St.jean or Somport?

[benvex]

I?m planning on starting the Camino at the beginning of June. (Think I posted here a question about weather thought I can?t find it?)
I?ve been playing with the idea of starting from Somport instead of St.jean. I get the filling it?s not such a popular choice and wanted to know why.
Did any one here do the Camino Aragon?s?
Any suggestions on where to start?

Thanks,
ben.

[Sheens]

Well Benvex, i am starting my Camino (from st jean) this week, so do not speak from experience, but from what i have heard there is more comraderie amongst pilgrims that commence in St jean together. Also, becuase st jean- roncevalles is the most difficult of the entire camino, there is a sense of achievement once you have completed this, and pilgrims who have commenced in st jean are very proud of where they started..

However, as i said, i am a novice who has yet to complete her camino- but i will let you know in 2 weeks!

Buen Camino

[Leslie]

I walked it in 2004. It is very quiet and not as well supported - but it is quite beautiful and I would say a bit harder walking for the first few day - though we took a detour to see a monastery on the side of a cliff at the top of a mountain!

If you want a few days of real peace this is the route to start at - however it can be a bit of a shock to the system when the two route meet to see the amount of pilgrims on the Camino Frances in comparison.

There is nothing wrong with this route - it is just not as popular thats all.

One night stands out in my mind - we stayed a an albergue in a village that had been ruined and then deserted by an earthquake a long time ago - the village is starting to be inhabited again slowly, and the church had only 5 of us that evening for the pilgrim service.

Oh, and it is much easier to get lost on this route, I did once.

[amgirl5]

Hi Leslie,

Is there a tunnel on this route? I saw a great photo of a tunnel, and I think it was before Punta de la Reina. I've wanted to walk this too, although probably not the best choice for the winter? (Is it as high as the St Jean route?)

L

[Leslie]

I don't remember a tunnel or the hight really. I was very fit at that point having walked the whole Camino already. Winter is not good, the area is used for skiing in the winter around Jaca.

[spanishlancer]

Hi Leslie,

Is there a tunnel on this route? I saw a great photo of a tunnel, and I think it was before Punta de la Reina. I've wanted to walk this too, although probably not the best choice for the winter? (Is it as high as the St Jean route?)

L

The Col de Somport is at 1632mts. There is now a road tunnel there on the road from Oloron St. Marie to Jaca. I wouldn't think that you are allowed to walk through,even if you are a Pilgrim. Definitely not a good choice for a winter crossing.

Buen Camino Ron

[jblaya]

So from this discussion, i"d like to start at Somport. If I arrive in Barcelona, what's the best way to get there?

[spanishlancer]

So from this discussion, i"d like to start at Somport. If I arrive in Barcelona, what's the best way to get there?

You can get a bus from Barcelona to Jaca,changing in Huesca. Check the times out on www.alosa.es.
If you are starting from the UK or using a gateway there I would fly Ryan Air to either Zaragoza (Spain) or to Pau (France).Bus service from Pau to Canfranc just over the Spanish border.The bus goes via the Somport Pass or more correctly now the Somport Tunnel.