On this cycling tour, suitable for riders of all levels, we cross the famous Rioja wine region. On the holiday we stay in wineries, visit historic monuments, ride along the majestic Ebro River and, enjoy fantastic food and ride on quiet routes through picturesque vineyards.

On this holiday we enjoy a tasting at several different vineyards, allowing you to really begin to appreciate the unique Rioja flavour. We stay in fine hotels and enjoy high quality meals throughout the trip, which, like our Bilbao to San Sebastian Cycle Tour is as much focused on gastronomy and wine as it is on cycling. All lunches and evening meals are included, taken in some of the finest local restaurants.

However, that is not to say that the cycling is not superb in itself. We ride on quiet country lanes, passing through vineyards, alongside scenic castles and along stretches of the famous Camino de Santiago route. The daily distances are quite short and the roads are rolling with no major climbs; however, there are also extensions for those of you who wish to ride further on any particular day.

Day 1 - Arrival

The holiday begins in Logroño – the capital of the Rioja province. We will transfer you from the airport or train station, to your hotel in the heart of the historic center. From here you can visit the picturesque cathedral and relax in one of Spain's most charming provincial cities.

Logroño also has a fine gastronomic tradition and in the evening we will sample some of the best tapas and pintxos bars in the country. Of course, as you would expect from the capital of Rioja, there are also many delightful bodegas where you can sample the local wine!

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Day 2 – Rioja Vineyards

The first day in the saddle sees us leave Logroño to the north, crossing the impressive Ebro River and quickly entering the vineyards that characterize much of the region. The route follows gently rolling country lanes and heads through the provinces of Navarre and Alava, before reaching one of the highlights of the day – the Medieval town of Laguardia.

Set on a hill top overlooking the Ebro Valley, Laguardia has a beautiful fortified center with an impressive array of architecture dating back 1,000 years.

From Laguardia we continue a short distance to a beautiful boutique hotel, where we stay for the night. The hotel is in a picturesque setting, surrounded by scenic vineyards.

Distance: 35km (plus optional extensions)

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Day 3 – Haro

Day 3 - Haro Today we continue cycling along the picturesque trails and country lanes of the Rioja wine region. The landscape here is rolling, with small historic villages dotted amongst the vineyards to make for some delightful scenery.

Part of the ride also follows a cycle route along the Ebro river; the second longest river in Spain. And we also pass the impressive 12th century castle fortress at San Vicente. Next you reach the town of Haro – widely recognised as the wine capital of Spain, and home to the country's most famous wine festival. The town also has a charming historic center, home to a delightful range of bodegas and boutique shops, making it an excellent place to stay for the night.



Distance: 37km (plus optional extensions)

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Day 4 – Santo Domingo de la Calzada

The ride today heads south, again following beautiful and quiet country lanes as we pass through small villages. The first part of the route is largely flat, but the landscape is dominated by the Sierra de la Demanda mountains, which rise up to over 2,000m and offer a scenic backdrop to the ride. Indeed, if you are feeling particularly strong, you can extend the route today to continue up to Valdezcaray (a climb used in the Vuelta a España cycling race); and enjoy panoramic views of most of the Rioja province.

The destination is Santo Domingo de la Calzada; another charming town with a rich history. Santo Domingo was founded in the 11th century as a resting point on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. Initially consisting of just a bridge, a hotel and a hospital; a small town gradually grew and is today home to several impressive monuments.

One of these, the stunning Parador Hotel, is our accommodation for the night. The Parador is housed in a former convent dating from the 12th century and is renowned for its fantastic architecture.

Distance: 23km+

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Day 5 – Eltziego

Another great day on the bike begins by following the Camino de Santiago route out of Santo Domingo, as we head back towards the heart of the Rioja wine region. The day is gently rolling and uses a combination of white roads through the heart of the vineyards and winding country lanes.

This makes for really pleasant riding with plenty of villages to explore and some fine viewpoints along the rolling terrain.

The ride finishes in Eltziego, another really charming village which home to many excellent wineries. Including, perhaps most famously, Marques de Riscal – housed in a very impressive Frank Gehry designed structure. You will spend the final night of the holiday in a beautifully hotel, which has its own historic wine cellars, dating from the 15th century.



Distance: 40km+

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Day 6 - Logroño

On the final day in the saddle we follow a route exploring more of the small villages and wineries that are dotted around the Rioja region. We then join up with a beautiful path running alongside the Ebro River, stopping for a hearty lunch in a scenic spot, before heading into Logroño for the evening.

After a short trip around the historic center of Logroño we enjoy a feast of tapas and local wine in the evening to celebrate the tour.

Distance: 25-38km+

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Day 7 – Departure

At the end of the tour we will transfer you to Logroño in time for your onward connection. We are also able to provide transfers to the city of Bilbao upon request.

Prices & Dates

	Price (per person)*	Single Supplement	Bike Hire
15th - 21st September 2019	Fully Booked	Fully Booked	Fully Booked
21st - 27th September 2019	€1355	€280	Included
2nd - 8th June 2020	€1355	€280	Included
Other Dates	contact us

*Based on two people sharing a double or twin room. If you would prefer to stay in a single room, the single supplement is applicable.

Guided Tour

Groups of six people or more contact us to arrange a private guided tour starting on any date.

The following is included in the tour:

• Six nights accommodation in double, twin or single room with en-suite. Please see price list for details of single supplement.
• Transfer to and from the arrival/departure points
• Continental breakfast every day
• Lunch and Evening meal in restaurants each day (including wine/beer and soft drinks)
• Two vineyard tours and wine tastings
• Luggage transferred between hotels
• A support vehicle along the route
• A guide leading the route on bike
• Route extensions every day for those of you who wish to cycle
• Hire of bicycles - we recommend hybrid bikes for this tour, but can also provide road bikes (see here for details)

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The following are optional extras available for an additional charge:

• Tour Extensions

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The following is not included in the tour

• Any transfers not stated above
• Travel Insurance
• Entry to any attractions (e.g. museums, churches) except were explicitly stated
• Flights

We believe that the hotels that you stay in are just as important as the towns that you visit and the scenery that you ride through. On this tour we have chosen accommodation that is of a high quality and is typical to the area - with several hotels also operating as wineries.

Logroño

In Logroño, we stay in an elegant **** hotel in the heart of the old town, just a short walk from the cathedral.

Laguardia

In Laguardia we stay in a fine **** hotel, complete with oil and wine spa facilities, and just a short distance from the town's beautiful historic center.

Haro

In Haro we stay in a beautiful **** hotel in the old town. Situated in a converted 14th century convent, this is a delightful and luxurious place to stay.

Santo Domingo de la Calzada

Here we stay in the fantastic Parador hotel. This **** accommodation is housed in a stunning gothic building dating from the 12th century and is located in the heart of the small town.

Eltziego

In Eltziego we stay in another delightful historic hotel, which has its own wine cellar and beautiful rooms.


To find out more about how we select our hotels, please see our accommodation page.

To reserve a place on the tour, please follow the link below to continue to our reservation form. Once we have received the form, we will be in contact to confirm the booking and to arrange for the payment of the deposit.

If you would like to do this tour in a group of more than six people as a guided tour, please contact us and we can arrange a private guided tour.