Bilbao to Madrid Bicycle Tour Itinerary
Day One: Bilbao – Elciego
You will have the morning to explore the city of Bilbao, but most importantly we suggest you take the time to visit the Guggenheim museum designed by Frank Gehry – the first but the not the last time you’ll encounter his works on this trip. Your guides will greet you at the museum afterwards to bring you on a short walk for your first meal as a group in true Basque style with pinchos (commonly known as tapas in the rest of Spain). A toast to a great week of cycling, Spanish cuisine and wine, and fantastic hotels! Your luggage will be fetched at the hotel during this time. Once your appetite has been satisfied your guides will drive you an hour south through the beautiful Basque countryside and into the Rioja wine region. When you arrive at your hotel in Elciego, you’ll be pleased to discover that you’ll be spending two nights in one of Frank Gehry’s own creations, the hotel of Marques de Riscal. A map overview and bike fitting is necessary before we take off for a short spin around the area - a seemingly endless stretch of vineyards. A pre-dinner cocktail followed by fun bistro style meal will start the week with a bang.
Meals: Light Lunch / Dinner
Destinations visited: Bilbao, Elciego
Distance cycled: 17 km / 10.6 miles
Destinations visited: Bilbao, Elciego
Distance cycled: 17 km / 10.6 miles
Day Two: Tempranillo and la Rioja
Today we will ride along the banks of the Ebro River - the lifeline of the Rioja wine region – throughout Elciego, Villabuena de Alava to Samaniego. At an exclusive visit to the Arabarte winery, we’ll have a tasting and traditional Rioja-style lunch, a true feast! Then you will follow these soft and scenic rolling hills all the way back to the Marques de Riscal hotel, where you’ll have ample time to enjoy the Caudalie SPA, luxurious and relaxing spaces where you can take a swim and treat yourself to various treatments. Once you are fully rejuvenated, we will transfer everyone to Laguardia, the medieval walled city famous for its tapas restaurants. We will spend the evening here exploring the town. Your guides have plenty of suggestions on where to eat, but you’re always welcome to join them at their favorite traditional restaurant.
Today we will ride along the banks of the Ebro River - the lifeline of the Rioja wine region – throughout Elciego, Villabuena de Alava to Samaniego. At an exclusive visit to the Arabarte winery, we’ll have a tasting and traditional Rioja-style lunch, a true feast! Then you will follow these soft and scenic rolling hills all the way back to the Marques de Riscal hotel, where you’ll have ample time to enjoy the Caudalie SPA, luxurious and relaxing spaces where you can take a swim and treat yourself to various treatments. Once you are fully rejuvenated, we will transfer everyone to Laguardia, the medieval walled city famous for its tapas restaurants. We will spend the evening here exploring the town. Your guides have plenty of suggestions on where to eat, but you’re always welcome to join them at their favorite traditional restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Destinations visited: Elciego, Villabuena de Alava, Samaniego, Abalos, Laguardia
Distance cycled: 45 km / 27.9 miles
Destinations visited: Elciego, Villabuena de Alava, Samaniego, Abalos, Laguardia
Distance cycled: 45 km / 27.9 miles
Day Three: Elciego – Lerma
Today we’ll ride through the picturesque towns of Briones to see the Museo Dinastia Vivanco, one of the best wine museums in the world, before we continue through Azofre.We’ll then ride through the picturesque towns of Briones to see the Museo Dinastia Vivanco, one of the best wine museums in the world, before we continue through Azofre. After waving to the pilgrims hiking westward on the thousand-year-old Camino de Santiago (Saint James Way), we'll stop at the monastery of San Millan de la Cogolla for lunch. This is the birthplace of the Spanish (Castilian) and Basque language. Later this afternoon, we’ll take a drive to the fortress town of Lerma where we’ll have dinner and stay the night in the town’s Parador, once the Duke of Lerma’s private residence, established between 1601 and 1617 as a retreat for King Felipe III.
Today we’ll ride through the picturesque towns of Briones to see the Museo Dinastia Vivanco, one of the best wine museums in the world, before we continue through Azofre.We’ll then ride through the picturesque towns of Briones to see the Museo Dinastia Vivanco, one of the best wine museums in the world, before we continue through Azofre. After waving to the pilgrims hiking westward on the thousand-year-old Camino de Santiago (Saint James Way), we'll stop at the monastery of San Millan de la Cogolla for lunch. This is the birthplace of the Spanish (Castilian) and Basque language. Later this afternoon, we’ll take a drive to the fortress town of Lerma where we’ll have dinner and stay the night in the town’s Parador, once the Duke of Lerma’s private residence, established between 1601 and 1617 as a retreat for King Felipe III.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations visited: Briones, Azofre, Lerma
(1.5 hour transfer to Lerma)
Distance cycled: 38 km / 23.5 miles
Destinations visited: Briones, Azofre, Lerma
(1.5 hour transfer to Lerma)
Distance cycled: 38 km / 23.5 miles
Day Four: Lerma – Aranda del Duero
Today we begin with a short drive to Santo Domingo de Silos, where we’ll visit the monastery that made Gregorian chanting internationally famous. Once you’ve had enough spiritual inspiration we’ll enjoy one of the most scenic rides of the week to Peñaranda del Duero, entering the Ribera del Duero wine region and stopping to visit the Yecla Gorge. Your guides, also posing as master chefs, will have prepared a gourmet picnic at the castle of Peñaranda amidst the outstanding landscape that you can admire from above. We’ll continue further into the region of the Ribera del Duero. Wine has been produced in the region for thousands of years, but viticulture as we know it probably arrived in the region with Benedictine monks from Cluny in the Burgundy region of France in the twelfth century. We’ll get a behind the scenes tour of one of the oldest family wineries in the area at Torremilanos, as well as their own cooperage, a rare private production in modern times. Dinner tonight will feature the best of traditional Duero cooking in the private library of the hotel.
Today we begin with a short drive to Santo Domingo de Silos, where we’ll visit the monastery that made Gregorian chanting internationally famous. Once you’ve had enough spiritual inspiration we’ll enjoy one of the most scenic rides of the week to Peñaranda del Duero, entering the Ribera del Duero wine region and stopping to visit the Yecla Gorge. Your guides, also posing as master chefs, will have prepared a gourmet picnic at the castle of Peñaranda amidst the outstanding landscape that you can admire from above. We’ll continue further into the region of the Ribera del Duero. Wine has been produced in the region for thousands of years, but viticulture as we know it probably arrived in the region with Benedictine monks from Cluny in the Burgundy region of France in the twelfth century. We’ll get a behind the scenes tour of one of the oldest family wineries in the area at Torremilanos, as well as their own cooperage, a rare private production in modern times. Dinner tonight will feature the best of traditional Duero cooking in the private library of the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast / Gourmet Picnic / Dinner
Destinations visited: Santo Domingo de Silos, Yecla Gorge, Ribera del Duero, Peñaranda del Duero
Distance cycled: 47 km / 29.1 miles
Destinations visited: Santo Domingo de Silos, Yecla Gorge, Ribera del Duero, Peñaranda del Duero
Distance cycled: 47 km / 29.1 miles
Day Five: Aranda del Duero – Pedraza
We begin the day with a van ride to the hillside town of Sepúlveda, dramatically situated on the edge of the Duratón Canyon Nature Reserve (Castile’s most important reserve for birds of prey). Once we’ve had a chance to wander the streets and visit its Romanesque monuments, we’ll ride through wheat fields and Segovian towns to the Casla River. From here we’ll follow the river's course to the fortress town of Pedraza de la Sierra, a relic of the Renaissance. This ancient town is often the site of period films – it’s a delight to find such a well preserved fortified town. At nights while you walk around the narrow cobblestone streets you can easily picture yourself at a time when knights and their cavalry still paraded through town. The center square was perfectly designed to host yearly bull fights in the shadow of the castle that looms above. In this particular square we will have our last meal together, feasting on dishes using only local ingredients.
We begin the day with a van ride to the hillside town of Sepúlveda, dramatically situated on the edge of the Duratón Canyon Nature Reserve (Castile’s most important reserve for birds of prey). Once we’ve had a chance to wander the streets and visit its Romanesque monuments, we’ll ride through wheat fields and Segovian towns to the Casla River. From here we’ll follow the river's course to the fortress town of Pedraza de la Sierra, a relic of the Renaissance. This ancient town is often the site of period films – it’s a delight to find such a well preserved fortified town. At nights while you walk around the narrow cobblestone streets you can easily picture yourself at a time when knights and their cavalry still paraded through town. The center square was perfectly designed to host yearly bull fights in the shadow of the castle that looms above. In this particular square we will have our last meal together, feasting on dishes using only local ingredients.
Meals: Breakfast / Gourmet Picnic / Dinner
Destinations visited: Sepúlveda, La Matilla, La Velilla & Pedraza
Distance cycled: 38 km / 23.5 miles
Destinations visited: Sepúlveda, La Matilla, La Velilla & Pedraza
Distance cycled: 38 km / 23.5 miles
Day Six: Pedraza – Segovia - Madrid
Say adios to new friends made. Our guides will transfer you to Madrid, stopping along the way to visit Segovia, an exquisite town filled with stunning architecture and fabulous shopping. Once back in Madrid you cannot miss one of a few authentic Flamenco music demonstrations in the back streets of this architecturally impressive Spanish capital.
Say adios to new friends made. Our guides will transfer you to Madrid, stopping along the way to visit Segovia, an exquisite town filled with stunning architecture and fabulous shopping. Once back in Madrid you cannot miss one of a few authentic Flamenco music demonstrations in the back streets of this architecturally impressive Spanish capital.
Meal: Breakfast
Destination visited: Segovia & Madrid
Accomplished: Total Satisfaction!
Destination visited: Segovia & Madrid
Accomplished: Total Satisfaction!
TRIP TOTAL: 178KM / 110.2 MILES, averaging 42km / 26 miles per day. Optional longer rides available each day.
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$4295 View 2012 Dates
6 days/5 nights
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