Enjoy various sceneries, from the foothills of the Pyrenees to the high plateau in Castilla y Leon
Taste La Rioja's famous wines as you journey through the province
Visit UNESCO World Heritage cathedral in Burgos
Indulge yourself in en-suite rooms and with a high level of comfort all along the way.

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Departures:

>Self-Guided
Any time, all year round!

>Guided
See Guided Departures page

This Cycling Holiday explores the first section of the Camino Frances / French Way by Bike, the most traditional of all the pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela and the best known internationally. The route, which was established in the late 11th century reaching the tomb of St James the Great, crosses the North of the Iberian Peninsula, through the Basque Country, Navarra, La Rioja, Castilla y Leon and Galicia regions of Spain. Nowadays, cycling on the Camino has become an incredibly popular way of enjoying this once-in-a-lifetime journey to Santiago de Compostela.

Starting in Roncesvalles, this leg of the French Way will bring you to the vibrant city of Burgos. This section is great for cyclists who want to enjoy different landscapes, from the foothills of the Pyrenees to hilly sunflower fields, from woodlands to red earth vineyards. It also has its lot of historical cities as well as picturesque towns, and visitors can enjoy different regional cultures as they journey from the Basque Country to Castilla y Leon, not to mention the wine-dedicated region of La Rioja.

Day 1 - Roncesvalles
With its collegial church, old monastery and chapel of Santiago, Roncesvalles has a strong link to the Camino de Santiago. It is also one of the major spots of all the routes to the tomb of St James as this is where all pilgrims gather to to start their journey to Santiago de Compostela via the French Way. Set at the foothills of the Pyrenees (Alt. 1000m), this peaceful place seems to exist because of, and for, the Camino!

Town: ATM, all facilities. Accommodation: 2* hotel within a fully renovated 15th-century monastery, en-suite.

Day 2 – Roncesvalles to Pamplona (48km, +600m -1000m)
Leaving the Pyrenees behind us, we cycle down to Pamplona (Alt. 450m) through the undulated terrain of the Basque Country, via woodlands and hilly cultivated lands, before reaching the capital city of the region of Navarra - Pamplona.

Town: ATM, Shops, all facilities Accomodation: 3* hotel; a renovated 16th-century house in the historic centre of the town, en-suite. Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Day 3 – Pamplona to Estella ( 44km, +650m -650m)
As soon as we leave Pamplona, we notice a drastic change in landscape: sunflowers and cereal fields surround us as we pass el Alto del Perdon (Alt. 750m) before heading down to Puente de la Reina, where the French and Aragonese Ways to Santiago meet. The second half of the day sees another progression in landscapes as red earth crop fields, charming villages and vineyards begin to appear.

Town: ATM, Shops, all facilities Accomodation: 2* Hotel in the centre, en-suite.. Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Day 4 – Estella to Logrono (49km, +670m -650m
Today is another beautiful day, cycling through vineyards and red earth crop fields. We also pass by a few famous landmarks of the Camino such as the Monasterio of Irache and its bodega, and the steep climb up to Villamayor de Monjardin. Shade also decreases as we get closer and closer to Logrono, capital city of world-known wine producing region of La Rioja.

Town: ATM, Shops, all facilities Accomodation: 3* hotel on the Camino and right in the historical centre, en suite. Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Day 5 – Logrono to Santo Domingo de la Calzada (48km, +600m -350m)
Yet another very nice cycling day, along red earth tracks and through the countryside of La Rioja. As the day goes on, we notice vines start to disappear and are replaced by more cereal fields as we approach Santo Domingo de la Calzada, another great milestone on the Camino de Santiago . This day can be seen as challenging as there are many ups and downs all day long and little shade.

Town: ATM, Shops, all facilities Accomodation: 2* hotel; comfortable, family-run and very friendly. En-suite. Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Day 6 – Santo Domingo de la Calzada to Burgos (75km, +1000m -650m)
The day is spent through hilly crop fields, crossing a few nice villages before getting back to civilisation in Burgos. This can be a demanding day as the length is challenging and because of the ascent/descent - but the final destination in Burgos worth it!

Town: ATM, Shops, all facilities Accommodation: 3* hotel in the old part of town, en-suite. Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 – Burgos
After breakfast, we bid you farewell

Town: ATM, Internet, shops, all facilities Meal: Breakfast

We provide you with a mountain bike, and can also provide accessories or other cycling gear - so all you need to do is cycle and enjoy your holiday, hassle-free! The bicycles provided are standard mountain bikes. We deliver your bike to the hotel on Day 1, which means you are ready to go the next morning! At the end of the trip, simply return your bike to our drop off point in the city centre. See our table of Options below for further details.

Bikes are are subject to availability. If the bicycle described is not available, we provide an alternative of the same standard of performance & price.

Standard Bike: BH 18 speed Mountain Bike
Bike frame: Steel; Gears: 18 speed; Suspension: TITAN; Brakes: V-Brake; Gear-changes: Grip-Shift on handlebar.

Upgraded Bike: BH 21 speed Mountain Bike
Bike frame: Aluminium; Gears: 21 speed; Gear-changes: synchronized; Adjustable forks: Suntour SR.

• Mountain Bike, steel frame, 18 speed
• Helmet & water bottle holder
• Bike delivery at your hotel in Roncesvalles
• Bike return in Burgos
• Luggage transferred from hotel to hotel
• En-suite Rooms
• Half-board during the cycle
• Detailed cycling guidebook
• Map
• Pilgrim passport
• Dinner day 3 & 5

• Flights
• Insurance (recommended)
• Drinks
• Transfer from/to airport
• Bike accessories (See Options below)