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(360) 244-4254Rioja Vineyards & Basque Country
- Guided 6 Nights
- Arrival - Bilbao
- Departure - Logroño*
- Difficulty - Easy-Medium
- Price - €1470
- Dates - May-September
Photo Album
This marquee guided cycling holiday visits some of the best parts of the Rioja and Basque provinces - one of the premier wine regions in the world.
The tour offers superb cycling routes through vineyards and along very quiet and picturesque country lanes which are suitable for riders of all levels. This is one of our favourite areas of Spain to cycle, with beautiful historic villages dotted along stunning scenery throughout the rides, and we
also stay in the stunning cities of Bilbao and Logroño.
But the cycling only forms part of the trip. We also visit great historic sites, including Roman remains and Medieval castles. And we sample the excellent food and wine from Spain's best
gastronomic region.
The accommodation is among the finest in the area and includes a 15th century convent, a 16th century town house, and a first class winery, providing a diverse and memorable experience.
We also have a wine tour and tasting in one of Rioja's classic vineyards, and enjoy tasting menus, pintxos and tapas in great restaurants.
Day 1 - Bilbao
The tour begins when we collect you from Bilbao airport or train station and transfer you to the comfortable **** 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 narrow streets of the old town.
Bilbao is also home to an excellent gastronomic condition and, for dinner, we head into the lively main square to enjoy some of the best tapas and pintxos that the city has to offer.
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.We follow a quiet balcony road overlooking the imposing Ebro River before a coffee stop in the pleasant town of Miranda de Ebro. We return to Haro via a different route, passing through some of the vineyards that are so typical of the Rioja region.
Our destination, Haro, is home to many of the most iconic wineries in the Rioja region. Here we stay in a stunning 15th century former convent situated in the heart of the town and, in the afternoon, there is the opportunity to do a wine tasting at one of the marquee wineries.
Distance: 30-39km (plus optional extensions)
Day 3 – Santo Domingo de la Calzada
The ride today heads south, following quiet country lanes as we pass through small, sleepy villages. Early in the route we cross a stunning Roman bridge constructed two thousand years ago, shortly after the region had
been submitted to Roman rule following expeditions by Pompey the Great and Julius Caesar.
From here we continue along quiet rural lanes to 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: 26km (+ optional extensions)
Day 4 – Laguardia
Today is one of the most enjoyable days on the bike; we follow quiet, rolling lanes out of Santo Domingo and head back towards the delightful vineyards in the heart of the Rioja wine region. The day is relatively long, but
there is more downhill than up, making it not too challenging.
Our destination is the historic 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. 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.
Distance: 35km (plus optional extensions)
Day 5 – Rioja Vineyards
We leave Laguardia to the west and continue mostly downhill through the vineyards until we reach the Ebro River. After continuing alongside the river for a short distance we arrive at our coffee stop - the town of San Vicente. Here we
also visit the stunning 11th century castle - one of the highlights of the route - before arriving in 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.
Distance: 47km (+ optional extensions)
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!
Distance: 25km (+ optional extensions)
Day 7 – Departure
At the end of the tour we will transfer you to Logroño airport or train station in time for your onward connection. We are also able to provide transfers to the city of Bilbao upon request.
Prices & Dates
Maximum group size: 10
| Price (per person)* | Single Supplement | Bike Hire | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31st May - 6th June 2020 | €1470 | €280 | Included |
| 12th - 18th September 2020 | €1470 | €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
- 5 x Lunches and 3 x Evening meals in excellent local restaurants (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)
The following are optional extras available for an additional charge:
- Tour Extensions
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
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.
How far do I cycle each day on this tour?
The basic route is 30-40km each day, along gently rolling terrain for the most part.
There are also additional extensions every day if you would wish to cycle further.
Most of the routes are on fully asphalted roads, with some short optional sections on a gravel trail.
How difficult is this tour?
This tour is rated as easy. The routes are mostly gently rolling and the daily distances are quite low. Because it is a guided tour there is also vehicle support at any point if you find the tour too challenging, or just feel like having a bit of a rest!
If you would like to do a more challenging tour in the region, please let us know and we can work in some daily route extensions.
What is a single supplement?
Our prices are based on two people sharing a hotel room (in a double or twin room). For cyclists that wish to stay in their own room, the single supplement is payable.
The cost is made up of the extra cost of accommodation when the room is single occupancy and also the greater cost of the transfers (luggage and people) when it is not split between two or more cyclists. We have made every effort to keep this to a minimum wherever possible.
What are the arrival and departure points?
The arrival point is Bilbao, which is accessible from many domestic and international destinations.
If you can not get a direct flight to Bilbao, there are also regular trains running there from San Sebastian, Madrid and Barcelona. We will collect 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).
We can also provide transfers to and from Bilbao or San Sebastian upon request.
How busy are the roads?
The vast majority of this tour is on narrow country lanes and quiet routes through the vineyards.
There is little traffic on all of the the roads that we use.
Can non-cyclists come on the trip?
Absolutely! Non-cyclists are more than welcome and will be fully involved in all aspects of the tour, except the cycling!
Non-cyclists have the option of following the group in the support vehicle, or spending longer exploring the towns and cities where we are based, before being transfered separately in the afternoon.
What type of bikes do you hire?
Both road bikes and hybrids are available for this tour. However, we would recommend hybrids as the distances are quite low and the more upright position will allow you to fully appreciate the scenery.
Please see our bicycles page for further details.
When can I do this tour?
We run this tour in summer and early autumn each year. In the winter and early spring it can be quite cool and wet in the Rioja region, so we try to take advantage of the best weather! Groups of more than six people please contact us to arrange the dates for a private tour.
What do the meals consist of on this tour?
All breakfasts and lunches are included, as well as three evening meals.
Breakfast is taken in the hotel each day and is a continental buffet style, with plenty of options to suit all tastes.
Lunch is taken in excellent local restaurants. On most days we enjoy three course menus at gourmet local restaurants, but we also have one seven course tasting menu, and one traditional cider house menu (which might sound a little strange, but trust us, it is one of the highlights of the trip!)
Two of the evening meals are also taken in local restaurants and consist of tapas and pintxos, with lots of interesting sharing plates. The other evening meal is a cheese and wine tasting.
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.
Bilbao
Here we stay in a fantastic **** hotels in the heart of the city. It is ideally situated on the edge of the old quarter and just a ten minute walk from the Guggenheim Museum.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.Laguardia
In Laguardia we stay in a fine **** hotel, situated in a building constructed over 400 years ago, and in the heart of the town's beautiful historic center.Rioja Vineyard
In the heart of the Rioja region we stay in a stunning winery close to the village of Paganos. With large rooms, boasting stunning views, and delightful grounds for exploring, this is one of our favourite hotels to stay in from all of our tours!Logroño
In Logroño, we stay in an elegant **** hotel in the heart of the old town, just a short walk from the cathedral.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.