Le Puy Camino: Aumont-aubrac to Conques
About this trip.
Comparing firms? Every Camino holiday on Mooch, route by route.
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Across the Aubrac plateau
This is the second section of the Via Podiensis, also known as the Le Puy route, and runs from Aumont-Aubrac to Conques. It's a quieter part of the Camino, through rural France and low, rolling mountains. The first half crosses the high Aubrac plateau, an austere and isolated landscape of green, dormant volcanoes that is unusual in French topography and almost legendary among walkers on this route. The second half drops into the livelier Lot valley, where you have the sight and sound of the river with you for much of the way.
Villages along the way
In Nasbinals, the village sits around the church of Sainte-Marie de Nasbinals. This Romanesque church has an octagonal bell tower and is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Saint-Chély d'Aubrac lies in a clearing in a wooded valley. You walk into town over the old bridge, as pilgrims have done for centuries, and the bridge is now UNESCO World Heritage listed. In town, the Church of San Eligio has double galleries and a 14th-century altarpiece.
Further on is a town listed as one of the most beautiful in France, with medieval houses ringed by mountains and forest. Its main sight is the Abbey, built between the 10th and 12th centuries, which has taken in pilgrims ever since. Above the main door, the Tympanum of the Last Judgment is considered one of the great works of 12th-century art. Its 124 figures show the fate that awaits you if you end up in hell.
What's included
Accommodation is bed and breakfast in hand-picked places to stay. You also get a holiday or pilgrim pack, 24/7 on-call support and a virtual face-to-face briefing before you leave. Moving your luggage from hotel to hotel is an add-on and isn't in the starting price. On the trail, keep drinking water and eating enough between the places where you can stop for food and drink.
The shape of the trip.
Everything you might be wondering.
Q1How hard is it really?
The grading is set by the operator and usually reflects daily distance and total ascent. As a rule of thumb: if you can comfortably manage a 5-6 hour hillwalk at home on a weekend, a moderate-graded route will be fine. Read the day-by-day notes carefully, and train with a loaded pack in the months before.
Q2Can I do this solo?
Yes — self-guided walking holidays are well suited to solo travellers, and some operators waive the single-room supplement on certain departures. The route notes are written for confident independent walkers, and most operators run a 24/7 support line.
Q3Do I need to speak the language?
No. Hotels and restaurants on the route are used to English-speaking walkers. A phrasebook for menus and a few polite basics (hello, thank you, please) is all you really need. The operator's support line speaks English.
Q4Can I bring my dog?
Some routes are dog-friendly, others aren't — it depends on whether all the accommodation on the itinerary accepts dogs. Check with the operator before booking. If you do bring a dog, you'll need a pet passport, up-to-date rabies vaccination, and a lead for villages.
Q5What if it rains?
The route is walkable in rain — your luggage travels ahead regardless, so you'll always arrive somewhere dry. Some trails get slippery in wet weather and the operator's support line can arrange a taxi for any stage if conditions are properly bad.
Q6How do I get there from the UK?
Most routes are reachable by a short flight to a nearby airport, followed by train or transfer. The operator will usually point you at the nearest airport and can advise on rail connections. Some will book train tickets on your behalf for a small fee.
Q7Can I shorten or extend it?
Usually yes. Many operators offer shorter versions of a route as a standalone, and most will add extra nights at the start or end at their own rates. Ask when you enquire — they'll tailor it before booking.
Q8What about cancellation?
Typically a deposit (usually 20-25%) is taken at booking, with the balance due 8-10 weeks before departure. The operator's own terms apply — Mooch doesn't handle the booking or refunds. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Three walking holidays, side-by-side.
The two closest walking holidays on Mooch, both on the Camino. Prices are the operators' own, per person.
Le Puy Camino: Aumont-aubrac to Conques
Le Puy Camino: Aire Sur L’adour to Saint Jean Pied De Port
Le Puy Camino: Cahors to Lectoure
More walking holidays on the Camino.
Walking · FranceLe Puy Camino: Conques to Cahors
Walking · FranceLe Puy Camino: Le Puy En Velay to Aumont-aubrac
Walking · France