Date: Sunday, 25 May 2025
Day: 25
From: Aire sur L’Adour To: Arzacq-Arraziguet
Start Walking: 627am End Walking: 309pm
Time: 7h13m
Distance (Planned): 33.8km Distance (Garmin): 31.3km
Progress: 646.2/765km
Ascent: 514m Descent: 384m
Weather: Clear and hot. Thank goodness for a decent breeze.
Stayed At: Maison Pantalou
General Comments:
• The problem with staying at gites on a demi-pension basis is that most of the time you are locked into their schedule for meals. Luckily last night’s host has also walked the Camino to Santiago de Compostela in Spain and understands how pilgrims think and what is important to us. Consequently, she had breakfast ready to go at 6am and after inhaling muesli and coffee, we were on the road.
• There were a few other early starters too. Anyone that was facing +30km today was up with the sparrows!
• It was really pretty walking today and quite diverse, but the real highlight was the fact that we saw the Pyrenees for the first time! It is so exciting for us as we have been strolling towards them for so long and now they are just there – complete with snow! Unfortunately the light wasn’t great for taking photos and I will try to get better ones over the next few days.
• We also feel like we are nearing Spain with the change in signage and an increasing number of blue/yellow signs which predominate on the Camino Frances. Each and every one is a sign that we are edging ever closer to our destination – St Jean Pied de Port.
• It was wall-to-wall corn fields today. It was either 2cm high or 20cm high and it was in every direction! Agriculture is alive and well in France!
Top Tips:
• Just like yesterday, there are few villages, they are mostly very small with no facilities and further apart. Make sure you pack plenty of snacks and water. It’s even more of an issue on Sundays when most boulangeries and epiceries close at 12pm.
• Miramont-Sensacq has a fabulous boulangerie if you can get there (18.8km walk) before it closes!
Bon Chemin.
Life...one big adventure 
Sounds like a good day. Do you have more than one pair of shoes/boots with you? I was just thinking how much walking you do. Shoes must wear out. Avenue Nelson Mandela seems a little odd given where you are.
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Hi Jude. No, I only carry one pair of walking shoes as they are usually too heavy and bulky to fit a spare pair in my backpack. The jury is out whether these shoes will get binned at the end. They are looking very worn out. And Yes, Avenue Nelson Mandela was completely incongruous. Maybe he had a big fan in the local Council? These quirky things appeal to me. 😉🙃
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it is true that in most gite, petit dejeuner starts at 7 !!! 30km+ on a day is not for me . I could do it but I don’t want to !!! enjoy all your days in France. Too bad for the mud on the trail…
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There have been a few places where it was all set up and we could just help ourselves from about 6am onwards. It was a popular thing and we had many other companions at that early hour. And Yes, I am definitely enjoying every day here. Such a special place.
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Great. This new adventure (not in Spain) will be mostly positive I hope. The Camino in France is different than in Spain for sure.
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The whole thing has been a wonderful experience. I never expected such beauty every day and the people have been so friendly. I was a little worried in the beginning that maybe it would lack the vibe of the Spanish caminos, but it is here in spades.
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Go Go Power Pilgrims made me smile. And what a mammoth day with 30km to do!! Thank goodness for a breeze in that heat!
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Yes, that sign made me smile and I needed every bit of encouragement I could get at the end of the day!
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Ahh, the beautiful Pyrenees – it must have been great encouragement to you guys!
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They were absolutely stunning and really confirmed how far we had come. I couldn’t believe how much snow was still on many of the peaks.🗻🗻
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