How to Travel from Malaysia to St. Jean Pied de Port

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🥾 From Kuala Lumpur to St. Jean Pied de Port




How we got to the starting line of the Camino Francés (and survived the journey!)

✈️ The Long Haul: 24 Hours of Planes, Trains, and Pilgrims

Let’s be real—getting from Malaysia to St. Jean Pied de Port (SJPDP) isn’t exactly a quick hop. It took us nearly 24 hours from the moment we shut our front door in Kuala Lumpur to the moment we stepped into this charming little French town nestled in the Pyrenees. Was it exhausting? Yes. Was it worth it? Absolutely.




🗺️ Picking Your Route: Paris, Madrid, or...?

If you’re flying from Southeast Asia, you’ve got options. Most pilgrims land in either:

From there, you’ll need to make your way to SJPDP via one of two nearby towns:

We chose Bayonne because it had better train connections—and we heard it was a bit more pilgrim-friendly.

✈️ Our Flight: KL → Paris via Doha

We flew with Qatar Airways, which gave us a nice halfway break in Doha. Here’s how it went:

  • Kuala Lumpur to Doha: ~7.5 hours

  • Doha to Paris: ~7.5 hours

Pro tip: Stretch your legs in Doha. You’ll thank yourself later.

🚄 Trains, Trains, and More Trains




Once we landed at Paris Charles de Gaulle, the real adventure began. We hopped on the TGV high-speed train to Bordeaux—a smooth 4-hour ride with lovely countryside views.

Then it was:

  • Bordeaux to Bayonne: ~2 hours

  • Bayonne to SJPDP: ~1 hour on a regional train

By the time we got to Bayonne, we started seeing backpacks, hiking poles, and scallop shells everywhere. That’s when it hit us—we were really doing this!


🧭 Arrival in SJPDP: The Camino Begins




From the train station, it’s a 30-minute walk to the Pilgrim Office. 



This is where the magic starts:

It’s a bit surreal—everyone’s buzzing with excitement, nerves, and jet lag.




🛏️ Where to Crash Before Day One

St. Jean is small but packed with cozy places to stay:

  • Albergues (called refuges in France)

  • Bed & breakfasts

  • Hotels

We stayed in an albergue to soak up the pilgrim vibe and recover from the long trip. Trust me, you’ll want a good night’s sleep before you hit the trail.



St. Jean Pied de Port is a postcard-perfect town tucked into the Pyrenees, where cobbled streets, stone bridges, and flower-filled balconies greet pilgrims from around the world. The air buzzes with excitement and quiet reflection—it’s the kind of place that makes you pause, breathe, and feel the journey begin.





🌄 Final Thoughts: The Journey Before the Journey




Getting to SJPDP is a pilgrimage in itself. It’s long, it’s layered, and it’s the perfect way to ease into the Camino mindset. Take your time, enjoy the ride, and don’t forget to breathe—it’s all part of the adventure.




Buen Camino! 🌟



Location: 64220 Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France
Love going to back to nature and enjoy the beautiful environment and landscape created by mother nature. Happy to share my travel experiences and hope it can help to encourage everyone in learning to appreciate our nature and do their best to protect the environment.

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