Rioja Bike Tour
Basque Country, Bilbao, and the Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain
Itinerary
Print Itinerary- Day 1
To the Source
Your DuVine guides will greet you at one of our recommended hotels in downtown Bilbao, then we’re off to our boutique Relais & Châteaux hotel. After a safety review and bike fitting, we’ll head out on our first ride following the Rio Oja, the river that gives this famous wine region its name. In typical Spanish style, we celebrate the beginning of our adventure with a gastronomic lunch prepared by a two-Michelin-stared chef, Francis Paniego. This evening, join your guides for a stroll into the charming village of Ezcaray and enjoy a casual nightcap of tapas and local wine.
Meals: Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Bilbao, Ezcaray
Accomplished: 16 miles / 25 km, elevation gain: 1,105 feet / 337 meters
Longer Option: 32 miles / 52 km, elevation gain: 3,986 feet / 1,215 meters
Accommodations: Hotel Echaurren - Day 2
Saints and Cellars
Before we depart, choose to visit a luxury scarf and blanket weaver to stock up on a few souvenirs in Ezcaray. We bid farewell to Ezcaray and ride to the village of Santo Domingo de la Calzada. Stopping at a pilgrim’s café, your guides will regale you with the story of Saint Dominic and recount the miracle of the rooster. Our own pilgrimage continues along vineyard roads and past medieval villages. Along the way, stop for photos at a 2,000-year-old Roman bridge before arriving in the town of Haro—the spiritual capital of the Rioja wine region. We’ll break for lunch in the barrel room of a historic winery located in the heart of the railway station quarter. Inaugurated in 1863, Spain’s first electric railway was built to transport Rioja wines to Bilbao and beyond, bringing them to export markets around the world—many of the region’s best-known wine houses established their home base here. After lunch, opt for some extra miles or hop in the van to transfer back to our luxury hotel nestled in the heart of the charming town of Briones. Spend the afternoon exploring the town before dinner at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Santo Domingo de la Calzada, Briones
Accomplished: 36 miles / 58 km, elevation gain: 1,453 feet / 443 meters
Longer Option: 45 miles / 72 km, elevation gain: 1,443 feet / 440 meters
Accommodations: Hotel Santa Maria De Briones - Day 3
Origins of the Spanish Language
Today we cruise south to the 11th-century UNESCO World Heritage Monastery of Yuso, considered the birthplace of the Spanish language. We’ll pass pilgrims as they hike this section of the 500-mile Camino de Santiago, stopping for our own visit at this historic monument. Following our visit to this historic monument, we hop on our bikes for a short ride to an old flour mill for a tapas lunch accompanied by fruity local wine or an ice-cold cerveza. The mill has been preserved in working order and can be visited if you wish. After lunch, choose to bike back to our hotel, or transfer by van for some downtime or a Spanish siesta. Tonight, we transfer to downtown Haro for dinner at a family-owned restaurant that’s been serving its famous wood-oven roasted lamb since 1870.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: San Millan de la Cogolla
Accomplished: 21 miles / 34 km, elevation gain: 1,692 feet / 516 meters
Longer Option: 40 miles / 64 km, elevation gain: 2,667 feet / 813 meters
Accommodations: Hotel Santa Maria De Briones - Day 4
The Dynasties of Rioja
We begin the day with a relaxed start before making the short descent to the Dinastía Vivanco, a family winery that’s also Spain’s largest private museum of wine accouterments and art. Back on our bikes, we’ll pedal through undulating vineyards to the small town of Elciego where we’ll have lunch with our friend Irene at her family-run winery. She’ll prepare a barbeque of fish or meat grilled over wood cuttings from her vines, paired with a selection of her estate’s wines. On the short ride to our iconic hotel designed by Frank O. Gehry, you can’t miss the ribboned titanium roof set among vineyards. Relax by the pool, or pamper yourself with a wine-infused treatment at the Caudalie vinotherapy spa. Tonight enjoy a glass of wine and a snack at the hotel bar or transfer to the city of Logroño to try out a few of nearly fifty tapas bars that line Calle Laurel.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Destinations: Briones, San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Eltziego
Accomplished: 14 miles / 23 km, elevation gain: 1,184 feet / 361 meters
Accommodations: Hotel Marqués de Riscal or Palacio de Samaniego - Day 5
The City of Cellars
Today, take your pick between an easygoing or a more challenging route. We’ll climb out of Elciego along a ridge high above the vineyards, then meet the Ebro River after descending through the town of Lapuebla de Labarca. Our destination is the medieval town of Laguardia, which sits upon a warren of 300 cellars carved from rock during the Middle Ages. These cellars—called calados—were once hideaways to protect townspeople in times of turmoil but also served as subterranean wineries and wine storage. The ancient calados are a striking contrast to the ultra-modern wineries that have cropped up since Spain joined the European Union in the mid-1980s. We’re headed to a small family-owned winery for a terracetop tapas lunch of cheese, cold meats, olives, and croquettes with dreamy views overlooking the family vineyards and the town of Laguardia. Tonight, we will finish our Rioja and Basque country adventure in style with a celebratory aperitif at the hotel, followed by a gorgeous dinner at the Riscal 1860 restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Lapuebla de Labarca, Laguardia, Elciego
Accomplished: 24 miles / 38 km, elevation gain: 2,000 feet / 615 meters
Longer Option: 29 miles / 47 km, elevation gain: 2,600 feet / 797 meters
Accommodations: Hotel Marqués de Riscal or Palacio de Samaniego - Day 6
Adios Rioja
Bid “adios” to La Rioja, its wines, medieval architecture, sumptuous gastronomy, and stunning landscapes. After breakfast, we transfer back to Bilbao where your guides will take you to your post-trip hotel or the Bilbao airport.
Meal: Breakfast
DuVine itineraries may be subject to slight route changes, hotel substitutions, and other modifications.
Arrival Details
Airport City: Bilbao, Spain Pick-Up Location: Hotel Gran Domine or Hotel Miró Bilbao Pick-Up Time: 8:30 am
Departure Details
Airport City: Bilbao, Spain Drop-Off Location: Bilbao Airport or your post-trip Bilbao hotel Drop-Off Time: 11:00 am
Dates + Availability
- DatesPriceSpecial Events
- May 5 – 10$5,595
- May 12 – 17$5,595
- Jun 9 – 14$5,595
- Jun 16 – 21$5,595
To reserve call +1 888 396 5383
- Jul 7 – 12$5,595
To reserve call +1 888 396 5383
- Jul 14 – 19$5,595
- Aug 25 – 30$5,595
- Sep 1 – 6$5,595
- Sep 15 – 20$5,595
- Sep 22 – 27$5,595
- Oct 6 – 11$5,595
- Oct 13 – 18$5,595
To reserve call +1 888 396 5383
- Oct 20 – 25$5,595
Inclusions + Details
Accommodations
- Thoughtfully selected accommodations that reveal the true character of the region
- Luggage transfers
Meals
- Daily breakfasts, all lunches, nutritious snacks, and après velo cocktails
- 4 gourmet dinners at our favorite local restaurants and renowned culinary establishments
- Carefully selected local wine, beer, or spirits with every meal
Activities
- Wine tastings and activities as outlined in the tour itinerary
- Entrance fees to historic sites, museums, parks, and all other exclusive events
- Gratuities for baggage, porters, and hotel service
Gear
- Top-of-the-line bicycle selection
- Bike helmet
- Complimentary DuVine gear including a custom cycling jersey, DuVine t-shirt, water bottle, and drawstring bag
- GPS in most destinations
Support
- Expert bilingual guides with extensive local knowledge
- Support vehicle that follows the day’s route, distributes refreshments, and offers lifts
- Pick-up and drop-off before and after your tour from predetermined meeting points
- Daily bike maintenance to ensure optimal performance