Camino Le Puy: Stage 6 – Aire Sur L’Adour to St. Jean Pied de Port – 9 Days

DISTANCE - ABOVE AVERAGE

Distance training is a major consideration in your overall training program. As you progress, incorporate longer walks into your training plan.

Schedule one or two long walks each week, gradually increasing the distance until you can comfortably cover 17-31 km in a single day. Also include walks on consecutive days to help your body adapt to the demands of walking for multiple days in a row. Take every opportunity you can to walk. If you have a fitness watch or phone, you should try to reach >15,000 steps every day.

Ensure you can comfortably walk the average distance per day displayed in the graph, at least one month before you undertake your hike.

ELEVATION - BELOW AVERAGE

Elevation is not a major consideration in your overall training program. However, you should still incorporate some form of resistance training to increase your endurance.

TERRAIN - FLAT

FLAT TERRAIN

Whilst training for walking on flat and hard terrain, you should focus on building endurance and ensuring you can maintain a comfortable pace.

Start with regular walks on sidewalks, roads, or paved paths to get used to the surface. Maintain a proper posture and engage your core muscles to support your back, keeping a steady gait. Ensure that you have comfortable, supportive footwear with adequate cushioning. If endurance is important, consider incorporating low-impact cross-training activities like swimming or cycling into your routine.

UNEVEN TERRAIN

Preparation for hiking on uneven terrain demands a nuanced blend of physical and mental readiness. Commence your regimen with balance-enhancing exercises, such as one-legged stands and stability ball workouts, laying a foundational groundwork for stability and coordination. Strengthening the lower body is pivotal, achieved through the incorporation of squats, lunges, and step-ups to enhance both stability and power. Gradually increase the complexity of the terrain on which you walk, moving from gravel paths to rocky trails. Cultivate mindfulness during your practice, directing focused attention to both your immediate surroundings and precise foot placement. The importance of suitable footwear cannot be overstated; prioritise options that offer robust support and reliable grip to navigate varying terrains with confidence. Build endurance through consistent hikes, progressively increasing distance and difficulty.

AVAILABILITY

This tour is available from the start of April through October. Regardless of when you travel there are often celebrations along the Camino, specific to the individual towns or regions.

On some occasions, but not often, the walk days may vary slightly regarding their length to what we have advertised. This allows us to book the 8 accommodations in sequence to facilitate this walk.

Solo walking is allowed, but as there are many transfers that are costed as being shared across 2 walkers, this will come at an extra cost. Please speak to the office about the price of this.

WEATHER

The route runs across France and through a variety of terrain. Weather is generally mild and good for walking in both the early season (late April to early May) and the latter part of the season (late August to mid-October). You can expect comfortable temperatures and beautiful scenery with blooming flowers in spring and autumn colours later on. Just be ready for some rain during both periods, and late September is often a sweet spot with nice weather and fewer people.

THE WALKING

We grade this walk as easy to moderate only because of the back-to-back walking days. We may have to shorten or even lengthen the walking day to make the accommodation bookings work. Of course, we will let you know if this happens. The Le Puy Camino is a well-trodden route, so the trails are very well defined for the most part. You will follow an ancient pilgrim trail;  whilst sections of the walk will take you deep into the picturesque countryside, you will also walk through urban environments and along roads as you follow the most accurate route possible.

You should be used to walking up to 31km with up to 300m of ascent and descent. On any typical day, you will hike on rocky trails, farm and forest tracks and cover long sections in the open countryside. You will sustain climbs to hilltop towns, villages, and the rolling countryside. You will also walk on some roads, so please be mindful of all road users at all times.

The route is very well waymarked by the iconic scallop-shell markers, and with the many other walkers on the trail, it’s straightforward to find your way. For each walk, you will be provided with daily walk notes, a map and the GPX tracks if you wish to use them for your own device.

HOW TO GET THERE AND AWAY

ARRIVAL

The tour starts in Aire Sur L’Adour. The best way to reach Aire Sur L’Adour is by arriving at Pau Airport then take an hour travel by bus to Aire Sur L’Adour

Alternatively, you can go via train from Paris which is approximately 4-5 hours trip to Pau then take a 1 – 1.5 hour bus to Aire Sur L’Adour.

DEPARTURE

To leave Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, you can take a bus to Biarritz Pays Basque Airport, which takes about an hour, or catch a train from Bayonne, accessible by a regional rail connection.

INSURANCE

We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.

For all trips that require international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance that also includes medical evacuation coverage.

We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred from our suppliers and in the office. See the FAQ section for more information.

LUGGAGE

It will be up to you to place your luggage at the designated luggage pick-up point within the hotel by 8.00 am when required. This generally will be at reception or where you pick up your luggage the night before. Please consult your hosts if any details. Bags must be less than 13kg.

DINNER SUPPLEMENT

While dinners are not included in the standard package, we strongly recommend adding a dinner supplement for your walk. In many locations along this route, restaurant options are limited or require advance booking, and in some villages, dinner at your accommodation is the only option available.

If you’d like to include a dinner supplement in your booking, please let your consultant know when booking.