Cévenol, one of the most scenic railway lines in France. The local architecture is remarkable, everywhere are huge stone farmhouses built to last forever. Mid-morning, lunch and afternoon stops allow us to refuel and, more importantly for some, the opportunity to collect additional stamps for your Pilgrim’s Passport. Day 5Day 5Les FauxMeals Breakfast & DinnerAccommodation Hotel in Les Faux
Saugues to Les Faux: Our longest day today. Fortunately, the terrain is easy with no steep uphills or tricky downhill’s. Even better, unlike 18th century pilgrims we have nothing to fear from “La Bête du Gévaudan”, a wolf-like monster that killed over 100 people in this area. Most of the time, we feel on top of the world, with wonderful long distance views in every direction. We make the most of our rest stops by sampling “Tarte aux Myrtilles” and “Coupétade”, a local take on bread and butter pudding. Day 6Day 6Aumont-AubracMeals Breakfast & DinnerAccommodation Hotel in Aumont Aubrac
Les Faux to Aumont Aubrac: An easier day after yesterday’s exertions. The pleasantly undulating terrain is not too taxing and we have plenty of time to enjoy our refuelling stops. Day 7Day 7NasbinalsMeals Breakfast & DinnerAccommodation Hotel in Nasbinals
Aumont Aubrac to Nasbinals: Another long day made easy by the comfortable terrain. Shortly after our lunch stop, the scenery changes dramatically as we enter the Aubrac, a volcanic and granitic plateau. The area is famous for its eponymous cattle and harsh, long winters. Day 8Day 8NasbinalsMeals Breakfast & DinnerAccommodation Hotel in Nasbinals
Nasbinals: A well-deserved rest day in Nasbinals, a small village nested around an 11th century church. Here we can unwind by doing very little or by going on a half day scenic circular walk. Day 9Day 9St Chely d’AubracMeals Breakfast & DinnerAccommodation Hotel in St Chely d'Aubrac
Nasbinals to St Chély d’Aubrac: We are on our way again, crossing the last section of the Aubrac plateau and reaching the highest point of our walk, 1368m, 23m higher than Ben Nevis. It is no wonder they have 150 days of subzero temperatures here. From there, our downhill walk takes us to the village of Aubrac, dominated by La Tour des Anglais and a large Romanesque church. Less than two hours later, we have left the high plateau and are in St Chély on the banks of La Boralde. Day 10Day 10EspalionMeals Breakfast & DinnerAccommodation Hotel in Espalion
St Chély d’Aubrac to Espalion: Today’s mostly downhill walk leads us to the fertile Lot valley, with its rich woods of oak and sweet chestnut. In the afternoon, we reach the wonderful village of St Côme d’Olt, one of France’s official “Plus Beaux Villages”. It is also one of the 104 villages in Europe boasting a church with a twisted spire. Day 11Day 11EstaingMeals Breakfast & DinnerAccommodation Hotel in Estaing
Espalion to Estaing: A short stage today, from Espalion to Estaing, another “Plus Beau Village de France”, dominated by its castle. On our way, we stop to visit the wonderful Romanesque church of Bessuéjouls and its intriguing upper chapel. Day 12Day 12EspeyracMeals Breakfast & DinnerAccommodation Hotel in Espeyrac
Estaing to Espeyrac: A day of many ups and downs. Depending on the weather, we may briefly leave the Route St Jacques and reach Espeyrac via the scenic GR6. Day 13Day 13ConquesMeals Breakfast & DinnerAccommodation Hotel in Conques
Espeyrac to Conques: A short morning walk and we reach the end of our journey. By lunchtime, we arrive in Conques, an extraordinary medieval village dominated by the stunning abbey church of Ste Foy. We have the entire afternoon to relax, explore ...and collect our last stamp. Day 14Day 14Final dayMeals BreakfastConques and return flight: A lazy breakfast for some, more exploration for others; around midday, we start our coach journey to Toulouse airport from where we catch our return flight to the UK. Walks & ExcursionsYou only need to carry what you need for the day in a daysack as your main baggage is transported for you. As this is a continuous walking holiday you should walk from place to place with the party. If however, you do not wish to walk on some days but wish to make your own arrangements for transport between centres, you should ensure that the leader is aware of your plans. One way of travelling between hotels should you not wish to walk is to hop in the baggage transport van. To do this you will need to be ready for 8am and there is no certainty of space. There is also no fixed fee. Some walkers in the past have paid as much as 10 Euro. Another option is Compostel’Bus (www.compostelbus.com) they have a fixed timetable and prices. Either pick up a leaflet from the Tourist Office in Le Puy or check online. Should you require assistance with finding transport your leader will be more than happy to assist. Local Transport CostsAll local transport costs in conjunction with the advertised activity programme are included in the holiday cost. There may be occasions where additional visits or excursions are added to enrich your experience, these will be paid for locally by you if you choose to participate. Local transport can be a mix of private hire coaches, taxis, local buses and ferries depending on the itinerary. Optional ExcursionsA range of local excursions and activities may be available to book at your destination through a local operator. We have no involvement in such activities or excursions which are not run, supervised or controlled in any way by us. Your contract will be with the local activity supplier and we accept no responsibility for their actions or omissions. Spending MoneyHoliday BudgetingWhen budgeting for your holiday, you will need to consider drinks, any meals not included in the holiday price, non-included entrance fees, optional excursions you may choose to participate in locally and any souvenirs or additional services such as laundry. A general guideline for lunches and drinks is £10-£20 per person per day. Currency in FranceThe currency in France is the euro. Credit cards are widely accepted. You may be asked to provide ID if you can’t pay by chip and PIN. ATMs are widely available in most towns and villages throughout France. Holiday CurrencyThere are banks in some of the places where we stay but they will often be closed by the time we arrive, making it inconvenient (and often expensive) to change Travellers’ Cheques. However, many have ATM machines to enable you to withdraw cash using your credit or bank card. ATM machines are freely accessible at Le Puy, our first centre. Most of the hotels accept credit card payment for bills. TippingAlthough entirely at your own discretion, tipping is an important aspect of tourism and hospitality life and expectations are fairly high. In order to simplify tipping, we strongly recommend that you allow your leader to take care of making sure tips are given to hotel and restaurant staff and to local guides and drivers. This will be done using some funds provided by us together with, if you wish, a contribution from you, which he/she will collect during the holiday. Tour Leaders & Local GuidesTour LeadersYour tour leader makes the world of difference to your holiday and ours are as passionate about discovering the world on foot as you are. They're resourceful, organised and widely travelled. They will handle all the local administration and other needs that might arise to ensure that you don't have to worry about planning your days and you can enjoy your holiday. Although leading group holidays, they won't forget that every group is made up of individuals. Each tour leader has their own individual style, talents and professional backgrounds and all are trained, qualified, experienced and dedicated to making your holiday as enjoyable, interesting and inspiring as possible. Leader's Evening BriefingEach evening, your tour leader will discuss with you the programme for the following day. This will be your opportunity to discuss the details and ensure the planned activities suit your walking ability. If you have concerns on clothing or equipment, this can be discussed then also. If you do not wish to join the organised group programme, please let the leader know. Your Travel DetailsFlights from London Heathrow (LHR) to Toulouse (TLS) with British Airways. Transfers from Lyon to Le Puy (2 hours), Conques to Toulouse (3 hours) and locally will be by road. We walk between centres - our baggage being sent on by road. Your luggage will be transferred by road between centres. Please note: the baggage allowance is one piece of luggage, weighing no more than 15KG to be transferred per person. This is due to local health and safety regulations, so please ensure that you do not exceed this allowance. Step off the plane carrying only with what you need for the trip, nothing else. Storage of excess baggage not required for the holiday is not possible. If your luggage exceeds the 15KG allowance, you will be charged locally an extra baggage fee which changes regularly. Booking Your Own Travel Arrangements?If you wish to organise your own flights from a non-UK or provincial airport or travel by rail or car to your holiday destination, 'land only' reductions are often available. Please contact us for details. Before finalising any independent travel arrangements, please check with us first - especially if doing so 12 weeks or more before your intended date of travel. If you do intend to join your holiday locally please do tell us at least 14 weeks in advance. If you are joining and leaving your holiday overseas we assume, unless you advise us otherwise, that you will join and leave the holiday at your hotel. Although airport transfers are not included for those making their own independent travel arrangements, if you wish to join the group at the overseas airport, depending on your flight arrival time, you may be able to be included on the group's transfer. Please contact us at least 5 weeks before departure for more details. Please note that your flight must arrive within 30 minutes of the group flight to be able to join the group transfer. We also need your flight number, arrival time and departure point so that the group leader is able to meet up with you. Luggage Allowance & Travel DocumentsFor all those booking a flight or rail inclusive holiday, details of your travel arrangements and baggage allowance will be confirmed in your travel documents, sent to you approximately 10 days prior to departure. Personal Details CheckTo ensure that we can accurately administer your holiday arrangements, please confirm that the personal details we hold for you are up to date and that you have provided the information we need to secure your holiday travel and accommodation arrangements. Please check your passport details, date of birth and any other important details necessary for us to properly manage your holiday booking. You can view and update information already provided, and add details not yet asked for, by using the Manage My Booking facility on our website www.ramblersholidays.co.uk, or by calling our Sales and Reservations team on +44 (0)1707 331133. When you receive your booking confirmation please check the details as soon as possible. Passports and VisasGeneral Passport AdviceIt is a good idea to carry photocopies of the personal details pages of your passport. Should you lose your passport, this may assist with the issue of replacement documents and your return to your home country. Passport and visa requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements. General travel and destination advice for UK nationals is available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at www.fco.gov.uk/travel and at www.gov.uk/travelaware. Brexit Passport AdviceYou should have at least 6 months validity left on your passport from your date of arrival. If you renewed a 10 year passport before it expired, extra months may have been added to your passport’s expiry date. These extra months will not count, so you should ensure that your passport is not older than 9 years and 6 months from the date of issue at the time of travel. You may wish to renew your passport sooner rather than later, in order to make sure you have it in time for your holiday or travel plans. Please ensure to regularly check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website for updates on passport requirements leading up to and after Brexit or contact us for more assistance. UK Government Brexit Information for Passports can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/passport-rules-for-travel-to-europe-after-Brexit. The UK Government has published a website tool to check the validity of your passport under these rules which can be found at www.passport.service.gov.uk/check-a-passport. In the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal, UK citizens will be able to visit the EU for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a visa. The UK Government also has information for travellers available at gov.uk/EUexit Non British Passport holders should consult the host country’s embassy for applicable passport and visa entry requirements. MealsEach morning there will be a continental breakfast with fresh coffee to set you up for your days walking and in the evening hearty meals to top the energy levels back up again. Lunches are not included and are normally an en route picnic, or sometimes an opportunity to eat in a local restaurant. In all the centres we stay in local bakeries offer the chance to get freshly baked baguettes and rolls that can be filled with local cheeses and hams to make a lovely packed lunch to keep you going on your pilgrimage. In the evening your accommodation for the night will supply you with dinner refuelling you for the next days walking. AccommodationHotel InformationOur accommodation along this iconic route is equally fitting. Small pensions and alberge's offer a homely stay. Small in size but big in character they are perfect for what is often a one night stay along our trek. Homely welcomes, decor and food perfect of resting up for the next days walking. A final hotel list will be sent to you along with your final travel documents before departure. Footwear & Kit ListFootwearLightweight waterproof walking boots with a good moulded sole (such as Vibram or similar) and a deep tread and which provide ankle support are strongly recommended and may be essential for some walks. General Kit ListOutdoor activities are always safer and more enjoyable if you are prepared. If you have not travelled with us before the following list might be of use:
This list is not exhaustive and every walker is different and may have their own preference. Travel Documents ChecklistDocuments and Information to take with you:
Electricity in FranceElectricity is supplied at 220 Volts. If you wish to use electrical equipment you will need a European two pin adaptor with round pins. More information can be found at https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/ Water To GoAn alternative to bottled water from single-use sealed water bottles is filtered water from a refillable bottle containing its own water filter such as a Water-to-go bottle available from www.watertogo.eu. Just fill up from any water source and save the environment from disposable plastic bottles. We have negotiated an exclusive 15% discount with our partners Water-to-Go for you as a thank you for helping the environment. Please go to their website at www.watertogo.eu and enter the code RWH17 when ordering. In addition, Water-to-Go will match the discount with a donation to our charity, Heart & Sole, which will allow us to continue to make a difference in the countries you visit on our holidays. Maps, Guidebooks & Other InformationMaps, Guidebooks & More
A detailed guide to the walk is also available, The Way of St James by Alison Raju (Cicerone Press) ISBN 1852843713 French Tourism: www.franceguide.com The Map ShopMaps and guidebooks relating to the areas you will be walking in may be bought before your holiday from The Map Shop at www.themapshop.co.uk WeatherVisit the following websites for an idea of the climate in your destination:
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