RANDO-TOURISME

Getting to Europe (and Back)

ASSISTANCE – 03: GETTING TO EUROPE (AND BACK)

From Canada, it is a night flight that will take you to Europe with an arrival the next day in the morning.

HOW DO I GET TO THE START OF MY HIKE IN THE REGION?

From your arrival airport, reaching the start of your tour in the region will certainly be done by train and/or bus depending on your final destination.

Europe has an extensive rail network with many departures on major routes, usually well connected to bus stations and scheduled coaches to complete the trip.

However, you should know that the time allowed for a connection between two trains and/or coaches is generally quite short, possibly very short, which often surprises a traveller not used to travelling in Europe.

In this sense, it is advisable to have exchangeable tickets for some flexibility in schedules and a plan B to ensure that you reach your final destination the same day.

You will therefore have taken the precaution of booking your tickets before your departure.

If you are not comfortable with the transfer times between airports and train stations, the choice of routes, schedules and connections en route, it will probably be very useful for you to use the services of a travel agency that will be able to give you the best advice.

HOW DO I GET TO MY DEPARTURE AIRPORT AT THE END OF THE TRIP?

At the end of the hike, you will have to go back to an airport and the same remarks and recommendations apply as mentioned above.

ATTENTION: The return flights generally leave Europe in the middle of the day for an arrival in Canada the same day, so you will need to find accommodation near this airport the day before departure in order not to miss your flight the next day.

Euro-Rando - Voyage et Escapade en Europe du Canada - Region et Grandes Villes

 

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:

    www.nicolevoyage.com      450-455-0991  Toll Free: 1-877-455-0991

     www.euro-rando.com         514-386-1704

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Jean-Paul Bordus

From Canada to Europe

ASSISTANCE – 02: FROM CANADA TO EUROPE

Traveling to Europe means booking a transatlantic flight and most likely a train and/or bus ride to and from the starting point of your regional tour.

DO I BOOK TRAIN AND/OR BUSES MYSELF OR NOT?

If a few “clicks” on the Web are enough these days to make a reservation, consider the following points before choosing this method:

  • Are you sure you are getting the best fare, which is not always available online?
  • Is your knowledge of geography and/or travel conditions in Europe sufficient to determine the best arrival airport and the fastest route to your departure point?
  • Is your ticket refundable or not? What are the conditions for cancellation, change of dates, postponement of travel and at what cost?
  • Are you prepared to spend time and energy yourself to make any necessary changes before leaving?
  • Especially abroad, in the regions and while hiking, when it is usually very difficult to reach an airline or a train company?

A white coach, or long haul bus for tourists drives through the open roads of Spain, Europe on a summer day. There are white clouds against a blue sky and countryside.

Booking yourself is obviously a very personal decision, but it doesn’t save you money on the completely official online or agency fares. And the few – usually small – fees charged by an agency for all its services and support are well worth considering for peace of mind before and during the trip, especially when traveling abroad.

You should also consider travel cancellation coverage and possibly health coverage if you are not covered by group or individual insurance when travelling abroad. The

 

Euro-Rando - Voyage et Escapade en Europe du Canada - Region et Grandes Villes

 

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU !

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

    www.nicolevoyage.com      450-455-0991  Toll free : 1-877-455-0991

     www.euro-rando.com         514-386-1704

RESERVE OR REQUEST A QUOTE
Jean-Paul Bordus

Towards Compostela in France

THE PATHS – 03 : TOWARDS COMPOSTELLE IN FRANCE

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR PATHS TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA IN FRANCE?

In FRANCE, four main routes converge towards SPAIN: the WAY of PUY-EN-VELAY, the WAY of VEZELAY, the WAY of TOURS and the WAY of ARLES. The first three meet near ST-JEAN-PIED-DE-PORT, where many walkers and pilgrims gather before crossing the Pyrenees, in the direction of CAMINO FRANCÈS.

WHAT IS THE WAY OF PUY-EN-VELAY ?

Distance: about 750 km. It starts from the Notre-Dame du PUY-EN-VELAY cathedral, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. It is the best known and most frequented route with the superb Aubrac plateau and the unavoidable basilica of Conques.

WHAT IS THE WAY OF VEZELAY ?

Distance: about 950 km. It starts from the basilica Ste-Marie-Madeleine of VÉZELAY, in the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region. Less frequented, it offers however very beautiful landscapes and cathedrals and abbeys among the most famous of France.

WHAT IS THE WAY OF  TOURS ?

Distance: about 950 km. It starts at the foot of the Tour St-Jacques in PARIS and passes by the cathedrals of CHARTRES or ORLÉANS, before reaching BORDEAUX and the Spanish border. It is the least frequented by walkers despite its low altitude difference which attracts cyclists.

WHAT IS THE WAY OF ARLES ?

Distance: about 1000 km from ARLES in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. It passes through TOULOUSE then crosses the Pyrenees by the COL DU SOMPORT before reaching Spain where it converges with the CHEMIN DE L’ARAGON which leads to the beginning of the CAMINO FRANCÈS. It is a beautiful itinerary, but the steepness of the last part makes many walkers hesitate.

Chemins Carte Compostelle France

 

 

Euro-Rando - Voyage et Escapade en Europe du Canada - Region et Grandes Villes | Travel and Getaway in Europe from Canada - Region and Large Cities.     WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

    www.nicolevoyage.com      450-455-0991   Toll Free: 1-877-455-0991

     www.euro-rando.com         514-386-1704

RESERVE OR REQUEST A QUOTE
Jean-Paul Bordus

Choose and Go

THE PATHS – 02 – CHOOSE & GO !

GO ON A PILGRIMAGE ? OR A TOURISM ADVENTURE?

réseau pédestre européen, validation de pèlerinage à Santiago

On the whole European pedestrian network, there would be more than 80,000 km of marked trails “Compostela”! And in 2019, before the pandemic, nearly 350,000 people have applied for a validation of pilgrimage to Santiago!


If these figures leave you dreaming, they suggest that the craze for these paths has largely exceeded the notion of “strict pilgrimage”! It is true that today we still meet authentic pilgrims, but nowadays it is rather a large majority of new walkers who travel on these roads and for many different reasons.


In this sense, initially a “Catholic pilgrimage”, walking to Compostela is no longer reserved solely for a religious approach but has become over time and for most a “discovery experience”: for some “spiritual” to take stock of oneself and find oneself again, “sporting” for others who are looking for the challenge of a long hike, or “tourist” for those who love walking and appreciate the cultural and historical aspects and the reception facilities.

GOING TO COMPOSTELA OR MAKING COMPOSTELA ?

motivations pour partir vers Compostelle, religieux, Pèlerinages, défis individuels, découvertes touristiques

The motivations for leaving for Compostela are therefore numerous and varied. Since the motive for leaving is no longer only “religious” in the strict sense of the term, we can therefore claim that nowadays “leaving for Compostela” or rather “doing Compostela” has in reality become above all an invitation to set out, far from the framework of one’s usual environment, to live “something else” and for some time!

 

AND WHY NOT SHARE THE ROAD?

Pilgrimages, individual challenges, tourist adventures — all these paths are open to everyone. They are above all an invitation to hike, to travel on foot and at your own pace, to meet people and to share. No matter what your motivation is! It is a matter of choosing an itinerary and setting off. To each his own path!

 

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

    www.nicolevoyage.com      450-455-0991  Toll Free : 1-877-455-0991

     www.euro-rando.com         514-386-1704

RESERVE OR REQUEST A QUOTE
Jean-Paul Bordus

Hiking in Europe

THE PATHS – 01: HIKING IN EUROPE

WHY A HIKING TRIP IN EUROPE?

Les Pyrénées, incontournables pour la randonnée

Although Canada offers a vast network of trails of great interest to hikers, hiking in its various regions for several days or longer on a linear route of good distance is quickly akin to an expedition because the transport of a minimum of equipment and food becomes essential, as well as a good mastery of orientation and a taste for camping. This is not for everyone!

If EURO-RANDO has turned to Europe to share its passion for hiking, it is also because the vast majority of European countries also have a vast network of trails, but with one fundamental difference: the presence of well-established reception structures, a wide choice of accommodation and refreshment points that are never far from each other, and an omnipresent historical and cultural heritage, all of which are within reasonable walking distance and generally on well-marked paths.

ARE YOU READY FOR AN ADVENTURE?

En petit groupe accompagné, en rando liberté avec topo-guide ou en famille, vous découvrirez un large choix de circuits pour tous les niveaux et toutes les envies.

Thanks to a long tradition of walking in Europe, a multitude of trails, paths and discovery routes have been and continue to be revived, forming a veritable spider’s web linking the main routes of the ancient pilgrimage routes of the Middle Ages. In short, a real paradise for linear hiking, whether it is for a few days in the region or several weeks from one country to another.

From Canada, EURO-RANDO has chosen to offer hiking tours in FRANCE and SPAIN.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRY A WALKING TRIP?

Nos itinéraires et nos services s’adressent aux marcheurs en général, qu’ils soient débutants ou non, en route dans un but religieux et de pèlerinage ou avec un objectif plus profane, celui de la découverte touristique, historique et culturelle en voyageant à pied.  À chacun son chemin !

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

    www.nicolevoyage.com      450-455-0991  Toll Free : 1-877-455-0991

     www.euro-rando.com         514-386-1704

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Jean-Paul Bordus
Chemin de Compostelle - tous les chemins mènent à St Jacques.

Long Distance Hiking

HIKING – 02 : LONG-DISTANCE HIKING

WHAT IS “LONG DISTANCE” HIKING ?

Hiking for several days or weeks is a unique and memorable experience.

Hiking is generally linear, with the route established between two points A and B, and the distance and duration of the hike can vary greatly depending on the choice of route and the time available.

Setting out on a walking tour for a few days or longer is captivating for several reasons: diversity of landscapes and terrains over the course of the days, variety of discoveries along the way, but also the pleasure of experiencing the “challenge” – specific to each person and very personal – that this type of hike represents, because it is a question of getting from point A to point B, which are sometimes very far apart.

However, in popular imagery, a “multi-day” hike is often perceived as an activity reserved only for experienced hikers and certainly not within the reach of everyone. Nothing could be further from the truth!

If EURO-RANDO has chosen to encourage this type of hiking, the reason is very simple: it is in the long term that this activity is best expressed in terms of change of scenery, return to the roots and great satisfaction.

WHO CAN GO ON LONG-DISTANCE HIKE?

Le Camino Francès est inscrit sur la liste du patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO depuis 1993.With rare exceptions, this type of hiking is accessible to everyone with a minimum of physical health and knowledge of one’s limits.

When choosing to go on a “long distance” hike, it is important to determine why you are going -pilgrimage? tourism? sports challenge? What you are looking for and what you want to avoid are things to consider to make it a success.

 

 

Euro-Rando - Voyage et Escapade en Europe du Canada - Region et Grandes Villes     WE ARE HERE FOR YOU !    

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

    www.nicolevoyage.com      450-455-0991   Toll Free : 1-877-455-0991

     www.euro-rando.com         514-386-1704

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Jean-Paul Bordus
PARTIR EN VOYAGE À PIED À SAINT-JACQUES DE COMPOSTELLE SUR LE CAMINO NORTE

A Return to Authenticity

HIKING – 01 : A RETURN TO AUTHENTICITY

PARTIR EN VOYAGE À PIED À SAINT-JACQUES DE COMPOSTELLE SUR LE CAMINO NORTE

WHY SHOULD YOU GO HIKING?

For many years now, we have been witnessing a growing and increasingly popular attraction for hiking.

There are many reasons for this craze, but to summarize, it is not surprising that more and more people today consider “walking” to be an authentic way to reconnect with their senses, to get closer to nature, to enjoy the benefits of healthy physical activity and to disconnect from everyday life.

As a result, “walking” has become a true leisure activity: it is no longer limited to a walk around the house or a weekend getaway, but has also become for many a new motivation in our choice of vacations, trips and destinations.

Le Camino Norte pour des randonnées le long de l'Atlantique

At EURO-RANDO, we believe that “long-distance walking” – that is, walking that lasts several days and that we offer – should remain not only a leisure activity but also and above all a moment of pleasure.

Having practiced it, we also know that in hiking “walking for the sake of walking” is hardly an end in itself. In this sense, this activity should ideally take place in a motivating environment where tourist, historical and cultural attractions are present to encourage discovery and reward the few efforts – sometimes sustained and unavoidable – of this activity.

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!

MORE INFORMATION :

    www.nicolevoyage.com      450-455-0991   Toll Free : 1-877-455-0991

     www.euro-rando.com         514-386-1704

RESERVE OR REQUEST A QUOTE
Jean-Paul Bordus