La Rioja cycling trip - Spain

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1 S-CAPE TRAVEL - INFO@S-CAPETRAVEL.EU - TELEPHONE style : level : duration : comfort : period: code: GASTRONOMIC E-BIKES CYCLING Selfguided 8 days Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct ESSB090 La Rioja cycling trip - Spain Nature and culture in the Spanish wine paradise 8 days, price from 680 Perfect terrain for cycling through a variety of landscapes, from vineyards to open farmland Carefully-selected accommodation - with unique styles Authentic historic towns, numerous monuments, the pilgrims' route to Santiago Delicious regional cuisine and excellent local wines of La Rioja La Rioja is a delight in every way: the landscape, the food, the wine. Known for its excellent vinos, much of La Rioja's gently rolling terrain is carpeted with grapevines, while the rest is open farmland. Planting, harvesting and wine-making rule the local calendar, while historic towns, impressive estates, ancient walls and stone bridges adorn the countryside. Every hilltop sports a monumental church or castle and avant-garde wineries hide among the vineyards like secret artistic mushrooms, intriguing enclaves where some of the world's greatest wines are produced. Still, La Rioja is much more than vineyards and wine-making. It is also a region of orchards and fields of grain, as well as a setting for the historic Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. The many facets of La Rioja are best discovered on gentle cycling routes. You'll enjoy beautiful countryside, local wines, excellent cuisine and three welcoming accommodations: a 17thcentury estate run by young winemaker with a taste for creative cooking; a luxurious accommodation housed in the historic Monastery of Yuso; and a comfortable family-run hotel situated in the lovely town centre of Ezcaray. Early spring to early summer and autumn are ideal times of year to visit this destination. Route

2 Day 1 Arrival in Northern Spain Flight into Bilbao and journey by bus or taxi to the village of Ábalos, where you'll spend the first three nights. Your host is a young wine-maker and oenologist, whose first commercial wine won the prestigious Bachuss de Oro in the year The hotel serves a creative set menu for dinner each evening, accompanied by estateproduced wines. Challenge: Travel to La Rioja. Day 2 Circular route in La Rioja Alavesa (35 km) The first cycling route of this program takes you east of Ábalos, into the Basque section of Rioja Wine Country. Every square inch of fertile soil across this rolling landscape has been covered in grapevines, and Medieval villages sit on hilltops throughout. You'll see historic Laguardia and the wine-making village of Elciego, with architect Frank Gehry's intriguing winery and avant-garde hotel designed for the vintners at the Marques de Riscal Estate. On your way back to Ábalos, you cycle on quiet country lanes through vineyards near Navaridas and Eskuernaga, with the limestone peaks of the Sierra de Cantabria in the distance. Challenge: 35 km, 580 m ascent. Villages along the way: Laguardia, Elciego, Navaridas, Eskuernaga Day 3 Circular route via Haro (38-45 km) Today's itinerary takes you south toward the River Ebro. You then follow its course, winding along all the way to Haro. En route, lovely spots such as San Vicente de la Sonsierra, with its beautiful Medieval bridge and impressively situated Gothic church. Option of visiting the private collection at Vivanco winery: a display of almost anything having to do with wine-making, of interest to wine enthusiasts and art-lovers alike, with gardens home to over 200 varieties of grapevines. Challenge: km, 285 m ascent. Villages along the way: San Vicente, Briones Day 4 From Ábalos to San Millán (29-36 km) Today you cross the Ebro and cycle 42km south through gently rolling terrain with vineyards, fields of grain and orchards. By way of Alesanco and Badarán, you reach the monasteries of Yuso and Suso, set in an open valley at the foot of the Sierra de Demanda. Your accommodation is a Baroque monastery turned luxurious hotel, situated on the village square. Challenge: km, 420 m ascent. Villages along the way: Alesanco, Badarán, Yuso, Suso Day 5 From San Millán to Ezcaray (32-39 km) You start off with a short stretch back to Badarán then ride along winding country roads toward Santo Domingo de la Calzada, essential stopover for Christians on the Camino de Santiago. Leaving the vineyards behind, you cycle into the grain-producing area of La Rioja. A converted railway used to transport coal in the 19th century is now a surfaced cycling path which leads directly to Ezcaray, where you'll spend the next three nights at a welcoming family-run hotel in the historical town centre. Wide selection of restaurants, bodegas and tapas bars in which to sample the local wines. Challenge: km, 400 m ascent. Villages along the way: Santo Domingo de la Calzada Day 6 Ezcaray Valley or optional walk from Ezcaray (20 km) Do you fancy a day of walking? There's an easy optional walk for today, a there-and-back route along the River Ojo. If you prefer to stick with wheels, you can cycle into the foothills to remote villages with just a few resident farmers. After 10km of cycling, you'll begin to see a completely different side of La Rioja, one undiscovered until now. Challenge: 20 km, 160 m ascent. Villages along the way: Sierra de Demanda, Posada, Zaldierna, Urdante

3 Day 7 Circular route via Santo Domingo (49 km) Your last day of cycling offers a 46km circular route through waving fields of grain, first through the nearly flat Oja River Valley then up into the hills. Orchards, sunflowers and shady woodlands along the way. Optional visit to Santo Domingo de la Calzada. Return route by way of the Via Verde to Ezcaray. Challenge: 49 km, 300 m ascent. Villages along the way: Valle de Oja, Santo Domingo Day 8 End of program Your cycling trip comes to an end this morning after breakfast. Departure from La Rioja and flight out of Bilbao. Challenge: Travel home from Spain Accommodation All hotels of this trip are carefully selected because of their location, atmosphere and/or unique services. All rooms are en-suite. You can find the standard hotels of this trip. If a hotel is fully booked, then we will book a similar one for you and inform you about the alternative booked. Extra overnight:you can book additional night(s) at any of the accommodations along the way. Hotel Villa de Ábalos (Ábalos) Very nice family-run hotel surrounded by vineyards and with a refined decoration which combines in its architecture wood, stone and iron. Modern and comfortable rooms. Its wine cellar and restaurant offer a selection of the best and tastiest dishes of the "riojan" gastronomy along with a selected wine list... The best is the wonderful breakfasts served in their garden each morning! Hostería de San Millán (San Millán de la Cogolla) The guest house from San Millan Monastery offers comfortable and peaceful rooms with beautiful mountain views. Casa Masip (Ezcaray) This family-run hotel used to be a 19th century manor house. Casa Masip is a charming hotel that offers a comfortable stay and an exquisite gastronomy in the upper Rioja paradise. Practical info You can start on any day of the week, subject to availability, between January and December. The nearest airport is Bilbao (BIO)

4 Arrival in Ábalos By public transport from Bilbao airport (BIO); you take a shuttle bus to Bilbao central bus station and from there get a bus to Haro. Check timetables in La Unión Alavesa bus company Travel time 1 hour. Make sure to allow at least 45min from Bilbao airport to the bus station (plus a maximum wait of 20 min to get the shuttle). You can purchase your tickets online in advance, though not more than 30 days before your travel date. From the bus station in Haro, you ll need a taxi to Ábalos. We recommend booking this service in advance through S-cape Travel. Departure from Ezcaray By public transport to Bilbao airport (BIO); On the last day, transfer included from Ezcaray to the bus stop in Santo Domingo de la Calzada. From Santo Domingo, you take the bus to Bilbao (or to Haro, if you have parked your car in Ábalos). Buses from Santo Domingo de la Calzada to Bilbao are also run by La Union Autobuses. You may have to change buses in Haro or Vitoria. Optional taxi transfers on Day 8 from Ezcaray to Ábalos (or to Bilbao airport).these services may be booked separately. Rates vary according to number of passengers and time of departure. Prices on request If you re returning to Ábalos to pick up your car, you can take thebus from Sto. Domingo de la Calzada to Haro, then get a taxi to Ábalos. O book a direct taxi transfer to Ábalos. Speak to Octavio Cidre to arrange the transfer.

5 HYBRID BIKES Bike model: Specialized CROSSTRAIL Gears: 8 speed gears (24 gears) Frame: Aluminum A1 premium Suspension: Front suspension Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL Repair kit (*) Bicycle hire including delivery to hotel on Day 2 (around 9.30hrs) E-BIKES Model: BH EV318 Frame: Street Wave Alloy 26" internal cable routing Cassette: Shimano TZ21 7sp (14-28T) Brakes: V-Brake Alloy Wheels: Kenda K193 26"x1,95 Motor: 350W Thru Axle Battery: 500Wh Autonomy: Up to 105 Km Display: Lateral LCD Sizes: 165 / 177 cm E-bike BH EV318 GPS tracks are available on request.

6 Included Included 7 nights accommodation in comfortable hotel rooms with private bath. 7 breakfasts, buffet-style with fruit, sweet and savoury items, yoghurt, bread, pastries, etc. 2 dinners (on Days 1 and 4) Luggage transport on Days 4 and 5 Taxi transfer on Day 8 from Ezcaray to the bus stop in Santo Domingo Not Included Lunches Other dinners Taxi transfer to Ábalos on Day 1 from bus station in Haro or airport in Bilbao Taxi transfer to Bilbao airport from Ezcaray Rental bike Bike transfers Extras Additional nights before, during or after the walk Single Room Supplement(s) Solo Traveller Supplement Extra transfers on arrival: Haro-Ábalos, Bilbao-Ábalos Extra transfers at end of program: Ezcaray to Haro, Ábalos or Bilbao airport Bike transfers. (*) Bike transfer for solo traveller is 80 IMPORTANT: Arrival suplement for solo traveler and taxi transfer (5-8 pax). Request amount