A Cycling trip -A Millenary Route

Day 1:

Welcome to Bilbao; transfer assistance from airport or train station to hotel, meeting local guide to introduce participants in the area.  You will enjoy a private guided visit to the Guggenheim Museum before having a 50 min. transfer to Loyola Sanctuary in Azpeitia for the first night.  We are in the religious complex where Saint Ignatius of Loyola´s family house used to be.  He was the founder of the Jesuits.  It is a good moment to check the bikes and set everything.  A Welcome dinner is waiting for participants.

Night & dinner in Azpeitia: Santuario de Loyola – Arrupe

Day 2:

After having breakfast at the hotel and packing everything, we start cycling along the Urola green way following the river that supported for a long time the iron industrial activity of the region.  The ride is a good chance to learn about the recent past.  At the end of the route, we arrive in Oñati; in the heart of the Basque Country, full of tradition, and where the first University was established back in the XVI th Century.  We have a traditional welcoming dance called “Aurresku” that shows respect to our guests, and now you are our guests in this beautiful route.  We will visit the Chocolate Interpretation Center and discover the secrets of this cocoa tradition form the XVIII th Century.

• Night & dinner in Oñati: Hotel Torre Zumeltzegi *** or similar

Cycling distance Azpeaitia – Legazpi – Oñati 48 km

Day 3:

As every day, the main luggage needs to be transferred to the Next Hotel while participants just carry a few things with them along the cycling route.  Today you will ride your bikes along different villages in the heart of Gipuzkoa´s region.  Going uphill towards Salinas de Leniz, we will have a visit to the Salt Museum that used to be powered by a salty river moving the mill.  From this point a downhill will take us to the capital of the Basque Country; Gasteiz.  The afternoon is for free to enjoy different corners of the old town. 

• Night in Gasteiz:  Hotel NH Canciller Ayala *** or similar

Cycling distance Oñati – Salinas de Leniz – Gasteiz 40 km

Day 4:

Leaving behind the activity of the city, the route continues east towards Navarre.  We are following the green way- train track that used to link the Basque Country with Navarre.  A very flat landscape along a plateau where the wine, potatoes and olive oil tradition have its relevance.  Let´ s try km 0 products from the garden and learn more about ecological production.

• Cycling distance Gasteiz – Santa Cruz de Campezo 45 km
• Night & dinner in Santa Cruz de Campezo:  traditional B&B Ibernalo or similar

Day 5:

The route keeps going east, and in Estella joins the ancestral pilgrimage Way of Saint James.  Pilgrims go west towards Santiago while we cross them on our way towards the end of the day.  We can share moments and experiences with people coming from many different countries, looking for a personal spiritual experience.

• Cycling distance  Santa Cruz de Campezo – Estella – Puente la Reina 54 km
• Night & dinner in Puente la Reina:  Hotel Jakue (bike friendly) or similar

Day 6:

Today´s route is the last one.  We finish this millenary route in the former capital of the kingdom of Navarre.  Famous during summertime because of the running of the bull’s festival, and a very nice place to get lost while discovering different corners along its old quarter.  We can follow Hemingway´ s steps and imagine the emotions he describes in his book “fiesta”.  We will enjoy a farewell dinner for the group.

– Cycling distance Puente la Reina – Pamplona 30 km

Night & dinner in Pamplona: Hotel Maisonnave or similar

Day 7:

Transfer to Airport departure terminal going back home.  It was a pleasure having you among us.  Mila esker etortzeagaitik & have a save trip!