From Le Puy-en-Velay to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, over 752 km.
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Elevation profile: from 54 m to 1,353 m over 751.8 km.
The GR65 at a glance
The GR65 follows the via Podiensis, one of the four great historic routes to Santiago de Compostela. The FFRandonnée starts it in Geneva, but it is in Le Puy-en-Velay, at the foot of the cathedral, that most walkers begin. The route then crosses the southern Massif Central and the south-west as far as Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, at the foot of the Pyrenees, where the Camino francés begins in Spain.
The landscapes change often: basalt columns and volcanic peaks in the Velay, granite moorland in the Margeride, high meadows and pastoral farming on the Aubrac, then the dry causses of the upper Quercy, the meanders of the Lot, the hillsides of the Quercy Blanc and the fields of the Agenais before the Basque hills. Romanesque heritage lines the route, with stops such as Conques, Figeac and Moissac.
This is a very well-equipped route: municipal or private gîtes, “donativo” hostels, B&Bs, campgrounds and luggage transfer services. It suits walkers with no mountain experience, provided they accept the repetition of walking day after day. You can do it in one go or in sections of one to two weeks, coming back each year to pick up where you left off.
Pilgrim or simply hiker, everyone has their place here. The pilgrim passport (or credencial), a booklet you have stamped at every stop, opens the doors of accommodation reserved for pilgrims and makes a lovely souvenir of the journey.
Highlights
The start in Le Puy-en-Velay, at the foot of the cathedral, after the pilgrims’ mass held early in the morning.
Crossing the Aubrac, with its high meadows and herds on their summer pastures.
A string of towns and villages steeped in history, from Conques to Moissac via Figeac.
The Lot valley and the causses of the Quercy, between cliffs, vines and orchards.
A very dense network of accommodation that lets you adapt the length of the stages.
The arrival at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, gateway to the Camino francés.
Practical information
Start
Le Puy-en-Velay
Le Puy-en-Velay has an SNCF station served by TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes trains, with connections from Saint-Étienne, Lyon and Clermont-Ferrand. The route starts from the steps of Notre-Dame cathedral.
Finish
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is linked by train to Bayonne, from where you can reach the national network. Private shuttles also provide a return to Le Puy-en-Velay during the walking season.
When to go
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MonGR recommends the period from early April to late October. According to the FFRandonnée, the route remains walkable all year round, but some services for walkers (shuttles, luggage transfers) only run in spring, summer and fall.
Difficulty
Challenging
No technical sections or high mountains, but a very long route, hilly in the Velay, the Margeride and the Aubrac, which calls for stamina and good care of your feet over the long haul.
Municipal and private gîtes, “donativo” gîtes (pay what you wish), B&Bs, hotels and campgrounds follow one another all along the route. The FFRandonnée recommends booking, especially at the busiest times.
Rules to know
There are no special regulations on the route itself. In France, the pilgrim passport is recommended for access to gîtes reserved for pilgrims; it confers no rights and does not replace an identity document, which you must keep on you.
Water and supplies
According to the FFRandonnée, accommodation and places to eat line the entire route. Still, carry water and a snack for the long plateau stages in the Margeride and on the Aubrac. In Le Puy, the tourist office lists long-stay parking lots and shuttle and luggage transfer services.
The GR65 on the map
The 37 stages
TrekGR stage plan: each stage ends where you can sleep. Actual walking time excluding breaks (DIN 33466 standard).
No current alerts for this GR (checked on November 12, 2026). All live updates →
Our advice
Get your pilgrim passport before setting off, in Le Puy-en-Velay or from a St James association, then have it stamped every day.
Book your nights in advance, as the FFRandonnée recommends, and let the gîte know if you cancel.
Leaving Le Puy, follow the bronze studs set in the ground from the cathedral steps, then the white-and-red GR waymarks.
Wear shoes that are already broken in and cut down the weight of your pack: on this route, stamina matters more than technique.
To split the route into sections, check before setting off the train or coach connections from the town where your section ends.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the GR65 start in Le Puy-en-Velay?
The route starts from Notre-Dame cathedral. The tourist office advises following the bronze studs in the ground from the cathedral steps, then the GR65 waymarks. The FFRandonnée starts the GR65 in Geneva: the Geneva – Le Puy section is the via Gebennensis.
Where can you get the pilgrim passport for the Le Puy route?
In Le Puy-en-Velay, the tourist office mentions the cathedral shop, the Association des amis de Saint-Jacques du Velay and the departmental hiking committee. You can also order it online from the Agence des chemins de Compostelle or get it from a St James association.
Is there a pilgrims’ mass in Le Puy-en-Velay?
Yes, a mass dedicated to pilgrims is held early in the morning at the cathedral, every day from April to October and on weekdays the rest of the year, according to the tourist office’s 2025 guide. Check the time on site, as it may vary around holidays.
Do you need to book accommodation on the GR65?
It is advisable. The FFRandonnée points out that accommodation is available everywhere and all year round, but recommends booking your nights in advance.
Can you have your pack transported on the Le Puy route?
Yes. Several companies offer luggage transfers from stage to stage and return shuttles to Le Puy-en-Velay, generally from April to October. The Le Puy tourist office keeps a list of them.
How do you get back from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port?
The simplest way is the train to Bayonne, then connections to the rest of France. Those continuing into Spain carry on along the Camino francés and over the Pyrenees towards Roncesvalles.
Route: OpenStreetMap contributors. Elevation: IGN’s RGE ALTI®, one point every 50 m. Text checked on November 10, 2026.
