 |
 |
| La Rioja Descent | Ref: SP003 |
| 9 days / 8 nights | |
| Price: £653pp (based on 2 people sharing) | |
Type:  |
Self Guided:  |
Level:  |
| Distance: approx 204 miles | ||
travel :
- Fly to Bilbao or Santander.
- Ferry to Bilbao or Santander
- Tain information from Renfe
Itinerary
Day 1 (Saturday):
You will be met at Bilbao Airport and transferred to your hotel in Fontibre. You can go for a short ride to test the bikes.
Day 2 (sunday):
This stage takes you through some fabulous and unspoilt scenery. From the green mountain pastures of the Cantabrian Mountains, along the shores of the Ebro Reservoir, past the Monastery of Montesclaros surrounded by forests to finally rejoin the Ebro in the Valley of Valderredible and tonight’s stop in Villanueva de la Nía. The shorter ride follows the river direct to Villanueva and the longer version circumnavigates the Ebro Reservoir. 33 or 56 miles
Day 3 (monday):
You begin by cycling through the open valley of Valderredible. Take the opportunity to visit the Romanesque church of San Martín de Elines and also the churches carved into the very rock that are so characteristic of this region. As you progress down the river, the sides of the valley begin to close in until you find yourselves in a marvellous canyon of ever increasing dimensions, where eagles and vultures soar overhead. Stop to visit the fairytale village of Orbaneja del Castillo with its cascades running through the village. As you approach Pesquera, the canyon of the Ebro reaches unbelievable dimensions before you finally reach the attractive village that will be the resting place for tonight. 33 miles
Day 4 (tuesday):
A beautiful route that follows a huge bend of the river through the most picturesque and undiscovered villages. Take the optional longer route to visit the old quarter of Medina de Pomar with its castle dominating the town and the surrounding landscape. More eagles and vultures as you rejoin the river in yet another canyon. You will stay the night in the little village of Quintana de Valdivielso. 23 or 44 miles
Day 5 (wednesday):
This route takes you along a quiet country road running parallel to the river where the valley begins to open out again. Visit the Romanesque church of San Pedro de Tejada and soon you are cycling through yet another canyon, which then opens out into the fertile valley around Frías. This is a spectacular village built around its castle and enjoying fine views of the Ebro Valley. The longer route takes a more roundabout trip through the valley of Frías. You finally reach your hotel in the hamlet of Herrán. 23 or 34 miles
Day 6 (thursday):
As you leave Frías the valley begins to close in again until you find yourselves in another spectacular canyon. The road runs along the shores of a reservoir surrounded by high mountains and through short tunnels carved out of the rock. The route crosses the little town of Miranda del Ebro before passing through imposing peaks that signal the gateway to the enormous open valley of La Rioja. Tonight is spent in the wine-producing village of Haro, with a chance to drink a glass or two of Rioja in its birthplace. The shorter route terminates in Miranda and there is a transfer to Haro. 26 or 36 miles
Day 7 (friday):
Day seven starts with a visit to one of the many famous bodegas in Haro, complete with wine tasting. You then cycle through endless vineyards and numerous picturesque villages of La Rioja, with the backdrop of the Sierra de Cantabria mountains and the Ebro never too far away. We finally reach the superb walled medieval village of Laguardia where, as in Haro, wine is almost a way of life. 31 miles
Day 8 (saturday):
Today is a day of choices to explore La Rioja. Take a trip to the capital, Logroño. Enjoy a tour round one of the bodegas with wine tasting included. Do some last minute shopping. Take it easy, or take another last ride. Cycle up to the “Balcony of La Rioja”, with its incomparable views over the valley and across to the neighbouring provinces of Soria, Navarra and Burgos.
Day 9 (sunday):
Time to exchange contact details with the group and then transfer to departure point.
or
Use the drop down menus above to select a location or holiday by grade
Cycling Holidays in Spain
Hotel and Cycle
