Tour Details
Road Bicycling with Support
12 Days/Nights
Intermediate Cycling
100% Good Condition Paved Roads
Maximum Group Size: 12
Landcost: $2750

Tour Dates 2006:
May 15 to 27
May 29 to June 10
September 18 to 30
October 2 to 14

Basque Cycling Slideshow

         

Day 01
(D)*

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.

         

Day 02
60km/ (B-L-D)

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.

         

Day 03
50km/ (B-L-D)

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.

         

Day 04
50km/ (B)

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.

         

Day 05
80km/ (B-L)

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.

         

Day 06
75km/ (B-L)

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.

         

Day 07
30km/ (B-D)

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.

         

Day 08
30km/ (B-L)

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.

         

Day 09
30km/ (B-L)

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.

         

Day 10
50km/ (B-L)

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.

         

Day 11
50km/ (B-L-D)

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.

         

Day 12
50km/ (B-L-D)

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.

         

Day 13
(B)

Depart to Biarritz
Transit to the airport in Biarritz or other arrangements for further travel.

 

* B=Breakfast   L=Lunch   D=Dinner

 

back     Basque Sign Up

QUESTIONS? Call us in San Francisco at or Email us.
We are happy to answer questions or inquiries.