Basque Country by Road Bike (Upscale Lodging)

Cycle the incredible history, culture, & cuisine of Spain's Basque Country

Basque Country in northern Spain is the setting for this incredible premium road bike tour. Nothing has been overlooked in designing this unique adventure. Anyone who cycles here knows, it is not just about the bike.

You will enjoy not only professionally guided cycling, but outstanding landscapes, iconic climbs, premium accommodations, and the renowned cuisine and wine of the Rioja Region of Spain.

Bilbao, a treasure of the Basque Country, is the starting and ending point of your experience, surrounded by green hills and a breathtaking coastline.

You will have a hard time deciding which of your next two destinations is your favorite. Your stay in timeless San Sebastian, the pearl of the Bay of Biscay? Or the magnificent land of wine, Rioja Alavesa, where your rides will take you through the award-winning vineyards?

Once your cycling day is complete, get ready for your night with a massage and then enjoy an exclusive Basque culinary experience, including wine tastings, dinner at a Michelin-star restaurant, and an authentic Basque Pintxos experience.

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Highlights

• Bilbao, treasure of the Basque Country
• Private tour of the Guggenheim Museum
• Unique history, culture, and identity of the Basque Country
• Exclusive Basque culinary experience including a Michelin-star restaurant and the best wineries
• Impressive Basque coast
• San Sebastian, culinary capital of Spain
• Rioja Wine Region and Rioja Alavesa, land of wine
• Gravel bike touring through magnificent vineyards
• Professionally guided and fully supported cycling itinerary

Daily program

Day 1: Bilbao
Upon your arrival in Bilbao, you will be transferred from the airport to your hotel. Here you will be welcomed by our local representative who will brief you about the upcoming tour and other activities. Your accommodation this evening is the boutique Hotel Miró located opposite the iconic Guggenheim Museum, with contemporary decor and minimalist design.

Day 2: San Juan de Gaztelugatxe - Bilbao (58 miles/94 km)
Leaving Bilbao, cycling along the estuary, you pass through beautiful villages in the interior of Bizkaia. You pedal backroads through Markaida, Larrauri, and Bakio, an exclusive summer resort, surrounded by beaches, cliffs, coves, and promenades. As you continue parallel to the coast, you reach Jata. After a short climb with gentle gradients, you are rewarded with views of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, surrounded by cliffs, and a dazzling landscape in the middle of the sea. Its spectacular beauty led it to be chosen as a filming location for the famous TV series, Game of Thrones. (B, L, D)

Further along the coast, you reach the beautiful fishing village of Armintza and the coastal town of Plentzia and its spectacular bay. You return to Bilbao along the coast, passing the impressive cliffs of Barrika, Getxo, Las Arenas, and the estuary. Overnight in Bilbao. (B, L, D)

Elevation: 7415 ft/2260m

Day 3: Bilbao - Getaria - San Sebastian (65 miles/105 km)
Today you head for the east of Bizkaia, warming up with a beautiful mountain pass ascent, followed by a descent to Guernica, a symbol of Basque culture. This was the scene of a horrific bombing during the Spanish Civil War and the resulting suffering was captured in the famous painting, The Scream, by Pablo Picasso.

Once again you pass through beautiful rural villages into the interior of Bizkaia until you reach the fishing town of Lekeitio. Here you will find a lovely coastal landscape, with lovely beaches, the island of San Nicolas, the port, and the old town. As you continue, you cycle parallel to the Cantabrian Sea, to the fishing village of Ondarroa. Located at the eastern end of the Biscayan coast, this stretch of coastline is defined by steep cliffs. Its old town is one of the most emblematic places in the town. With an unmistakable medieval and seafaring flavor, you will want to pause and soak up the atmosphere of its narrow and steep streets.

In the medieval fishing village of Getaria, you will enjoy a delightful lunch featuring the famous salted anchovies and tuna in oil. (B, L)

Elevation: 5905 ft/1800m

Day 4: San Sebastian - Hondarribia - San Sebastian (45 miles/72 km)
You head east on a small rural road for a pleasant 5 km climb of Castillo del Inglés into Aiako - Harria Natural Park. On a clear day, you will be able to see the city of San Sebastian and the spectacular bay of La Concha. A fun descent through the trees awaits before arriving in the beautiful coastal town of Hondarribia, bathed by the waters of the Cantabrian Sea that offers views of the wonderful bay of Txingudi, with the neighboring Hendaye, across the French border, in the background.

Venturing into the charming walled old town, you can walk through its cobbled streets full of emblazoned houses and unique buildings such as the Castle of Emperor Charles V, now converted into a Parador.

The mountain range of Jaizkibel stretches east to west between the Cantabrian Sea and the mouth of the Bidasoa River. The mountaintop affords picturesque vistas of the Bay of Txinguidi and the Atlantic coast of France. A descent will lead you back to San Sebastian. (B, L)

Elevation: 4691 feet/1430m

Day 5: San Sebastian - Zarautz - Rioja Alavesa (28 miles/45 km)
A morning climb leads up Igueldo mountain, located at the end of the Concha Bay and marking the boundary between the sea and the city. The route that follows is up and down to finally descend to the coastal town of Orio. This typical fishing village on the coast of Gipuzkoa is located where the sea, the mountains and the mouth of the Oria River merge and has witnessed the comings and goings of pilgrims over the centuries. Today it is still closely linked to the Camino de Santiago. The historic center dates back to the 12th century and is formed by a labyrinth of steep cobbled streets that take you back to the Middle Ages.

You leave Orio by a one-kilometer backroad, a fun and demanding climb, surrounded by farmhouses, and traditional Basque buildings. The descent is towards Zarautz. Its long beach, flanked by cliffs, stretches for more than two kilometers and is surrounded by a lively promenade, full of terraces and cafes where you can take a welcomed break and refresh. The unmistakable image of hundreds of white and blue awnings and its fine golden sand make it one of the most beautiful beaches on the Basque coast. The beach is open to the sea and its spectacular waves serve as a lure for thousands of surfing enthusiasts. Back to San Sebastian, you will have a nice climb from Orio to Igueldo before the end of the stage. You will stay the next two nights at the luxurious Hotel Viura, a superb hotel with a fantastic design that makes it an architectural masterpiece. The vertical and horizontal shapes build an ultramodern fantasy that contrasts with the traditional church next door. (B, L, D)

Elevation: 2905 feet/885m

Day 6: Rioja Alavesa (32 miles/52 km)
Today you will pedal through unique landscapes and seas of vineyards, ranging from small family wineries to large commercial successes such as the spectacular Marqués de Riscal winery, designed by the famous architect Frank Gehry.

Your route features monumental and charming villages such as the medieval town of Laguardia, the capital of Rioja Alavesa. It was founded in the 10th century as a defense of the Kingdom of Navarre and preserves its medieval layout almost intact. The main attractions of this town are its wine cellars or caves that crisscross the underground.

You will bike around the Laguardia Lagoons, a Protected Biotope located in the heart of Rioja Alavesa. The wetlands are privileged ecosystems, due to the richness and diversity of life forms that inhabit them. In addition, it is located in an almost exclusively wine-producing region and has an enormous wealth of archaeological sites in the surrounding area, such as the Poblado de la Hoya and the dolmen of the Chabola de la Hechicera, among many others. (B, L, D)

Elevation: 2625 feet/800m

Day 7: Rioja Alavesa (gravel) - Bilbao (32 miles/52 km)
During your last cycling stage, you will enjoy the natural charms of the region, covered with vineyards and olive groves and can also discover some of the most charming villages in the area, such as Samaniego, an obligatory stop at the foot of the Sierra de Toloño.

From there, you continue to Ábalos, laced with narrow streets lined with beautiful stone manor houses, and on to the wine town of Labastida.

You return through a network of fun roads parallel to the Ebro River, the longest in Spain, enjoying the ancient fortress village of San Vicente de la Sonsierra, a walled town located on top of a hill. (B, L)

Elevation: 2625 feet/800m

Day 8: Bilbao
Today is the official end of your tour. Departure airport transfer is included on this day.

Surface and terrain

This tour is designed for road bike enthusiasts and takes place on shared country roads. However, the route is chosen to showcase the incredible beauty of the region at the same time keeping you out of major traffic. Spanish motorists are very accustomed to road cyclists enjoying the terrain and incredible views. You will find elevation information in the daily itinerary.

Hotels

Listed below are the preferred hotels for this tour and are generally the hotels that will be booked for you. If not available, an alternative will be suggested.

Miró Hotel, Bilbao

Hotel Arima, San Sebastian

Hotel Viura, Rioja Alavesa

How to get there

Tour start and end:

Nearest airport and train station: Bilbao, Spain

From the airport of Bilbao you will reach the starting hotel within 15 minutes by taxi. There are shuttle buses, leaving regularly which also take you to the city center.

Tips on getting to and from your tour

Bilbao / San Sebastian

Dates

Prices

Included services

• 7 nights accommodations in 4-star hotels with breakfast
• Welcome package (cycling jersey and a water bottle)
• Arrival and departure airport transfers
• 5 x light lunches on the road including fresh products, and snacks
• 1 x lunch at Iñigo Lavado Restarrant
• 2 x dinners at well know restaurants in Basque Country including a selection of wines, beer, and other drinks
• 1 x Pintxos experience in San Sebastian
• 1 x dinner at the award-winning Michelin star, Mina Restaurant
• Cycling guide
• Support vehicle
• 2 x massages by a professional physiotherapist
• Daily laundry for cycling gear
• Private guided tour of the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum
• 1 x visit to winery in Rioja Alavesa
• Personalized photo album of the tour

Bike rentals

Trek Emonda SL 6 Disc Road Bike (6 day rental): €330
This bicycle can deal with the toughest mountains, the steepest descents, the tightest curves and the fastest sprints. The hydraulic disc brakes have great breaking power and control regardless of the type of road and the weather conditions.

BH Core Gravelx Carbon 2.6 Electric Bike (6 day rental): €390
Lightweight, carbon e-bike, designed with the technology used in the frames of BH’s high-end road bike range. This electric bike has an incredible range (165 km and up to 220 km) thanks to a combination of low motor consumption and a 540Wh battery. The Core display is fully integrated into the stem and it features a button that allows you to increase or reduce the assistance level, through an LED color system.

Pedals (please specify)
Shimano, Look, or standard pedals 

Helmet (available on request)

Tour Company