Day 1: Transfer to Campoo
Arrival in Santander and transfer to the hotel in Campoo, where you will be fitted for and text your bike.
Overnight in Campoo.
Day 2: Campoo – Polientes (38 miles/59 km or 61 miles/97 km)
This stage takes you through some fabulous and unspoilt scenery. From the green mountain pastures of the Cantabrian Mountains, along the shores of the Ebro Reservoir, past the Monastery of Montesclaros surrounded by forests. You finally rejoin the Ebro in the Valley of Valderredible and continue to the day's final stop in Polientes. Those on the short version follow the river direct to Polientes. The longer version circumnavigates the Ebro Reservoir.
Overnight in Polientes.
Day 3: Polientes – Valle de Zamanzas (27 miles/43 km)
You begin by cycling through the open valley of Valderredible. Take the opportunity to visit the Romanesque church of San Martín de Elines and also the churches carved into the very rock that are so characteristic of this region. As you progress down the river, the sides of the valley begin to close in until you arrive in a marvelous canyon of ever-increasing dimensions, where eagles and vultures soar overhead.
Make sure to visit the fairytale village of Orbaneja del Castillo with its cascades running through the village. As you approach Pesquera, the canyon of the Ebro reaches unbelievable dimensions before you finally reach the attractive village that will be tonight's stop.
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)
Today follows a beautiful route that follows a huge bend of the river through the most picturesque and undiscovered villages. An optional extension takes you to the dramatic village of Puentedey, built on a natural rock bridge over the River Nela. Tonight you stay in the Castillian town of Medina de Pomar with its old Jewish quarter and the castle dominating the town and surrounding landscape.
Overnight in Medina de Pomar.
Day 5: Medina de Pomar – Frias (36 miles/58 km)
From Medina, you head back to the Ebro. The route then takes you along a quiet country road running parallel to the river, where the valley begins to open out again. Visit the Romanesque church of San Pedro de Tejada before you cycle through yet another canyon, which then opens out into the fertile valley around Frías. This is a spectacular village built around its castle with excellent views of the Ebro Valley.
Overnight in Fras.
Day 6: Frias – Haro (39 miles/62 km)
As you leave Frias, the valley begins to close in again until you find yourself in another spectacular canyon. The road runs along the shores of a reservoir surrounded by high mountains and through short tunnels carved out of the rock. The route crosses the little town of Miranda del Ebro before passing through imposing peaks that signal the gateway to the enormous open valley of La Rioja. Tonight is spent in the wine-producing village of Haro, with a chance to drink a glass or two of Rioja in its birthplace.
Overnight in Haro.
Day 7: Haro – Laguardia (Short 15 miles/25 km; Long 31 miles/50 km)
You cycle through endless vineyards and numerous picturesque villages of La Rioja, with the backdrop of the Sierra de Cantabria mountains and the Ebro never too far away. You finally reach the superb walled medieval village of Laguardia where, as in Haro, wine is almost a way of life.
Overnight in Laguardia.
Day 8: Departure
Tour ends, transfer from Laguardia to Bilbao.
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