114km
70 miles, St Jean to Estella
12
days, including 2 rest/travel days
Medium–High
2–3 genuinely tough days
Max 10
women, fully guided
Welcome
Testing body, mind and spirit
Welcome to Camino Confidence and Beyond and thank you for showing an interest in our Camino Slow Stroll. We start our 114 km (70 mile) walk to Estella in the historic town of St Jean Pied-de-Port on the French side of the foothills of the Pyrenees, and walk into Europe.
The Camino Francés is said to have three parts, testing and building physical, mental, and spiritual strength. This is the start of the first, physical part, and there will be some challenges. Though most of our stages are short, the two first days on the hills are guaranteed to get the blood pumping faster – and provide plenty of photo stops. We have split the walk up the first hill and down again into two stages for your comfort, so you will be able to really enjoy the walk without hurrying. This area is gloriously green and lush, and we'll be enjoying spectacular views as we walk over the Napoleon pass, and then on through open landscapes and verdant woods.
Why women walk with us
Pilgrims walk the Camino for many different reasons, be it to reconnect with the church, search for a spiritual experience, walk in someone's memory, search for answers, take time to reflect or simply for the fitness benefits. Whatever your reasons, it will definitely challenge you both physically and mentally. We have walked with women who have experienced the death of a loved one, a devastating divorce, loss of their roles due to children leaving home but also women looking for adventure, excited about discovering Spain and the Camino, determined to make the most of this exciting time of life.
Our groups of no more than 10 women come together from all over the world with one common goal – to follow their dream to experience the Camino. Over 12 days, with a manageable average daily walking distance, you will walk the 114 kilometres on our Camino Confidence and Beyond Slow Stroll with the added support of a circle of like-minded women who will share these moments with you and encourage you to keep going.
The Camino can be a deeply emotional and spiritual experience – there will be moments of joy, excitement, trepidation, happiness and hilarity, but also discomfort, even sadness – and many find this shared experience will bond them for life.
We openly encourage you to enjoy every moment of your Camino, whether you walk with the other members of the group or choose to walk alone and meet up with the group in the evening. It is important to us that you walk your Camino your way, see the Camino through your own eyes, but all the while aware that your luggage is being transported, your accommodation is booked and there is a guide to help you.
Our guides will share wonderful stories with you about the Camino, its rich history and fascinating legends to help you to fully immerse yourself in this wonderful experience.
As Founder and Guide at Camino Confidence and Beyond, I am so proud of the women in these groups. It gives my guides and I great pleasure to see them come together in the WhatsApp group, helping each other, booking activities together, often even arranging to travel together to and from the start and finish point. We observe as their confidence grows every day as they become a unit, often becoming such good friends that many come back to walk with Camino Confidence and Beyond time and time again.
Carol Alexander-Price
For a full itinerary please contact Carol Alexander-Price by email contact@caminoconfidence.com.
Some facts about this wonderful route
A little history along the way
The route is called the Camino Francés simply because it arrives from France — the most historic entry point into Spain for pilgrims.
Medieval pilgrims favoured this high, exposed route because it had no tree cover for bandits to hide in — making it the safest way over to the monastery at Roncesvalles.
Along the way you'll visit the church that houses Navarra's oldest bell, thought to date from the 12th century — and if you're lucky, you might get to ring it yourself.
Ernest Hemingway was a regular in Pamplona, and loved to drink at the bar in Café Iruña on the main square — where his statue now permanently props it up.
What is a Camino Slow Stroll?
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Camino Slow Strolls are mindful fully guided walks along various stages and routes of the Camino de Santiago.
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They are usually between 7 and 14 days long.
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Difficulty level is easy to medium, however on this particular section there are at least 3 medium to difficult days.
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The daily distances are on average about 10–15 kms, but two stages on this route will exceed that at 17km.
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They are designed for small friendly and supportive groups of women.
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Your luggage will be transported so that you can relax without the strain of carrying a heavy backpack.
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You will be offered two online meetings prior to walking to help guide you on issues such as what to pack, what equipment to buy and other tips. You will be added to a dedicated WhatsApp group where you can get to know the other walkers and the guide and have a chance to coordinate your travel.
Our route
Day by day
1
Arrive in St Jean Pied-de-Port
St Jean Pied-de-Port is a 12th century mountain village fringed by breathtaking Pyrenean mountains. The iconic town centre is famous for its pilgrim history stretching back to the Middle Ages, and is still buzzing with excited pilgrims from all over the world today. The old main street crosses the bridge by the church and heads up towards the citadel, passing hostels and cafés, the pilgrim office and pilgrim equipment shops.
When you arrive your guide will meet you and check you into your hotel with comfortable twin ensuite rooms. After a short informal meeting where the guide will provide information for the journey ahead, we'll go for lunch or dinner together, and you can start to get to know the rest of the group.
2
Exploring St Jean
We know some of you will have travelled far to get here and might need some rest before the hills, so we've added a day for you to explore the historic town of St Jean Pied-de-Port at leisure. Your guide will help with any directions and information and also take you to the supermarket to buy snacks, drinks, and any specialist food items you might need for the walk over to Spain. Walk the narrow streets, take a look in the little artisan shops (but try not to fill your suitcase!), have a good lunch and get to know your fellow walkers. Maybe pop into to the pilgrim office, pick up a last minute bit of kit, or go up to the citadel to enjoy the views. In the evening you can visit the church for pilgrim mass and blessing before meeting the group for dinner before our first walking day.
3
St Jean ➜ Orisson, approx 7.6 km (4.7 miles)
Your pilgrimage begins with a hill immediately beyond the city gate, just to get warmed up, and it will carry on gently (and not so gently) upwards for the rest of the day's walk. The trail follows quiet rural roads and gravel paths, with increasingly beautiful views as we slowly, but surely get higher up the hillside. This stage is short, so take your time, sit down and rest with a snack and enjoy the views.
We stop for the night at a small refuge on the Pyrenean hillside, Refuge Orisson, where we can sit on the deck and relax with a well deserved beverage after finishing our first day.
Our group will be staying together in one of their dorms with comfortable pod beds, with a charging point by each bed and a curtain for privacy. In the evening we'll enjoy the included delicious and memorable communal dinner.
4
Orisson ➜ Roncesvalles, approx 17.3 km (10.7 miles)
This is our longest day, and the most challenging – but undoubtedly also the most beautiful. Remember this is not a race, this is your chance to walk into an absolutely breathtaking landscape, surrounded by new friends in a supportive group. We'll take our time and enjoy plenty of breaks, just sitting down in the grass whenever we want to rest, have a snack, or just admire the stunning scenery around us. Around half way we'll cross the border from France into Spain, and though there are no cafés on the way, there will be a food truck selling drinks and snacks. You will see horses, cows, and sheep near or on the trail, and maybe even eagles flying in the valley below you. Your guide will be close behind at all times for support and help with poles, foot care, or anything else you might need.
From the Col de Lepoeder, one of the highest points on the Camino Francés, we head down the hill to Roncesvalles, where we'll be staying in twin ensuite rooms. Our evening meal will be a traditional three course pilgrim menu served communal style at tables shared with other pilgrims and is included. There will be a mass and pilgrim blessing in the evening.
5
Roncesvalles ➜ Viscarret, approx 11.7 km (7.2 miles)
After the climb up and over to Roncesvalles, the Camino winds much more gently through the beautiful Spanish countryside, past fields and through small Navarran villages. We'll have a choice of cafés to stop at for coffee breaks or lunch, and a leisurely walk to Viscarret, where we will be staying. The group will share a large flat in a charming restored rural house, handily above the local shop, with very comfortable twin ensuite rooms and a nice lounge with a dining table where we can make our own dinner, picnic style, or we can visit the artisan pizza restaurant nearby.
6
Viscarret ➜ Zubiri, approx 10 km (6.2 miles)
From Viscarret we have a shorter and mostly easy day on narrow paved country lanes and tranquil paths in lush green woods. The last part was previously (in)famous for its "Dragon's Teeth"; bands of sharp shale rock making it a tricky descent. These "teeth" are now levelled out, though the trail is still steep in places.
Arriving in Zubiri we'll cross the medieval bridge and stop for a leisurely lunch. The group will be accommodated in a fantastic guest house with a mix of twin ensuite bedrooms and a small dorm with shared bathrooms. The included evening meal is lovingly cooked by our hostess, and afterwards we can sit in the garden with a night cap.
7
Zubiri ➜ Zuriain, approx 9.2 km (5.7 miles)
Another short day on dirt paths and quiet paved roads through rural landscape, near but not on the road. From open countryside the trail moves into the cool shade of the woods towards the end of the day before meandering along a small river towards the tiny hamlet of Zuriain. We'll stop at the small café bar here, a normally busy pilgrim hub, for second breakfast or a coffee. You will then be transported to nearby Pamplona to stay in a lovely central hotel there for two nights. The hotel has comfortable twin ensuite rooms and a communal room and terrace, and breakfast is included. In the morning we'll be transported back to Zuriain to carry on where we left off.
8
Zuriain ➜ Pamplona, approx 11.5 km (7.2 miles)
On our way into Pamplona we will visit a 13th century church, now run by nuns. This church and its caretakers have a long history of hosting pilgrims, and there is still an albergue in the adjoining building. The church bell is the oldest in Navarra and you might be able to go up into the bell tower and ring it!
From there we pass through increasingly urban areas until we can see the fortifications and cathedral towers of Pamplona rise up on the hill straight ahead.
We'll be staying in the same hotel as the night before, and in the evening we can visit Hemingway's favourite haunt and have dinner there!
9
Pamplona ➜ Uterga, approx 17.1 km (10.6 miles)
This stage is as long, but nowhere near as challenging, as the walk over to Roncesvalles. The highlight of the day is arriving at the top of the Alto del Perdon hill, where you will see the iconic metal silhouettes of pilgrims "where the path of the wind crosses that of the stars".
We'll spend the night on the other side of the hill, in a small cosy albergue with a garden and even its own chapel inside! We will be sleeping in a dorm with shared bathrooms, and the albergue also serves a communal meal in the evening.
10
Uterga ➜ Puente la Reina, approx 7.2 km (4.5 miles)
After the long day comes a short and fairly easy one, with the option of a detour to visit the ancient octagonal church in Eunate. We'll arrive in Puente la Reina early, perfect for a quick shower and change before we head into the beautiful historic town centre to have lunch and marvel at the churches and the very famous and photogenic Puente – the Queen's bridge. Our accommodation is a large and pilgrim friendly hotel with twin ensuite rooms and a restaurant on site.
11
Puente la Reina ➜ Lorca, approx 13.3 km (8.3 miles)
Leaving Puente la Reina on the penultimate walking day, we have a few hills and some very scenic views in store on our way to tiny hamlet and pilgrim hub Lorca. There will be a few stops where we can rest and take some refreshments along the way, so we'll be in no hurry. Our home for the night is a tastefully restored farm building set in its own garden, with a restaurant on site and a mix of comfortable twin and triple ensuite rooms.
12
Lorca ➜ Estella, approx 8.7 km (5.4 miles)
After a lovely breakfast we will set off on the short walk towards Estella. As we'll be arriving fairly early, we'll be able to enjoy some gentle sightseeing and soak up the atmosphere in the charming and lively old town. Your guide will advise and point out the main landmarks or maybe take you for a relaxing drink by the river.
We'll stay in twin ensuite rooms on a quiet square in the heart of town, and after a shower and change we will all meet up for dinner to celebrate our achievement and enjoy one last evening with the group.
13
Onward travel ➜
What next? From Estella there are excellent transport links to Logroño, capital of world famous wine region Rioja, where you can visit its busy tapas district. Or you could travel on to Burgos, birthplace of medieval knight and king El Cid, buried in the iconic 13th century cathedral, and the gateway to the meseta; or to the magnificent city of León, or the string of wonderful towns and cities along the Northern coast. And of course all have links to Madrid.
If you joined us with the aim of carrying on towards Santiago from here, we hope to have given you the tools, insight, experience and confidence to keep going – buen camino!
Slow Stroll Plus?
Please note that this walk is unique by its very nature – I guess you could call it a Slow Stroll Plus, as it has one very challenging day (some would say two), and can't be split any other way. We will start from St Jean in the valley and head up the hill towards Roncesvalles, but we'll stop one third into this first stage and then carry on the next day. The only accommodation that allows us to do this, are albergues (pilgrim hostels), so the group will share a dorm on these two nights and walk, talk, eat and sleep alongside pilgrims from all over the world.
The details
What's included
What is included
12 nights shared good standard accommodation sourced and personally checked and approved by Camino Confidence and Beyond
Luggage transported from accommodation to accommodation
An friendly guide with extensive camino experience and good local knowledge
Advice on travel and logistics within Spain
Your credential (pilgrim passport for stamps) and scallop shell for your backpack
Two question and answer zoom meetings
What's not included
Health or travel insurance
Travel to and from start and finish point
Food, drinks and snacks (allow 35-50 euros a day)
Taxis, buses and incidentals not included in the itinerary
Tips for guides
We recommend travel and medical insurance. If you choose not to take out an insurance policy then you will be ask to complete an option out form.
Good to know
Everything else you need to know
On this route we will stay in a variety of specially selected, high standard hotels and pensions, however, in order to accommodate our short daily stages, we will also be staying in albergues (pilgrim hostels) on a few nights. These are renowned albergues with excellent facilities, and we think you will enjoy this chance to experience albergue life alongside pilgrims from all over the world. Don't worry, the group will still be staying together, so this will be a safe and gentle introduction to communal living. It will also be good practice for those of you who intend to carry on towards Santiago using a mix of accommodation options.
As a rule, you will be accommodated in comfortable twin rooms with private bathrooms. The price for this trip is based on 10 people walking and 2 people sharing a room. You can choose who you would like to share with, or your guide will allocate rooms.
On this route we'd suggest that group members try to stay within sight of each other on the first two days, for encouragement and support. Your guide will provide trail information and maps before each walk so you know what to expect, and she will be walking at the back to make sure everyone is managing well.
If you prefer not to walk with the group, that is entirely up to you. You will soon be familiar with the terrain and signage and be able to walk on your own, knowing the group and guide are nearby at all times. We at Camino Confidence and Beyond always encourage you to see the Camino through your own eyes and walk it your own way.
What most women enjoy about walking as a group is the camaraderie, and the fact that they have company for evening meals and extra activities if they wish. Please bear in mind that taxis can be organized for you should you require extra support.
During your Camino you will meet up with your guide each day to have a chat about the day's events. You can discuss how you found the route, how you feel physically and mentally and any issues you may have.
We will also take a look at the following day, the weather, what time you prefer to start walking, organize any taxis required, decide what to carry, point out where the facilities are along the route and confirm what time you can check in to our next accommodation.
Communication will be via messaging app WhatsApp, and there will be two dedicated private groups. One is for general chat, where members of the group can keep in touch and even share photos. The other is for specific information like links to accommodation – the group will have read-only access to this, but only the guide will be able to post.
Due to the nature of this walk, we highly recommend that you take steps to prepare yourself both physically and mentally. Even though the last part of the route is relatively easy, the first two days do offer some steep ascents and descents which is certain to get the blood pumping, so some uphill walking, even if it's using stairs or a gym, is advisable. That said, this is not a race, so we will move slowly, but surely, over the hill and take lots of breaks to rest a while and enjoy the views at the top of the world.
A strong body and a positive mindset will not only help prevent injuries, which could result in you ending your Camino early, but it will also enhance your enjoyment.
The cost of transporting 1 bag each of no more than 18 kgs or 40 lbs is included in the price. If you require more than one bag to be transported, this can be arranged at your own cost. Your guide will provide a label and zip ties to secure the label to your transported bag.
You must not attach anything to the outside of this bag, or you will be charged extra, and although the transport company is reputable, avoid transporting anything of value or very fragile. If you have to transport a CPAP machine or anything else that is necessary for your trip them make sure they are wrapped up carefully in your luggage.
Try to make your luggage recognisable with a bright coloured ribbon or luggage tag. The bags must be left where instructed by your guide before 08.00 every morning and are guaranteed to arrive at the next accommodation by 15.00 at the latest. Check your case carefully before moving it and inform the guide if there is any damage (but just to reassure you, I have never had a bag damaged yet).
Be aware that it is your responsibility to get your bags to your room from the drop-off point and to return them the next day. Please bear in mind that not all accommodations have lifts so you may be required to carry them up stairs.
There is free WIFI available at all of our accommodations and also at cafés and bars on the route.
As a rule, meals are not included in the price – this is to offer you more flexibility to eat what you want, when you want. However, due to the nature of this route and its sometimes remote locations, where services can be few and far between, some meals are included, please check with your guide.
In general there are plenty of cafés and restaurants on the route with a choice of drinks and local dishes, as well as supermarkets where you can buy fruit, snacks and water. Spanish stores and most eateries will also offer some gluten free, vegan and vegetarian options.
While we highly recommend that you prepare physically for this walk, we also understand that life happens and you may need a little more support.
There are bus routes along the Camino, but in some areas buses are few and far between, so any such travel arrangements need to be made as far in advance as possible.
The same goes for taxis. With Galician authorities temporarily restricting the release of more licenses, a limited number of taxis are available. Should you need one, you must alert the guide the night before at the latest, so that she can reserve one for you.
Please note that taxis cannot be flagged down in the street.
It is customary to tip a guide in Spain if you are happy with their service, however it is not obligatory. If you do choose to tip, the amount you tip is entirely up to you, but around 10 euros a day is a good guide.
It is also customary to tip waiters, local guides etc. if you are happy with their service, 10% of the bill is recommended if you are eating, if you are just having a coffee then it's normal just to leave the change – if it costs €1.40, pay €1.50 and leave 10 cents.
We are here to help you. You will be provided with a range of information including what to carry and what to transport, how to prepare physically, tips on what backpack or footwear to take etc. All you need to do is ask. Camino Confidence and Beyond is a small bespoke company, and we are proud to offer you very friendly and personal experience.
