Camino Le Puy Way: Stage 1

7 Days & 6 Nights 4.2 Read 4 reviews

Walk through volcanic landscapes on Stage 1 of the Le Puy Camino
Get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life in these serene landscapes
Climb the 267 steps up to the Chapel of St Michael d’Aiguilhe in Le Puy en Velay
Incredible volcanic landscapes of the Centrale Massif
Sampling the delicious local delicacies such as estofinado

Walk Stage 1 of the Camino Le Puy Way, through the south west of France from Le Puy-en-Velay to Nasbinals. This ancient pilgrimage route that takes you along the Grand Randonnée 65 and through volcanic landscapes, the Velay Mountains and the Margeride Plateau, all of which are rich in history, culture and pilgrimage sites. Begin your journey in Le Puy, set within a volcanic landscape and famous for its rocky peaks that rise up from the valley floor, then pass through the Velay Mountains, Margeride and Aubrac Plateaux until you reach the end point of this stage, Nasbinals.

What To Expect

Travel restrictions and resources, to and from any destination

You can either complete Stage 1 of this pilgrimage route as a self-guided walking tour in its own right, or you may complete more or all of the sections at the same time. This particular section is graded as moderate because two days of the walk are 26km, so quite long days of walking. If you like staying in comfortable hotels whilst enjoying the camaraderie of fellow pilgrims and travellers then this tour will suit you.

Tour Type:

Pilgrimages | For those looking to follow a path of self-discovery. Our Pilgrimage and Camino routes take you on a journey through diverse landscapes and local flavours, while meeting like-minded adventurers along the way.

Activity:

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&B’s, inns, and guesthouses.

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Long-Distance Trails

Activity Level & Terrain

This walk is graded moderate and includes daily walks of 15-33km. The walk is extremely well way-marked and you will also be supplied with turn by turn route notes and detailed maps so you will have no problem following the route each day. On the Le Puy Camino you will follow a mixture of farm/dirt tracks, minor roads and footpaths.

Navigation

The route is well waymarked with white and red painted arrows but please take care at intersections. There will always be other walkers around in case you are looking for help. A detailed information pack including route notes, local information and maps will be waiting for you at your first accommodation. You will also have access to the Macs Adventure Smartphone App enabling you to follow the route using your phone's GPS so you will have no problems finding the way. You can simply download the GPX tracks to your phone for offline use and off you go!

Accommodations

On this self-guided walk in France you will stay in comfortable 1 or 2* hotels. On occasion you may not have en suite rooms.

Alternate accommodation

You might be booked into alternative accommodations which are not listed in the description. If those listed are unavailable the alternative accommodation will be of the same or better standard as those described.

Single Rooms & Solo Walkers

If you require single rooms within your party we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable. Solo walkers are also welcome, and again, a supplement is payable.

Meals

Daily breakfasts and dinners at your hotels are included. Breakfasts are buffet-style and dinners will be the “meal of the day” at the hotel. If you want a choice for dinner you can pay a supplement. You can order packed lunches at your hotel the evening before (ranging from €7 to €10) or you can buy lunch in grocery stores, cafes and restaurants en route.

Included

6 Nights in either 1 or 2* hotels
6 Breakfasts
6 Dinners
Baggage transfers
Detailed maps, a guide book and information pack.
Organisational assistance and backup from our partner in France and our UK office

Excluded

Travel to Le Puy-en-Velay and from Nasbinals
Lunches, drinks and snacks
Personal equipment
Travel insurance
Mountain rescue / emergency assistance

Extras

Additional nights before or after the holiday

When To Go

The Camino Le Puy is best enjoyed from May to October but you can walk at any time of year. You can start on any date that suits your travel plans. Bookings from October onwards are subject to a supplementary charge as an out-of-season bag transfer service is required.

Getting to the Start

The closest international airport to Le-Puy-en-Velay is Lyon Airport which is approximately 150km away. Many flights from the UK and other gateways in Europe fly into Lyon. From here you can take a train to Le-Puy-en-Velay which takes approximately 2 and a half hours. Up to date schedule and fare information can be found on the SNCF website. You can also drive to Le-Puy-en-Velay. Parking is available in an underground car park and costs approximately €17.50 per week.

Getting from the End

From Nasbinals you can either book a taxi back to Le Puy-en-Valay, (more information can be found in your information pack which you will receive after booking), a taxi will cost around €25 per person (payable locally dependant on size of party). Or you can take a taxi from Nasbinals to Aumont Aubrac, then take a train to Paris (via Clemont Ferrand). More information on train times can be found on the SNCF website.

Luggage Transfer

Baggage transfers are included in the Camino Le Puy trip. Your bags should be left in the reception of your accommodation every morning. Your bags will then be transferred onto your next nights’ accommodation.

Please note that the luggage transfer company have placed a limit of 13kg per person (1 piece of luggage) to be transported from accommodation to accommodation. So please pack accordingly. If you take more than this you will be charged extra.

General Information

At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person and the weight of your luggage allowed is specific to the destination you will be travelling to. This is why it is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags and/or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable Travel Insurance which covers you for the activity, emergency evacuation and hospital care.

What type of trails does the Camino Le Puy Way follow?

How far in advance do I need to book?

When is the best time of year?

How do the baggage transfers work?

What equipment do I need?

When is the best time of year?

What happens if I can’t walk a stage?

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Le Puy-en-Velay Day 2 Walk to St Privat d’Allier, transfer to Montistrol d’Allier 15 miles / 24 km Day 3 Walk to Saugues 13 miles / 20 km Day 4 Walk to Les Faux 18 miles / 28 km Day 5 Walk to Aumont Aubrac 15 miles / 24 km Day 6 Walk to Nasbinals 16 miles / 26 km Day 7 Onward Travel

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