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Day 01
(D)* |
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Arrive
Biarritz
Our guests arrive
to Biarritz airport. From the airport we go by van across
beautiful rural and woody countryside and old quaint villages
of the French Basque Country to St. Jean de Pie de Port. Here
we will get acquainted, prepare bikes, and enjoy a fantastic
meal in this quaint hotel. |
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Day 02
60km/ (B-L-D) |
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St. Jean de Pie de Port to Oieregi From St. Jean de Pie
de Port we will ride over beautiful wooded roads to the small
village of Oieregi in Spain. The area has many historical
buildings, mainly built in the XVIII Century by wealthy emigrés
to South America. We will enjoy a BBQ at Palacio de Reparacea,
an XVIII Century manor house on the banks of the Bidassoa
River where Ernest Hemingway used to stay on his way to Pamplona.
Check in at a XVIII Century house converted into a comfortable
hotel in Oieregi. |
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Day 03
50km/ (B-L-D) |
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Oieregi to San Sebastian Depart Oieregi and
ride along a cycling route on the banks of the river to the
typical village of Lesaka where we will admire its medieval
fortress, rural stone houses and typical streets. From Lesaka
we will climb up a mountain pass towards the province of Guipuzcoa
through a forested route where we will enjoy magnificent views
on our way to San Sebastian. Tapas dinner in the Old Quarters. |
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Day 04
50km/ (B) |
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San Sebastian Day trip from San
Sebastian to the walled border city of Fuenterrabia. We will
cross the port on a ferry through Pasai Donibane, a beautiful
fishing village, and continue along a road with breathtaking
sea views. In Fuenterrabia we will have time to admire the
Old City and its many monuments. In the afternoon the we will
return to San Sebastian. |
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Day 05
80km/ (B-L) |
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San
Sebastian to Lekeitio
Depart San Sebastian
via the coastal road towards Lekeitio. The curving coastal
route passes fishing ports, forests and beautiful hidden rocky
beaches before arriving in Lekeitio a fishing port and summer
resort for the people of Bilbao. We will spend the night at
the resort where Zita, the last Empress of Austria, spent
few years of exile after WWI. Free time to explore the fishing
village. |
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Day 06
75km/ (B-L) |
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Lekeitio to Bakio Continue on the coastal
road towards Playa de Bakio passing again along fishing villages
and the Mundaka Estuary, one of the most beautiful coastlines
of Spain. We will spend the night in the village of Bakio. |
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Day 07
30km/ (B-D) |
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Bakio to Bilbao From Bakio we will
proceed by bike along the coastal route into Plentzia. On
arrival at Plentzia we will take the new underground system
into the city center. In the afternoon we will visit the famous
titanium clad Guggenheim Museum. Dinner in the Old Quarter
where we will enjoy a tapas dinner at one of the best known
bars of the city. |
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Day 08
30km/ (B-L) |
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Haro Leave Bilbao by van
after breakfast. From here the landscape will change dramatically,
from the very green and relatively woody coastal area to a
more yellowish and brown earthy colors of the Spanish plateau.
We will enjoy lunch in one of the many quaint bodegas near
Haro, capital of the Rioja wine area and where many of the
Bodegas have their headquarters. The vineyards are manicured
and operations are carried out with extreme care. October
is the vintage month. During that time, you can see people
on the fields cutting the grape bunches.
Through this very clear landscape we will arrive to the Monasteries
of San Millan de la Cogolla, UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The two monasteries are of a great interest one because its
antiquity with many Moresque motives, the other because its
size, treasures and library. They are the cradle of the Spanish
language as it was at the Monasteries of Yuso that the first
words of Spanish were written by monks in the early middle
ages. |
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Day 09
30km/ (B-L) |
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Haro We will ride in the
river Ebro valley through the many vineyards of Rioja Alavesa
and Rioja Alta, the main wine areas of the Denominacion de
Origen. Wine is the main economic activity of the region and
this can clearly be seen. Along the way we will stop at the
medieval fortified village of Briones. |
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Day 10
50km/ (B-L) |
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Haro to Laguardia Ride from Haro to
Laguardia. From Haro, we will continue through the countryside
as we climb up the sierra to enjoy again the landscape from
the “Balcon de La Rioja” a famous panoramic view
of the area. Our efforts climbing the Balcon will be rewarded
with a fast descent on our way to Laguardia. |
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Day 11
50km/ (B-L-D) |
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Laguardia to Codes Ride from Laguardia
along a beautiful mountain route out of the La Rioja valley
to the beautiful hillside monastery at Codès. For dinner
we will enjoy a BBQ. |
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Day 12
50km/ (B-L-D) |
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Return to Oieregi Ride from El Plazaola
to Oieregi. From Codès, we will transfer by van back
to the base of the Pyrenees. By bike, we will ride through
a trainway converted to a beautiful bike path. In Leitza will
exit the bike path and ride a stunning mountain pass back
to the village of Oieregi. Farewell dinner. |
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Day 13
(B) |
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Depart
to Biarritz
Transit to the airport
in Biarritz or other arrangements for further travel. |
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* B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner |
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QUESTIONS? Call us in San Francisco at or Email
us.
We are happy to answer questions or inquiries. |