On this guided cycling holiday in Northern Spain we visit the wine regions of Rioja and the Basque Country. We cycle through vineyards and alongside the gently rolling valley of the River Ebro.
Starting in Bilbao, we ride between charming villages and historic towns, while visiting UNESCO World Heritage sites and some of the region's best wineries. We also stay in incredible boutique hotels, all housed in a range of stunning buildings, and we indulge in the best of the local gastronomy.
This tour is designed as a leisurely cycling holiday and is suitable for riders of all levels, with different route options depending on how far you wish to ride. Below you can find a detailed itinerary, and click on the tabs to see more highlights, as well as all the practical information about the holiday.
The tour begins when we collect you from Bilbao airport or train station and transfer you to the hotel in the centre of Bilbao.
After check-in, you are free to explore the city - the largest in the Basque Country. Highlights include the world famous
Guggenheim museum and the bustling streets of the old town.
Bilbao also has a fine tradition in gastronomy. For dinner, we enjoy a great selection of local pintxos: the Basque version of tapas.
Guggenheim Museum - Bilbao
Day 2 - Haro
We begin the day by transferring you out of Bilbao, to avoid some of the busier roads around the edge of the city, and continue to the town of Haro. Here we do the bike fitting and begin the cycling part of the tour
with a beautiful circular ride through the vineyards.
We visit a 13th century castle and cross the stunning Ebro river before stopping for a three course lunch in an excellent local restaurant.
On our return to Haro we visit one of the best wineries in the town for a tasting.
Cycle Routes:
Shorter Route: 33km (20 miles)
Longer Route: 45km (28 miles)
San Vicente Castle
Day 3 - San Millán de Cogolla
The ride today begins by crossing a charming Roman bridge as we ride through scenic open farmland. We stop for coffee in the center of Santo Domingo - an historic
town that was built in the 12th century to assist piligrims on the Camino de Santiago.
From Santo Domingo we head south to the edge of the Sierra de la Demanda Natural Park. Our destination is the San Millán de la Cogolla, a small village which is home to two UNESCO World Heritage listed monasteries.
After lunch, you will have plenty of time to look around the Medieval monasteries, because our hotel for the night is housed within one of them.
Cycle Routes:
Shorter Route: 32km (20 miles)
Longer Route: 50km (32 miles)
Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Day 4 - Laguardia
The day begins with a long and gentle downhill, as we ride along a short section of the Camino de Santiago route. We cross the River Ebro and
continue along quiet lanes through the vineyards, until we reach the charming Medieval town of Laguardia.
Set on a hill top overlooking the Ebro Valley, Laguardia has a beautiful fortified center with various buildings dating back to the Middle Ages. The fortified nature of the town hints at its
strategic importance throughout history - situated on the border between the Medieval kingdoms of Castille and Navarre.
After lunch we visit the Marques de Riscal winery. Housed in a spectacular building designed by architect Frank Gehry, they produce some of the best selling high class wines in Spain.
We will taste three of them on a tour of their holdings.
Cycle Routes:
Shorter Route: 39km (24 miles)
Longer Route: 56km (35 miles)
The picturesque Ebro Valley
Day 5 - Eguren Ugarte Winery
We leave Laguardia to the west and continue mostly downhill through the vineyards until we reach the Ebro River. After riding alongside the river for a short distance we stop for coffee and then continue to the small village of Paganos.
In Paganos we stop for lunch in one of the finest restaurants in the region, enjoying a spectacular seven course tasting menu, before continuing the very short distance to our hotel.
The boutique hotel is an independent winery with stunning views over the Ebro River valley. Here we will also enjoy a wine tasting and tour of the charming wine cellars underneath the hotel.
Cycle Routes:
Shorter Route: 31km (19 miles)
Longer Route: 43km (27 miles)
Delicious Desserts from our Tasting Menu
Day 6 - Logroño
On the final day in the saddle we follow a rolling route on narrow lanes through the heart of the vineyards. The scenery is beautiful here and there is almost no traffic throughout most of the route.
Our destination is the city of Logroño, the capital of the Rioja region, and one of the most historic cities in northern Spain.
Logroño also has a fine gastronomic tradition, and is famous for its pintxos and tapas bars. Of course, as you would expect from the capital of Rioja, there are also many delightful bodegas where you can sample the local wine!
Cycle Route:
Shorter Route: 27km (17 miles)
Longer Route: 50km (32 miles)
Riding through the Vineyards
Day 7 - Departure / Extensions
After breakfast, the cycling holiday comes to an end. We can help to arrange extra nights for you to stay in Rioja to discover even more about this great region.
If you prefer not to extend your stay, we will transfer you to Logroño airport or train station in time for your onward journey.
To find out more information about this holiday; including practical information, prices, dates and more tour highlights; return to the top of the page and click on the various tabs.
Extend your stay in the Rioja region or elsewhere
This tour explores the best of the Rioja wine region. We ride through beautiful scenery on quiet country lanes; surrounded by vineyards and picturesque farmland.
On the routes we ride through delightful villages, we ride past ancient monuments and we explore the history and culture of the region. We stay in hotels housed in stunning historic buildings, and we
sample some of the finest wine and gastronomy in this charming part of Spain.
Bilbao
The largest city of the Basque country has a vibrant historic center filled with excellent bars and restaurants.
Guggenheim Museum
One of the highlights of Bilbao. This is one of the best modern art museums in Europe.
Vineyards
Vineyards are simply everywhere in the Rioja region.
San Vicente Castle
This charming castle is situated overlooking the River Ebro, which was an important frontier in the Middle Ages.
River Ebro
This birdseye view of the river is from San Vicente castle. From the castle we enjoy a fun descent and then cross the Medieval bridge.
Muga Winery Tour
We tour one of the best known wineries in the region. Almost uniquely, they also still make their own oak barrels and toast them on the premises, giving a real insight into the full wine-making process.
Wine Tasting
After the tour we enjoy the tasting!
Rolling Rioja
The routes here are mostly rolling; not completely flat and not too hilly. This variety, along with the stunning scenery, always keeps it interesting.
Riojan Gastronomy
It's not just the wine in this region that is excellent. Riojan cuisine is among the finest in Spain - and we sample both traditional dishes and some more fine dining.
Tasting Menu
This seven course tasting menu is one of the food highlights of the holiday.
Desserts
Not to be missed either!
Quiet Country Roads
There is very little traffic on this tour. You can ride for long periods of time without seeing a single car.A charming cycle route alongside the River Ebro.
Roman Bridge
This beautiful bridge is one of several remains from ancient times. The Romans brought the first vineyards to Rioja, and the Ebro Valley was one of the first regions that they conquered in Spain.
Eguren Ugarte Winery Hotel
We spend a night in this stunning hotel and enjoy a wine tasting in its cellars.
Santo Domingo de la Calzada
This historic city is situated on the Camino de Santiago route.
Wine Caves
These underground wine caves are quiet spots where friends enjoy a bottle or two while shaded from the hot sun.
Open Scenery
The open scenery of the Ebro Valley is framed by the mountains of the Basque Country, which provide an impressive backdrop.
Traditional Paella
About to tuck in to a couple of paellas!
Logroño Vineyards
Some of the best vineyards are right on the doorstep of the region's largest city.
Included
✔ 6 Nights Accommodation (see the Hotels section for more details)
✔ 14 meals: 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches & 2 evening meals (all with drinks and tips inlcuded)
✔ Bicycle Hire (Hybrid, road or e-bike) (see below for details)
✔ Transfers to and from the arrival and departure points (see below for details)
Bicycle hire is included in the cost of the holiday. We recommend our lightweight hybrid bikes or e-bikes for this tour.
If you prefer we can also provide road bikes, although the routes do change slightly for these to avoid a couple of gravel sections.
More details about our bikes can be found on our bicycles page.
All of our bikes come with helmets and handlebar bags if required, as well as a Cycle Fiesta water bottle.
Our lightweight hybrid bikes
Difficulty Level & Roads
We rate this tour as mostly easy level if you ride the shorter routes. They are gently rolling with no long or very steep climbs. The ride on day 4 is slightly longer and is closer to medium level, but is still not overly strenuous.
The longer routes have a few more hills and we classify these as being a medium level. You can choose whether to do the shorter or longer ride on any given day. In any case, the route lengths are more suggestions than strict guidlines: the tour is fully supported so you can get in the van whenever you feel like it!
This is a leisurely tour where we stop frequently to check out places of interest, and we encourage everyone to ride at their own pace.
We hate cycling alongside traffic, and so ride on a combination of quiet paved roads and cycling greenways. The majority of the route is paved, but there are some light gravel sections. These can be avoided if you are on a road bike or prefer to stay entirely on paved roads.
The arrival point is Bilbao, which has an airport with flights to many domestic and international destinations.
If you can not get a direct flight to Bilbao, there are also regular trains and buses running there from San Sebastian, Madrid and Barcelona. We will collect you from the airport, train station or another hotel in Bilbao at the start of the tour.
The departure is from Logroño, which is the capital of the Rioja region and has very good train connections to both Madrid and Bilbao.
It also has a small airport, with mostly domestic flights (Madrid and Barcelona).
Please contact us if you would like any advice or more information regarding getting to and from the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please browse through some of the frequently asked questions about this cycling tour. If you have any further questions, or would like any more information, please contact us and we will
answer by email.
When is the weather best to go on this tour?
We run this tour in late spring and early autumn each year; the weather is usually warm and dry at this time without being too hot.
In the winter and early spring it can be quite cool and wet in the Rioja region, so it's not the ideal time to visit.
Groups of more than six people please contact us to arrange the dates for a private tour.
Can non-cyclists come on the trip?
Absolutely! Non-cyclists are more than welcome.
Although cycling is a big part of the holiday, we also do a lot off the bike. Usually non-cyclists ride in the support vehicle and can explore the various towns and villages along the route.
How big are the groups on your tour?
We usually limit the groups to a maximum of 10 people. We find that if there are many more than that, it can become a bit unwieldly. We think that smaller groups also provide for a more
personal experience, as well as enabling to book more easily in some of our favourite restaurants.
Who is leading the tour?
All of our guided tours are led personally by the founders of Cycle Fiesta - Ian & Lucia.
Yes, we would be happy to arrange any tour extensions for you. If you would like to spend more time in Rioja, the Basque Country, or elsewhere in Spain, we can help you with the bookings and transport.
Can I do this as a private guided tour?
Yes, we can run this as a private tour for groups of six or more people. Please get in contact with us to discuss dates and any changes you would like to make
Why book with us?
We are a small and independent company who are locally based, which offers several advantages:
- We have a lot personal experience of all of our tours, which have been refined over many years. We believe we are genuine experts in the regions where we run tours, and we are also close at hand to offer support and a personalized service.
- We are flexible and can tailor our itineraries to suit your requirements.
- We have low overheads. We don't spend money on advertising and don't use third party agents. We only sell our tours through this website.
By cutting out the middle man, you can be sure that more of what you pay is
being spent on the important things: like hotels, equipment and other services.
- We are a registered and fully bonded tour operator in accordance with EU regulations.
This stylish 4-star hotel is located in the heart of Bilbao.
It's ideally situated on the edge of the old quarter and just a ten minute walk from the Guggenheim Museum.
Los Agustinos
In Haro we stay in this 4-star hotel, housed in a beautiful former 14th century convent in the town center. The rooms are set around a large central cloister that oozes with history and charm.
San Millán Monastery Hotel
This 4-star hotel is housed within the Yuso Monastery - a UNESCO World Heritage Site, that is famed for being the home of the Spanish language. The large rooms combine modern comforts with the rich history of the building.
Hotel Mayor de Migueloa
This boutique 3-star hotel is right in the heart of Laguardia, inside the Medieval walls. It is housed in a 17th century palace that is a listed monument. It has elegant rooms and its own wine cellars that you can explore beneath the building.
Eguren Ugarte
This boutique hotel is part of a local winery. The large rooms look out over the expansive vineyards and the hotel is housed in a stylish modern building. On the tour of the vineyard you can explore the unique cellars and tasting rooms of this charming hotel.
Hotel Calle Mayor
A 4-star hotel in the historic center of Logroño. It is housed in a 16th century mansion and is just a short walk from the city's cathedral and lively calle Laurel district. The large rooms are beautifully decorated.
To find out more about how we select our hotels, please see our accommodation page.
Date
Price (per person)¹
Single Supplement
Bike Hire
10th - 16th September 2022
€1,390 EUR
€370 EUR
Included
18th - 24th June 2023
€1,390 EUR
€370 EUR
Included
16th - 22nd September 2023
€1,390 EUR
€370 EUR
Included
Other Dates²
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¹Price is 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.
To reserve a place on the tour, click the button above and complete the reservation form. We will then get back to you within 24 hours to confirm the reservation, and to arrange for payment of the deposit.
For more details on the booking process, please check out our Reservations page.
²Other Dates
Groups of six people or more contact us to arrange a private guided tour
starting on any date.
Spain
