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 second 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 from Burgos, medieval city and home of a UNESCO World Heritage cathedral, this section of the French Way by Bike offers some of the best historical and cultural vestiges of the whole Camino Frances. It passes through Leon and the vast Castillan Plateau (Approx. alt. 900m) before reaching another medieval bastion - the buzzing city of Ponferrada. The mostly flat and gentle terrain makes it accessible to any cyclist with an average level of fitness.

Day 1 - Burgos
Burgos still preserves important vestiges of its medieval splendour and the city boasts a masterpiece of Spanish Gothic architecture: the Cathedral of Burgos (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Aside from a visit to the historic quarter, you can take quite an interesting walk along the banks of the Duero and Arlanza rivers.

Town: ATM, shops. all facilities. Accommodation: 3* hotel in the historical centre of the town, en suite.

Day 2 – Burgos to Fromista (73 km, +650m -550m)
All day long, you will notice the influence of the Camino de Santiago as there is not a single village we cross that does not have obvious references to it.

Town: ATM, Shops, all facilities Accomodation: 1* hotel in the old centre of the town, en-suite. Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Day 3 – Fromista to Sahagun (67km, +150m -80m)
During this stage, we have a good understanding of the popular meaning "Castilla es ancha" (castilla is wide). Crop fields give patches of beautiful colour to the agricultural landscape all year round. The first half of the day is mainly flat and it gets a bit more undulated on the second half to Sahagun.

Town: ATM, Shops, all facilities Accomodation: 4* hotel, 300m from the centre of town, en-suite. Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Day 4 – Sahagun to Leon (67km, +200m -200m)
Today, we cycle through the colourful Castillan meseta or plateau. The landscape here seems endless as we pass over the flat terrain of the area, affording great views over the surrounding agricultural area. We finish the day in the vibrant city of Leon.

Town: ATM, Shops, all facilities Accomodation: 3* hotel in an old 16th-century monastery and right inside the historical centre, en-suite. Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Day 5 – Leon to Astorga (44km, +500m -200m)
This is probably one of the flattest cycling days of the entire Camino Frances, but as we are on a high plateau, it still offers some great views and you will see Astorga down in the valley long before reaching it! In Astorga, take some time to visit the Episcopal palace, the cathedral, and the old city walls.

Town: ATM, Shops, all facilities Accomodation: 3* hotel right in the historic centre, en-suite. Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Day 6 – Astorga to Ponferrada (54km, +1000m -1150m)
The last day of this section is definitely the most difficult, but also, the most rewarding one! We can enjoy spectacular views as we climb up to 1500m above sea level to reach the famous Cruz del Hierro (the Iron Cross). The natural scenery and towns with rich history make this the best way to finish the section, before reaching Ponferrada: a city with a lively, and very pretty, medieval centre.

Town: ATM, Shops, all facilities Accommodation: A charming 3* hotel, 200m from the historical center, en-suite. Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 – Ponferrada
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

• Flights
• Insurance (recommended)
• Drinks
• Dinner in Burgos and Ponferrada
• Transfer from/to airport
• Bike accessories (See Options below)