walking the saint james way stop at estaing castle
walking the saint james way stop at estaing castle

Camino de Santiago, Aumont Aubrac to Conque

Level
3
Distance
111 km
Duration
8 days | 7 nights
period
Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
price from
€ 845
CO2 footprint
94,30 Kg/person
  1. France
  2.  | 
  3. Self-Guided
  4.  | 
  5. Tourcode FRSW510

The journey begins on the Aubrac plateau, with its dormant volcanoes and lush green hills, and leads to Conques, among the most beautiful villages in France - a medieval hamlet surrounded by forests and mountains.

In between, you'll encounter the French countryside and the wonders of the pilgrimage route - the octagonal tower of Nasbinals, the Pilgrims' Bridge of Saint Chely, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Espalion - reminiscent of Bruges - and the Saint Fleuret church in Estaing.

Highlights

  • Walk through the Lot valley and discover some of the "Most Beautiful Villages of France" such as Saint-Côme-d'Olt, Espalion and Estaing
  • Relax in the charming town of Saint Chély d’Aubrac and have a drink in the main square, Place de la Mairie
  • Celebrate the end of your trip in the beautiful town of Conques, discover its walls with fortified gateways, flanked by several towers.
  • Taste local products such as the “Aubrac beef“ in Aumont-Aubrac or the "rissole", a small shortcrust pastry filled with prunes

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Aumont-Aubrac

Arrive in Aumont-Aubrac

This village has always been an essential step on the way of Santiago. Originally, this medieval city was mostly walked by pilgrims from the East by the quiet paths before approaching the dark and isolated lands of the Aubrac region.

Day 2

From Aumont-Aubrac to Nasbinals, 26 km

From Aumont-Aubrac to Nasbinals, 26 km

Today you are in the heart of Aubrac, discover the landscape of the region, with its famous cattle pastures alternating sleepy villages and farms, before arriving at Nasbinals and its church from the 14th century. Here, numerous hiking trails, endless grazing which have often maintain their stone rim, which – back then – allowed the rotation of the pasturelands.

Distance: 26 km

Elevation gain: +360/-230 m

Day 3

From Nasbinals to Saint-Chely-d’Aubrac, 16 km

From Nasbinals to Saint-Chely-d’Aubrac, 16 km

During this stage, you will go by the Aubrac formerly described as ”a place of horror and vast solitude”, and where the winter is among the most rigorous with its 1300 m of height. But the landscapes of an unbelievable beauty will present themselves to you. At lunch time, you can try the regional specialties at a buron or country inn, where local dishes are available such as the “aligot” (mashed potato with cheese and garlic), assorted cooked meats from the mountain.

Distance: 16 km

Elevation gain: +200/-550 m

Day 4

From Saint-Chely-d’Aubrac to St-Côme d'Olt or Espalion, 22 km

From Saint-Chely-d’Aubrac to St-Côme d'Olt or Espalion, 22 km

In the land of Olt, at the foot of the plateau of Aubrac, you will walk along the river Lot which possesses remarkable gorges and meanders. Here, a soft climate awaits for you, as evidence, the vineyard plantations. Saint-Côme-d’Olt and its medieval village center is listed among the most beautiful villages of France.

Distance: 22 km

Elevation gain: +330/-715 m

Day 5

From St-Côme d'Olt or Espalion to Estaing, 12 km

From St-Côme d'Olt or Espalion to Estaing, 12 km

The trip continues and follow the stream of the Lot river to the lovely place of Estaing, a very picturesque medieval village with its old bridge, where stands an impressive castle.

Distance: 12 km

Elevation gain: +190/-190 m

Day 6

From Estaing to Golinhac, 14 km

From Estaing to Golinhac, 14 km

Today, at the village of Golinhac you will leave the Lot Valley. Arrival in Golinhac, remarkable for its church, there is a stony cross with a small sculpted pilgrim erected on it.

Distance: 14 km

Elevation gain: +450/-120 m

Day 7

From Golinhac to Conques, 21 km

From Golinhac to Conques, 21 km

A weighty stage but with a spectacular arrival! Conques, of which the abbey-church and the pilgrims’ bridge are listed UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. The abbey of Sainte-Foyde-Conques possesses the richest treasure of Middle-Age currently retained, with, notably, a golden reliquary statue from the 9th century…

Distance: 21 km

Elevation gain: +310/-660 m

Day 8

Au Revoir Conques!

Au Revoir Conques!

Our services end after breakfast, unless you have decided to book any extra services.

 

Details

Is this for me?


This journey is perfect for those who want to walk the entire Camino de Santiago or perhaps have already walked the Spanish route and are curious about the French section.

There are no particularly challenging altitudes, but it's necessary to be accustomed to covering a good number of kilometers each day because some days exceed 20 km.

The paths consist of a mix of asphalt, dirt roads, and tracks. The entire route is well-marked with the official waymarkers of the Camino de Santiago.

Included


What is included

  • 7 Nights in double room in ** hotels , B&B and guesthouses with breakfast and dinner
  • luggage transportation from hotel to hotel
  • maps and detailed description of the itinerary
  • Medical and luggage travel insurance
  • 24h phone assistance

What is not included 

  • Transfers to the starting location and from the arriving location of the tour
  • lunches and dinners, if not otherwise stated
  • visits and entrance fees - tips
  • personal expense
  • possible sojourn taxes
  • everything that is not mentioned in the "What is included" section.

Optional Services

These services can be added to the ones included in the base price of the tour:

    • Single room supplement
    • cancellation insurance
    • Transfers to reach the starting location or to leave the arriving location of the tour, which will be quoted on request.

Accommodation


We carefully select our accommodations because we know how important it is to rest well after a day of walking. We choose friendly and family run guest Houses, and bed and breakfasts that fully represent the spirit of the place and offer warm hospitality and comfort. Whenever possible, we visit them personally, so we can get to know the people who will be welcoming you.

Amount Aubrac - Hotel Prunières
Hotel Le Bastide - Nasbinals
Hotel des Voyageurs - St. Chely d'Aubrac
Hotel de France - Espalion
Chez Tifille - Estaing
Chambres d'hotes La Landette - Golinhac
Auberge Saint Jacques - Conques

What to bring


Clothing and other items
You will need your regular walking/cycling gear, including some sort of reflective garment. For the evenings, smart outdoor style trousers (or shorts) are invaluable, as are quick-dry t-shirts. These can be washed easily and will dry overnight and still look good for sightseeing or having a drink in town.

Take as little as possible to avoid potentially lugging a heavy suitcase up three flights of stairs at the end of the day. Please be aware that laundromats (“Laverie”) are not common in rural areas, so plan to do handwashing of small items.

Lightweight walking shoes/ trainers
For wearing around towns & villages. They can also be a back-up pair.

Socks & underwear
Take only good quality socks with quick-dry and insulating qualities. Road test them before you go on the trip. Take a suitable quantity of underwear as washing facilities are limited.

Warm jacket, hat, gloves
Bring a fleece, Polartec or warm layers for the evenings especially in spring or autumn; be sure it is totally suitable for your needs.
A fleece jacket which blocks the wind (Wind-stopper) is the most preferable. In the summer months a lightweight jacket is suitable for evenings.
If you are cycling/walking in mountainous or coastal areas, even in the height of summer, the weather can change very quickly and unexpectedly and you should be prepared for fog, mist, rain, snow or hail at any time. Always take an extra layer with you, as well as a warm hat and gloves.

Waterproof jacket & trousers
If you are caught in heavy rain, with good waterproof clothing you should remain dry. Remember that most garments will lose their properties over time. Few will remain waterproof for more than five years and many deteriorate in three years or less. We recommend a rain jacket with a good hood and collar and waterproof or thermal walking/cycling trousers or tights.

Dress code
In general, you should wear suitable clothing when entering a church (in many places, it is considered unacceptable to go inside wearing shorts or a tank-top). We suggest that women carry a shawl to cover up bear shoulders or low-cut tops. It also comes in handy when your shoulders get sunburned!

It is considered inappropriate for men to go without a shirt / T-shirt (other than at the beach).

Trekking poles (adjustable)
Highly recommended. A pair works best, depending on what you are comfortable with. If you suffer from back or knee pain this should be considered essential. Remember to practise walking with your pole(s) on different types of terrain in the months preceding your trip.

Walking boots
The importance of good footwear cannot be stressed enough. Your boots should be sturdy and of good enough quality to handle all types of terrain. Lightweight boots, (cordura/leather boots) which have Gore-Tex or sympatex water-proofing are most suitable for this trip. They should provide good ankle protection and be well broken in. Waxing leather boots regularly prolongs their life.

Walking tops & trousers
We recommend walking trousers and shorts and quick-dry wicking t-shirts. These can be washed easily and will dry overnight and still look good for sightseeing or having a drink in town. Wicking T-shirts are fast drying, keep moisture away from your skin and are available at outdoor stores. You should also bring one pair of loose-fitting trousers to wear in cities and for evenings out, etc. Shorts or zip-off trousers are useful in warmer weather.

Practical info

Mobile App


Use the SloWays APP for iOS and Android smart phones in combination with the written documentation provided.

The App has the detailed tracks and maps that you can use offline and without roaming. Thanks to the phone’s internal GPS, you can check your exact position on the map, so you always know exactly where you are. It also helps you self-navigate you way while travelling. More information on how to use the App inside the roadbook documents.

The navigation features include:

  • Offline navigation. Mobile data not required after initial download
  • Accurate GPS tracks
  • Autorotation of the maps
  • Daily route summary and elevation chart
  • Panorama of the track and at street level
  • Alarm and vibration that alerts you in case you go off track.
  • Emergency SMS button with position coordinates
  • Possibility to record and take georeferenced photos of problems on route alerting fellow travelers
  • Hotel information
  • Points of interest along the way
  • Historical background

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Wanderlust Nominee Best Specialist Tour Operator 2023
Wanderlust
Nominee Best Specialist Tour Operator 2023
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Touroperating
S-Cape Countryside Travels srl
Borgo Allegri 16R
50122 Firenze FI
P. IVA 05227330486

 
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Touroperating S-Cape Countryside Travels srl Borgo Allegri 16R 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
VAT Nr 05227330486
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