BILBAO 6 STARS WEEK

Program

• Breakfast at Hotel Miró.
• Equipment set up before starting the route.
• Departure by bike: Initial contact.
• A support van will always be available to provide technical assistance and snacks, as well as transportation through any section of the route if you do not wish to continue cycling.
• Lunch en route, including fresh produce, drinks, healthy snacks.
• Dinner at a renowned restaurant in Bilbao, including a careful selection of wines, beers and other beverages.

Stage 1 – Initial contact.

Today’s stage will be a first contact with the city. Leaving the center, we will access the Artxanda mountain, one of the most emblematic places of Bilbao, from where we will enjoy the best views of the city.

Walking around Artxanda, we will descend to the Vivero, a popular picnic area among the locals. From there, we will head towards the Txorierri, where we will be able to see first hand the transformation of a quiet valley into an important industrial area of the metropolitan area of the city.

We will go through some inland villages such as Larrabetxu, Lezama, Zamudio, Derio, Sondika until we reach Asúa. We will then take the road along the estuary to return to Bilbao, from where we will be able to observe the industrial past of the city, before passing through the historic neighborhood of Deusto, where one of the most prestigious universities in Spain is located, as well as iconic places such as the Tiger building, by the famous Biscayan architect Pedro Ispizua.

Entering the city via the Euskalduna Bridge, we will border the Doña Casilda Park, popularly known as the Duck Park, to finish at the Guggenheim, the famous modern art museum designed by the renowned architect Frank Gehry.

Program

• Breakfast at Hotel Miró.
• Equipment set up before starting the route.
• Departure by bike: Orduña climb.
• A support van will always be available to provide technical assistance and snacks, as well as transportation through any section of the route if you do not wish to continue cycling.
• Lunch en route, including fresh produce, drinks, healthy snacks.
• Private guided tour of the Guggenheim Museum.
• Dinner at a renowned restaurant in Bilbao, including a careful selection of wines, beers and other beverages.

Stage 2 – Orduña climb.

Starting in the center of Bilbao, today we will head towards the interior of Bizkaia and the stately Ayala Valley, with its overflowing nature and towns with centuries of history.

Along the Encartaciones road, the westernmost region of Bizkaia, we will reach Sodupe and then take the road to Okondo. This peaceful municipality has splendid natural viewpoints, offers numerous itineraries to enjoy its green landscapes and hides a rich cultural heritage.

From there, we will head towards Amurrio until we reach the emblematic town of Orduña. The only town with the title of city in the province of Bizkaia, something that makes clear its historical importance, has narrow cobbled streets where we will discover buildings of great interest.

After regaining strength, we will ascend its mythical mountain pass, enjoying spectacular views along the 7 km of its tough ramps.

We’ll ride towards Peña Angulo and take a detour through a spectacular valley to reach Artziniega. A quiet and cozy medieval village located in the Ayala Valley, which has some of the most striking urban centers of Euskadi, with impressive tower houses, emblazoned palaces and cobbled streets. From there, we will gradually return to Bilbao.

Program

• Breakfast at Hotel Miró.
• Equipment set up before starting the route.
• Departure by bike: Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve.
• A support van will always be available to provide technical assistance and snacks, as well as transportation through any section of the route if you do not wish to continue cycling.
• Lunch en route, including fresh produce, drinks, healthy snacks.
• Massage by a professional physiotherapist.

Stage 3 – Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve.

Leaving Bilbao through its iconic estuary we will head to Asua. After a first gentle climb to warm up, we will descend to Mungia, a small town surrounded by mountains and a multitude of farmhouses, some of them built between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

We will continue flat to Gerekiz, a pass of 2 km of ascent. A fast and fun descent of 6 km will lead us to Gernika, world famous for the bombing suffered during the Spanish Civil War, the famous painting of Pablo Picasso and symbol of Basque culture.

From here we will cycle to the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, passing by some of the most beautiful beaches of the Biscayan coast: Laga, undoubtedly one of the most photographed beaches of the Basque Country, and Laida, an impressive dynamic sandy beach whose strong tides in winter change its appearance every year. Urdaibai, famous for its beauty, is a protected nature reserve with breathtaking views.

We will continue again towards Gernika, ascend Errigoiti, a 5 km long pass, and then gradually return to the imposing medieval castle of Butrón. Located in Gatika, for over three hundred years, since the sixteenth century, the castle was the scene of continuous and bloody battles between two sides of the nobility of Bizkaia. The lords of Butrón, who took refuge in the castle, exercised their power over the territory.

To finish this beautiful stage, we will ascend to Unbe and end the tour in Bilbao.

Program

• Breakfast at Hotel Miró.
• Equipment set up before starting the route.
• Departure by bike: Game of Thrones.
• A support van will always be available to provide technical assistance and snacks, as well as transportation through any section of the route if you do not wish to continue cycling.
• Lunch en route, including fresh produce, drinks, healthy snacks.
• Visit to the underwater winery Crusoe Treasure.
• Dinner at a renowned restaurant in Bilbao, including a careful selection of wines, beers and other beverages.

Stage 4 – Game of thrones.

Leaving Bilbao along the estuary, after a first gentle climb to warm up, we will pass through some beautiful villages in the interior of Bizkaia.

We will take a backroad to Markaida and then to Larrauri, where spectacular palaces were built. From there we will take a detour to Bakio, a privileged summer resort, surrounded by beaches, cliffs, coves and promenades.

We will continue along the coastal route that goes through Jata, which will allow us to enjoy spectacular views of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, a protected biotope, which will soon captivate us with its dazzling landscape in the middle of the sea. Its spectacular beauty led it to be chosen as a filming location for the famous TV series, Game of Thrones.

We will continue along the coast to head towards a surprising place, the Lemoniz nuclear power plant, which was never put into operation, to reach the beautiful fishing village of Armintza. From there we will continue pedaling towards Plentzia, a coastal town with beautiful beaches.

With the estuary as a central element and the beach as a tourist attraction, Plentzia is a pleasant and cozy coastal town located about 25 kilometers from Bilbao, in a beautiful bay overlooking the sea. It is one of the most demanded localities by the Biscayans themselves to enjoy the summer season.

Finally we will return to Bilbao along the coast, passing by the impressive cliffs of Barrika, Getxo, Las Arenas and the estuary, showing its industrial past and learning first hand the model of reconversion of a city that is being studied all over the world.

Program

• Breakfast at Hotel Miró.
• Equipment set up before starting the route.
• Departure by bike: Urkiola climb.
• A support van will always be available to provide technical assistance and snacks, as well as transportation through any section of the route if you do not wish to continue cycling.
• Lunch en route, including fresh produce, drinks, healthy snacks.
• Dinner at the Michelin-starred Mina restaurant.

Stage 5 – The challenge, Urkiola climb.

Today we have a memorable stage ahead of us. Starting from Bilbao and through the estuary we will head to Asua. From there we will take the Txorierri until we reach Larrabetzu. We will ascend another slope of Morga, then down Gerekiz towards Gernika.

We will climb Mendata, an exceptional natural area surrounded by green mountains, until we reach the Balcony of Bizkaia. On the slopes of Mount Oiz, south of the Biosphere Reserve of Urdaibai, this viewpoint gives us one of the best panoramic views of the Urdaibai basin. Legend has it that witches used to gather here at nightfall, and for this reason, the locals avoided spending the night here.

After a few kilometers of flat terrain, we will connect with the descent of Monte Calvo until we reach Durango, a historic town located in the geographical center of the Basque Country, at the foot of the impressive Urkiola Natural Park.

From there we will face the ascent to Urkiola, mythical ascent of the Basque cycling races. It is the hardest pass of the trip due to the harshness of its ramps, but also the most spectacular and the one with the longest history in Basque cycling. It is 6 km without rest, with an average gradient of 9.13% and a maximum gradient of 14%.

The mythical Sanctuary of Urkiola awaits us at the finish. According to tradition, the person who turns seven times around the rock known as “the meteorite” located in front of it, will find a partner.

From its summit we will flatten a few kilometers to face the descent of Dima, one of the longest and most fun of the region with 11 uninterrupted kilometers of beautiful scenery.

Program

• Breakfast at Hotel Miró.
• Equipment set up before starting the route.
• Departure by bike: Encartaciones.
• A support van will always be available to provide technical assistance and snacks, as well as transportation through any section of the route if you do not wish to continue cycling.
• Lunch en route, including fresh produce, drinks, healthy snacks.
• Transfer by private van to Bilbao’s airport.

Stage 6 – Cooling off.

Leaving from Bilbao, this route will take us into the westernmost region of Bizkaia, the Encartaciones. A natural environment that extends to the west between valleys, peaks and forests and an infinite tangle of roads and more than two hundred caves.

We will enjoy a quiet road overflowing with nature to Gueñes. Its botanical garden, Arenatzarte, a public space dedicated to avant-garde art, will surprise you.

Today two passes await us: the Humaran pass, pleasant and long, which prepares you for the Bezi pass, short but intense, a good challenge before crossing the historic town of Balmaseda.

The first town founded in Bizkaia in the 12th century, it is located in a narrow gorge bathed by the waters of the river Kadagua. A medieval bridge spans its waters and protects the old town, full of churches, mansions and stately homes, where events are held as its unique medieval market or the famous Stations of the Cross at Easter, starring the villagers.

Famous for its putxeras, pots where the train drivers of the train that crossed the town at the end of the 19th century, with the heat of the engines and the steam itself, cooked the daily stew, here we will make our stop to regain strength before returning to Bilbao.

Not included

• Bike rental.
• Flight tickets to and from Bilbao.
• Other activities not included in the package and not organized by Bizi Cycle Tours.
• Accommodation before and after the end of the tour.
• Personal shopping during the tour.

Group

Minimum 6 people, maximum 12.

For smaller groups, ask for rates.