Cycling Spain's Ebro River
7 nights from €1312
4.86Unveiling scenic beauty and rich heritage from the Cantabrian Mountains to the La Rioja Vineyards
This superb trip follows the River Ebro - the longest river in Spain - as it flows from its source in the Cantabrian Mountains down to the distant Mediterranean. The very name of the Iberian Peninsula comes from this river: Iberia, the country of the Ebro.
The route follows what begins as a tiny mountain stream, flowing through the green pastures of Cantabria, beautiful valleys, imposing canyons, vineyards, past pretty and unknown villages, allowing you to witness the changes in the landscape and the river itself. Finally, you arrive in La Rioja, home of the finest wines produced in Spain. A sea of vineyards dotted with ancient villages, castles, and wine-producing bodegas will mesmerize you, all with the limestone mountains of the Sierra de Cantabria in the background.
This is a magnificent trip for those who wish to visit parts of Spain tourists typically never see.
A Wonderful Self Guided Bike Trip
“This trip was excellent in few respects. The organization, communication with the company and follow up by Inshaaf during the few weeks leading to the trip were efficient and…” Full Review
“This trip was excellent in few respects.
The organization, communication with the company and follow up by Inshaaf during the few weeks leading to the trip were efficient and timely.
The routes were spectacular and both the written guides provided to us by IberoCycle and the RideWithGPS courses made the navigation easy and the stops easy to find.
The inns were not luxurious but were nice, clean and functional. Breakfasts and dinners were great.
This trip exceeded our expectations.
We were wowed by the views of the countryside and beauty of many of the villages we cycled through.” Less
—Ronnie
Gorgeous vistas!
“I've been on several bike tours; this was by far my favorite. The routes were well-planned with views that took you from the origin of the Ebro through the mountains through…” Full Review
“I've been on several bike tours; this was by far my favorite. The routes were well-planned with views that took you from the origin of the Ebro through the mountains through gorges, along rich valleys & fields, ending in the celebrated Rioja Valley- with charming historical towns all along the way. Detailed GPS instructions made the routes easy to follow, allowing you to go at your own pace and stop to take advantage of the many interesting sights. My first time on an e-road bike and I'm a convert- the equipment was excellent. The local team was very helpful and supportive, making sure everything ran smoothly. I hope to do this tour again!” Less
—Lisa Price
Amazing cycling through beautiful landscapes & small towns
“The Rioja self-guided cycling tour was amazing! Our group of 5 friends were a mix of varying levels from sport cyclists and occasional cyclists – and we all enjoyed the…” Full Review
“The Rioja self-guided cycling tour was amazing! Our group of 5 friends were a mix of varying levels from sport cyclists and occasional cyclists – and we all enjoyed the route, especially the first few days biking through remote roads with few if any car traffic. Even the last two days where we were biking with more cars was not bad since we had designated bike lanes and the drivers were all very kind in giving us plenty of space.
Highlights were cycling through the canyons and along the Ebro River, stopping by small towns for pintxos, and enjoying the homemade meals especially by chef Alberto at Hotel Romanca and the lovely family at Posada Molino del Canto. The beautiful Hospederia de los Parajes was also a wonderful end to wrap-up our week-long trip.
My husband & I have been on several cycling trips and by far, the road bikes provided by IberoCycle were of the best quality. The bikes definitely made the cycling tour that much more enjoyable, especially with the daily climbs. The tour is listed as a Level 2 but compared to a prior Level 2 BikeTours.com tour in Italy/Croatia, the steep climbs made it feel more like a higher Level 2. All in all though, it was still doable even for our most beginner of cyclists (friend who hadn't been on a bike for 5 years!)
Overall, highly recommended!” Less
—Mari
Daily Program
Day 1: Transfer to Campoo
Individual arrival in Santander or Bilbao. You'll be transferred to the hotel in Campoo, where you can test your bike. Dinner will be in the hotel.
Day 2: Campoo – Polientes
38 miles/59 km or 61 miles/97 km
Today’s route leads through stunning, untouched scenery. Starting from the lush mountain pastures of the Cantabrian Mountains, you’ll follow the tranquil shores of the Ebro Reservoir and pass the secluded Monastery of Montesclaros, nestled among dense forests. The journey continues as you return to the Ebro River in the picturesque Valderredible Valley, ending the day in Polientes. Riders may choose the shorter route following the river directly to Polientes or the longer loop around the Ebro Reservoir. Dinner and overnight in Polientes.
Day 3: Polientes – Valle de Zamanzas
27 miles/43 km
Today’s ride begins in the wide, open valley of Valderredible. Along the way, you’ll have the chance to visit the Romanesque church of San Martín de Elines and admire the remarkable rock-hewn churches unique to this region. As you continue, the valley narrows into a magnificent canyon where eagles and vultures often soar above. You’ll pass through the enchanting village of Orbaneja del Castillo, known for its cascading waterfalls that run through the streets, before reaching Pesquera de Ebro and your accommodation in the Valle de Zamanzas. Dinner and overnight in Valle de Zamanzas.
Day 4: Valle de Zamanzas – Medina de Pomar
23 miles/36 km; 39 miles/63 km with route extension to Puentedey
Drifting along the bend of the river, you'll discover charming villages. From here, you can choose to extend your bike tour to the extraordinary village of Puentedey. This village was built on a natural rock bridge over the River Nela. The night will be spent in the Castilian town of Medina de Pomar, where you can explore the old Jewish quarter and the imposing castle. Dinner is served in the hotel.
Day 5: Medina de Pomar – Frías
36 miles/58 km
Leaving Medina, you'll bike towards the Ebro, then along a peaceful country road by the river. The valley opens in front of you, and you can visit the Romanesque church of San Pedro de Tejada. Soon, you'll find yourself in another canyon before you enter a lush valley around Frías. This incredible village, built around its castle, offers unforgettable views of the Ebro Valley. The night is spent in a small village hotel nearby. Dinner is also served in the hotel.
Day 6: Frías – Haro
39 miles/62 km
Today begins in the valley outside of Frías, though the walls of a canyon soon close in, providing you with spectacular views. The path runs along the shores of a reservoir with views of high mountain tops. You'll find yourself cycling through short tunnels carved into the rock before you cross the small town of Miranda del Ebro. From here, you'll bike through mountain peaks before entering the gigantic valley of La Rioja –known for its wine of the same name. The night will be spent in Haro, where you can drink some of the local wines and maybe even try some tapas.
Day 7: Haro – Laguardia
Short 15 miles/25 km; Long 31 miles/50 km
You'll bike through the vast vineyards and charming villages of La Rioja. Enjoy the Sierra de Cantabria mountains decorating the background, with the Ebro close by. You'll finally reach the medieval wine-producing village of Laguardia. Try some of the excellent wines here as well!
Day 8: Departure
Tour end. Transfer from Laguardia to Bilbao by 9:00 am.
Hotels
The following hotels are provided only as samples and may vary based on availability.
Ormas: Posada de Ormas
Polientes: Cuartelillo Viejo
Valle de Zamanzas: Posada Molino del Canto
Medina de Pomar: Hotel Romanca
Montejo de Cebas: Casea Rural Posada Colás
Haro: Hotel Arrope
Laguardia: Hospedería de los Parajes
Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.
Bikes
Standard trekking bikes
Trek FX
Good all-purpose bike. Fitted with mudguards, rear rack etc.
48/38/28 chainring – 11/32 cassette – 27 speeds
Available in male and female frame
Carbon road bikes
Cube Attain GTC
A quality carbon bike with comfortable 32/34 gearing.
50/34 chainring - 11/32 cassette – 22 speeds
Electrically assisted bikes
Various models depending on availability and size. You can choose a low step frame to mount with ease. Over the last few years, the e-bike has revolutionised cycle touring. Tours are made so much easier and differences between riders’ abilities are minimized.
*More about electrically-assisted bikes >
Accessories
Additional bikes available to rent (pricing and details available on request):
- Tandem bikes
- Children's bikes
- Child seats
You may bring your own bikes – this will incur a €65 bike case transfer supplement.
Standard and e-bikes come equipped with the following at no extra cost:
- Rear rack with panniers (on standard bikes)
- Seat post bag (on road bikes)
- Handlebar bag/map holder (on standard bikes)
- Helmet (obligatory in Spain)
- Cycle odometer
- Pump
- Spare inner tube and basic toolkit
- Water bottle
- Bike lock
- Lights and toe clips available on request
Pedals:
The bikes will have flat pedals. You may also request Shimano SPD Road or Look keo peadl at no additional cost. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals.
Helmets:
Helmets are provided with bike rental. For safety and hygiene purposes, we recommend that you bring your own helmet.
Bike Protection:
Bike protection can be purchased at the time of booking. You can read more about that HERE.
Surface and terrain
This tour features moderate cycling with some climbs. The route follows the River Ebro as it flows downstream. There are a few days that may have some climbing when the route moves away from the river.
How to get there
Tour Start and end
Nearest airport: Bilbao or Santander, Spain
Nearest train station: Reinosa or Santander, Spain
The closest airport for arrival is Santander Airport and the most convenient for departure is Bilbao Airport and we would prefer this. However, it may be easier for customers to book a return flight from Bilbao Airport. It is important to remember that at the end of the tour, the transfer time from Laguardia to Bilbao is 90 minutes, so if we allow for a 2-hour check-in time, then it means departure time from Laguardia would be three and a half hours before flight time. Thus, departure time from Laguardia is scheduled for 9 a.m. so customers should take this into account before booking their flights.
Please note that transfer to and from arrival/departure points (normally Bilbao or Santander airports, ferry ports, railway stations, or bus stations) is included in the tour package. Transfers on the final day will leave Laguardia at 09.00 to arrive in Bilbao at around 10.30. Earlier transfers will incur a €200 surcharge per vehicle.
Tips on getting to and from your tour
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