“Enjoy ocean, nature, mountains, and gastronomy”
7 Day Self-Guided Cycling Tour in the Basque Country: Loop Bike Tour From Biarritz
Biarritz - Ainhoa - Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port - Itxassou / Cambo-les-Bains, France; Hondarribia, Spain
Self-Guided Cycling Tour in France and Spain
The Basque Country bike tour is a self-guided cycling tour around the Basque Country in France starting in Biarritz. Close your eyes and imagine a perfect day on your bike… It will match very closely to cycling in the Basque Country. Come discover the many faces of the region; this colored area will surprise you. The circuit combines both inland and beautiful coastal scenery: towering cliffs, rugged rocks, sandy bays, and the ocean.
Key information
- Trip type: self-guided
- Lodging: point to point
- Terrain: hilly and paved roads
- Starts in: Biarritz
- Ends in: Biarritz
- Total distance: 123 - 126 miles / 198 - 203 kilometers
- Type of bike: touring bike (105 EUR) or road bike (200 EUR)
- E-bike: available to rent (195 EUR)
Highlights
- 5 days of cycling
- Exposure to the Basque culture
- Use of route notes in French or English and maps
- Return river shuttle transfer for Hendaye - Hondarribia
- Luggage transfer at every step
- 6 nights' accommodation
- Daily breakfast and 2 dinners
Skill level
- Intermediate
5 days with instruction in English
The organizer also speaks: French
Group size: 2-8 participants
Accommodation
You will be welcome every night in 3 or 4-star hotels or charming guest houses.
Program
Your Basque Country bike tour will start in Biarritz with a beautiful sea salt spray rising from the ocean, then you will ride off the Basque coast where you will enjoy a magnificent view! Then you will get away on the Spanish side off the Bidassoa.
Your itinerary will continue inland over lush, green hills and unforgettable landscapes dotted with white timber frame houses built centuries ago, discovering many villages like Sare, Ainhoa, or Saint Jean Pied de Port. Their cultural richness and dynamism will amaze you. If there is something else the Basques are serious about besides cycling, it's food. Be tempted by the typical local dishes…
With this cycling trip, you are going to discover that culture and traditions in the Basque country are important more than anything: Basque culture is expressed through its language, lifestyle, songs, dances, and music.
On two wheels you’ll learn The “Euskera”, the oldest language of Europe, pleasantly musical for the ears. The Basque tradition is shown through games of strength or traditional sports that come from the daily farm work. Not to forget that the Basques have created their own sport ” The Basque Pelota” that they play against a wall called the “Fronton”
The most famous event is the traditional Bayonne festival. The best moment to come on your two wheels!
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Biarritz
Regional documentation and road book provided with itinerary details. Biarritz is one of the most famous seaside tourist resorts in France and Europe. Its magnificent ocean beaches and surfing, its thalassotherapy, and many golf courses are popular worldwide. At night, its restaurants, bars, and squares will delight your nights.
Overnight: 4-star hotel
Day 2: From Biarritz to Hondarribia (32 kilometers)
On this itinerary, you will discover the wealth of natural spaces that make up the corniche Basque: Valleys, ridges, cliffs, mountains, and farmland. Enjoy throughout your journey the visit of many villages in this region: Saint-Jean-de-Luz and its famous bay, Hendaye, and the domain Abbadia.
Then you will cross over the Bidassoa River and be immersed in the Spanish atmosphere! A river shuttle will drive you from Hendaye to Hondarribia, a fortified city with many historical treasures. Fontarabie (Hondarribia) is famous for its tapas and nightlife. It is a coastal fishing town, with colorful Basque houses and many balconies with flowers.
Discovering Hondarribia is a real pleasure! Its walled old town is full of stately buildings and was declared a Historic and Artistic Monument. Sat on a hillside, it is surrounded by towering walls of the 16th century, dominated by the castle of Charles V.
- Overnight: 3-star hotel
- Included meals: breakfast
Day 3: From the ocean to inland (43 kilometers)
From Hondarribia, you will board again the river shuttle to rejoin Hendaye and continue your itinerary to Ascain. You could discover its prestigious Roman bridge and its cultural richness. Four kilometers from here, the little train of the Rhune will wait for you to drive you to the highest top of the Basque Country.
After strolling in the town of Sare, with its picturesque streets, you will ride to discover the village of witches. The legend tells them that their spirits still haunt the surroundings. You will end your day in the typical village of Ainhoa dotted with half-timbered houses, palombières, and meadows populated with sheep.
Between the medieval village and the elegant Bastide, 800 years of history are retraced through the streets of Ainhoa. You will discover the church of the village, and then the old stele of the cemetery, the pediment, and the washhouse. Admire the impressive houses that line the main street and learn everything about their particularities. Soon Ainhoa will no longer be a secret to you.
- Overnight: 3-star hotel or charming guesthouse
- Included meals: breakfast and dinner
Day 4: From Ainhoa to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (approximately 46 kilometers)
After crossing the Pinodieta Pass, you will go through the market town of Espelette known for the trade of small wild horses called Pottok and its famous pepper of Espelette that will truly tempt your taste buds. Then you will go down along the river Nive along small paths that snake to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. It is a typical village, world-famous for its Saint Jacques gateway classified by UNESCO, which, year after year, more and more pilgrims are drawn to it. After that, you will stay at a charming guesthouse.
- Overnight: charming guesthouse
- Included meals: breakfast
Day 5: From Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Itxassou or Cambo-les-Bains (41 kilometers)
This stage will fit everyone. You can either continue your bike ride or if the journey of the day before has exhausted you, take a train that will take you to the next step (one departure in the morning and / or early afternoon). You will have time to explore the surroundings by following an itinerary specially designed for you.
- Overnight: 3-star hotel or charming guesthouse
- Included meals: breakfast and dinner
Day 6: Back on the Basque coast (45 kilometers)
After the first 15 kilometers, you will continue on a cycle track that leads to Bayonne. You will have time to enjoy this city famous for its local festivals and gastronomic food. Then you can cycle along the coast of Anglet and end your journey in Biarritz.
- Overnight: 4-star hotel
- Included meals: breakfast
Day 7: Departure
You can depart after breakfast.
Bikes
For this holiday, you can bring your own bike or rent one from Evazio. Please let them know your choice upon reservation:
- A hybrid bike suitable for hiking and for the route
- An electric bike adapted to the route
With its equipment:
- 1 rear bag
- 1 handlebar bag
- 1 set of repair
- 1 helmet (on request)
- 1 anti-theft device
- 1 charger (for the electric bike)
For the youngest, Evazio can offer depending on age and size:
- A child’s bike
- A baby seat
- A trailer
- A follow-up bike
The bike is delivered to the first accommodation and is adjusted to your size. At the end of the tour, the bike must be left at the last accommodation with its equipment. Evazio will take care of their recovery.
Luggage
Evazio will take care of transporting your luggage at each change of accommodation so that you travel light and take full advantage of your daily hike. You leave your luggage at the reception of your accommodation before your departure. At the end of the afternoon, you will find them at the reception of your new accommodation or directly in your room.
Luggage accepted per person: 1 suitcase or travel bag (20 kg maximum) + 1 piece of hand luggage.
Evazio reminds you that rental bicycles are equipped with saddlebags to be used to transport the things you deem useful for the day.
Documents
Your travel record corresponds to the documents or files you receive before your trip (usually a month before) and upon arrival at the first accommodation.
It includes a welcome letter with the main practical information:
- The time slot for baggage transport
- Details of the delivery and collection of bikes from the rental if necessary
- Your local contact and telephone number (s) in case of emergency
- Any additional information
- The logbook travel package including a map with the route (to the appropriate scale) and directional, tourist, and practical indications
- The necessary voucher (s) to be given to the service provider (s) (only if necessary!)
On request and depending on the circuits:
- The “Evazio” application to download from a smartphone for “GPS” navigation with visual guidance (reading of the track on your smartphone) and / or oral
- The application also contains practical and tourist information. Once the trip has been downloaded, no internet connection is necessary
- The loan of a GPS device with pre-recorded tracks
- Sends GPX tracks of each stage to be used with your own navigation support
The support team remains available for the duration of your trip.
Location
This cycling tour will start in Biarritz, France. Along the way, you will pass Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Hendaye, and the domain of Abbadia. After that, you will arrive in Hondarribia, Spain. Next, you go back to France starting from Ascain then to Sare, Ainhoa, Espelette, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Itxassou or Cambo-les-Bains, the Basque coast, Bayonne, Anglet, and back to Biarritz.
Food
During this tour, you will have daily breakfasts and two dinners (drinks not included).
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
What's included
- 6 nights accommodation with breakfast in 3 and 4-star hotels, 1 guesthouse (in double / twin room)
- 2 dinners (drinks not included)
- 1 boat crossing from France to Spain
- Route notes and maps, regional information
- GPS App for your smartphone with vocal guiding as well.
- Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel
- Emergency phone call support 7/7
What's not included
- Drinks
- Transfer from the airport and / or the train station to Biarritz
- Transfer from Biarritz to the airport and / or the train station
- The train ticket from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Cambo-les-Bains
- Airfare
How to get there
Recommended Airports
BIQ
Biarritz Pays Basque Airport
3 km
Transfer not provided
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 33% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.
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