Pamplona Running of the Bulls Tours
Superb Pamplona 2010 tours to San Fermin Fiesta
It's the wildest, most emotive and fun fiesta in Europe - Pamplona's San Fermin (Running of the Bulls) Festival is simply something to be apart of to experience why it is such a famous event. Join the Pamplona specialists in 2010! We operate quality party tours to Spain! Choose from our value packed 5, 6, 7 and 8-day Pamplona coach tours as well as accommodation packages and flying/airport transfer options - staying at the best campsite close to Pamplona: Estella.
Summary of Tour Options for Pamplona (2010)
| 5 Day Pamplona Dash Only £239.00 Charge to Spain, be apart of the amazing opening, do the first Running of the Bulls and dash home Highlights | Full Information | Enquiry | Book It's virtually a "long weekend" Running with the Bulls tour! Based at our Estella campsite, dash to Spain on Sunday morning for the opening ceremony on Tuesday, do the first Pamplona bull run, head to San Sebastian and then have you back in London on Thursday. Tour Dates: 4th to 8th Jul 2010  Return Coach travel from LondonShuttles from Pamps to EstellaOpening day champagne ceremony, noon on July 6thFirst Running of the Bulls run on the 7thExcellent campsite at Estella - Pamplona's best and no overcrowdingPre erected tent or Dorm accommodation at no extra costPre erected tentBreakfasts in camp (all you can eat)Souvenir T-Shirt and Bandana
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| 6 Day Pamplona Party Only £259.00 Based at Pamplona's best campsite, this is THE party tour to the Running of the Bulls! Highlights | Full Information | Enquiry | Book Our terrific 6-day tour includes a day in Spain before the amazing opening ceremony, the first two running of the bulls, an extra party night in Pamplona plus our famous PP parties at our fabulous camping base at Estella. Tour Dates: 4th to 9th Jul 2010 Return Coach travel from LondonTwo Running of the Bulls on the 7th and 8thExtra party night in PamplonaExclusive PP Pamps PartiesFree Sangria to kick off the party of the yearRegular shuttles from Pamps to EstellaOpening day champagne ceremony, noon on July 6thExcellent campsite at Estella - Pamplona's best and no overcrowdingPre erected tent or Dorm accommodation at no extra cost!Breakfasts (all you can eat)Souvenir T-Shirt and bandana
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| 6 Day Pamplona One Way Special Only £239.00 Planning to begin your travels in Pamplona? You can't beat our Estella one-way special for value! Highlights | Full Information | Enquiry | Book Take advantage of our one-way special tour to Pamplona at our fabulous camp at Estella and receive a £20 discount. Join our classic 6 day party tour but instead of heading back to London on the 8th, you have the option to stay on an extra night free of charge. We also give you the opportunity to be dropped off at San Sebastian! Tour Dates: 4th to 9th Jul 2010 One way coach travel from London£20 discount on 6 Day tourExclusive PP Pamplona PartiesFree Sangria to kick off the party of the yearRegular shuttles from Pamplona to EstellaOpening day champagne ceremony, noon on July 6thUp to two Bull runs on the 7th and 8thStay an extra night - free of charge!Drop off option at San Sebastian at end of tourExcellent campsite at Estella no overcrowdingPre erected tentBreakfasts (all you can eat)Souvenir T-Shirt and bandana
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| 7 Day Pamplona Plus Only £279.00 Party at Pamplona, take in the opening, run the bulls and spend a day at ritzy San Sebastian. Highlights | Full Information | Enquiry | Book Our terrific 7 day tour offers a more extensive Pamplona experience. You will be there for the opening, plus TWO Running of the Bulls on the 7th and the 8th plus the huge party night in Pamplona on the 7th. We also include a full day at ritzy San Sebastian beach resort, a local orientation party night in Estella and exclusive PP parties at our terrific campsite. Tour Dates: 3rd to 9th Jul 2010 Return Coach travel from LondonExclusive PP Pamplona Parties at EstellaFree Sangria to kick off the party of the yearShuttles from Pamplona to EstellaOpening day champagne ceremony, noon on July 6thTwo Bull runs on the 7th and 8th and party night in Pamplona on the 7thSan Sebastian day tripExcellent campsite at Estella, Pamplona's best with no overcrowdingPre erected tent or dorm accommodation at no extra cost!Breakfasts (all you can eat)Souvenir T-Shirt and bandana
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| 8 Day Pamplona Bulls and Beach Combo Only £299.00 The Ultimate tour to the Running of the Bulls with recovery session on the beach! Highlights | Full Information | Enquiry | Book The deluxe Pamplona San Fermin tour with two nights besides the beach on the way back! You will be based at Pamplona's best campsite - Estella - for the opening ceremony, plus TWO Running of the Bulls on the 7th and the 8th and a huge party night in Pamplona on the 7th. After the run on the 8th, we pack up and spend nearly 3 days on the magnificent Spanish coast based at our superb Zarautz campsite. The perfect party and recovery tour. Tour Dates: 4th to 11th Jul 2010 Return Coach travel from LondonThree nights at Pamplona's best campsite EstellaTwo nights on the Spanish coast at ZarautzExclusive PP Pamplona PartiesFree Sangria to kick off the party of the yearShuttles from Pamplona to EstellaOpening day champagne ceremony, noon on July 6thTwo Bull runs on the 7th and 8th and party night in Pamplona on the 7thSan Sebastian day tripPre erected tent or dorm accommodation (at Estella) at no extra cost!Breakfasts Souvenir T-Shirt and bandana
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| Accommodation Only + Flying Options + Airport Transfers From £159.00 Make your own way to Pamplona's best campground and stay for up to 6 nights! Fly into Spain and let us transfer you to our magnificent San Fermin Fiesta base at Estella. Highlights | Full Information | Enquiry | Book Travelling in Europe already? Planning to fly to Spain? Need good safe accommodation for San Fermin? With PP's accommodation packages you can join the best tour in Pamplona without the cost of the travel to and from London. We supply all that is offered on our 6-day coach tour (except travel to and from the UK). You can stay for up to six nights with us at Estella, meaning you get the bonus of staying for up to 3 extra nights than our 6-day coach passengers. Fly into Bilbao or Biarritz and join our transfer service to our great campsite (+£25pp). Tour Dates: 3rd to 9th Jul 2010 Stay up to six nights Exclusive PP Pamplona Parties at EstellaFree Sangria to kick off the party of the yearShuttles from Estella to PamplonaTransfer options to/from Bilbao and Biarritz airports (+£25pp)Opening day champagne ceremony, noon on July 6thUp to two Bull runs on the 7th and 8thSan Sebastian day tour option and post-tour drop-off optionExcellent campsite at Estella no overcrowdingPre erected Tent or Dorm Accommodation - at no extra cost!Breakfasts (all you can eat)Souvenir T-Shirt and Bandana
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Event and PP Tour Information
The San Fermin (Running of the Bulls) Festival is without doubt the wildest and probably most fun festival in Europe. Its amazing festive atmosphere and the way the Pamplona locals Party has to be seen to be believed!! If you are after Serious Fun in Pamplona it has to be PP Travel.
It's hard to really describe the spirit & atmosphere of Pamplona's famous Festival of San Fermin. You really just have to experience it for yourself. Even though you probably know the festival as The Running of the Bulls, it is the full-on Spanish fiesta not the bull running that makes visiting Pamplona such a life changing experience. The festival starts each year at noon on July 6 with the amazing champagne Opening Ceremony and then runs non-stop 24-hours a day through to midnight on July 14.
The bull running begins at 8am every morning from the 7th to the 14th of July. Even though the festival is known worldwide for this unusual event, it is only a small part of the festival and you really will only want to watch once or twice. Running with the bulls is a relatively new activity when you consider how ancient this festival is.
It is free to run with the bulls, if you want to take the risk. You just have to get a position on the street pretty early. It is a male-only tradition and it is extremely frowned upon by Pamplona locals for females to run.
PP's Great Running of The Bulls Tours
Our Pamplona Tours are renowned as the best organised and most fun to the big party destinations. Join us at fabulous Estella base - easily the best camp close to Pamplona. Choose from 5, 6, 7 and 8 day return coach tour options from London. Meet us there and stay up to 6 nights with our accommodation packages or fly into Spain and let us transfer you to our superb San Fermin base.
Pamplona 2010 tours look set to be our biggest ever - and we are offering our greatest variety of value packages:
Our short 5-day dash Pamplona coach tour (ideal for those with limited time to take off work) is sure to be really popular, departing London on the weekend, you have a day in Spain to prepare for the amazing opening ceremony on July 6, followed by the first Running of the Bulls on the 7th. You even have time to spend the afternoon in Pamplona continuing to celebrate San Fermin with the crazy locals, before returning to London that evening..
Our 6-day Estella Pamplona tour also departs on the weekend and offers two bull runs, the opening and an extra night in town. While our classic 7-day Estella Pamplona Plus Coach Tour also includes an excursion to ritzy San Sebastian before the fiesta kicks off.
The ultimate Pamplona tour is definitely our 8-day Bulls and Beach Pamplona Combo tour. Take in the opening and two bull runs while based at Estella and then spend nearly 3 days recovery on the magnificent Spanish coast at our Zarautz camp.
Travelling Europe independently? What to fly? Then join our very popular accommodation only packages. Last year over 600 passengers joined us in Spain on these accomm-only packages - many using low cost airlines and linking with our transfer service from nearby airports.
Flying Options
Want to fly to Spain? No problem. The cheapest and easiest way to fly to the Running of the Bulls is to book a low cost airline on the web to the region and join us at our Estella campsite and stay for up to six nights with our value accommodation only Pamplona Tour packages.
PP Airport Transfers
Let us take the hassle out of flying to Spain with our transfer service to Estella which meet most low cost flights that land in Bilbao and Biarittz. Transfers cost just £25 each way and operate to Estella on 3, 4, 5 July with return transfers on July 8 and 9.
Further Information on transfers and accommodation packages.
Accommodation
Estella - the best campsite close to Pamplona
At PP we believe in quality not overcrowding, therefore we deliberately operate out of our Pamplona base camp at Estella. We believe this certainly gives us an edge as our exclusive base has the best facilities by far, is safe and clean. We also offer a choice of tents or dorm accommodation (at no extra cost). The city of Pamplona does not have its own campsite therefore you will be based out of town and should chose a site that is either not packed out by many operators as well as those that are over run by hoards on van tour.
Beach camp Zarautz: Our 8 day Bulls and Beach combo tour also spends two nights on the magnificient northern Spanish coast, staying in our great surf-side base at Zarautz.
Estella Camp
Estella is our closest camp to Pamplona and easily the best camp in the area. This is our party camp where we operate 6 and 7 day Pamplona Coach Tours, as well as one-way special Pamplona Tours from London. Accommodation only packages are also on offer. You can choose from camping or our dorms. But you need to be quick, as it's first in, best dressed, for the simple dorm accommodation which can be reserved for no extra cost! The Estella experience is certainly full-on with our exclusive entertainment nights included. Also, with the new motorway now open, it's just a short 25 minute shuttle to the party! The great thing about our Estella base is that it is really a clean, safe "oasis" away from the fun carnage of San Fermin in Pamplona. No free campers are allowed during this period. It has first class facilities, including a massive swimming pool, clean showers and toilets with free showers, very lively bar (that hardly ever closes), restaurant, shop along with free Wi-Fi.
Checkout Photos of the Estella Camp
Checkout Estella's Camping Lizarra's website
PP's Estella's base on Google Maps
Beach Camp at Zarautz
At the magnificent northern coast resort of Zarautz, our awesome 8-day Bulls and Beach Combo Tour spends two nights of post fiesta recovery. At Zarautz you can enjoy a beach break along with the fun of the fiesta! Our camp is just a few minutes walk from the magnificent Zarautz surf beach with stunning views of the green Basque mountains that cling to the coast. Its facilities include bar, restaurant, shop excellent shower facilities and free Wi-Fi.
Check out Zarautz's Camping Talai Mendi site
PP's beach base on Google Maps
Frequently Asked Questions about Pamplona
What tours does PP offer?What tours does PP offer? We offer a wide choice of Pamplona Tours - all which cover the sensational opening ceremony of San Fermin on 6 July. Choose from 5, 6, 7 and 8-day coach tours. As well as one-way coach specials, flying/airport transfer options and accommodation-only Camping Pamplona packages. Best of all, we offer the best camping ground to base your Running with the Bulls tour from - our Estella base camp.
PP Travel are one of the largest operators to Pamplona Bull Run. We annually take over 1000 people for a massive party at Pamplona's Festival of San Fermin. All tours are based at Camping Lizarra (Estella) - easily the best camp close to Pamplona.
COACH TOURS: Our 5-day bash offers the opening and the first Running of the Bulls. Our 6-day party offers the opening, two Runnings of the Bulls and an extra party night in Pamplona. The 7 day tour offers the bonus of a day tour to magnificent San Sebastian before the fiesta kicks off. Our Bull and Beach combo offers the opening, two running of the bulls and two nights on the magnificent Spanish coast at Zarautz to recover from the fiesta!. We also offer a one-way coach special Pamplona tour to Estella. Board our 6-day coach from London, we give you a £20 discount and you can stay on for an extra night FREE!
ACCOM-ONLY: Join us at Estella and stay up to 6 nights. Ideal if you are travelling around Europe or planning to book your own flight to Spain.
FLYING/TRANSFER OPTIONS:Fly to Spain and join our accommodation only package. We also offer a transfer service to/from Bilbao or Biarritz airports that meet most low-cost flights inbound on 3, 4 or 5 July and outbound on 8 or 9 July. close
Where do we stay? Pamplona does not have its own campground, therefore all Pamplona Bull Run Tours stay at camps in surrounding Navarra countryside. At PP Travel we operate out of our exclusive Estella base to avoid the problem of overcrowding that some of the camps suffer from. The best camp close to Pamplona is easily Camping Lizarra at Estella. It is a quick 25 minute drive on the new motorway to Pamplona. Estella camp has excellent facilities: a bar (that hardly ever closes!), restaurant, shop, regularly cleaned toilets and showers plus a huge pool. At Estella you have the choice of tents or dorm accommodation at no-extra cost. Note dorm accommodation must be pre-booked.
Our 8-day Bull and Beach Combo Tour spends two nights of recovery at Camping Tali Mendi, in the coastal resort town of Zarautz, approximately 75 minutes travel time from Pamplona. It also has fine facilities and is only a few hundred metres from the beach. It is in a lovely spot with sweeping views of both the ocean and surrounding mountains. close
A Tent or Dorm? Choose from pre-erected 2-man tents or dorms. You will be allocated tent accommodation unless they specifically request a dorm, which are offered an NO EXTRA charge. Dorms are filled on a first come, first serve basis so be quick if you want the comfort of a mattress. The dorms are large and basic - containing 18 beds. But ideal for a large group. We also have some cabins, which hold 8 beds. Remember these must be requested at the time of making a booking for your Running of the Bulls tour. All passengers doing the Bulls and Beach combo tour will be accommodated in tents while spending the last two nights of their tour at our Zarautz coastal campsite.
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How do I book a Pamplona 2009 tour? To make a booking to the Running of the Bulls is easy. You either book on line or call our office to reserve your seats. Only £25 deposit per person reserves your seat the Pamplona Bull Run. Full payment for all Pamplona tours is due at the begging of June. All deposits are non-refundable, and bookings are not transferable. Our booking conditions outline refunds payable on cancellations. Balances paid by credit card will be subject to a 2.5% service charge. close
What is included in the price? All coach tours include return executive coach transport from London to Pamplona and ferry crossings. At both campgrounds we provide continental breakfasts (all you can eat), quality pre-erected dome tents, shuttles to and from Pamplona, local maps and the services of our couriers, ground crew and drivers. We also have free PP Pamps t-shirts and bandanas for all passengers as well as exclusive parties. Pamplona legend: Steve "Idiot" Werren again will be providing the live entertainment at our massive pre-Pamplona party at Estella. Our 7-day Estella tour also days a day tour to San Sebastian.
Accommodation only packages include all that a 6-day coach passenger gets (except the journey from London and back) with the added bonus of being able to stay for 6 nights. There is also the option of joining our excursion to San Sebastian (just 20euros) or post tour drop offs at the coast for just 15euros.
An airport transfer service is also offered to/from Bilbao and Biarritz for 25GBP.
Once at Estella, basically all you have to budget on is your meals (apart from breakfast) and your drinking money! close
Are there any deals for large groups? Book ten people on any Running of the Bulls tour and the eleventh goes free!! We offer this discount for groups of 10 booked and paid by the same person on one payment at the same time. Ask our office staff for further details. This offer only applies to those booking direct with PP Travel. close
Can we book just accommdation? If you will already be in Europe or planning to fly to Spain for the Running of the Bulls, we offer 6 night accommodation only packages for only £159. You can stay from 3 July to 9 July and so have a few days to build up to the fiesta, do the opening and two running of the bulls. You are fully part of the tour except for the return London journey and can stay for up to six nights (3 to 8 July inclusive). This includes breakfast, transfers between camp and Pamplona during the fiesta, your camping accommodation, PP Pamps souvenir T-shirt, bandana plus the services of the experienced PP crew. We also offer transfers meeting low-cost flights at Bilbao and Biarritz. close
How do I fly to Pamplona? The most economical to do a Running of the Bulls tour by air is to book a low cost airline, take one of our airport transfers from Bilbao or Biarritz and join our accommodation only packages. close
Which airports are the best? With our special PP airport transfers operating from Biarritz or Bilbao to Estella (cost £25 each way), there is no doubt these are the easiest options if you choose to fly to the Running of the Bulls. Catching public transport from any airport will prove to be a very lengthy and tiresome process. Taxis will be expensive or you may consider hiring a car. Pamplona does have its own airport, but flights are expensive as you have to transfer planes in Madrid or Barcelona.
If you take public transport from the coastal airports, please be aware that it can take up to 6 hours (depending on bus and train connections) to get from Bilbao or Biarritz airports to Estella. Public transport will NOT be running from Bilbao airport after about 8pm in the evening so please make sure you are aware of this if choosing an evening flight into Bilbao especially if you are heading to Estella but it is relevant for both camps. All Spanish bus companies seem to have a siesta midday between about 12 and 2pm so also please be aware of this. A taxi to Estella from either Bilbao or Biarritz will cost upwards from €140.
If don't take a PP transfer from Bilbao or Biarritz - the best option is for you to fly into Pamplona's local airport. These flights from the UK will ALWAYS be via either Madrid or Barcelona and are normally much more expensive than flights to Bilbao or Biarritz. From Pamplona airport you catch a bus or taxi into the city then a bus to Estella (about 40km). A taxi directly from the airport to our camp will cost around 75 euros, which is a good option if there is a group who can share the cost.
All our transfer options are listed in the 'Pamplona Tours - Flying Options and Airport Transfers' section on our website. Other airports:
Unless you are going to hire a car, avoid Zaragoza or Santander. While budget airlines fly into these destinations, public transport will prove all most impossible.
You can fly cheaply into Madrid or Barcelona, but will be looking at least a 6 hour train or bus to Pamplona city and then local bus to our Estella base. close
What if we want to go one-way to Pamplona? If you are planning on not coming back to London and continuing your travels after your Pamplona Tour, we offer a one way special package. Book and pay for our 6 Day tour at a reduced cost of only £239 (a £20 discount) and you can stay for one extra nights free! Once down in Pamplona, you can decide when you want to depart. On the evening of July 8th our 6 day Estella coaches head back to London. We also offer a San Sebastian drop off on the afternoon of July 8th. Cost 15 Euro and subject to availability. You can stay with us at Estella right up to July 9. close
What do I need to bring? Make sure you have your valid passport with you. Coach passengers should bring the departure voucher you will be emailed after receipt of full payment for your tour. The departure voucher states the name of the passengers and the coach number on which you will be travelling. We supply your pre-erected tents and breakfasts at the camp. You'll need a sleeping bag, airbed/mat and your party boots! You may also want to bring a pillow. We will allocate tents (two or three person tents) on the journey to Spain or upon arrival for accommodation only passengers. At Estella you have the option of 18 bedded dorm accommodation. No bedding is provided. This must be pre-booked. The weather should be hot and sunny, so bring your swimmers, towel, and sun cream. But be warned: it can get cool late at night - so also bring something warm. Traditional clothing is all white with a red bandana, so bring all your old white t-shirts and pants/skirts. close
Do I need to change money? How much will I spend? As with most of western Europe, the local currency in Spain is the Euro. We strongly suggest you change up the bulk of your money before leaving. While there are plenty of ATMs about in Pamplona, it can still be very difficult changing money during the Running of the Bulls.
How much? This will depend very much on how much you drink. Pamplona, being a street fiesta, is quite cheap, budget on 50 euros per day to cover food and general partying. close
What are the coaches like? All our coaches to Pamplona are fitted with TV/video, stereo, toilets and air conditioning. Refreshments will be available on the coach. All coach tours depart from Embankment, opposite Embankment tube station. We cross the channel by ferry from Dover to Calais then do a night drive to Spain arriving just after dawn. All our coaches are non-smoking, however we have regular stops along the way. Each coach has a PP courier to assist passengers. close
What about Visas? All passengers will need to carry a valid passport. Those travelling on South African and Zimbabwean passports will need a Schengen visa from the Spanish consulate, unless you have a valid one, already issued by another country. Australians, New Zealanders and EC passport holders do not require visas. Remember, visas are your responsibility. Please organise your visa in plenty of time, as it usually takes weeks - up to 8 is not uncommon! close
Do we need travel insurance? We encourage all passengers to have adequate travel insurance on our tours - the possibilities for injury or loss are considerable and medical costs can be extremely expensive - but we do not force you into purchasing insurance. close
What if I need to cancel? As all deposits are non-refundable you will lose at least this amount if you cancel. Please note that bookings and names are not transferable. If you have paid in full, refunds (if any) due will depend upon when we receive your written, faxed or emailed cancellation instructions. Our full booking conditions are printed on each confirmation invoice, which will be emailed to you. Or they are available upon request from our office. close
The PP Pamplona Experience
It is hard to really describe the spirit & atmosphere of Pamplona's famous Festival of San Fermin. You really just have to experience it for yourself. Even though you probably know the festival as The Running of the Bulls, it is the full-on Spanish fiesta not the bull running that can make visiting Pamplona during this period such a life changing experience.
At PP, we aim to to not only operate the most organised, best fun tours to the Running of the Bulls, we are determined that you really get to discover and experience this unique atmosphere for yourself. And with our long experience at San Fermin and our large professional team, we believe we know what it takes takes to make this happen.
This will be PP Travel's 20th year of running tours to the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona. We are proud of our reputation at this major European festival and will ensure that our San Fermin 2010 tours are something special.
The cornerstone of PP's determination to operate the most professional tours to the Running of the Bulls, is our deliberate policy of operating out Pamplona's best campsite - Estella - as well as offering tours that also stay on the Spanish coast at Zarautz. From our first Pamplona tour way back in 1991, we have used the region's two best campgrounds - so we can offer our guests excellent facilities - instead of overcrowding! This, we believe, gives us an edge. We operate exclusive parties, offer both local and day tours to San Sebastian, and include breakfast daily as well as transfers to Pamplona for the opening ceremony, the running of the bulls and the fiesta's evening festivities.
All PP Tours to the Pamplona cover the sensational opening ceremony of the festival of San Fermin at noon on the 6th. If you are going to head to Pamplona for the Bull Run, then you MUST be at the opening - it will blow you away!
PP Travel is one the largest operators to the Running of the Bulls annually taking over 1000 passengers to the Pamplona Bull Run and we are proud of our reputation of quality tours achieved over the past 19 years.
Whether you are travelling on a coach tour from London, making your own way and joining our Pamplona accommodation only packages or flying in and joining one of our airport transfers - all PP reps are thoroughly trained and will be sure to show you a great Pamplona/San Fermin experience.
The festival starts each year at noon on July 6 with the amazing champagne Opening Ceremony and then runs non-stop 24-hours a day through to midnight on July 14. The Running of the Bulls begins at 8am every morning from the 7th to the 14th of July. Even though the festival is known worldwide for this unusual event, it is only a small part of the festival and you really will only want to watch once or twice. Your PP Pamplona Tour will transfer you into old town early on the 7th and 8th in plenty of time to get a position to watch the run or join in yourself! Experienced PP reps will give you a thorough background to the run, where best watch it from and will even walk bull runners to the best starting position.
If you only go to one fiesta in Europe this year - Pamplona for the Running of the Bulls it has to be. It really is a must!
History
WHAT IS THE FESTIVAL OF SAN FERMIN?
It is impossible for anyone to accurately describe the spirit and atmosphere of Pamplona's famous Festival of San Fermin - it is something you'll really just have to experience for yourself. Also it is very difficult to explain why the festival is so important to the locals, all its ancient traditions and why the people of the region go so crazy during the week of San Fermin. Even though most tourists know the festival as "The Running of the Bulls" it is the amazing party atmosphere, a full-on Spanish fiesta, not the bull running that makes visiting Pamplona during San Fermin such a memorable experience.
The festival begins each year at noon on July 6 with the amazing champagne opening ceremony and then runs non-stop 24-hours a day through to midnight on July 14. Today's modern festival is a combination of three ancient festivals that were united in 1591. It obtained its name from Saint Fermin who is the patron saint of Navarra. He was the first bishop of Pamplona and died as a martyr in Amiens, France, way back in the 1st century AD. He has always been worshipped by the people of Pamplona as he was considered their original martyr of Christianity. The cult of San Fermin grew when his relics arrived in 1187 from Amiens with more relics arriving in the 1500s. Originally this festival was held in October when tradition says San Fermin first arrived in Amiens. It was moved to July in 1590 basically because of better weather. The other two festivals that now make up the modern one are the bull fighting festival which began in 1385 - bull fights are only held in Pamplona now during the festival -and an ancient trade fair that used to be held on St Peters Day - 18 July, when taxes were exempt.
WHAT IS THE BULL RUNNING ALL ABOUT?
The Running of the Bulls occurs at 8am each morning from the 7th of July through to the 14th. Even though the festival is famous for this unusual event, it is only a small part of the fest, something you really only want to watch once or twice. Transporting the bullfighting beasts to the ring is simply what the running of the bulls is all about. The bull run is known as the "encierro" which means "enclosing" (the bulls in the bullring). In old times there were no trucks to take the bulls from farms into the pens at the rear of the ring so they were hearded through the streets just after dawn when things were starting to quiet down. Running beside the bulls is a relatively new occurrence when you consider how ancient this festival is. It is believed men first started proving their manhood by running with the bulls during the early morning transport to the ring in the early 1800s. Running was outlawed then. But it grew through tradition and authorities officially allowed it in 1867.
Today all the shops and streets along the route in the old town are boarded off about 7am and cleared by police. At 8am a gun goes off and the bulls are released from a pen on one side of old Pamplona and it takes only a few minutes for them to charge the 1 mile (approx) through the narrow cobblestone streets into the ring. Once the bulls are safely in their pens, young steers are released into the thousands of runners in the ring for a bit of fun. By 8.30am the whole event is over, then it is back to the party ...! It is not easy to get a good position to watch the bull running on the streets. It is free to go into the lower sections of the bullring but for a few euros you can go to the upper tiers and watch the runners enter the "tunnel of death" and then watch the small bulls knock a few runners over. The bullfight occurs each evening about 6.30pm. Tickets to the fight cost anything from 25 to 70 Euros.
CAN I RUN THE BULLS? IS IT DANGEROUS?
It is free to run, if you want to take the risk. You just have to get a position on the street relatively early. It is considered a male-only tradition and it is extremely frowned upon by locals for females to run.
There have been 14 deaths in the run since 1910, the more recent being 22 year old American tourist Mathew Peter Tassio in 1995 and local veteran bull-runner 63-year-old Fermín Etxeberria Irañeta in 2003 - so it obviously is dangerous. However these numbers are not huge compared to the massive amount of runners who take on the 800 metre dash each year. In fact, it is those thousands who run - not the bulls - that you usually have to watch out for. Runners often fall over each other during the panic as the bulls get close putting limbs etc. at risk. Like a bungy jump, the thrill of the run is surviving.
PP Travel does do not encourage anyone to run or to dive off the statue in the mussel bar. If you do either, you do so at your own risk (insurance will not cover either) and PP Travel will take no responsibility for the consequences.
Pamplona Photos
 Pamplona 2009 06/07/2009 |  Running of the Bulls (San Fermin) 2008 06/07/2008 |  Pamplona Reunion 2007 12/07/2007 |
 Pamplona 2007 06/07/2007 |  Pamplona 2006 06/07/2006 |  Pamplona 2005 'The Running of the Bulls' 06/07/2005 |
 Pamplona 2004 'The Running of the Bulls' 06/07/2004 |  Pamplona 2003 Reunion 17/07/2003 |  Pamplona 2003 'The Running of the Bulls' 04/07/2003 |
 Pamplona 2002 'The Running of the Bulls' 06/07/2002 |  Pamplona 2001 Reunion 19/07/2001 |  Pamplona 2001 'The Running of the Bulls' 06/07/2001 |
 Pamplona 2000 'The Running of the Bulls' 06/07/2000 |
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