Self-Guided Rioja Cycling

Over View

This self-guided cycling trip takes you through the vineyards, rolling countryside and picturesque villages of La Rioja. Along your route you can visit impressive wine estates and soak up the history and culture of this fascinating region.

Sierra de la Demanda – Cycle the foothills of the Demanda range to the birthplace of the Spanish language

Camino de Santiago – Cross the pilgrims’ trail (St James’ Way) at Santo Domingo de la Calzada

Wine and Tapas – Excellent local wines complimented by superb regional cuisine

Itinerary

Day 1 Trip starts in Ezacaray

Your holiday starts at Santo Domingo bus station where you will be met and driven to your accommodation in Ezcaray. You can travel to Santo Domingo bus station by public transport or private transfer; alternatively a direct taxi transfer from Bilbao Airport (BIO) to Ezcaray can also be arranged at additional cost. Please contact our self-guided team for further information.

Sitting in the foothills of the Sierra de la Demanda Mountains, the pretty town of Ezacaray is an hour and a half’s bus journey from Bilbao Airport. Here, the first two nights of your holiday are spent in a welcoming and family-run hotel in the pedestrianized town centre. Depending on your arrival time, you may choose to visit the bicycle shop and test out the bikes on a 20 kilometre ride through the foothill villages of Posada, Zaldierna and Urdante. You will be required to sign an agreement of care upon receipt of the bike. We also recommend taking time to explore your host town. Built between the 12th and 14th centuries, the church of Santa Mara la Mayor is worth a visit. Its impressive Aragonese Gothic style is unique in La Rioja. Ezcaray offers a good choice of restaurants and tapas bars for this evening’s dinner.

Your total optional cycling distance today is approximately 20 kilometres (160 metres total ascent, 160 metres total descent).

Day 2 Circular route via Santo Domingo de la Calzada

On your first day of cycling, a circular route will take your through La Rioja’s beautiful painter’s palette of grain fields, orchards and sunflowers, as well as shady woodlands. After riding downstream through the Oja River Valley, you head into the hills. Stopping off in Santo Domingo de la Calzada, the cathedral here merits a visit. You may be struck by the number of pilgrims passing through this town on their journey to Santiago de Compostela. Your return route takes you along the Via Verde – an old railway track that has been converted into a cycling path.

Your total cycling distance today is approximately 48 kilometres (300 metres total ascent, 300 metres total descent).

Day 3 Pedal to Badarn via UNESCO World Heritage monasteries

The first part of this morning’s route takes you back along the Via Verde, but in the opposite direction. After turning off onto gravel tracks to the village of Gallinero de la Rioja (the Riojan Chicken Coop), you will follow a tarmac road to San Milln de la Cogolla. This remote village at the foot of the Sierra de Demanda is home to the UNESCO World Heritage monasteries of Yuso and Suso. A fine Romanesque church built to honour St Milln still stands at the site of Suso. It was here that the first literature was produced in Castilian, from which the Spanish language derived. In the early 16th century, the monks moved to the neighbouring monastery of Yuso and it remains a thriving community today. You may choose to take a guided tour of these treasures before continuing north to the wine-producing village of Badarn – your base for tonight.

Your total cycling distance today is approximately 40 or 44 kilometres (400 metres total ascent, 585 metres total descent).

Day 4 Bike across plains to San Vicente de la Sonsierra

Today’s route to San Vicente de la Sonsierra takes you across the plains of the Rioja Alta, by way of Alesanco, Azofre and Briones. On your way, you may choose to visit Vivanco winery, with its vast collection of wine-making paraphernalia, including some 3500 corkscrews. In addition, their gardens are home to over 200 varieties of grapevines. With its beautiful Medieval bridge and impressive Gothic church, the pretty town of San Vicente de la Sonsierra will be your base for the last three nights of the holiday. Your cosy hotel here is situated in the historic town centre.

Your total cycling distance today is approximately 30 kilometres (200 metres total ascent, 325 metres total descent).

Day 5 Loop ride into Alava

Today’s circular route takes you into Alava – the Basque province of the Rioja wine region. Here, every square inch of fertile soil across this rolling landscape has been covered in grapevines, with Medieval villages sitting on hilltops. On your route, you will pedal through the historic town of Laguardia and the wine-making village of Elciego, where you will find the intriguing and avant-guard Marques de Riscal Estate, designed by Frank Gehry. Your return route to San Nicente takes you along quiet country lanes through vineyards near the River Ebro.

Your total cycling distance today is approximately 41 kilometres (580 metres total ascent, 580 metres total descent).

Day 6 Circular route along the River Ebro to Haro

Today’s circular route takes you along the banks of the winding River Ebro to the Rioja wine capital of Haro. Along the way, you’ll pedal past lovely spots, such as La Bastide and Abalos. Should you prefer, there is the option of doing the first section along gravel roads instead of the slightly longer tarmac route.

Your total cycling distance today is approximately 28 or 31 kilometres (285 metres total ascent, 285 metres total descent), depending on the route you take.

Day 7 Trip ends in San Vicente de la Sonsierra

After breakfast, at a designated time you will be driven to Haro bus station where the organised part of your holiday comes to an end. From Haro bus station you can catch a bus back to Bilbao.

A direct taxi transfer to Bilbao Airport (BIO) can also be arranged at an additional cost. Please contact our self-guided team for further information.