8 day French Camino Highlights Walk

• Walk 8.5kms. Hours 2.5 hours. Descent 282m

Guests will need to organise their own flights to Lyon in France the day prior to the tour. Direct flights operate throughout the day from Paris to Lyon, France (1 hour 10 min flight).

Meet our representative in Lyon at 8am in the foyer of the Hotel Carlton Lyon –MGallery by Sofitel, from here we transfer (2 hour drive) to Christophe-de-sur-Dolaison at 912m near the town of Le Puy. To maximise our time, this mornings walk will take us on a section of the Camino starting in the village of Christophe-de-sur-Dolaison and walking back towards Le Puy. This offers our guests a spectacular way to arrive into Le Puy with its dramatic volcanic outcrops adorned with chapels and statues. Once we arrive into Le Puy we will enjoy a relaxing lunch in the main square and so up the atmosphere of this medieval town. After lunch, we walk directly to our hotel, Le Regina where your bags will be waiting and you can check in to your room. This afternoon you have the option to join a sightseeing tour (no extra cost) with your guide including the Cathedral and the 10th century medieval Michel d’Aiguikhe chapel dramatically perched on a volcanic rock overlooking the town. Alternatively, enjoy some free time to explore this quaint town at your leisure. The old city is a delightful maze of small streets with pastel-painted building and shops some selling lace, as this town once famed for its lacemaking. Tonight join your group for dinner in a local restaurant specialising in regional food which is accompanied with French wines. In the evening after dinner you can stroll around the town and see the pretty illumination of significant buildings.

• 17kms. Optional Easier Walk: 9kms.

This morning we enjoy a wonderful breakfast in the Chateau before transferring to the next section of our walk (38 mins). Today’s walk takes us from Nasbinals to Saint-Chély-d’Aubrac. We begin in Nasbinals a charming little village nestled at 1200 metres above sea level with a 12th-century church. From here our walk gradually climbs as it crosses the Aubrac plateau a UNESCO World Heritage site with volcanic granite landscapes, stark lakes, beech forests and open green hillsides with wildflowers during spring. We cross a stone bridge over a pretty stream before reaching the village of Pascalet. We traverse to the highest point of the Camino at 1324m before gradually descending into the small medieval village of Aubrac with its gothic church tower. The bells of the tower would help pilgrims in the middle ages find their way in stormy weather. We stop in this pretty town for lunch before continuing on to the villages of  Belvezet and Del Sail. We descend into the charming village of Saint-Chély-d’Aubrac, with its stone cottages set in a beautiful green valley. Here we’ll enjoy some free time for about half an hour to explore the village. Afterwards, we transfer 55 mins to the remarkable Château de Labro a stylish and elegant luxury accommodation set in a historic castle with grand interiors, a gourmet restaurant, and swimming pool set amongst the vineyard your stay here will be truly unique.

Easier Option. An easier option walk is available today. Walk with the group to Aubrac. After lunch, spend some time in town at leisure before travelling with the guide to Saint-Chély-d’Aubrac for free time to wander around this cute village.

• Exploring historical villages and Grotto de Peche Merle cave paintings. Afternoon walk from Caberets to St Cirq Lapopie 11.5km

After breakfast we farewell Conques and transfer to Grotto de Peche Merle, Caberets to visit the cave paintings, like that of the Spotted Horses which are over 29,000 years old. This is one of the few prehistoric cave painting sites in France that remain open to the general public. This vast 2km cave is adorned with nearly 700 prehistoric painted or engraved patterns. Afterwards, we’ll walk from Caberets to St Cirq Lapopie generally considered a moderately challenging route taking an average of 4hours. We’ll then transfer to Cahors. We enter the city by crossing the impressive Valentre Bridge, the gateway to Cahors which spans this River Lot. Cahors has a rich Celtic history before becoming a large Roman City with monuments that can still be seen today. From Cahors, we transfer to our accommodation at Chateau Mercues (15 mins). This special accommodation will be another highlight of your trip as we spend the evening in a 13th-century castle which overlooks the famous vineyard of Cahors. Formerly the residence of the Bishops of Cahors, this historic building has been transformed into an elegant hotel with lavish decor and antiques. The chateau is set amongst extensive gardens with an outdoor swimming pool. Before dinner, we enjoy pre-dinner drinks on the rooftop balcony of the castle overlooking the valley. Afterwards, we dine on the magnificent cuisine in the hotel restaurant created by the resident chef, with a range of perfectly chosen wines.

Easier Option. For those not wanting to join the afternoon walk, travel with our driver to Cahors with free time to explore this magnificent medieval town.

• 15.5kms. Shorter walking options also possible.

After breakfast, we farewell our hotel and transfer to nearby Aire-sur-l’Adour to explore the town, a settlement has existed here since roman times although it is only a trace of the name that still exists. Afterwards we’ll transfer to the start of our last walk for the trip. (1 hr 40 mins). Today’s walk takes us from the small town of Gamarthe to Saint Jean Pied De Port in the Pyrenees. We cross the stone bridge over the river Bassaguibele and make our way to Col d’Oyhanzarre. On our walk, we pass many pretty Basque villages, beautiful rivers, chateaus and enjoy spectacular views of the Pyrenees. We eventually arrive at the gate of the old town of Saint Jean Pied de Port at the foot of the Pyrenees and our final destination. This charming town with its cobbled streets is always buzzing with lots of pilgrims with those that have walked from Le Puy and those starting their Camino Francés from here to Santiago in Spain. Our last night is spent in the charming Les Chemins D’Elika, an old coaching inn ideally located only 400m from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port’s citadel. Tonight enjoy a celebratory dinner in a local restaurant featuring authentic Basque food and wine. Your dinner companions will be your fellow travellers and those joining the Camino route from here into Spain.