Camino Francés Day 2: Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port - Roncesvalles
I left my gîte at 7 AM with my friend and began the climb into the Pyrenees. The first 8 km were a relentless uphill stretch, made tougher by the lingering humidity from last night’s rain. Drenched in sweat and struggling with the heat, I was relieved to reach Orisson after about two hours and took a short break to cool off.
Surprisingly, the journey to Roncesvalles felt much easier. With the sun shining, I happily hiked up the mountain, passing farm animals along the way.
For the descent, I chose the right path instead of the steeper forest trail on the left, which the pilgrims office said to be quite dangerous. Though it added an extra 400 meters, it was much gentler on my knees. After chatting with fellow pilgrims at the albergue, I was glad I made that choice.
Route Detail
Distance: 25.19km from Gîte Bidean to Roncesvalles Pilgrim’ Hostel
Total elevation gain: 1339m
Time: 7h 07m (total time with breaks 8h 08m)
Accommodation & Food
Roncesvalles Pilgrim’ Hostel (booked direct) €33
Food €2
