La Rioja Descent Bike Tour
Hotel & Bike • 7 nights
VISITING: Spain
Overview
Why we love this tour
Dramatic canyons, green valleys, rich forests and blue reservoirs
Wild mountains home to vultures and eagles
Monasteries, iconic churches, stone castles and mountain villages
Easy-going rides with adventurous detours or shorter cycles
Guiding
Distance
Level
Standard
Departs
Runs
Code
Fly to
Good for
Return
Discover the parts of Spain other tourists rarely see as you follow the country’s longest river from its source in the wild Cantabrian Mountains to the La Rioja wine region. Take your pick of the monasteries, ancient churches and stone castles to stop off at along the way and choose additional detours or shorter cycles to suit your ability.
Wide river canyons, dramatic valleys and limestone mountains are a firm feature of this tour and, as you ride through the green pastures of Cantabria and pedal alongside the River Ebro, you’ll trace the shores of a reservoir and cycle through rich Mediterranean forests. Stop off for tapas and look forward to tasting some of Spain’s finest wines when you ride into La Rioja, a region of vast vineyards, ancient villages and welcoming wine cellars known locally as bodegas.
The Trip
Route
Please note, route maps on our website do not follow the exact route of the tour.
Itinerary
or click on individual days
Accommodation
Country Inns and 3 & 4* Hotels
We use a pool of carefully selected cyclist-friendly country inns & 3 and 4-star hotels, all offering en-suite rooms, and breakfast. The example hotels listed below give you a flavour of the style and standard of accommodation on this tour.
Example hotels
Campoo - Posada de Ormas
Polientes - Cuartelillo Viejo
Valle de Zamanzas - Posada Molino del Canto
Medina de Pomar - Hotel Romanca
Frias area - Casa Rural Posada Colás
Haro - Hotel Arrope
Laguardia - Hospedería de los Parajes
A mix of country inns and 3 & 4* hotels
Breakfast plus five evenings meals and wine included
Secure bike storage
Luggage transferred each day
What's included
Price includes
7 nights accommodation: country inns and 3 & 4 star hotels
Board basis: 7 x breakfasts and 5 x evening meals (Days 1 to 5 - wine included)
Luggage transportation (max 2 items per person)
Maps and route information - GPS tracks available
Group transfer from/to Bilbao or Santander at start and finish of tour
Price excludes
Flights
Bike hire
Bike hire and extras
Bike hire
Pannier, helmet, handlebar bag, water bottle, odometer, repair kit, inner tube, pump and lock all included at no extra cost when you hire a bike or e-bike. Water bottle, odometer, repair kit, inner tube, pump and lock all included at no extra cost when you hire a road bike.
Hybrid Bike
Trek FX with 27 gears
E Bike
Tandem Bike
Dawes Duet Twin with 21 gears on request
Carbon road bike
Cube Attain GTC carbon 22 gear road bike (50/34 chainring - 11/22 cassette - 22 speed)
Bike box transfer
Other Extras
Helmet
Helmet hire
:
Friendly service with expert knowledge
Easy to book and pay online
Full financial protection
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about this tour. Simply click on a question to reveal the answer.
On Day 8 a transfer is provided from Laguardia to Bilbao leaving at 9am. Fly from Bilbao or Santander. A bus from Laguardia to Logrona is recommended for onward train travel.
Moderate cycling holidays are ideal for regular cyclists as the bike routes require a moderate degree of fitness, which you should have acquired by regular cycling.
We are always on hand to offer advice, so please give us a call if you wish to chat about the tour’s grading.
We use a pool of carefully selected cyclist-friendly hotels to maximise availability. This helps us do our best to secure your preferred dates, regardless of the time of year. Hotels are typically chosen for their secure bike storage, proximity to cycle routes, and accessibility for the luggage transfers. They all feature en-suite rooms and come with breakfast included as standard.