Basque Country & Navarre Cycling Climbs

Climb Town Altitude (m) Length (km) Gradient (%) Difficulty Rating
Arrate Eibar 606 7.2 6.2 442 ****
Azurki Zestoa 673 14.7 3.7 995 ****
Azurki Azkoitia 673 7.5 7.2 515 ***
Puerto de Urkiola Mañaria 713 5.7 9.2 675 ***
Puerto de Urkiola Otxandio 713 3.3 3.7 95 **
Monte Oiz Gernika 1019 20.2 5.0 1340 ****
Castillo del Ingles Irun 497 9.2 5.2 377 ***
Jaizkibel Lezo 455 8.2 5.4 302 ****
Jaizkibel Hondarribia 455 9.6 4.7 290 ****
Arantzazu Oñati 718 7.8 6 388 ***
Aritxulegi Oiartzun 452 5.3 6.4 144 ***
Arrate Azitain 583 5 9.6 721 **
Azurki Elgoibar 675 9.3 6.6 455 ***
Bordako Tontorra Camino de Igarra 255 2.5 9 372 ***
Castillo del Inglés Oiartzun 497 12 4 290 ***
Elosua Azkoitia (GI-631) 683 9.7 5.6 435 ***
Elosua Bergara 683 7 7.7 522 ***
Gontzegaraigane Iruzubieta 365 5.2 4.8 94 ***
Iturburu Azpeitia 550 14 3.4 242 ***
Iturburu Tolosa 550 9.6 4.8 382 ***
Jata Bakio 270 4.6 5.5 121 ***
Jata Erbera 280 7.6 3.6 104 ***
Monte Igueldo Orio 369 7.4 4.9 274 ****
Monte Igueldo San Sebastían 369 6.6 4.8 224 ****
Monte Oiz Iurreta 1019 14.7 6.1 1241 ***
Monte Oiz Munitibar 1019 8.8 9.4 1422 ****
Orduña Orduña 900 7.9 7.6 622 ***
Osma Osma 1090 4.1 12.8 927 **
Sollube Bermeo 686 8.5 8.3 744 ****
Sollube Larrauri 686 11.6 5.1 454 **
Urdaneta Zarautz 378 5.1 7.2 475 ***
Herrera Leza 1110 5.6 8.2 341 ***
Herrera Peñacerrada 1110 7.3 4.8 144 ***
La Aldea El Campillar 1000 18 3.4 178 ****
Aia Orio 328 4.5 7.0 385 ***
Aia Andatza 315 1.4 14.7 665 ***
Asentzio Bergara 547 7.9 5.1 242 ***
Kanpazar Elorrio 457 5.6 4.4 105 *
Urkarregi Elgoibar 346 6 5 134 ***
Karabieta Eibar 565 6.7 6.5 241 ***
Urkarregi Etxebarria 346 5.4 4.5 117 ***
Santa Eufemia Markina-Xemein 353 3.4 7.7 199 ***
Santa Eufemia Aulesti 353 4.4 5.8 151 ***
Gontzegaraigane Munitibar 365 2.6 6.5 85 ***
Ixua Etxebarria 545 8.9 4.9 240 ***
Itziar Deba 224 5 4.1 68 **
Itziar Zumaia 224 6.4 3 47 **
Garate Getaria 245 2.9 7.5 145 ****
Kalbario Astigarribia 225 3 6.1 122 ***
Kalbario Mutriku 233 2.3 7.6 105 ***
Garrastatxu Baranbio 560 2.8 10.6 411 ***
Mendeika Izoria 488 5 4.4 148 ****
Mendeika Orduña 459 5.5 2.9 155 ****
Kurtzeta Arrasate 702 7.8 5.4 215 ***
Untzella Ibarra (Aramaio) 475 2.4 8.5 197 ***
Untzella Aretxabaleta 475 3.8 6.5 221 ***
Alto de Rivas San Vicente de la Sonsierra 960 9.9 4.3 111 ***
Alto de Rivas Labastida 960 10.2 4.1 114 ***
Orduña Berberana 903 5.5 5.5 124 ***
Aritxulegi Endara Reservoir 452 3.5 6.3 102 ***
Artesiaga Eugi 999 6.6 4.9 342 ***
Artesiaga Irurita 999 15.6 5 495 ****
Etxauri Etxauri 840 6.8 6.4 326 ***
Ibañeta Arnegui 1057 17.9 4.5 314 **
Ibañeta Burguete 1057 4.5 3.6 85 **
Lizarraga Abarzazu 1050 18.5 2.8 175 ***
Lizarraga Lizarraga 1050 9.3 5.4 374 ****
Lizarrieta Etxalar 441 8.1 4.4 198 ****
Collado de Piedra de San Martín Isaba (NA-137) 1760 14.4 5.4 521 ****
Port de Larrau Ochagavía (NA-140 Junction) 1585 10.8 6.4 501 ****
San Miguel de Aralar Lekunberri 1232 6.7 8.5 350 ***
San Miguel de Aralar Uharte Arakil 1232 11 8.1 894 ***
Urbasa Altsasu 927 16 2.3 175 ***
La Aldea El Campillar 1000 4.2 6.6 129 ***
Agiña Endara Reservoir 560 5.0 5.8 132 ***
Agiña Lesaka 560 7.2 6.3 197 ***
La Piedad Lesaka 246 2.4 7.6 202 ***
Uitzi Leitza 810 4.8 6.7 135 ***
Uitzi Lekunberri 810 6.2 3.6 85 ***
Collado de Ibardin Bera 317 5.5 4.9 130 ***
Puerto de Izpegui Erratzu 672 11.8 3.6 310 ***
Gorramakil (Puerto Otxondio) Dantxainea 1,090 21.0 4.8 640 ***





Mountains

The Basque Country is not home to a single range of high mountains as is the case in many provinces throughout Spain; however, the whole region is hilly or mountainous with a great range of medium length climbs to choose from.

On the coast the climbs are often gentle, but as you head further inland you will come across more of the short, steep ascents that characterize the regions professional cycle tour - the Vuelta a Pais Vasco.

Many of the highest 'Basque' climbs are actually in the neighbouring province of Navarre, which has historically been part of the Basque world.


Monte Igeldo

The coastal scenery can be breathtaking






Scenery

The Basque Country, like much of northern Spain, has a vibrant green landscape. A lot of the climbs away from the coast are in the trees until the top, which prevents the fantastic long views that you get from high mountains. However, the coast itself is spectacular. On a sunny day the views out to the sea, even on relatively modest climbs, are among the finest in Spain.



Roads

The road surfaces are of a consistently excellent quality throughout the Basque Country and Navarre, and are a pleasure to ride on a road bike.

The traffic varies depending on the climb. Some are completely empty, while others can carry a lot of heavy goods traffic. Local knowledge of the area is essential.



Getting There

The Basque Country is easy to reach. Bilbao is the main airport, but it is also possible to fly into San Sebastian (the airport is actually in the nearby town of Irun).

Both major cities, as well as the regional capital Vitoria Gasteiz, are well connected with trains from Madrid. It is also quite easy to get to the border with France from Paris.



Weather

The Basque Country sees more rain than most regions in Spain. However, it is all relative, and it still is dry and sunny more often than not; and is generally warm enough to cycle all of the climbs throughout the year.



Cycling Holidays

We run three tours wholly within the Spanish Basque Country. Our Basque Mountains holiday is the one that is most focused on the climbs of the region. The tour tackles Monte Oiz, Arrate, Jaizkibel, Urkiola, Azurki and much more, as it heads from west to east across the most scenic and challenging ascents in the region.

Our Basque Coast tour is a self-guided holiday along the coast. There are two route options; one which is gently rolling and quite easy, and another which has slightly more challenging routes.

The other tour is guided, with an emphasis on enjoying the fantastic food and drink in the region. The routes are generally easy, but there are optional extensions if you would wish to do some of the climbs in the area.

Our two tours in the Rioja Wine Region also enter the Southern part of the Basque Country, and tackle a couple of the very modest climbs there.

Finally, our Pyrenees Coast to Coast cycling holiday also begins in the French Basque Country. This is a much more challenging and mountainous holiday that the others, as it crosses the entire Pyrenees range, before arriving at the Mediterranean.

You can find more details about all of these tours below, click on the links to view the full itinerary.

If you would like to arrange a more hilly cycling holiday in the Basque Country, please get in touch with us, and we would be happy to put together a customized itinerary for you.




Monte Igeldo - San Sebastian
Basque Flag Spanish FlagSpain

Self-Guided Cycling Holiday
Length: 7 Days
Level: Difficulty Easy to Medium
Price: from €1,570 EUR
*Bike Hire Included

Basque Coast Beach
Basque Flag Spanish FlagSpain


Guided Cycling Holiday
Length: 7 Days
Level: Difficulty Easy to Medium
Price: €1,760 EUR
*Bike Hire Included

Port de Pailheres Cycling
French FlagFrance

Guided Cycling Holiday
Length: 9 Days
Level: Difficulty Hard
Price: €1,980 EUR
*Bike Hire Included

Basque Mountains
Basque Flag Spanish FlagSpain

Self-Guided Cycling Holiday
Length: 7 Days
Level: Difficulty Easy to Medium
Price: from €1,480 EUR
Rioja Vineyards
Basque Flag Spanish FlagSpain

Self-Guided Cycling Holiday
Length: 7 Days
Level: Difficulty Easy to Medium
Price: from €1,570 EUR
*Bike Hire Included

French FlagFrance

Self-Guided Cycling Holiday
Length: 8 Days
Level: Difficulty Challenging-Hard
Price: from €1,070 EUR