SPANISH PYRENEES COAST TO COAST

ARRIVAL DAY
We'll be at the airport to meet your flight, usually coming into Biarritz, Toulouse or Bilbao. Then we'll take you to Hondarribia to stay in a wonderful 3* hotel full of character and charm. All the tools, stands and pumps you need will be available for you to assemble your bike, after which you can relax until dinner, perhaps exploring the charming little town, which is absolutely typical of the Basque country, with its red timbered buildings. Finally we'll enjoy a great dinner while we brief you on the trip and then it's off to bed for a good night's sleep.

DAY 1 - HONDARRIBIA TO RONCESVALLES - 128KM, CLIMBING AROUND 3,800 METRES
We leave the pretty, quaint Basque town of Hondarribia on the mouth of the Bidasoa river, where it meets the Atlantic, and head away from the urban area. Within a few kilometres we're riding through rolling green hills, reminiscent of South Wales or Dorset. You'll see lots of buildings with the shallow red-tiled roofs and red-timbered gables, that are so typical of the Basque region, both on the French and Spanish side of the border, and all the signposts will be in both Spanish and Basque, with its unique font. We cycle along quiet roads through small towns and villages. We don't go far before we tackle our first relatively modest climb of the day, Aritxulegi (439m), followed quite soon by Meaka (636m). Through the small town of Irurita and on up the Puerto de Artesiaga (996m), before we ride down the Eastern side of Lake Eugi. We soon come to the Puerto de Erro (801m) and Mezkiritz (922m). Finally we climb to Roncesvalles, where we stay the night in a beautiful old seminary.

DAY 2 - RONCESVALLES TO JACA - 148KM, CLIMBING 2,600 METRES
From Roncesvalles we back-track about 4km to get back on course. We descend for a while before we start the climb to the Alto de Remendia (1047m). Down through the small towns of Ezcároz and Ochagavia, followed swiftly by Izalzu, and we're on our way up to the Portillo de Lazar (1129m). We're well out of Basque country now, and the scenery is changing to stone villages with cobbled streets. If you like descending, you'll love the section from Ansó towards Hecho. We cycle south along the scenic Hecho valley for a while before we turn east again and cut across country to Aisa, across a massive plain that's full of wild flowers in the spring and early summer. You can see the skyline of Jaca for a while, and finally we're there and everyone can have a well-deserved dinner and a good night's sleep. 

DAY 3 - JACA TO CASTEJON DE SOS - 145KM, CLIMBING AROUND 2,400 METRES
We start the day with a short ride along one of our few main roads; before long we turn off and it's quieter again. Our biggest climb of the day is the Puerto de Cotefablo (1423m) which is followed by the long, fast descent to Broto, where we turn south east to Ainsa, a nice little town on the edge of a lake, intriguingly called El Humo de Muro, or “Smoke from the Wall”. From here we head off on the 30km undulating climb to the Collado de Foradada (1020m), at the top of which is an intriguing sculpture by an Irishman called Frank Norton. Finally, after the descent we turn north for a short while and take in the Canyon of Ventamillo to Castejon de Sos, where we're staying. Another really interesting day with lots of stunning scenery and diverse environments.  We're halfway already!

DAY 4 - CASTEJON DE SOS TO LA SEU D'URGELL - 154M, CLIMBING AROUND 3,100 METRES
We start climbing this morning more or less straight out of the hotel, up a fairly steep climb to the Coll de Fadas (1470m), and then over the top and down to Pont de Suert, taking in the Coll de l'Espina (1407m) on the descent. We turn east to the Viu de Llevata (1230m) and almost immediately on to the Coll de Creu de Perves (1335m). The soil here is red, and there are lots of pine trees but foliage is less lush, and you can see that the ground is more arid than we've seen so far. Down into La Pobla de Segur and we cross the river, heading along another shady gorge, the Congost de Collegats towards Sort, famous for white-water rafting. At Sort we head east again, starting the climb to the highest point on the route, the Coll del Cantó (1725m). We descend into Adrall and continue to La Seu d'Urgell, where we'll be staying the night.

DAY 5 - LA SEU D'URGELL TO CAMPDEVANOL - 143KM, CLIMBING AROUND 3,300 METRES
From La Seu d'Urgell we head across country, cycling through small, rural lanes, and before long we're on a 16km climb up to the Col de la Traba (1491m). Now we're quite high and for a long time we're looking down on the surrounding countryside, including La Seu d'Urgell.  Although at first the road surface is rather uneven, it does get better and after a while you're cycling on brand new, smooth tarmac. The second climb is up to the Coll de Port (1685m), and as you descend to Sant Llorenç de Morunys you can see the massive trefoil-shaped lake. This is probably a good place to get some lunch and then we climb again, taking in another small climb, the Coll de Mina (1200m), with a small tunnel on top. Finally we descend into Berga and then cross another large lake, the Pantà de la Baells. The road rises again before we descend into Ripoll, and then we continue a few kilometres to Campdevànol, where we stay in a lovely hotel, named after an ancient water tower that supplied water under pressure to all the lcoal mills, including a monastery.

DAY 6 - CAMPDEVANOL TO ROSES - 119KM, CLIMBING AROUND 1,300 METRES
Our last day and as we leave the mountains, we're back to rendered houses with low-pitched terracotta tiled roofs. T his is Catalan country, where the people are fiercely patriotic and proud of their heritage; all the signposts will show you place names in both Spanish and Catalan. Still a bit of climbing to do today, but only a couple of minor cols. We start from Ripoll and on level ground for a bit, before we climb up to the Coll de Canes (1120m). Then down the other side before our route kicks up again and takes in the Coll de Coubet (1010m). That's the last of the real climbs on the route, but we follow an undulating path, taking in the town of Olot and then Banyoles. From here we cut across country, cycling past fields of fruit, vines and sunflowers, until we get close to the coast, following the headland for a while until we turn east towards Roses, our final stop. Time for a celebration beer, and then we pack up the bikes and get ready for a wonderful dinner.  

DEPARTURE DAY
After breakfast we head to Girona, Barcelona, Perpignan or Toulouse to drop you off in time for your flight.