IberoCycle · 2010. 1. 30. · hing villages. In between, there is even more variety, where the Parc Natural de La Garrotxa, formed by volcanoes, competes with vineyards, fertile

Acycling trip is not just a holiday; it's awhole new way of enjoying and apprecia-ting your leisure time. Pedalling through

new and unknown countryside is an incomparableexperience that people repeat year after year.Few holidays offer the immense satisfaction andrelaxation to be found on a bicycle trip. Cares andworries are left behind and stress disappears aswe glide through country lanes, where a surpriseawaits around every bend. The rider enters intodirect contact with nature through the scents,sounds and beauty of the countryside. Enjoy pea-ceful country roads away from busy main tho-roughfares. On the bike it's just so much easier tostop and appreciate picturesque villages and mar-vellous scenery. A cycling holiday has so much tooffer.

On our trips, everything is taken care of for you.Tours are supported by our staff, yet self-guided, soriders can choose their own company - or lack of it!Routes are carefully described, so no time is wastedon unnecessary deviations. Our extensiveIberoCycle Route Guide booklet shows us where togo and what to see, do, eat and drink. At the endof every stage there is a comfortable bed a shower,and the satisfaction of sipping a cool drink while

reflecting on another day's unique experience. Onour supported trips, we transport your luggage fromhotel to hotel, so you can pack all you need kno-wing that you won't have to carry it. All you haveto do is pedal!

The tours have been organised and tested by expe-rienced cycle-tourists who would like you to enjoythe marvellous scenery to be found along these rou-tes and share their delight in this fine and unspoiltcountry.

IberoCycle staff will be close at hand, should youneed help with bicycle adjustments, route informa-tion, suggestions, advice, or anything else that willcontribute to your enjoyment of your holiday. Youwill be visited by our couriers at periodical inter-vals during your trip to ensure that everything isrunning smoothly. We are sure you will find thispersonal service an important part of the holiday.

IberoCycle is run by Simon Proffitt. Born inLancashire, England, Simon has been resident inSantander for the last 24 years. He is a keen ama-teur cyclist and cycle-tourist, and is well acquaintedwith Spain and the Spanish way of life.

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3IberoCycle

Cantabrian Coast Carmona, Cantabria La Rioja

Galizano Beach, Somo, Cantabria

On the way to La Rioja

Canyon of River Ebro, Pesquera

Santillana del Mar, Cantabria

Miera Valley, Cantabria

ContentsSpain & IberoCycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Types of Trips“Supported Tours”, “Independent Tours” and “Guided Tours” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Supported ToursNorthern Spain - 5 night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14Northern Spain - 7 night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16Northern Spain and Picos de Europa - 7 night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Northern Spain and Picos de Europa - 12 night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20Camino de Santiago / The Way of St James – 6 night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Independent ToursNorthern Spain and Picos de Europa - 6 night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24Northern Spain and Picos de Europa - 8 night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26Northern Spain and Picos de Europa - 12 night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Guided ToursLa Rioja - The Descent of the River Ebro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30Andalusia - White Villages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32Andalusia - The Route of the Moors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34Northern Spain - Picos de Europa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36Castile - Cities of Castile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38Catalonia Girona and Costa Brava . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40Northern Spain - The Basque Country . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

IberoWalkWalking in the Picos de Europa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Booking your IberoCycle Holiday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Booking Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

Many of our tours run around our home base inCantabria. The mild climate makes it ideal forcycling especially during the summer months

when the rest of Spain is baking in the summer sun. Thetours run through the provinces of Asturias andCantabria.

This is an unspoilt and largely unknown region of Spain,where mass foreign tourism has made no impact andwhich has managed to remain authentically Spanish. It'san area of great contrasts between the verdant country-side, the deep blue of the sea, beautiful sandy beaches,washed every day by the Atlantic tides, and the jaggedgrey limestone summits of the Picos de Europa. Thismountain range forms an impressive backdrop to thecoast and rises up to over 2648 metres (almost 9000feet). Its gentle valleys with their picturesque villages areideal for cycling.

The coast has an immense variety of superb uncrowdedbeaches in all shapes and sizes ranging from small shel-tered coves to the elegant Sardinero beach in Santander,made popular by visiting royalty at the beginning of the20th century. The beaches around Llanes in the provinceof Asturias are famous for their unspoilt beauty, the greencountryside forming a vivid contrast with the blue sea.The coastline is divided by various estuaries and bays,with great stretches of sand dunes. Other parts of thecoast are lined by imposing cliffs providing wonderfulscenery.

Further inland, the scenery becomes more and moremountainous. The valleys are of green pastureland -dairy and beef farming is an important part of the localagricultural economy. And then there are the mountainsthemselves, often wild and inaccessible; where one mightwalk all day and never see a soul. These are areaswhere wild boar, wolves and brown bear still roam, andeagles, vultures and birds of prey are common.

The best introduction to a beautiful and fascinating country

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Spain and IberoCycle

Northern SpainCantabria and Asturias Explore the Green Coast andthe Picos de Europa Mountains.

Northern Spain / Picos de Europa

La Rioja

Catalonia

Castile

Andalusia

Spain is one of the least densely populated countries in Europe,

twice the size of Great Britain andwith a population density of 78

inhabitants per square kilometre, just athird of that of the UK. It's a nature

lover's paradise, full of unknown corners and wild open spaces

just waiting to be discovered.

Northern Spain / The Basque Country

The Way of St James

5IberoCycle

Northern SpainLa Rioja and the River Ebro From the Cantabrian Mountains to the vineyards of La Rioja.

This area is covered by our La Rioja - The Descent ofthe Ebro route. The River Ebro, the longest river inSpain, rises close to the Atlantic, yet flows across

Spain and into the Mediterranean. We begin the trip atthe source of the river and follow it as it flows through fourdifferent regions; Cantabria, Castile (province of Burgos),the Basque Country (province of Álava) and La Rioja.

The river rises high in the Cantabrian Mountains, close tothe ski resort at Alto Campóo and in the midst of greenpastures and immense forests. As we descend, the climateand the vegetation slowly become more Mediterranean.The river begins to form huge canyons, which would notlook out of place in a Western movie. A succession ofwide valleys and more canyons follows, dotted with tinyvillages, churches and castles. It's an unspoilt and remotecountry, where vultures and eagles fly overhead as wepedal along.

Finally the river forms the immense open valley of La Riojaitself; a sea of vineyards decorated with medieval villageswhose very name is synonymous with the production offine wines such as San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Haro andLaguardia. The backdrop is provided by the high andabrupt limestone mountains of the Sierra de Cantabria.

AndalusiaFascinating Southern Spain with its Moorish Legacy,dazzling white villages, olive trees, sherry and muchmore.

Possibly the most exotic area of Spain, and probablyone of the most varied. Its landscapes range from thedesert of Almería, olive groves in Jaén, sherry vine-

yards around Jerez, fine Atlantic beaches on the Costa dela Luz of Cadiz, the immense natural park of Doñana,home to many species of bird and animal life such as fla-mingos, wild boar and deer and the Spanish lynx.Between Granada and the sea is the highest mountainrange in Spain - the Sierra Nevada. Andalusia has such atremendous variety. It's a land of marvellous and dramaticscenery, well away from the hustle and bustle of theMediterranean coast.

It also has an incredibly rich cultural and artistic heritage.This was the Arab kingdom of al-Andalus, and the Moorspervasive influence is seen everywhere, from the most fan-tastic and monumental cities such as Granada, Seville andCordoba, to its charming whitewashed towns and villa-ges. Flamenco was born here and still flourishes, with newmusicians reviving and revising the music, thus imbuing itwith new life. The cuisine is rich and varied, with Arabinfluences, and of course the ever-present olive oil produ-ced in such large quantities. Last but not least, the climateis one of the most benign in Europe and ideal for springand autumn cycling.

Llanes, Asturias

La Rioja

San Vicente de la Barquera, Cantabria

Potes & Picos de Europa

Zuheros, Cordoba

River Ebro

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CastileCentral Spain, a land of endless horizons, monumental citiessuch as Segovia, Salamanca, Ávila, and Toledo, steeped in his-tory, fine castles and beautiful mountain ranges.

Castile is one of the least-known areas of Spain, yet has atremendous amount to offer the visitor. The Spanish lan-guage, Castillian, was born here. Various of its cities

were capitals of Spain at a time when the capital had 'no fixedabode'. These cities are beautifully preserved, and offer sucharchitectural marvels as the Alcázar and the Roman aqueduct ofSegovia, the immense city walls of Ávila, and many others.The landscape has many contrasts; the majestic wide openplains stretch as far as the eye can see, and the sky and cloudformations acquire a unique importance in the scenery.Beautiful and little-known mountain ranges such as Gredos andGuadarrama separate Castilla y León in the north from Castilla- La Mancha to the south, home to the peregrinations of DonQuixote and Sancho Panza.

CataloniaThe North East of Spain, with its own unique cultural identity and Mediterranean flavour.

Catalonia occupies the north-eastern corner of Spain. Its scenery ranges from the grandeur of the Pyreneesin the north, to the charming Mediterranean coastline of the Costa Brava with its beautiful calas and fis-hing villages. In between, there is even more variety, where the Parc Natural de La Garrotxa, formed by

volcanoes, competes with vineyards, fertile valleys, and extensive forets. The cultural note is provided by Gaudí,the architect of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, and artists such as Miró, and of course the world-famous Dalí.Last but not least are its fine cities such as Gerona, and the capital, Barcelona.

The Basque CountryAnother undiscovered and beautiful area of Spain rooted in its strong traditions.

Our trip through the Basque Country takes in its three emblematic cities; San Sebastián, Bilbao and Vitoria.As we reach Navarra, we visit its capital, Pamplona, before continuing along the Pilgrim Way of SaintJames and taking a brief incursion into France. The green landscape combines beautifully with the fine

unspoilt coastline. Last but not least is its fine gastronomic tradition, virtually un paralleled in Spain.

El Camino de Santiago / The Way of St JamesFollow in the footsteps of those who have followed the route over the last thousand years.

Pilgrims have travelled this route now for centuries. During the last few years, it has seen a revival of its popu-larity with pilgrims and travellers coming from all over the world to walk or ride to Santiago. Our route beginsin Castile in the fine city of León and then crosses over into Galicia. The route is dotted with many monu-

ments such as old hospitals and lodgings for the pilgrims, often reminding us that this is the oldest, most cele-brated and frequented route in Europe. The landscapes are varied and breathtaking and we pass through pic-turesque villages and monumental cities, taking the oppurtinity to enjoy fine wines and cuisine.

Ebro Descent, Cantabria

AccommodationA variety of hand-picked hotels and country inns,each with its own particular charm and personal ser-vice and quality.

Hotels range from posadas, casas rurales, casas delabranza or “country inn” type accommodation totwo, three and four star hotels. One thing they dohave in common is the standard of the accommoda-tion. The key words here are quality, comfort, cle-anliness and friendliness. All rooms have en-suitebathrooms. We have selected and inspected all ourhotels personally and we constantly request custo-mer feedback. They all have their own charm andcharacter, and are chosen for their unique situation,regional atmosphere, comfort, cleanliness, and per-sonalised customer attention. These hotels form animportant part of the IberoCycle holiday experien-ce. Most have at least one English speaker. Ourguests are always delighted with the fine accommo-dation they experience on our trips. For more detai-led information on hotels, please consult the“Accommodation” page on the IberoCycle website.

GeneralInformation

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GastronomyEnjoy the best of authentic Spanish cuisine.

A good day's cycling is all the excuse you need toenjoy the local cooking. Spanish food is quite superband you will find an immense variety on the trips atvery reasonable prices. A menu of the day can costbetween 6 and 12 Euros (4 - 8 pounds, or 8 - 16 USdollars), with wine included. You can also take theopportunity to taste tapas in their home country.

Here are just some of the delights on offer: Seafoodand fish - eaten all over Spain but don't miss thechance to try it on the north coast in fishing villagessuch as San Vicente de la Barquera and Llanes;Paella - internationally famous and a classic Spanishdish; Cocido Montañés - a rich bean and cabbagestew with local sausages typical in Cantabria;Fabada - another bean stew but with larger beansand typical in Asturias; Cabrales and Tresviso chee-se - excellent blue cheeses from the Picos de Europawhere indeed many other types of cheese are made;Barbecued sardines - eaten with the fingers and quitedelicious, a speciality in Somo and nearby Pedreña;Fresh tuna - grilled and served with a salad in thesummer months on the north coast and the Atlanticcoast of Andalusia; Fillet steak with blue cheesesauce - a speciality in Cantabria and Asturias; Meatssuch as roast kid, or suckling lamb or pig; Finesalads dressed in olive oil; And olive oil itself or 'li-quid gold' as it is often called and which is producedin large areas of Andalusia, where it is even used ontoast at breakfast time instead of butter; Iberian hamis a great delicacy and is sliced as finely as possibleas a starter. The list is endless. Ánd last but not leastare the fine wines now produced in som many areasof Spain ranging from the reds of La Rioja andRibera del Duero, the whites of Galicia, to the finesherries of Andalusia.

9IberoCycle

Vegetarians

Although vegetarianism in Spain is rare, there isplenty on offer for vegetarians to eat. Restaurantstend to be fairly flexible and in general have notrouble in catering for vegetarians. Please consultfor further details.

WeatherCycle each area with the best weather conditions.

Many people are put off coming to Spain on acycling holiday due to the weather. They think it'sgoing to be just too hot - and in most cases they areprobably right! During the summer months Spain isone of the hottest and driest countries in Europe,with temperatures climbing up to 40ºC - 105ºF oreven more.

However, the coast and mountains of Asturias andCantabria are the exception to the rule. The influen-ce of the Atlantic means that summer months are alot milder than in the rest of Spain. This is idealcycling weather from spring through to autumn.

Our trips to other areas of Spain take place inspring and autumn, when the weather is againideal for cycling.

Please take a look at the weather page on our web-

site, where youwill find full offi-cial statistics forthe weather youcan expect onour differenttrips.

Out of seasonvisitors will becatered for.However, werequest that theycheck weatherstatistics beforebooking.

DistancesGreat tours forall cycling abili-ties.

Our tours havebeen designedto cater for all cycling trips. Supported trips haveeasy stages of around 25 - 30 miles, not too farwhen you have all day to get there. Keener cyclistscan use our Route Extensions detailed in the RouteGuide to make these trips as long as they like. OurGuided Tours use a support vehicle so you cancycle just as far (or as little) as you want to.

Descent of the Ebro

10 IberoCycle

BikesComfortable fitted and fully equipped bikes foryour cycling pleasure.

Guests can either make arrangements to bringtheir own bicycles or hire our own. Most airlineswill carry bicycles for a small extra charge, oreven free. Those who choose to hire will be provi-ded with a comfortable quality bicycle to suit theirparticular measurements and preferences. Weplace great importance on getting the bikes right.Too many cyclists have complained about pastexperiences with other companies where theyhave had to put up with uncomfortable saddles,the wrong sized bike etc. Measurements arerequested on booking, so the right bike is waitingfor you on arrival. Cyclists are provided withhybrid-type tourist bicycles of a quality brand withconventional handlebars and with 21 easy-to-change gear ratios for comfortable and easycycling. Road bikes or tandems are also availableon request.

Equipment depends on the tour option chosen -'Supported' or 'Independent'. Cyclists who chooseto carry their own luggage will be provided withspacious panniers fitted on the rear of the bicycle.Those who take advantage of our supported tourswill have their bicycles fitted with two pannierswith sufficient space to carry what they need forthat particular day.

Bikes on both options will carry a handlebar bag,useful for carrying money, documents, cameraand lots of other useful items which may be nee-ded close at hand. This bag is easily removed itfrom its click fastening when you stop.

In addition, all cycles are equipped with pump,spare inner tube, water bottle, bike lock and basictoolkit. Extras, such as lights or toe clips, are avai-lable on request. IberoCycle provides cyclists witha fine bicycle in tip-top condition to make cyclingan absolute pleasure. For more information, seethe “Bikes” page on our website.

Children’s BikesChildren's bikes, tow bikes and child seats areavailable on request.

IberoCycle Route Guide and Maps Full route directions and general information along

with plenty of suggestions for your freedays.

Each tour has its own Route Guide. Thisbooklet is designed to provide constantsuggestions for routes and activities socyclists are never alone but enjoy a'supported independence'.

This Guide includes detailed route ins-tructions along with interesting informa-tion on landscapes, towns and villages,monuments, history, alternative routesuggestions, tips on eating and drin-king - including an exhaustive gastro-Coca Castle, Segovia

11IberoCycle

nomic dictionary, and other usefulinformation and suggestions. Routesare carefully described so no time iswasted on unnecessary deviations.Maps of the area are also providedto support the Route Guide. Trips that include more than onenight in the same destination includeoptional 'round rides' of differinglengths for these 'free days' socyclists will never be at a loose end.

Personal Service

We pride ourselves on the personalservice we provide. IberoCycle is oncall round the clock in case help oradvice is needed, although cyclistsare expected to deal with punctures themselves.Upon arrival you will receive a briefing from yourIberoCycle representative and plenty of informationand advice. This information is of course already con-tained in your IberoCycle Route Guide. Those onSupported tours will of course have their luggagetransferred from hotel to hotel by an IberoCyclerepresentative who will visit at regular intervals.

Free days and round ridesKeep cycling or just take it easy.

The Supported trips and the longer Independent tripsoften stay for two or three nights at the same hotel.This gives visitors a chance to further explore that par-ticular area, indulge in an “Alternative Activity” orsimply give the bike a rest for the day. The RouteGuide gives suggestions for round rides of varyinglengths. A round ride is of course a ride that beginsand ends at the same place i.e. the village where youare staying. The Route Guide also covers other activi-ties or places to visit to make sure our guests are neverat a loose end, unless of course they want to be.

Alternative ActivitiesTake a break from the bike

Travellers on the Northern Spain rou-tes will have both time and opportuni-ties to indulge in other activities apartfrom cycling. The area is ideal for ahost of activities, which include wal-king and climbing, canoeing, caving,surfing, horse riding and others.IberoCycle will be able to book cer-tain activities with other activity cen-tres.* Activities on the “Spring &Autumn” trips are detailed on thecorresponding pages of this brochure.

*Please note that availability of cer-tain activities depends on participant

numbers and cannot always be guaranteed.

Tailor-made Trips and Groups

Tailors made trips are also available. IberoCycle alsoorganises trips for independent groups, cycling clubsetc. Details are available on request.

Non-cyclists

One member of the party may prefer not to cycle inwhich case this person will be able to take advantageof the luggage transfers to move from one hotel to thenext.

E-mail & Internet

As IberoCycle is based in Spain, we place a greatdeal of importance on e-mail communication as thequickest and most efficient way of contact. If youhave any queries, or if you would like us to phoneyou, please contact us at [email protected] and

Crossing the Ebro

12 IberoCycle

we will be glad to help out.Check the website for up todate information.

Getting There

The proliferation of budgetair travel operators means that

Spain is now more accessible than ever from thjerest of Europa. It is often possible to take con-necting flights through Spanish airports such asMadrid or Barcelona, or through other Europeancities. This is particularly true for customers arrivingfrom outside Europe. On arrival, you will be pickedup from the airport and then taken back at the endof your trip.

You may like to extend your holiday with a mini-cruise. Brittany Ferries runs a service from the UKto Santander and both Trasmediterranea and P &O Ferries sail from the UK to Bilbao.

We do not book travel to and from Spain, as wefeel that the customer will get the best possible dealeither by searching the Internet or asking the localtravel agent to check all possibilities. However, wewill be glad to give advice and help with train orbus timetables / bookings within Spain if neces-sary. Check our “Getting There” page on the web-site for links to all major air companies flying toSpain.

Holiday Extensions

You may like to extend your trip. A visitto Bilbao and its striking GuggenheimMuseum is a popular option with guestson our routes in Asturias, Cantabria andLa Rioja. Our hotels here are centrallylocated within easy walking distance ofthe Guggenheim and the Old Quarterof Bilbao. Visitors to Andalusia may liketo spend time relaxing on theMediterranean coast of Granada, get-

ting to know Malaga or other monumental cities onthe Andalusia routes such as Seville, Granada orCordoba. The Castile trip is an ideal opportunity tospend some time in Madrid or Toledo. The high-light of Catalonia is of course its capital,Barcelona, and riders to Santiago de Compostelamay like to stay there for an extra night or two toenjoy the atmosphere. You may even wish to hire acar and travel even further afield. This extensioncan of course be at the beginning or end of thetrip. IberoCycle will be glad to help you with yourtravel and accommodation arrangements with ourexpert advice. Please contact us for further details.

*Guests using these extensions are responsible fortheir own transport between the airport and thehotel. In most cases this is just a short taxi ride.

Discounts

You may be able to take advantage of our variousdiscounts. These are as follows:

Repeat customer - 5%Early bookings (before 1 March) - 5%Children (3-11) - 15%Children (12-17) - 10%

Miera Valley

Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao

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Supported ToursEnjoy your cycling while we move your luggage for you.

� These trips take place in Northern Spain and are very simi-lar to each other. They differ in the duration of the trip andthe relative emphasis on coastal or mountain scenery.

� IberoCycle transports luggage to the next hotel. On somestages cyclists are also transferred part of the way to avoidunnecessary climbs (details in individual route descrip-tions).

� Cyclists do not travel as part of a group or with a guide,although they may coincide with other cyclists on the sametrip.

� Guests are transported to and from arrival / departure points (these are specified in the route guides).� Our “IberoCycle On Call” service means we are always available for help or advice. � Cyclists are provided with our own detailed Route Guide and maps for their chosen route.� Fitter cyclists may extend stages at will. � Guests normally spend two or three nights at the same hotel and thus have one or two free days. The Route

Guide provides a selection of Free Day Routes of varying lengths for these days. These are of course merelysuggestions, and guests are free to do what they like.

Independent ToursCarry your own luggage as you really get acquainted with the area.

� Cyclists carry their own luggage. In the case of IberoCycle hire bikes, thisis carried in panniers fitted on the rear of the bike.

� Cyclists do not travel as part of a group or with a guide. � Excess luggage may be left with IberoCycle for the duration of the trip

and will be transported to the last hotel on the route before your arrivalthere.

� Guests are transported to and from arrival / departure points (these arespecified in the route guides).

� Our “IberoCycle On Call” service means we are always available forhelp or advice.

� Cyclists are provided with our own detailed Route Guide and maps fortheir chosen route.

� Fitter cyclists may extend stages at will.

Guided ToursSupported trips in different areas of Spain.

� Guests are transported to and from arrival / departure points (these are specified in the route guides).� Luggage is transported by IberoCycle to the next hotel. Cyclists carry just what they need for that day. � A back-up vehicle and IberoCycle staff member supports

cycling stages. � There are normally 10 - 20 cyclists on each trip. Cyclists choo-

se whether they cycle alone or with other cyclists. � Cyclists are free in the evenings to dine with other members of

the group or to do their own thing. Our representative will orga-nise a meal for those who wish to dine in company.

� Routes have soft options for those cyclists who do not wish tocycle the full stage. Thus the routes are suitable for all levels.Non-cyclists may also participate using our transfer service.

� Cyclists are provided with our own detailed Route Guide andmaps for their chosen route.

� Fitter cyclists may extend stages at will.

Types of Trips

14 IberoCycle

Pick up from arrival point and transfer to the charmingmedieval village of Santillana del Mar. Introduction tobikes and route briefing. Spend the rest of the day walking round the cobbled streets of this beautiful village, visit the modern museum of the Altamira Cavesor enjoy a ride around the country lanes and down tothe coast.

Leaving Santillana, our route heads westwards throughgreen meadows and the hills and valleys of Cantabriawith its marvellous unspoilt coastline and beachesnearby. We soon arrive at the charming village ofNovales, set amidst lemon groves and with its fine typical rural architecture. Next stop is the seaside village of Comillas. Here a visit to the fine beach, thesmall harbour and the pretty village square with its

pavement tapas bars and restaurants is a must, not tomention the architectural sights of El Capricho by thefamous Catalan architect Gaudí and the Palace of theMarqués de Comillas. After leaving Comillas, cyclethrough the Parque Natural de Oyambre and along thebeautiful beaches of Oyambre and Merón. We arefinally greeted by the stunning view of San Vicente andthe Picos de Europa in the distance. 36km – 23 miles

Spend time getting to know this pretty fishing villagewith its many seafood restaurants and magnificent setting. Take a ride on one of the free day routes, visitthe lovely mountain village of Carmona, take a train tothe fishing village of Llanes in the neighbouring province of Asturias and enjoy the ride back to SanVicente. Alternatively, enjoy a ride through the unspoilthill country behind the village, or you may just preferto spend a lazy afternoon on the beach.

Today we transfer to the Cantabrian Mountains, andbegin our descent of the Miera Valley to our final stopin Somo. Pick up after breakfast and drive to the starting point at 822 metres / 2697 feet above sealevel. From here, a marvellous ride through the stunning limestone valley of the River Miera takes usdown to the farmland around Somo and the Bay ofSantander. Visit the mountain village of San Roque deRiomiera and the spa village of Liérganes with its charming old quarter. 44km – 28 miles

Tour Code - LS5CCM 5 Night

““Thank you for a wonderful holiday - it

exceeded our expectations in everyway, and we were looked after

wonderfully. I think we will certainlyrevisit that part of Spain .We will

certainly be recommending IberoCycleand Cantabria to friends and

colleagues.”

Robin & Pat BarclayMidlothian, Scotland

Day 1 Transfer to Santillana

Day 3 Free day in San Vicente

Day 4 San Vicente - Miera Valley Descent - Somo

Night One Santillana del Mar

Night Two San Vicente de la Barquera

Night Three San Vicente de la Barquera

Night Four Somo

Night Five Somo

Day 2 Santillana – San Vicente de la Barquera

A beautiful trip taking in the coast,valleys and villages of Cantabria.The marvellous scenic descent of the Miera Valley takes us to our final stop at Somo.The Cantabrian Coast, San Vicente and the Picos de Europa

Sup

port

ed T

our

6 D

ays

Magdalena Palace, Santander

Northern Spain

15IberoCycle

Enjoy the marvellous beach, miles of golden sand. Takea short boat ride across the Bay to visit the lively andelegant city of Santander, capital of the province ofCantabria. Enjoy the belle époque atmosphere of ElSardinero, the beach resort of the city where AlfonsoXIII and his court spent the summer months in the early20th century. Or stroll around the town centre for somelast minute shopping. Take one of the free day routesto visit the beautiful beaches of Loredo, Langre orGalizano. Ride through the green country lanes, wherea surprise awaits you round every corner, to the villageof Ajo where the speciality of the restaurants is thatclassic Spanish dish, paella.. Try the freshly grilled sar-dines in the seaside restaurants of nearby Pedreña.

End of trip. Pick up from Somo hotel and transfer todeparture point.

Day 6 Transfer Somo – departure pointDay 5 Free day in Somo

Tour datesBegins any Monday from April to OctoberHigh season – 1 July – 15 September

Prices (per person in double share)1 person in double share – 510 €High season supplement – 105 €1 person in single room – 615 €Single high season supplement – 135 €Bike hire – 56 €

IncludedAccommodation with en-suite bathroomContinental style breakfast Transport to and from arrival / departure points Information Pack (Route Guide and maps)Luggage transport Partial rider transport on day four

Not includedLunch & dinnerBicycle hire Holiday extension

Terrain / GradientsGently rolling hills along the coast and then afine mountain descent of the River Miera.Easy to moderate.

Arrival pointsAirports - Bilbao or Santander. Ferryports -Bilbao or Santander. Bus / train stations -Bilbao or Santander.

TransfersDay 1 - Bilbao - Santillana. Day 4 - San Vicente -Miera Valley. Day 6 - Somo - Bilbao. *Please note that differing pick up times mayrequire some degree of customer flexibility.

Holiday extensionsPossibility of spending extra nights in Bilbao orSantander.

San Vicente de la Barquera, CantabriaBay of Santander, Cantabria

Santillana del Mar

16 IberoCycle

Pick up from arrival point and transfer to the charmingmedieval village of Santillana del Mar. Introduction tobikes and route briefing. Spend the rest of the day walkinground the cobbled streets of this beautiful village, visit themodern museum of the Altamira Caves or enjoy a ridearound the country lanes and down to the coastline.

Leaving Santillana, our route heads westwards throughgreen meadows and the hills and valleys of Cantabriawith its marvellous unspoilt coastline and beachesnearby. We soon arrive at the charming village ofNovales, set amidst lemon groves and with its fine typi-cal rural architecture. Next stop is the seaside village ofComillas. Here a visit to the fine beach, the small har-

bour and the pretty village square with its pavementtapas bars and restaurants is a must, not to mention thearchitectural sights of El Capricho by the famous Catalanarchitect Gaudí and the Palace of the Marqués deComillas. After leaving Comillas, cycle through theParque Natural de Oyambre and along the beautifulbeaches of Oyambre and Merón. We are finally greetedby the stunning view of San Vicente and the Picos deEuropa in the distance. 36km – 23 miles

Spend time getting to know this pretty fishing villagewith its many seafood restaurants and magnificent set-ting. Take a ride on one of the free day routes, or visitthe lovely mountain village of Carmona. Alternatively,enjoy a ride through the unspoilt hill country behind thevillage, or you may just prefer to spend a lazy afterno-on on the beach.

Leaving San Vicente the route heads westwards alongthe coast. After a short distance, cycle around the beau-tiful headland of Pechón with its magnificent views ofthe coastline. Crossing the River Deva in Unquera weenter the province of Asturias. The village of Colombresis home to the sumptuous villas of the indianos, emi-grants to the Americas who made their fortune and thenreturned. From here, the route continues between thecoast and the dramatic mountain backdrop of the Sierrade Cuera, foothills of the Picos de Europa. A beautifuldescent through eucalyptus forests brings us back to thecoast, where we cycle past beautiful and unspoilt bea-ches to arrive at the charming fishing village of Llanes.50 km – 31 miles (This route can be shortened by 10miles by taking the local train to Unquera)

Tour Code - LS7CACM 7 Night

““I can still say that the tour was

absolutely marvellous. The scenery wasbeautiful and never static and the

opportunity to get to know (at leasthave a conversation with) some of the

Spanish people was more than weexpected. Bonnie is telling our friends

that it was her dream vacation. It was mine as well.”

Bob & Bonnie GillespieFlorida, USA



Day 4 San Vicente - Llanes




Night Four Llanes

Night Five Llanes

Night Six Somo

Night Seven Somo


A beautiful ride along the Cantabrian and Asturian coast. The rich green countryside contrasts with the blue sea and the magnificent unspoilt beaches. Picturesque villages with flower bedeckedhouses, fishing harbours, and the magnificent backdrop of the Picos de Europa.

Fishing harbour, San Vicente

Asturian coastline

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Cycle westwards and visit a string of fine beaches, including the incredible landlocked beach ofGulpiyuri. Another beautiful route takes us through themost beautiful hills and valleys behind Llanes.Alternatively, we can give the bikes a rest and take acanoeing trip on the Deva or Sella Rivers, or a hikethrough the dramatic and renowned Cares Gorge in thevery heart of the Picos de Europa. Take a train toRibadasella and visit the Caves of Tito Bustillo with theirprehistoric paintings, before cycling back to Llanes.Enjoy the busy atmosphere of the fishing village ofLlanes, so popular with Spanish tourists.

Today we transfer to the Cantabrian Mountains, andbegin our descent of the Miera Valley to our final stopin Somo. Pick up after breakfast and drive to the star-ting point at 822 metres / 2697 feet above sea level.From here, a marvellous ride through the stunninglimestone valley of the River Miera takes us down tothe farmland around Somo and the Bay of Santander.Visit the mountain village of San Roque de Riomieraand the spa village of Liérganes with its charming old quarter. 44km – 28 miles

Enjoy the marvellous beach, miles of golden sand. Takea short boat ride across the Bay to visit the lively andelegant city of Santander, capital of the province ofCantabria. Enjoy the belle époque atmosphere of ElSardinero, the beach resort of the city where Alfonso

XIII and his court spent the summer months in the early20th century. Or stroll around the town centre for somelast minute shopping. Take one of the free day routesto visit the beautiful beaches of Loredo, Langre orGalizano. Ride through the green country lanes, wherea surprise awaits you round every corner, to the villageof Ajo where the speciality of the restaurants is thatclassic Spanish dish, paella.. Try the freshly grilled sar-dines in the seaside restaurants of nearby Pedreña.

End of trip. Pick up from Somo hotel and transfer to departure point.

Day 6 Llanes - Miera Valley Descent - Somo

Day 5 Free day in Llanes Day 7 Free day in Somo

Day 8 Transfer Somo – departure point

Langre beach

Cantabria

Asturias

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Tour datesBegins any Saturday from April to OctoberHigh season – 1 July – 15 September


IncludedAccommodation with en-suite bathroom Continental style breakfast Transport to and from arrival / departure points Information Pack (Route Guide and maps)Luggage transport Partial rider transport on day six


Terrain / GradientsGently rolling hills along the coast and then a finemountain descent of the River Miera. Easy tomoderate.

Arrival pointsAirports - Bilbao or Santander. Ferryports - Bilbaoor Santander. Bus / train stations - Bilbao orSantander.

TransfersDay 1 - Bilbao - Santillana. Day 6 - Llanes -Miera Valley. Day 8 - Somo - Bilbao. *Please note that differing pick up times mayrequire some degree of customer flexibility.


18 IberoCycle

Pick up from arrival point and transfer to the charmingmedieval village of Santillana del Mar. Introduction to bikesand route briefing. Spend the rest of the day walking roundthe cobbled streets of this beautiful village, visit the modernmuseum of the Altamira Caves or enjoy a ride around thecountry lanes and down to the coastline.

Leaving Santillana, our route heads westwards through greenmeadows and the hills and valleys of Cantabria with its mar-vellous unspoilt coastline and beaches nearby. We soon arriveat the charming village of Novales, set amidst lemon grovesand with its fine typical rural architecture. Next stop is theseaside village of Comillas. Here a visit to the fine beach, thesmall harbour and the pretty village square with its pavement

tapas bars and restaurants is a must, not to mention the archi-tectural sights of El Capricho by the famous Catalan architectGaudí and the Palace of the Marqués de Comillas. After lea-ving Comillas, cycle through the Parque Natural de Oyambreand along the beautiful beaches of Oyambre and Merón. Weare finally greeted by the stunning view of San Vicente andthe Picos de Europa in the distance. 36km – 23 miles

Spend time getting to know this pretty fishing village with itsmany seafood restaurants and magnificent setting. Take aride on one of the free day routes, visit the lovely mountainvillage of Carmona, take a train to the fishing village ofLlanes in the neighbouring province of Asturias and enjoy theride back to San Vicente. Alternatively, enjoy a ride throughthe unspoilt hill country behind the village, or you may justprefer to spend a lazy afternoon on the beach.

Leaving San Vicente the route heads westwards along thecoast. After a short distance, cycle around the beautiful headland of Pechón with its magnificent views of the coastline. Crossing the River Deva in Unquera we enter theprovince of Asturias with its markedly different flavour. Thevillage of Colombres is home to the sumptuous villas of theindianos, emigrants to the Americas who made their fortuneand returned to a life of luxury. We then head along the DevaValley, riding through the incredible rocky gorge of LaHermida. Mountains tower around us as we cycle towardsPotes and the valley of La Liébana, completely encircled bymountains. 60 km – 38 miles (this route can be shortened by 10 km bytaking the local train to Unquera)

Cycle along any of the three valleys that meet in Potes. Take

Tour Code - LS7CCPE 7 Night

“Day 1 Transfer to Santillana


Day 4 San Vicente - Potes/Picos de Europa


A magnificent combination of sea and mountains. After riding along the coast, an easy, barelyperceptible ascent leads us to the village of Potes at the very heart of the Picos de Europa. Alpine

scenery and clean, unspoilt Atlantic beaches all in the same trip. The wonderful descent of theRiver Miera takes us down one of the least known and most beautiful valleys of Cantabria.




Night Four Potes / Picos de Europa

Night Five Potes / Picos de Europa

Night Six Somo

Night Seven Somo

Day 5 Free day in Potes

San Vicente de la Barquera, Cantabria

Santillana del Mar

Miera Valley

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“It was comforting to know you wereonly a call away should

anything go wrong.A valued service I'm sure.”

Alan AgerDerby, England

Northern Spain &Picos de Europa

19IberoCycle

a trip on the cable car at Fuente Dé to enjoy breathtakingviews of the Cantabrian Mountains, where the brown bearand wolves still roam. Enjoy a walk through the lush greenvalleys or the higher mountains. Spend time in the bustlingmarke village of Potes with its peculiar mix of local farmers,tourists and mountaineers. Visit the many other picturesquevillages dotted around the area. Cycle up to the Monastery ofSanto Toribio, home to the largest surviving fragment of theTrue Cross or to the charming country monastery of Piasca.There’s no shortage of things to do in this magnificent setting.

Today we transfer to the Cantabrian Mountains, and begin ourdescent of the Miera Valley to our final stop in Somo. Pick upafter breakfast and drive to the starting point at 822 metres/ 2697 feet above sea level. From here, a marvellous ridethrough the stunning limestone valley of the River Mieratakes us down to the farmland around Somo and the Bay ofSantander. Visit the mountain village of San Roque deRiomiera and the spa village of Liérganes with its charmingold quarter. 44km – 28 miles

Enjoy the marvellous beach, miles of golden sand. Take ashort boat ride across the Bay to visit the lively and elegantcity of Santander, capital of the province of Cantabria. Enjoythe belle époque atmosphere of El Sardinero, the beach resortof the city where Alfonso XIII and his court spent the summermonths in the early 20th century. Or stroll around the towncentre for some last minute shopping. Take one of the freeday routes to visit the beautiful beaches of Loredo, Langre orGalizano. Ride through the green country lanes, where a sur-prise awaits you round every corner, to the village of Ajowhere the speciality of the restaurants is that classic Spanishdish, paella.. Try the freshly grilled sardines in the seaside res-taurants of nearby Pedreña.

End of trip. Pick up from Somo hotel and transfer to departu-re point.

Day 7 Free day in Somo


Day 6 Potes - Miera Valley Descent - Somo

View from Fuente Dé

Pechón



IncludedAccommodation with en-suite bathroom Continental style breakfast Transport to and from arrival / departure points Information Pack (Route Guide and maps)Luggage transport between hotelsPartial rider transport on day six


Terrain / GradientsGently rolling hills along the coast, easy ascent toPotes, and then a fine mountain descent of theRiver Miera. Easy to moderate.


TransfersDay 1 - Bilbao - Santillana. Day 6 - Potes - MieraValley. Day 8 - Somo - Bilbao. *Please note that differing pick up times mayrequire some degree of customer flexibility.


Picos de Europa

20 IberoCycle

Pick up from arrival point and transfer to the charmingmedieval village of Santillana del Mar. Introduction to bikesand route briefing. Spend the rest of the day walking roundthe cobbled streets of this beautiful village, visit the modernmuseum dedicated to the prehistoric paintings of the AltamiraCaves or enjoy a ride around the country lanes and down tothe coastline.

Leaving Santillana, our route heads westwards through greenmeadows and the hills and valleys of Cantabria with its mar-

vellous unspoilt coastline and beaches nearby. We soon arriveat the charming village of Novales, set amidst lemon grovesand with its fine typical rural architecture. Next stop is theseaside village of Comillas. Here a visit to the fine beach, thesmall harbour and the pretty village square with its pavementtapas bars and restaurants is a must, not to mention the archi-tectural sights of El Capricho by the famous Catalan architectGaudí and the Palace of the Marqués de Comillas. After lea-ving Comillas, cycle through the Parque Natural de Oyambreand along the beautiful beaches of Oyambre and Merón. Weare finally greeted by the stunning view of San Vicente andthe Picos de Europa in the distance. 36km – 23 miles

Spend time getting to know this pretty fishing village with itsmany seafood restaurants and magnificent setting. Take aride on one of the free day routes; visit the lovely mountainvillage of Carmona. Alternatively, enjoy a ride through theunspoilt hill country behind the village, or you may just prefer to spend a lazy afternoon on the beach.

Leaving San Vicente the route heads westwards along thecoast. After a short distance, cycle around the beautiful headland of Pechón with its magnificent views of the coastline. Crossing the River Deva in Unquera we enter theprovince of Asturias. The village of Colombres is home to thesumptuous villas of the indianos, emigrants to the Americaswho made their fortune and then returned. From here, theroute continues between the coast and the dramatic mountainbackdrop of the Sierra de Cuera, foothills of the Picos deEuropa. A beautiful descent through eucalyptus forests bringsus back to the coast, where we cycle past beautiful and uns-poilt beaches to arrive at the charming fishing village ofLlanes. 50 km – 31 miles (This route can be shortened by 10miles by taking the local train to Unquera)

Tour Code - LS12CACMPE 12 Night

““Bob and I would like to “Thank you” for

arranging and providing for us a fabulouscycling holiday in August. We loved everyminute of the holiday and could not in any

way fault the arrangements, service and professional and personal approach. Thankyou so much. A terrific holiday!!! We really

had a super time. The holiday went waybeyond our expectations and was one of the

best we have had. It certainly suited us .....Wonderful!!! Can’t wait for the next one!”

Sue Burkinshaw & Bob BarrettBolton, England







Night Four Llanes

Night Five Llanes

Night Six Llanes

Night Seven Potes /Picos de Europa

Night Eight Potes /Picos de Europa

Night Nine Potes /Picos de Europa

Night Ten Somo

Night Eleven Somo

Night Twelve Somo


An extensive journey through the north of Spain; Atlantic beaches, medieval villages untouched by the passing of time, fine seafood, paellas and rich bean stews, pretty mountainvillages where the Picos de Europa mountains tower above,the lively city of Santander with its belle époque ambience.....Free days at each stop give you the chance to explore and relax to the full.

Asturias

Transfer to Somo

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21IberoCycle

Cycle westwards and visit a string of fine beaches, including theincredible landlocked beach of Gulpiyuri. Another beautifulroute takes us through the most beautiful hills and valleysbehind Llanes. Alternatively, we can give the bikes a rest andtake a canoeing trip on the Deva or Sella Rivers, or a hikethrough the dramatic and renowned Cares Gorge in the veryheart of the Picos de Europa. Take a train to Ribadasella andvisit the Caves of Tito Bustillo with their prehistoric paintings,before cycling back to Llanes. Enjoy the busy atmosphere of thefishing village of Llanes, so popular with Spanish tourists.

After breakfast we take a short transfer to the head of theValley of Cabrales at 420 metres / 1378 feet From here webegin a fine descent with the most spectacular scenery as wefollow the course of the River Cares, the Sierra de Cuera toour left and the imposing Western, Central and EasternMassifs of the Picos de Europa to our right. In Panes, the Caresflows into the Deva and we follow the latter upstream to themountain village of Potes. Suddenly the sides of the valleyclose in and the route runs through the incredible rocky gorgeof La Hermida. Mountains tower around us as we cycle Potesand the valley of La Liébana, completely encircled by moun-tains. This is a longer stage but easy – downhill to Panes andthen a barely perceptible ascent to Liébana and the village ofPotes. 62 km – 39 miles

Cycle along any of the three valleys that meet in Potes. Take atrip on the cable car at Fuente Dé to enjoy breathtaking views ofthe Cantabrian Mountains, where the brown bear and wolvesstill roam. Enjoy a walk through the lush green valleys or thehigher mountains. Spend time in the bustling market village ofPotes with its peculiar mix of local farmers, tourists and moun-taineers. Visit the many other picturesque villages dotted around

the area. Cycle up to the Monastery of Santo Toribio, home tothe largest surviving fragment of the True Cross or to the char-ming country monastery of Piasca. There’s no shortage of thingsto do in this magnificent setting.

Today we transfer to the Cantabrian Mountains, and begin ourdescent of the Miera Valley to our final stop in Somo. Pick upafter breakfast and drive to the starting point at 822 metres/ 2697 feet above sea level. From here, a marvellous ridethrough the stunning limestone valley of the River Mieratakes us down to the farmland around Somo and the Bay ofSantander. Visit the mountain village of San Roque deRiomiera and the spa village of Liérganes with its charmingold quarter. 44km – 28 miles




Days 5/6 Free days in Llanes.

Days 8/9 Free days in Potes.

Days 11/12 Free days in Somo

Day 10 Potes - Miera Valley Descent - Somo.

Day 7 Llanes – Cabrales - Potes

La Hermida, Picos de Europa

Asturias


Prices (per person in double share)Prices (per person in double share)1 person in double share – 1045 €High season supplement – 225 €1 person in single room – 1370 €Single high season supplement – 260 €Bike hire – 118 €

IncludedAccommodation with en-suite bathroom Continental style breakfast Transport to and from arrival / departure points Information Pack (Route Guide and maps)Luggage transport between hotelsPartial rider transport on days seven & ten


Terrain / GradientsGently rolling hills along the coast, descent ofCabrales valley followed by easy ascent to Potes,and then a fine mountain descent of the RiverMiera. Easy to moderate.


TransfersDay 1 - Bilbao - Santillana. Day 7 - Llanes -Cabrales. Day 10 - Potes - Miera Valley. Day 13 -Somo - Bilbao. *Please note that differing pick up times mayrequire some degree of customer flexibility.


Gaudi´s Capricho, Comillas

22 IberoCycle

Everything you need for the tour will be ready at your hotel:your touring bike with all accessories, detailed documentationwith maps and a road book. Founded in 884 AD, León has abundant gastronomic and archi-tectural riches - dinner is best enjoyed by having tapas in theatmospheric bars located along the narrow streets of the BarrioHúmedo. The cathedral is a gem from the Gothic period.

Today’s route takes us through classic Castilian landscapes,complete with holm oaks, golden wheatfields and gentle upsand downs. The landscape in the first half of the route is rela-tively dry, but gets greener the further west you get; you’llcross fields full of diverse crops, such as wheat, corn, hops andwine grapes. You will see geckoes, birds of prey and lot ofdairy cows!

Astorga is home to three national monuments and one of thebest Romanesque facades. 49 km – 31 miles

From Astorga, the Camino starts to climb gently until it meetsthe first mountain on the way. Once you've reached the topof Foncebadón, take it easy and enjoy the sweeping downhillride and the gorgeous views on the ride through wine countryto Villafranca.The town of Villafranca del Bierzo is a historical and artisticmonument, was created to give refuge and sanctuary to thepilgrims before initiating the most difficult part of their pilgri-mage. The monastery cloister is a Renaissance jewel.75 km – 47 miles

The most challenging day. From Villafranca you ride slowlytowards the mythical O'Cebreiro pass, the most demandingpeak along the western section of the Camino. With a littlepatience it's more than possible to reach the top, but in anycase a taxi is available for those who wish to avoid it. Then it'sdownhill all the way to Sarria, and onward via a rolling routeto Portomarín. The older neighbourhoods of Portomarín oncebelonged to the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, but now liesubmerged, covered by the waters of the Miño River dam.85 km – 53 miles (30 km less if taking the taxi transferoption)

Tour Code - SAT6CS 6 Night

““We both felt that your organisation

was first class throughout; professionaland efficient, but always friendly and

sympathetic. The route sheets wereexcellent, combining clear directions

with points of interest, and are surely amodel for other such ventures.”

Joseph Newman, England

Day 1 Arriaval in León

Day 3 Astorga - Villafranca

Day 4 Villafranca - Portomarín

Night One León

Night Two Astorga

Night Three Villafranca

Night Four Portomarín

Night Five Arzúa

Night Six Santiago de Compostela

Day 2 León - Astorga

Pilgrims have travelled this route now for centuries. During the last few years, it has seen a revivalof its popularity with pilgrims and travellers coming from all over the world to walk or ride to

Santiago. Our route begins in Castile in the fine city of León and then crosses over into Galicia. Theroute is dotted with many monuments such as old hospitals and lodgings for the pilgrims, often

reminding us that this is the oldest, most celebrated and frequented route in Europe. The landsca-pes are varied and breathtaking and we pass through picturesque villages and monumental cities,

taking the opportunity to enjoy fine wines and cuisine. The climax of the tour is the arrival inSantiago itself with its fine cathedral and beautiful medieval streets.

Santiago de Compostela

Camino de SantiagoWay of St James

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This day provides a lovely alternative to the previous day'shard work. Several easy and long uphills and downhills gothrough rolling terrain, giving cyclists a view of Galicia's rurallandscape.51 km – 32 miles

Today we reach our goal - the Pórtico de la Gloria of theCathedral of Santiago. After taking a breather (and celebra-ting with others arriving by foot and on horseback!), you canvisit the Pilgrims' Office where you can obtain the

"Compostela" certificate which certifies you as an official pil-grim. Accommodation is centrally located, giving you theopportunity to explore the streets and bars of the atmosphe-ric historic centre.This city, without any doubt, is the most important of theChristian Middle Ages. It has world-wide renown and eachyear thousands of travellers come to visit its treasures.38 km – 24 miles


Day 7 Depart from Santiago de Compostela

Day 5 Portomarín - Arzúa

Day 6 Arzúa – Santiago de Compostela

Ponferrada Castle

León Cathedral

Tour dates22 March / 5 April / 18 April / 3 May / 23 May / 14 June / 4 July / 29 August /27 September / 11 October(groups of 6 or more persons canspecify own start dates)

Prices (per person in double share)1 person in double share – 730 €Single person supplement – 160 €Bike hire – 120 €

IncludedAccommodation with en-suite bathroom Continental style breakfast Information Pack (Route Guide and maps)Luggage transport between hotels(normally by taxi)Transfer from Villafranca to O’Poio (Day 4)

Not includedLunch & dinnerTransport to and from arrival / departure pointsBicycle hire.

Terrain / GradientsThe terrain is often hilly and does require acertain minimum level of fitness.

Arrival & departure pointsAirports – arrival León / departure Santiago. Leónis linked to Madrid and Barcelona by air. Santiagohas different connections, including RyanAir. BothLeón and Santiago are linked to Madrid by trainand bus. An interesting option is to arrive at Bilbaoand take the old La Robla narrow-gauge railwayline to León. Details on request.

Holiday extensionsPossibility of spending extra nights in León,Santiago de Compostela, or Madrid.

Astorga

24 IberoCycle

Pick up from arrival point and transfer to the charming medie-val village of Santillana del Mar. Introduction to bikes and routebriefing. Spend the rest of the day walking round the cobbledstreets of this beautiful village, visit the modern museum of theAltamira Caves or enjoy a ride around the country lanes anddown to the coastline.

Leaving Santillana, our route heads westwards through greenmeadows and the hills and valleys of Cantabria with its mar-vellous unspoilt coastline and beaches nearby. We soon arriveat the charming village of Novales, set amidst lemon grovesand with its fine typical rural architecture. Next stop is theseaside village of Comillas. Here a visit to the fine beach, thesmall harbour and the pretty village square with its pavementtapas bars and restaurants is a must, not to mention the archi-tectural sights of El Capricho by the famous Catalan architectGaudí and the Palace of the Marqués de Comillas. After lea-ving Comillas, cycle through the Parque Natural de Oyambreand along the beautiful beaches of Oyambre and Merón. Weare finally greeted by the stunning view of San Vicente andthe Picos de Europa in the distance.36km – 23 miles

Leaving San Vicente the route heads westwards along thecoast. After a short distance, cycle around the beautiful head-land of Pechón with its magnificent views of the coastline.Crossing the River Deva in Unquera we enter the province ofAsturias with its markedly different flavour. The village ofColombres is home to the sumptuous villas of the indianos,emigrants to the Americas who made their fortune and retur-ned to a life of luxury. We then head along the Deva Valley,riding through the incredible rocky gorge of La Hermida.Mountains tower around us as we cycle towards Potes and thevalley of La Liébana, completely encircled by mountains. 60km – 38 miles (this route can be shortened by 10 km bytaking the local train to Unquera).

From Potes we retrace our route to the village of La Hermida.We then begin our climb out of the Deva Valley and throughthe beautiful scenery of the Cantabrian Mountains. This is aroute that few tourists ever see. From La Hermida we climb up

Tour Code - IR7CCMPE 6 Night

““We will always remember our Spanishholiday, please keep us posted on anyother trips you are planning. Keep up

the good work.”

Derek & Wilma NicolAberdeen, Scotland

Day 1 Transfer to SantillanaDay 3 San Vicente- Potes/ Picos de Europa

Day 4 Potes - Carmona



Night Three Potes - Picos de Europa

Night Four Carmona

Night Five Villacarriedo

Night Six Somo


A great short trip for getting acquainted with Cantabria. The first part of the trip is spent on the coast between the medieval village of Santillana del Mar and the fishing village of San Vicente de la Barquera. Then head up to the Picos to see some very different and dramatic mountain scenery. After that, it’s on to the beautiful and remote village of Carmona set in an emerald landscape. Finally, visit Santander before restingin Somo with its magnificent beach.

A great short trip for getting acquainted with Cantabria. The first part of the trip is spent on the coast between the medieval village of Santillana del Mar and the fishing village of San Vicente de la Barquera. Then head up to the Picos to see some very different and dramatic mountain scenery. After that, it’s on to the beautiful and remote village of Carmona set in an emerald landscape. Finally, visit Santander before restingin Somo with its magnificent beach. Mataleñas Beach, Santander

Somo Beach in the distance

Potes

Santillana del Mar

Miera Valley

Northern Spain & Picos de EuropaNorthern Spain & Picos de Europa

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to the village of Linares at 400 metres. Another climb takesus to the Collado de Hoz at 658 metres. A third and final climbtakes us up the Collado de Ozalbal at 556 metres and withincredible views of the Nansa Valley. A fast descent takes usdown the valley and to our final resting-place at Carmona. Achallenging stage but compensated by the varied, unspoiltand beautiful scenery and remote villages.54 km – 34 miles

Our route today takes us across some of the lesser-knownvalleys of Cantabria through beautiful green scenery andvillages way off the beaten track. Finally we arrive at thevillage of Villacarriedo, surrounded by the most beautifullandscapes. 68 km – 43 miles

After riding through the village of Selaya, we take a climbover to the next valley to begin our descent of the River MieraValley to our final stop in Somo. A marvellous ride throughstunning limestone scenery takes us down to the farmlandaround Somo and the Bay of Santander. En route we can visitthe mountain village of San Roque de Riomiera and the spavillage of Liérganes with its charming old quarter. 55 km –34 miles



Day 5 Carmona – Villacarriedo

Carmona

San Vicente de la Barquera, CantabriaLebeña, Potes

Tour datesBegins any day from April to October


IncludedAccommodation with en-suite bathroom Continental style breakfast Transport to and from arrival / departure points Information Pack (Route Guide and maps)

Not includedLunch & dinnerBicycle hire Holiday extensionLuggage transport between hotels

Luggage transferWe do not transfer luggage on this tour. However,the tour may be done with a luggage transfer ser-vice – details available on request.

Terrain / GradientsGently rolling hills along the coast, easy ascent toPotes, mountainous stage from Potes to Carmona.Generally easy to moderate but with long climbson Carmona route.


TransfersDay 1 - Bilbao - Santillana. Day 7 - Somo–Bilbao. *Please note that differing arrival times mayrequire some degree of customer flexibility.


Day 6 Villacarriedo – Somo

26 IberoCycle


Leaving Santillana, our route heads westwards through greenmeadows and the hills and valleys of Cantabria with its marve-llous unspoilt coastline and beaches nearby. We soon arrive atthe charming village of Novales, set amidst lemon groves andwith its fine typical rural architecture. Next stop is the seasidevillage of Comillas. Here a visit to the fine beach, the small har-bour and the pretty village square with its pavement tapas barsand restaurants is a must, not to mention the architectural

sights of El Capricho by the famous Catalan architect Gaudí andthe Palace of the Marqués de Comillas. After leaving Comillas,cycle through the Parque Natural de Oyambre and along thebeautiful beaches of Oyambre and Merón. We are finally gree-ted by the stunning view of San Vicente and the Picos de Europain the distance. 36km – 23 miles

Leaving San Vicente the route heads westwards along thecoast. After a short distance, cycle around the beautiful head-land of Pechón with its magnificent views of the coastline.Crossing the River Deva in Unquera we enter the province ofAsturias. The village of Colombres is home to the sumptuousvillas of the indianos, emigrants to the Americas who madetheir fortune and then returned. From here, the route conti-nues between the coast and the dramatic mountain backdropof the Sierra de Cuera, foothills of the Picos de Europa. Abeautiful descent through eucalyptus forests brings us back tothe coast, where we cycle past beautiful and unspoilt beachesto arrive at the charming fishing village of Llanes. 50 km –31 miles (This route can be shortened by 10 miles by takingthe local train to Unquera).

From Llanes, we turn southwards towards the Picos de Europa.Today’s stage is a short one but we have the chance to lengthenit if we wish. We head along the valley of the Río de las Cabraspast picturesque villages and many examples of their hórreos,the wooden granaries on stilts that are so typical in Asturias. Atthe top of the valley, we are greeted by magnificent views ofthe Picos. In Arenas we can leave our luggage and cycle alongto the beginning of the famous Cares Gorge. From there we cantake the funicular railway to visit the remote mountain villageof Bulnes. 32 km – 20 miles

From Arenas de Cabrales, we follow the course of the RiverCares with the Sierra de Cuera to our left and the imposingWestern, Central and Eastern Massifs of the Picos de Europa to

Tour Code - IR9CACMPE 9 Night

““We had a terrific time, saw some wonderful sights and generally just

really enjoyed ourselves.”

Mark and Elaine EagletonSurrey, England



Day 4 Llanes - Arenas de Cabrales

Day 5 Arenas de Cabrales - Potes


A very complete trip,which allows the visitor to get to know many aspectsof this fascinating area. Medievalvillages, fishing ports, mountain villages,the city of Santander and the tiny populationof Carmona where you can still see the typical local clogs, being carved by hand. Green countryside,unspoilt coastline and the jagged limestone peaks of the Picos de Europa.



Night Three Llanes

Night Four Arenas de Cabrales

Night Five Potes / Picos de Europa

Night Six Carmona

Night Seven Villacarriedo

Night Eight Somo

Northern Spain & Picos de Europa

Torimbia Beach, Asturias

Carmona

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Northern Spain & Picos de Europa

27IberoCycle

our right – sublime scenery! In Panes, the Cares flows into theDeva and we follow the latter upstream to the village of Potes.Suddenly the sides of the valley close in and the route runsthrough the incredible rocky gorge of La Hermida. Mountainstower around us as we cycle through the gorge towards Potesand the valley of La Liébana, completely encircled by moun-tains. Spectacular scenery, but easy riding – downhill to Panesand then a barely perceptible ascent to Liébana and the villa-ge of Potes. 52 km – 33 miles

From Potes we retrace our route to the village of La Hermida.We then begin our climb out of the Deva Valley and throughthe beautiful scenery of the Cantabrian Mountains. This is aroute that few tourists ever see. From La Hermida we climb upto the village of Linares at 400 metres. Another climb takesus to the Collado de Hoz at 658 metres. A third and final climbtakes us up the Collado de Ozalbal at 556 metres and withincredible views of the Nansa Valley. A fast descent takes usdown the valley and to our final resting-place at Carmona. Achallenging stage but compensated by the varied, unspoiltand beautiful scenery and remote villages. 54 km – 34 miles


After riding through the village of Selaya, we take a climbover to the next valley to begin our descent of the River MieraValley to our final stop in Somo. A marvellous ride throughstunning limestone scenery takes us down to the farmlandaround Somo and the Bay of Santander. En route we can visitthe mountain village of San Roque de Riomiera and the spavillage of Liérganes with its charming old quarter. 55 km –34 miles




Day 7 Carmona - Villacarriedo

Day 8 Villacarriedo - Somo

Hills of AsturiasBeach near Llanes

Potes

Tour datesBegins any day from April to October



Not includedLunch & dinnerBicycle hire Holiday extensionLuggage transport between hotels




TransfersDay 1 - Bilbao - Santillana. Day 9 - Somo - Bilbao. *Please note that differing arrival times mayrequire some degree of customer flexibility.


Colegiata, Santillana del Mar

28 IberoCycle


Leaving Santillana, our route heads westwards through greenmeadows and the hills and valleys of Cantabria with its mar-

vellous unspoilt coastline and beaches nearby. We soon arriveat the charming village of Novales, set amidst lemon grovesand with its fine typical rural architecture. Next stop is theseaside village of Comillas. Here a visit to the fine beach, thesmall harbour and the pretty village square with its pavementtapas bars and restaurants is a must, not to mention the archi-tectural sights of El Capricho by the famous Catalan architectGaudí and the Palace of the Marqués de Comillas. After lea-ving Comillas, cycle through the Parque Natural de Oyambreand along the beautiful beaches of Oyambre and Merón. Weare finally greeted by the stunning view of San Vicente andthe Picos de Europa in the distance. 36km – 23 miles

Spend time getting to know this pretty fishing village with itsmany seafood restaurants and magnificent setting. Take aride on one of the free day routes through the charming uns-poilt countryside behind San Vicente. You may just prefer tospend a lazy afternoon on the beach, or enjoying a fine mealin one of the local restaurants.

Leaving San Vicente the route heads westwards along thecoast. After a short distance, cycle around the beautiful head-land of Pechón with its magnificent views of the coastline.Crossing the River Deva in Unquera we enter the province ofAsturias. The village of Colombres is home to the sumptuousvillas of the indianos, emigrants to the Americas who madetheir fortune and then returned. From here, the route conti-nues between the coast and the dramatic mountain backdropof the Sierra de Cuera, foothills of the Picos de Europa. Abeautiful descent through eucalyptus forests brings us back tothe coast, where we cycle past beautiful and unspoilt beachesto arrive at the charming fishing village of Llanes. 50 km –31 miles(This route can be shortened by 10 miles by taking the localtrain to Unquera)

Tour Code - IR13CACMPE 12 Night

““You might be pleased to hear that my

holiday last year was one of the bestthings that I have ever done. The ride

from Potes to Carmona was superb,especially the climb out from the gorge

to Linares and the road down toQuintanilla and up and out of the

valley.”

Graham ThomlinNorthwich, England





The twelve-day trip allows you to exploreevery corner of this area to your heart’scontent. Use your free days to visit remotevalleys and villages, to enjoy the beaches,to visit the ancient churches and monasteriesthat are so common here.Enjoy the superb local gastronomy.A trip with a chance to take it all in.




Night Four Llanes

Night Five Llanes

Night Six Arenas de Cabrales

Night Seven Potes /Picos de Europa

Night Eight Potes /Picos de Europa

Night Nine Carmona

Night Ten Villacarriedo

Night Eleven Somo

Night Twelve Somo

The twelve-day trip allows you to exploreevery corner of this area to your heart’scontent. Use your free days to visit remotevalleys and villages, to enjoy the beaches,to visit the ancient churches and monasteriesthat are so common here.Enjoy the superb local gastronomy.A trip with a chance to take it all in.

San Vicente de la Barquera

Asturias

Picos de Europa

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Northern Spain &Picos de EuropaNorthern Spain &Picos de Europa

29IberoCycle

Cycle westwards and visit a string of fine beaches, includingthe incredible landlocked beach of Gulpiyuri. Another beauti-ful route takes us through the most beautiful hills and valleysbehind Llanes. Alternatively, we can give the bikes a rest andtake a canoeing trip on the Deva or Sella Rivers, or a hikethrough the dramatic and renowned Cares Gorge in the veryheart of the Picos de Europa. Take a train to Ribadasella andvisit the Caves of Tito Bustillo with their prehistoric paintings,before cycling back to Llanes. Enjoy the busy atmosphere ofthe fishing village of Llanes, so popular with Spanish tourists.

From Llanes, we turn southwards towards the Picos de Europa.Today’s stage is a short one but we have the chance to lengthenit if we wish. We head along the valley of the Río de las Cabraspast picturesque villages and many examples of their hórreos,the wooden granaries on stilts that are so typical in Asturias. Atthe top of the valley, we are greeted by magnificent views ofthe Picos. In Arenas we can leave our luggage and cycle alongto the beginning of the famous Cares Gorge. From there we cantake the funicular railway to visit the remote mountain villageof Bulnes. 32 km – 20 miles

From Arenas de Cabrales, we follow the course of the RiverCares with the Sierra de Cuera to our left and the imposingWestern, Central and Eastern Massifs of the Picos de Europa toour right – sublime scenery! In Panes, the Cares flows into theDeva and we follow the latter upstream to the village of Potes.Suddenly the sides of the valley close in and the route runsthrough the incredible rocky gorge of La Hermida. Mountainstower around us as we cycle through the gorge towards Potesand the valley of La Liébana, completely encircled by moun-tains. Spectacular scenery, but easy riding – downhill to Panesand then a barely perceptible ascent to Liébana and the villa-ge of Potes. 52 km – 33 miles

Cycle along any of the three valleys that meet in Potes. Take atrip on the cable car at Fuente Dé to enjoy breathtaking views ofthe Cantabrian Mountains, where the brown bear and wolvesstill roam. Enjoy a walk through the lush green valleys or thehigher mountains. Spend time in the bustling market village ofPotes with its peculiar mix of local farmers, tourists and moun-taineers. Visit the many other picturesque villages dotted aroundthe area. Cycle up to the Monastery of Santo Toribio, home tothe largest surviving fragment of the True Cross or to the char-

ming country monastery of Piasca. There’s no shortage of thingsto do in this magnificent setting.

From Potes we retrace our route to the village of La Hermida.We then begin our climb out of the Deva Valley and through thebeautiful scenery of the Cantabrian Mountains. This is a routethat few tourists ever see. From La Hermida we climb up to thevillage of Linares at 400 metres. Another climb takes us to theCollado de Hoz at 658 metres. A third and final climb takes usup the Collado de Ozalbal at 556 metres and with incredibleviews of the Nansa Valley. A fast descent takes us down thevalley and to our final resting-place at Carmona. A challengingstage but compensated by the varied, unspoilt and beautifulscenery and remote villages. 54 km – 34 miles


After riding through the village of Selaya, we take a climb overto the next valley to begin our descent of the River Miera Valleyto our final stop in Somo. A marvellous ride through stunninglimestone scenery takes us down to the farmland around Somoand the Bay of Santander. En route we can visit the mountainvillage of San Roque de Riomiera and the spa village ofLiérganes with its charming old quarter. 55 km – 34 miles



Day 6 Llanes - Arenas de Cabrales

Day 7 Arenas de Cabrales - Potes

Day 8 Free day in Potes


Day 11 Villacarriedo - Somo

Day 12 Freeday in Somo


Day 10 Carmona - Villacarriedo

Day 5 Free day in Llanes.

SantanderThe Cares Valley

Tour datesBegins any Saturday from April to October







TransfersDay 1 - Bilbao - Santillana. Day 13 - Somo -Bilbao. *Please note that differing arrival timesmay require some degree of customer flexibility.


30 IberoCycle

We meet at Bilbao or Santander Airport and transfer to ourhotel in Fontibre. Test bikes.

This stage takes us through some fabulous and unspoilt scenery. From the green mountain pastures of the CantabrianMountains, along the shores of the Ebro Reservoir, past theMonastery of Montesclaros surrounded by forests to finallyrejoin the Ebro in the Valley of Valderredible and tonight’sstop in Villanueva de la Nía. Those on the short version followthe river direct to Villanueva. The longer version circumnavi-gates the Ebro Reservoir.Short 53km – 33 milesLong 90 km – 56 miles

We begin by cycling through the open valley of Valderredible.Take the opportunity to visit the Romanesque church of SanMartín de Elines and also the churches carved into the veryrock which are so characteristic of this region. As we progressdown the river, the sides of the valley begin to close in untilwe find ourselves in a marvellous canyon of ever-increasingdimensions, where eagles and vultures soar overhead. Stop tovisit the fairytale village of Orbaneja del Castillo with its cas-cades running through the village. As we approach Pesquera,the canyon of the Ebro reaches unbelievable dimensions befo-re we finally reach the attractive village that will be tonight’sresting-place.53 km – 33 miles (route extensions available)

A beautiful route which follows a huge bend of the riverthrough the most picturesque and undiscovered villages. Takethe optional longer route to visit the old quarter of Medina dePomar with its castle dominating the town and the surroun-ding landscape. More eagles and vultures as we rejoin theriver in yet another canyon. Tonight’s stop is in the little villa-ge of Quintana de Valdivielso. Short 37 km – 23 milesLong 71 km – 44 miles

This route takes us along a quiet country road running parallel to the river where the valley begins to open outagain. Visit the Romanesque church of San Pedro de Tejadaand soon we are cycling through yet another canyon, whichthen opens out into the fertile valley around Frías. This is aspectacular village built around its castle and enjoying fineviews of the Ebro Valley. Our longer route takes a more roundabout trip through the valley of Frías. We finally reachtonight’s stop in the hamlet of Herrán.

Tour Code - SAT8LRE 8 Night

La RiojaThe Descent of the River Ebro

““We are cycling in our memories the

wonderful journey from Fontibre toLaguardia. We both enjoyed it so muchand wish to thank you for such a great

trip, through such a gorgeous florallandscape with its alpines, orchids,

camassias etc., the vultures, kites, shrikes, golden orioles, rock buntings

and the nightingale. The canyons with sculptured limestone, sandstone and

conglomerate were majestic. Wewrongly anticipated La Rioja to be just

vineyards. But there also was fascinating Laguardia with its

magnificent views, the wildlife lagoon,La Hoya and the exotic bird reserve.

Our holiday ended on a 'high'. All this,added to the culture and history of thepeople, has left us very impressed. Youchose an excellent route with so much

interest, a varied cycling terrain, intriguing and comfortable

accommodation, restaurants with goodfood and even provided very good

company.”

Winston & Judy LeaMold, Wales

Day 1 Transfer to Riaño

Day 3 Villanueva de la Nía - Pesquera de Ebro

Day 4 Pesquera de Ebro – Quintana de Valdivielso

Day 5 Quintana de Valdivielso - Frías (Herrán)

Day 2 Riaño - Villanueva de la Nía

A superb trip, following the River Ebro, the longest in Spain, as it flows from its sourcein the Cantabrian Mountains down to the distant Mediterranean.The very name of the Iberian Peninsula comes from this river – Iberia,the country of the Ebro. Our route follows what begins as a tiny mountain stream flowing through the green pastures of Cantabria, beautiful valleys, imposing canyons, vineyards, past pretty and unknown villages, witnessing the changes in the landscapeand the river itself. Finally we arrive in La Rioja, home of the finest wines produced in Spain. A sea ofvineyards dotted with ancient villages, castles and wine-producing bodegas, all with the limestonemountains of the Sierra de Cantabria in the background. A magnificent trip for those who wish to visitparts of Spain the tourists never see.

Night One Riaño

Night Two Villanueva de la Nía

Night Three Pesquera de Ebro

Night Four Quintana de Valdivielso

Night Five Frías (Herrán)

Night Six Haro

Night Seven Laguardia

Night Eight Laguardia

La Rioja

Wine tasting, Haro

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La RiojaThe Descent of the River Ebro

31IberoCycle

Short 37 km – 23 miles Long 54 km – 34 miles

As we leave Frías the valley begins to close in on us again untilwe find ourselves in another spectacular canyon. The roadruns along the shores of a reservoir surrounded by highmountains and through short tunnels carved out of the rock.The route crosses the little town of Miranda del Ebro beforepassing through imposing peaks that signal the gateway tothe enormous open valley of La Rioja. Tonight is spent in thewine-producing village of Haro, with a chance to drink a glassor two of Rioja in its birthplace. Our shorter route terminatesin Miranda and we transfer to Haro.Short 41 km – 26 milesLong 62 km – 39 miles

We begin Day Seven with a visit to one of the many famousbodegas in Haro, complete with wine tasting. We then cyclethrough endless vineyards and numerous picturesque villagesof La Rioja, with the backdrop of the Sierra de Cantabriamountains and the Ebro never too far away. We finally reachthe superb walled medieval village of Laguardia where, as inHaro, wine is almost a way of life.50 km – 31 miles

Explore La Rioja. Take a trip to the capital, Logroño. Enjoy atour round one of the bodegas with wine tasting included. Dosome last minute shopping. Take it easy, or take another lastride. Cycle up to the “Balcony of La Rioja”, with itsincomparable views over the valley and across to the neighbouring provinces of Soria, Navarra and Burgos.

Transfer to departure point. End of trip.

Day 7 Haro - Laguardia

Day 8 Free day in Laguardia

Day 9 Transfer Laguardia - departure point

Day 6 Frías - Haro

River Ebro, near Pesquera del Ebro

Pesquera del Ebro

Frías Canyon of River Ebro

Tour dates2-10 May and 12-20 September

Prices 1 person in double share – 940 €Single person – 1070 €Bike hire – 88 €

IncludedAccommodation with en-suite bathroom Luggage transportContinental style breakfast Set evening meal on Day 4Visit to wine bodega and wine tasting on Day 7 Transport to and from arrival / departure points Information Pack (Route Guide and maps)

Not includedLunch & dinnerBicycle hireHoliday extension

Terrain / GradientsGenerally easy cycling as the route follows theRiver Ebro as it flows downstream. Some days mayinvolve some climbing when the route moves awayfrom the river. Easy to moderate. Note that partialtransfers of riders with our support vehicle allowus to offer both short and long stages.


TransfersDay 1 - Bilbao - Riaño.Day 9 - Laguardia - Bilbao*Please note that differing arrival times mayrequire some degree of customer flexibility.


32 IberoCycle

Pick up from arrival point and transfer to hotel in Ronda.After arriving at our first hotel we will have the chance toexplore this beautiful town split into two by the most incredible ravine. Whitewashed houses, where the labyrinthof streets betrays Ronda’s Arab past. The elegant bullring andthe fine town walls.

Optional ride to Setenil de las Bodegas where the houses arebuilt into the cliff face. Beautiful views of the mountains ofRonda. Visit the Roman archaeological site of Acinipo. A landscape of olive groves where the characteristic black pigsare allowed to graze in the open. Spend some more timeexploring the fascinating town of Ronda. 46 km – 29 miles

Today’s trip takes us through the Parque Natural Sierra deGrazalema and provides spectacular and beautiful mountainscenery combined with the picturesque white villages dottingthe landscape. As we approach Grazalema, we turn off tofollow the shores of the reservoir of Zahara – El Gastor.Zahara de la Sierra is another fine village in a wonderful set-ting. Short 39 km –23 miles (from Puerto de Motejaque)Long 62 km - 39 miles

Leaving Zahara, we head towards Grazalema. Here we cantake the opportunity to wander round the enchanting streetsand enjoy the marvellous surroundings of the village. After ashort ascent we have a tremendous long descent towardsArcos de la Frontera, one of the most famous of the whitevillages, perched high on a hill and dominated by its castle. Short 58 km - 36 miles (from Puerto de las Palomas)Long 70 km - 44 miles

After leaving Arcos, we head southwards towards the ParqueNatural de los Alcornocales, one of the largest cork forests inEurope. On reaching the park, we turn southwards towardsthe Atlantic coast. Tonight’s stop is in the village of MedinaSidonia, an old Arab fortress town overlooking the Bay ofCádiz. Short 51 km - 32 milesLong 80 km - 50 miles

Leaving Medina Sidonia, we head down towards the coast.After crossing the flat lands of La Janda, where it is often pos-sible to see fighting bulls grazing, we finally reach the hilltopvillage of Vejer de la Frontera. We should spend time

Tour Code - SAT7AND1 7 Night

““Just a note to thank you for a totally

excellent holiday. Great organisation,smashing route, good food, nice wine,lovely people, brilliant time all round -and help, I've run out of superlatives!

Oh yes, and great route directions[apart from the famous 4 (missing) kilo-

metres!]”

Diana Wright London, England

Day 1 Transfer to Ronda

Day 3 Ronda - Zahara de la Sierra

Day 2 Round ride to Setenil de las Bodegas

Day 5 Arcos de la Frontera - Medina Sidonia

Day 6 Medina Sidonia - Vejer de la Frontera

Day 4 Zahara de la Sierra - Arcos de la Frontera

Night One Ronda

Night Two Ronda

Night Three Zahara de la Sierra

Night Four Arcos de la Frontera

Night Five Medina Sidonia

Night Six Vejer de la Frontera

Night Seven Mijas

Andalusia - White Villages

Ronda

Ronda

Cadiz coastline

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Tour dates3-10 October


IncludedAccommodation with en-suite bathroom Luggage transportContinental style breakfast Transport to and from arrival / departure points Information Pack (Route Guide and maps)


Terrain / GradientsCycling on Days 2 & 3 can be more demanding, asthe terrain is mountainous (remember that oursupport vehicle is there to help. After Arcos de laFrontera, the terrain becomes considerably flatterdown to the end of the trip at Tarifa. Please notethat our “short distances” are purely orientative asin reality we will adapt the distances to suit parti-cipants.

Arrival pointsMalaga Airport

TransfersDay 1 - Malaga - Ronda.Day 7 - Zahara de los Atunes or Tarifa - Mijas.Day 8 - Mijas - airport. *Please note that differing arrival times mayrequire some degree of customer flexibility.

Holiday extensionsPossibility of spending extra days in Costa del Sol,Malaga, Granada, Seville, Cordoba or other partsof Andalusia. You may even spend night seven inTarifa and then cross over for a visit to Morocco.

33IberoCycle

exploring this enchanting village. The chaotic street plan ofVejer, and indeed of most of the villages that we see en route,is evidence of the Arab past of Spain. Short 34 km -21 milesLong 64 km -40 miles

After leaving Vejer, we descend towards the coast and followthe beach round to Cape Trafalgar, site of the famous sea bat-tle. We pass the fishing villages of Barbate and Zahara de losAtunes, famous for the almadraba --their own peculiar met-hod of fishing for tuna fish. As we cycle southwards, themountains of Morocco slowly become visible as we approachTarifa and the Strait of Gibraltar, where Europe greets Africaand the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic. Our shorter stagefinishes at the Roman ruins of Baelo Claudia in Bolonia. Wethen meet in Tarifa and transfer to Mijas to spend our lastevening. Short 49 km - 30 miles (cycle to Zahara) Long 90km - 56 miles


Day 7 Vejer de la Frontera - Zahara de los AtunesTarifa - Transfer to Mijas

Day 8 Transfer to Mijas departure point

A trip through the southernmost tipof Europe. Dazzling whitewashedvillages set against an intense bluesky, olive groves stretching as far asthe eye can see, flamenco, beautifullocal architecture and narrow win-ding streets which speak of its Arab

past, a benevolent climate, long andunspoilt beaches, tapas, friendly andhospitable people – just what youneed for that perfect cycling holidaywhere the exhilaration of ridingthrough the open scenery combineswith the pleasure of discoveryaround every bend.

This tour offers an ample vision ofthis charming area. We begin in themountains of Malaga behind theMediterranean Costa del Sol, andthen make our way eastwards to theAtlantic seaboard of the province ofCadiz and the aptly named Costa dela Luz – the Coast of Light. Every daywe stop in some of the most famouswhite villages to be seen in Spain.

Vejer de la Frontera

Grazalema

Vejer de la Frontera

Tarifa coast & Morocco

34 IberoCycle

Arrive at airport. Transfer to Antequera. Try bikes, and visitOld Quarter of town with its whitewashed streets, fine churches and castle and the only bullring in Spain with a restaurant.

Leave Antequera through gently rolling countryside and oliveplantations to the village of Lucena where we spend the nightin this town, known in medieval times as the “Pearl of theThree Cultures” (Jewish, Christian and Arab) and famous forits tapas. Short 53 km – 33 milesLong 87 km – 54 miles

Today’s ride takes us from Lucena, through the vineyards ofMontilla-Moriles, down into the valley of the RiverGuadalquivir, and on to the city of Cordoba itself, jewel in thecrown of the Kingdom of al-Andalus. Spend the afternoon visi-ting the delightful Judería, the old Jewish Quarter, and therenowned Mosque of Cordoba.Short 57 km – 36 milesLong 105 km – 66 miles

Today we leave Cordoba and head through the rollingcountryside towards the Parque Natural de la SierraSubbética. The wheatfields of Cordoba are replaced by oliveplantations, stretching as far as the eye can see. We passthrough Baena, whose name is virtually synonymous with theproduction of olive oil. Finally we arrive at the incredibleMoorish village of Zuheros (the name comes from the Arabword for rock, suhayra), with its 9th century castle perchedhigh above the surrounding countryside and with the backdrop of the Sierra Subbética.Short 48 km – 30 milesLong 91km – 57 miles

Today is a shorter route that takes us around theParque Natural to our next stop shortly before Priegode Cordoba. Before cycling, we visit the traditional oilpress of Nuñez de Prado in Baena. Priego de Córdobahas a fine medieval Moslem quarter and is know as thecapital of the Cordoba baroque style due to its severalfine churches dating from this period. (This route can ofcourse be extended at will by those who wish to explo-re the beautiful Parque Natural de las SierrasSubbéticas.) 34 km - 21 miles

AndalusiaThe Route of the MoorsAndalusiaThe Route of the Moors

Tour Code - SAT7AND2 7 Night

““I very much enjoyed our trip and

really cannot think of anything youcould do better!”

David Williams Devon, England

Day 1 Transfer to Antequera

Day 3 Lucena - Cordoba

Day 4 Cordoba - Zuheros

Day 2 Antequera - Lucena

Day 5 Zuheros - Priego de Córdoba

Night One Antequera

Night Two Lucena

Night Three Cordoba

Night Four Zuheros

Night Five Priego de Cordoba

Night Six Granada

Night Seven Granada

Zuheros

17Th century olive mill, Baena

Montefrio

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Tour dates18-25 April

Prices1 person in double share – 940 €Single person – 1070 €Bike hire – 88 €

IncludedAccommodation with en-suite bathroom Luggage transportContinental style breakfast Transport to and from arrival / departure points Information Pack (Route Guide and maps)Visit to 18th century olive oil mill of Nuñez dePrado in Baena, Day 5


Terrain / GradientsCycle across gentle countryside from Antequera toLucena and more undulating country to Cordoba.Moderate ascent to Zuheros followed by shortstage to Aldea de Zagrilla around the mountains ofthe Sierra Subbética. More demanding stage fromZagrilla to Granada but with benefit of back-upvehicle. Generally easy to moderate, with the pos-sible exception of the final stage.

Arrival pointsMalaga or Granada Airport.

TransfersDay 1 - Malaga or Granada Airport - Antequera.Day 8 Granada - Granada or Malaga Airport.*Please note that differing arrival times mayrequire some degree of customer flexibility.

Holiday extensionsPossibility of spending extra days in Costa del Sol,Malaga, Granada, Seville, Cordoba or other partsof Andalusia.

35IberoCycle

From Aldea de Zagrilla we begin the final leg of ourjourney. We head through fine and hilly countryside,the mountains of the Sierra Nevada slowly becomingvisible, as we begin our descent towards the Plain ofGranada. We pass through the fine village of Montefrío,dominated by its 15th century church built after thetown was reconquered by the Catholic Monarchs in1486. Our route ends in the village of Fuente Vaqueros,birthplace of the famous poet and playwright FedericoGarcía Lorca, born in 1898 and tragically assassinatedat the beginning of the Civil War. From here we trans-fer to the city of Granada. Short 54 km - 34 milesLong 86 km - 54 miles

Visit the Moslem quarter of El Albayzín and the cathe-dral, where the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabelare buried. And of course La Alhambra, the magnificentfusion of gardens, Moslem palaces and fortress thatmakes such a unique monument.

Transfer to airport for return journey. Alternatively,extend your trip with a stay on the Mediterranean, avisit to Seville, or give your legs a rest, hire a car andget to know more of this beautiful corner of the world.

Day 8 Transfer Granada - departure pointDay 6 Priego de Cordoba - Granada

Day 7 Free day in Granada

Antequera

Granada and Cordoba are cities that need no introduction. They probably best exemplify Spain’s Moslem heritage at a time when the Arab Empire included substantial portions of Europe and thegreater part of the Iberian Peninsula. This occupation of Spain by the Moslems was to last almost eight centuries. Itis hard to equal the incredible architecture of the 8th century Mosque of Cordoba, capital of the Omayyad Caliphs,centre of civilisation and bridge between east and west. This is the basis of our trip, the Moslem Kingdom of al-Andalusand the Route of the Caliphs communicating Granada and Cordoba.

This is a route of immense open horizons with the infinite olive plantations giving way to the vineyards of Montillaand the wheat fields around Cordoba. This in turn gives way to the beautiful mountain scenery of the Parque Naturalde las Sierras Subbéticas between the villages of Zuheros and Priego de Cordoba. It’s a trip where all the villages arewhitewashed and bedecked with geraniums and where the olive trees stretch into the distance, creating a beautifullydecorated landscape.

Our final stop is for two nights in Granada where we enjoy the magnificent spectacle of the palace – fortress of LaAlhambra, home of the Nasrid dynasty founded by Ibn al-Ahmar, and last stronghold of Moslem Spain. From the oldArab quarter of the Albayzín, La Alhambra is enhanced by the spectacular backdrop of the Sierra Nevada, the hig-hest mountains of the Iberian Peninsula.

Prieto de Cordoba

La Alhambra, Granada

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Pick up from arrival point and transfer to the charmingAsturian fishing village of Llanes. Introduction to bikes andtour leader. We may also have time to explore the nearbycoastline and Llanes itself. We should also try the locallyproduced cider, so typical of Asturias.

Today’s ride takes us through the Sierra de Cuera, the foothillsof the Picos. A climb shortly after leaving Llanes gives us mag-nificent views of the coastline and of the Picos themselves. Finally we descend to the ancient Asturian capitalof Cangas de Onís. A trip extension takes us to the Lakes of Covadonga, withinthe Parque Nacional de los Picos de Europa. This is a climb tosome of the most beautiful and famous scenery in the Picos.Cyclists who do not wish to do the climb may take advantage

of our backup vehicle to get a lift to the top. 45 km – 28 miles85 km – 53 miles with Covadonga extension

This stage takes us from Asturias to the province of León inCastile. We take an easy ride along the River Sella and thenthrough the Desfiladero de los Beyos, a spectacular gorgewhich takes us into León with the Western Massif of the Picosto our left. We then climb over two passes with beautiful sce-nery before descending to Posada de Valdeón. As we appro-ach our destination, we see the village nestling in the valleysurrounded by the most incredible sheer rock peaks of theMassif Central of the Picos. 61 km – 38 miles

As we stay 2 nights in Posada, today we can choose from 2options, or even do both! Our first is a circuit which takes usaway from the Picos through the equally beautiful CantabrianMountains and the village of Riaño, rebuilt on the shores ofits reservoir after the original village was flooded. From herewe return to Posada to be greeted with even more spectacu-lar views of the Picos. For our second option, we leave the bikes behind and put onour walking boots for one of the most famous walks in Spain,La Ruta del Cares. We follow the River Cares from Valdeóndown through its so-called divine gorge and more fantasticscenery to the village of Puente Poncebos from where wetransfer back to Posada. Cycle circuit - 73 km – 45 milesCares walk – 20 km – 12 miles

Leaving Posada behind, we turn our back on the Picos andcycle towards the pass of San Glorio. Here we enter the neighbouring province of Cantabria. A 27 km / 17 mile

Picos de Europa

Tour Code - SAT7PE 7 Night

““Just a note from Sue and myself to say

a big thank you for an excellent holiday. Both the planning and

execution were superb and it wasalways reassuring to see you on the

road. The route sheets were very goodand on each leg the distances matched

our cycle computers almost exactly.As I said previously, I would not

hesitate to recommend Iberocycle tofriends. On tour the performance wasbetter than could reasonably be expec-

ted. Nothing was too much trouble.”

Sue Britton & Brian TrottBristol, England

Day 1 Transfer to Llanes

Day 3 Cangas de Onís - Posada de Valdeón

Day 2 Llanes – Lakes of Covadonga - Cangas de Onís

Day 5 Posada de Valdeón - Potes

A trip through what is probably some of the most spectacular and beautifulscenery to be found anywhere in Europe. Lush green valleys contrast with

jagged limestone peaks. The Picos de Europa rise to over 2648 metres(almost 9000 feet), providing gorgeous alpine scenery just a short distance

from the sea. The area is so wild that it is still home to many rare animalspecies, including the wolf and the brown bear. Our route follows the peri-

meter of the three massifs and also gives us a chance to penetrate to thevery heart of these unique mountains.

Night One Llanes

Night Two Cangas de Onís

Night Three Posada de Valdeón

Night Four Posada de Valdeón

Night Five Potes

Night Six Potes

Night Seven Carmona

Day 4 Posada de Valdeón - Riaño - Posada de Valdeón

A trip through what is probably some of the most spectacular and beautifulscenery to be found anywhere in Europe. Lush green valleys contrast with

jagged limestone peaks. The Picos de Europa rise to over 2648 metres(almost 9000 feet), providing gorgeous alpine scenery just a short distance

from the sea. The area is so wild that it is still home to many rare animalspecies, including the wolf and the brown bear. Our route follows the peri-

meter of the three massifs and also gives us a chance to penetrate to thevery heart of these unique mountains.

On the way to Potes

Fuente Dé

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descent takes us back towards the Picos and into the valley ofLiébana ending in its capital, Potes. If we wish to cycle more,we can cycle up a beautiful and little-known valley to Cucayoand enjoy the descent down to Potes again. Later we canenjoy the hustle and bustle of this charming mountain village.58 km – 36 miles82 km – 51 miles with Cucayo extension

Fuente Dé is one of the most emblematic sites in the Picos.After a climb from Potes, we are suddenly confronted with itsenormous sheer rock amphitheatre. From here, a cable cartakes us to the top from where we can enjoy marvellous views

over the surrounding mountains. We can take advantage ofthis privileged position to enjoy a walk through some of thehigh Picos and be impressed by the starkly beautiful limesto-ne scenery before descending through the pastures of Áliva tothe village of Espinama. We then return to Potes to enjoyanother evening before beginning the final stage of our jour-ney. 46 km – 29 miles

Leaving Potes, we head towards the coast along the RiverDeva. After a short distance, we enter another impressivegorge carved through the mountains, La Garganta de LaHermida. A descent of the gorge takes us to the village of LaHermida. Here we finally bid farewell to the Picos and journey through equally beautiful scenery to the village ofCarmona. This is one of the most beautiful and best-preservedin Cantabria and is a fitting place to enjoy our last eveningbefore the return journey the next day. 54 km – 34 miles


Day 8 Transfer Carmona - departure point

Day 6 Potes - Fuente Dé - Potes


Potes

Fuente Dé

Tour dates23-30 May


IncludedAccommodation with en-suite bathroomLuggage transportContinental style breakfastLuggage transferTransport to and from arrival / departure pointsInformation Pack (Route Guide and maps)


Terrain / GradientsThe trip is of course a mountain trip and doesrequire a certain minimum level of fitness. Stagesare of course supported by our backup vehicle.Road surfaces are generally adequate and it isperfectly feasible to do the tour on a road bike.

Arrival & departure pointsAirports - Bilbao or Santander. Ferry ports - Bilbaoor Santander. Bus / train stations - Bilbao orSantander. Please note that in the case of differingarrival times, cyclists will be transferred at thesame time to start point and departure point.

TransfersDay 1 - Bilbao / Santander - Llanes.Day 8 - Carmona - Bilbao / Santander.

Holiday extensionsPossibility of spending extra nights in Bilbao.

Today we pick up from arrival point in Madrid and transfer toSegovia where we will spend our next two nights.

Today we have two optional round rides from Segovia. Ourshorter ride takes us to the Palacio de La Granja de SanIldefonso, the magnificent 18th century palace built by FelipeV as a summer residence. Our longer ride will take us to visitthe picturesque village of Turégano with its fine fortifiedchurch / castle. 40 km - 25 miles68 km - 42 miles

This ride takes us west across the Castilian plains towards thetown of Arévalo. The Sierra de Guadarrama (the range moun-tains to the north of Madrid) is left behind us. The route com-bines small sleepy villages, immense horizons, pine forestsand the fine castle of Coca. We finally arrive in the medievaltown of Arévalo, famous for its mudéjar architecture, its cas-tle, the medieval Plaza de la Villa, and last but not least,cochinillo, the tender suckling pig so popular in this part ofSpain. Short 59 km -37 milesLong 82 km - 50 miles

From Arévalo, we begin to head south again towards themountains of the Sistema Central. We reach the historicaltown of Madrigal de las Altas Torres, birthplace of Isabel LaCatólica. Our route takes us through untouched Castilian villa-ges across the fertile plains until we finally reach the city ofÁvila, the highest provincial capital of Spain, surrounded byits magnificently preserved walls. Here we can enjoy an eve-ning stroll around the historical centre and enjoy its marve-llous tapas. Short 55 km - 35 milesLong 103 km = 64 miles

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Ávila

Cebreros Madrid

Stage

Free Day Route

Vehicle Transfer

Arévalo

Gredos

Segovia

El Escorial

Day 1 Transfer to Segovia

Day 3 Segovia - Arévalo

Day 4 Arévalo - Ávila

Day 2 Round ride from Segovia

A chance to explore Central Spain. Castile ishome to some of the most beautiful and monumental

cities in Europa and our trip gives us the chance to see twoof the most famous; Segovia & Ávila, along with Felipe II's immense

monastery and residence El Escorial. These cities are steeped in history andhave kept their historical centres intact over the centuries. Sights include the

magnificent Roman aqueduct in Segovia and the impressive city walls of the fortified city ofÁvila. Rivalling the spectacle of these cities are the landscapes, ranging from the endless horizons of

the plains of Castile to the dramatic beauty of the Sierra de Gredos mountains (one of Spain's best-keptsecrets) as we head towards El Escorial and Madrid. Great variety for a week's cycling.

You can also extend your trip with a stay in Madrid, Spain's vibrant and exciting capital.

Cities of Castile

Night One Segovia

Night Two Segovia

Night Three Arévalo

Night Four Ávila

Night Five Sierra de Gredos

Night Six Cebreros

Night Seven San Lorenzo del Escorial

Cities of Castile

Segovia

Coca Castle

Ávila

Sierra de Gredos

Tour dates5-12 September




Terrain / GradientsGenerally fairly easy cycling, with the exception ofDay 5. However, our support vehicle is on handshould anyone need help with the hills. Transfersare available to shorten each day's route so youcycle as far as you wish.

Arrival pointsMadrid

TransfersDay 1 - Madrid / Madrid Airport - Segovia.Day 8 - Toledo - Madrid / Madrid Airport. *Please note that differing arrival times mayrequire some degree of customer flexibility.

Holiday extensionsPossibility of spending extra days in Segovia(beginning of trip), Madrid, or Toledo.

39IberoCycle

Day 8 Transfer Toledo – departure point

Day 6 Sierra de Gredos - Cebreros

Day 7 Cebreros - El EscorialDay 5 Ávila - Sierra de Gredos

Ávila

La Granja, Segovia

Aqueduct - Segovia

Alcázar - Segovia

Today we cross the Sierra de Gredos, the mountain rangeseparating the two Castiles. Beautiful dramatic scenery, wherevultures soar over the rocky landscape. Olive trees and cherryblossom decorate the valleys. Our support vehicle is on handshould anyone need a “push”. On arrival at the village ofHoyos del Espino, a transfer is available to the heart of theReserva Nacional de Gredos to see the impressive higherpeaks crowned by the Almanzor. Short 60 km - 38 milesLong 82 km - 51 miles

From Hoyos del Espino we descend the valley formed by theRiver Alberche - an easy ride as we descend 650 metres /2100 feet through the very heart of the mountain range. Wildand beautiful scenery combines with the spectacular flora andfauna of the region. Finally we reach the wine-producing villa-ge of Cebreros. Short 45 km - 28 miles Long 84 km - 53 miles

A short ride from Cebreros takes us through pine forests andfine scenery towards the magnificent monastery and summerpalace of San Lorenzo del Escorial, built by Felipe II in the XVIcentury, burial place of Spanish monarchs and home to amagificent art collection. Extend your route by 26 km if youwish with a visit to the Valle de los Caídos. 40 km - 25 miles.


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Today we pick up from arrival point in Gerona andtransfer to our hotel. The rest of the day is free to tourthe city.

Today's ride takes us along one of Spain's Vias Verdes(Green Ways). These are off-road cycling tracks, usuallyalong disused railway lines. After enjoying the beautifulcountryside, we finally arrive in the town of Olot, whichlies within the protected area of the Natural Park of theVolcanic Area of the Garrotxa. The urban area includestwo volcanic craters. 57 km - 36 miles

We begin by riding through the volcanic area of LaGarrotxa. Our route takes us past the dormant volca-noes. We pass charming medieval villages such as SantaPau. In Banyoles, we can stop for a swim in the lakebefore continuing to the town of Figueres, birthplace ofthe surrealist painter Salvador Dalí. Here we can visitthe superb Dalí Museum. Short 45 km - 28 miles, Long76 km - 48 miles

We continue east towards the Mediterranean and theCosta Brava - the Rugged Coast. We cycle through themagnificent scenery of the Cap de Creus before rea-ching Cadaqués, one of the most picturesque villages onthe Costa Brava in a beautiful setting. The Dalí trail con-tinues here; the painter used to spend his summers hereand later kept a home in the adjacent village of PortLligat. 48 km - 30 miles

From Cadaqués, we turn southwards along theMediterranean. Leaving the Cap de Creus, we cyclethrough the flat plain and the Parc Natural delsAiguamolls de l'Empordà, a protected area of marsh-land. We later pass the ancient Greek / Roman city ofEmpúries, the ruins lying right by the fine beaches ofthe coastline. We finally arrive at the harbour ofL'Estartit, looking across to the Illes Medes, one of themost important marine reserves in the Mediterranean. Short 40 km - 25 milesLong 68 km - 42 miles

Tour Code - SAT7CAT 7 Night

Day 1 Arrival in Girona

Day 3 Olot - Figueres

Day 4 Figueres - Cadaqués

Day 5 Cadaqués - L'Estartit

Day 2 Girona - Olot

Catalonia is a region of Spain with its own unique identity. It is home to some of the country's most varied scenery, ranging from thespectacular Pyrenees on the border with France, down through beautiful farmland and forests, to the rugged beauty of the Costa Brava.Here the pretty coastline contrasts with the clear waters and sheltered coves. We will visit fine medieval towns and villages such asGirona and Pals, along with picturesque coastal villages such as Cadaqués, home to one of the most famous Spanish artists, SalvadorDalí, whose museum and gallery we will have the opportunity to visit in Figueres. Two of our rides take advantage of the Vías Verdesprogramme - cycling along disused railway lines, now converted into cycle paths. A great introduction to a beautiful and interesting partof Spain; and don't miss the opportunity to take a few extra days and visit one of the world's most cosmopolitan capitals, Barcelona.

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“Girl in the Window”by Salvador Dalí

Olot

Sant Feliu

Airport

Figueres

LʼEstartitGirona

Cadaqués

Night One Girona

Night Two Olot

Night Three Figueres

Night Four Cadaqués

Night Five L'Estartit

Night Six Sant Feliu de Guíxols

Night Seven Girona

Cadaqués

Catalonia & Costa BravaCatalonia & Costa Brava

Cada

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Our first stop today is in Pals, one of the most beautifulmedieval villages in the area. We continue inland pastPeratallada, another fine village. Finally, after passingthrough the beautiful forests of Les Gavarres, we descendtowards the coast and the town of Sant Feliu de Guíxols.Short 45 km - 28 miles Long 60 km - 37 miles

On our final day, we take advantage of another Vía Verdeto take us back to our starting point in Girona. The routeis relatively short, so we can take advantage to visit thenearby village of Tossa, do some last-minute shopping,enjoy the beach etc. Or alternatively, head back to Gironato spend more time in this fine city. 42 km - 26 miles


Day 6 L'Estartit - Sant Feliu de Guíxols

Tour dates21-28 June

Prices (per person in double share)1 person in double share – 940 €Single person – 1070 €Bike hire – 88 €



Terrain / GradientsGenerally fairly easy cycling, with the exceptionof Days 4 & 5. However, our support vehicle is onhand should anyone need help with the hills.Transfers are available to shorten each day'sroute so you cycle as far as you wish.

Arrival pointsGirona (RyanAir, Air Europa, Air Scotland, BritishMidland, Hapag, Iberia, Monarch, Sterling,Thomas Cook).

TransfersDay 1 - Girona Airport - Girona.Day 8 - Girona -Girona Airport. *Please note that differing arrival times mayrequire some degree of customer flexibility.

Holiday extensionsPossibility of spending extra days in Barcelona,or anywhere on Costa Brava.

Day 7 San Feliu de Guíxols - Gerona

Day 8 Transfer Girona - departure point

Sant Feliu de Guíxols

Via Verde

Gerona

q

Costa Brava

42 IberoCycle

Pick up from arrival point and transfer to Vitoria, thecapital of the Basque Country. Time to enjoy a strollaround the Old Quarter and the impressive cathedral.In the evening you can visit the renowned tapas bars inthe city centre.

Leaving Vitoria, we head eastwards towards Pamplona.A beautiful ride takes us through the Parque Nacionalde la Sierra de Urbasa y Andía, with a visit to the beau-tiful source of the Urederra. Finally we arrive at thetown of Estella, situated on the Camino de Santiago, thefamous old pilgrimage route known as the Way of StJames. Short 47 km -30 miles Long 74 km - 46 miles

A shorter ride today into neighbouring Navarra and itscapital Pamplona, famous for the running of the bullsdepicted in Hemingway's novel Fiesta. Here we willhave plenty of time to explore the city and its atmosp-heric Old Quarter. Short 64 km - 40 milesLong 79 km - 50 miles

Leaving Pamplona, we continue along the Camino deSantiago towards France. We cross the lower Pyreneessurrounded by the most beautiful scenery and then des-cend towards the village of Saint-Etienne de Baïgorry. Short 28 km – 18 miles

We spend today cycling on the northern side of thePyrenees through France. We reach the French Basquecoast by Saint-Jean-de-Luz. A short train ride fromHendaye takes us to San Sebastián (those who wish toride there may do so). This beautiful city has a fine bay,beaches, Old Quarter and fishing harbour. Last but notleast is its incomparable gastronomy, second to none,where the multitudes of tapas bars compete with someof the best restaurants in the world. Short 78 km – 49 milesLong 110 km – 69 miles

Tour Code - SAT7BC 7 Night

Day 1 Transfer Bilbao to Vitoria

Day 3 Estella - Pamplona

Day 4 Pamplona – Saint-Etienne-de-Baïgorry

Day 5 Saint-Etienne-de-Baïgorry–San Sebastián

Day 2 Vitoria - Estella

Our latest trip is designed to give a comprehensive vision of the Basque Country from the seat of a bicy-cle. This relatively unknown area of Spain has some of the best scenery and the most marvellous cities inthe whole of the peninsula, not to mention one of the finest cuisines in the world. Our circuit combinesboth inland and beautiful coastal scenery, along with the fine cities of Vitoria, Pamplona, San Sebastiánand Bilbao. Part of our route takes us along the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St James) as we crossfor a brief incursion into France, before returning again to the Basque Coast. A trip not to be missed.

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Night One Vitoria

Night Two Estella

Night Three Pamplona

Night Four Saint-Etienne-de-Baïgorry

Night Five San Sebastián

Night Six Lekeito

Night Seven Bilbao

Museum Guggenhheim

The Basque Country

Mundaka

Bilbao

43IberoCycle

After San Sebastián, we turn westwards to follow thecoast towards Bilbao. This is some of the finest coastalscenery in Spain. At times we ride along the water'sedge; other times we ride high above it with the mostfantastic views of the coast, interspersed with charmingvillages. Tonight's stop is at the picturesque fishing villa-ge of Lekeitio. Short 50 km - 31 milesLong 74 km - 46 miles

Another ride along the impressive coastline. En route wesee fishing villages in dramatic settings such asElantxobe, completely surrounded by high cliffs. Wecycle round the estuary of Urdaibai to finally reach thetown of Guernica, subject of the painting by Picassowhich depicted the horrors of war. From Guernica a shorttrain ride takes us into Bilbao to explore this fascinatingcity and take the chance to visit the world-famous

Guggenheim Museum before we return home the nextday. 41 km – 26 miles

End of trip. Pick up from Bilbao hotel and transfer todeparture point. Transfer to departure point.

Day 6 San Sebastián - Lekeitio

Day 7 Lekeitio – Guernica - Bilbao

Day 8 Transfer Bilbao - Vitoria

San Sebastian

Basque Coast

Tour dates30 May – 6 June


IncludedAccommodation with en-suite bathroomLuggage transportContinental style breakfastLuggage transferTransport to and from arrival / departure pointsInformation Pack (Route Guide and maps)


Terrain / GradientsThe terrain is often hilly and does require a cer-tain minimum level of fitness. Stages are of cour-se supported by our backup vehicle. More leisu-rely cyclists always have the option of doing theshorter routes. Road surfaces are good and it isperfectly feasible to do the tour on a road bike.

Arrival & departure pointsAirports - Bilbao or Vitoria. Ferry ports - Bilbao.Bus / train stations - Bilbao or Vitoria. Pleasenote that in the case of differing arrival times,cyclists will be transferred at the same time tostart point and departure point. As the trip beginsin Vitoria and ends in Bilbao, you may like toconsider arrival in Vitoria and departure fromBilbao.

TransfersDay 1 - Bilbao / Vitoria - Vitoria.Day 8 - Bilbao / Vitoria - Bilbao / Vitoria.


Lekeito

Lekeito

44 IberoCycle

Wal

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IberoWalkWalking the Picos de Europa

For more detailed information on routes, prices, dates etc. please consultour website at www.iberowalk.com or request our brochure - [email protected]

The Picos de Europa have been described as'Spain's best-kept secret'. They are certainly hometo some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe.Lush green valleys with beautiful mountain villagescontrast with towering grey limestone peaks. Theremoter areas are home to wild bear, chamois,wolves and spectacular birds of prey. The opportunities for walkers of all abilities are endless.The higher peaks attract climbers andmountaineers from all over the world, whilst thevalleys provide magnificent walking for less ambitious mountain lovers.

IberoWalk's Picos de Europa Route covers many ofthe most beautiful and famous sights in the Picos.

Our seven-day walk covers the three provinces that are included in the ParqueNacional de los Picos de Europa - Cantabria, Asturias and León. We will visit thehuge rock amphitheatre of Fuente Dé, with its sheer rock walls rising over 750metres. The cable car here offers us a unique and easy access to the beauty ofthe higher peaks. We then take the opportunity to walk the famous divine gorgeof the River Cares, and finally to walk the equally famous and spectacular descentof the Ruta de Tresviso.

This is a chance to see the best of the Picos without having to worry about lug-gage, routes or accommodation. All you have to do is walk. Let IberoWalk showyou the way.

IberoWalkWalking the Picos de Europa

45IberoCycleIberoCycle

Booking your IberoCycle holidayBooking your IberoCycle holiday

Orbaneja, Ebro

Llanes, Asturias

Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao

Booking conditions are to be found at the end ofthis brochure. Please read carefully. To complywith the EEC Package Travel Directive of 2002,your money is held in a Trust Account until oneweek after your trip ends. This guarantees thesafety of your money.

When booking■ Choose your trip.■ Read the booking conditions carefully.■ Contact IberoCycle to confirm availability of the trip - this must be

done prior to making any travel arrangements.■ Complete the booking form (also available electronically or on the

website).■ If you wish to hire a bicycle then please fill in the relevant details

and measurements as accurately as possible.■ Specify the type of bike you would prefer - i.e. hybrid, road, ladies'.■ If you wish to extend your trip, as for example with the Bilbao, then

please contact us to arrange this.■ Send your booking form by post to IberoCycle with a deposit of a

deposit of 120 € per person. ■ Payments can be made by credit card (subject to a 2% surcharge), by

cheque or alternatively by bank transfer to the account indicated in the“Booking Conditions”, paragraph 4.

■ Outstanding amounts will be converted into local currencies when payment isdue by means of the XE Currency Converter – www.xe.com

After booking■ On booking, you will be sent a confirmation of the deposit paid along with an

invoice for the remaining balance.■ The final balance should be paid at least 8 weeks before departure.

On payment you will receive written confirmation.■ At least 4 weeks before departure, you will receive the IberoCycle Information

Pack, which includes the Route Guide, maps of the area to be cycled, andfinal meeting arrangements.

“IberoCycle” is officially registered as a company of 'Turismo Activo deCantabria' with the Consejería de Industría, Turismo, Trabajo yComunicaciones of the Gobierno de Cantabria.

Booking Conditions

1. Responsibility

IberoCycle does not accept responsibility for death,injury or illness of customers on our holidays. IberoCycledoes not accept responsibility for the state of roads onour trips. All routes are followed at the rider's own risk.Cyclists must ride and behave in a responsible fashion.Holidays are booked with the understanding that allriders are physically fit and do not have any medicalcondition which may make physical activity dangerousfor them. Cyclists use any transportation provided byIberoCycle at their own risk. Helmets are now compulsory in Spain. We recommendtheir use, especially for children. For the sake of comfortand hygiene, cyclists are requested to bring their ownhelmets.

2. Insurance

Possession of holiday insurance is a booking condition.All travellers must take out an adequate insurance policybefore beginning the trip. Proof of adequate insurancemust be provided to be able to confirm the booking. Thisinsurance should cover health and accident (if neces-sary), luggage loss or damage, departure delay or fai-lure, trip cancellation. Any insurance claims are the liability of the insurancecompany and not IberoCycle.

3. Booking

A deposit of 120 € is required to secure a place on thetour. On receipt of this fee, the customer will be sent areceipt and written confirmation of the tour reservationalong with an invoice for the outstanding amount. Thismust be paid 8 weeks before departure. This money willbe held in the IberoCycle account until 1 week after thetrip has ended. Any of the following means of paymentcan be used:

- Cheque made payable to “IberoCycle”.

- Credit card - for credit card payments we require thecredit card number, expiry date, and also the last 3digits of the security number on the back of the card.Authorisation will be requested before payment istaken. Due to the high transaction fees imposed bycredit card companies, we are obliged to levy a char-ge of 2% on final balances.

- Bank transfer to the following account The RoyalBank of Scotland, Bolton Central Branch, 46-48Deansgate, Bolton, Lancashire BL1 1BH, UnitedKingdom - branch no. 16-0006, account no.10270352.

- The booking form must be signed on behalf of all tra-vellers and sent along with deposits and insurancedetails.

4. Changes

Changes in group composition or length of trip must benotified in writing.

5. Cancellation

Notice of cancellation must be received in writing.Cancellation charges are as follows:

6. Modifications

IberoCycle reserves the right to make changes in the iti-nerary. In the unlikely event of this happening, the custo-mer will be infor-med as soon aspossible. Anychanges madewill be of a minornature. We do nothave a minimumnumbers policy, so once a booking is taken, we guaran-tee the trip will run.

7. Bicycles

Cyclists are responsible for IberoCycle bicycles duringtheir trip and any damage to or loss thereof. Cyclists arealso responsible for minor repairs such as punctures.Those who bring their own bicycles are responsible forany damage to or loss of these machines. These bicyclesshould be serviced before the trip, and should carry suf-ficient spares. IberoCycle will supply bikes in good condition and of theright size for each cyclist.

8. Force majeure

IberoCycle cannot accept responsibility for any loss ordamage resulting from war or terrorist activities, weatherconditions, fire, flood or drought, airport closures, res-cheduling of means of transport, or any other eventualitywhich may delay or extend the holiday.

9. Customer care

IberoCycle is committed to the maximum enjoyment ofthe customer. Any problems or complaints must be madeimmediately so they can be dealt with in situ. Customerswill be asked to complete a customer satisfaction formwhen their holiday is over.

46 IberoCycle

8 weeks or more before departure date Loss of deposit

8-6 weeks before departure date 50% of balance



Booking Conditions

47IberoCycle

10. Entrance fees

No entrance fees to places of interest are included inthe tour prices, unless the brochure indicates otherwise.

11. Transfers

Transfers are included in tour prices on the understan-ding that the customer arrives at the time and place pre-viously agreed. If this is not the case, the customer willbe liable for the cost of the transfer to the first night'saccommodation. Customers who opt for a tour exten-sion at the beginning or end of the holiday (e.g. TheBilbao/Guggenheim tour extension) will be liable toorganise their own taxi transport between the airportand the hotel.

If on any particular trip guests arrive on the same daybut at different times, a common pick up time may bearranged for the party. IberoCycle will endeavour tomake the wait as short as possible.

12. Transport

The client is responsible for organising travel to Spain.In this way it is hoped that the customer will get the bestdeal possible. IberoCycle will be glad to give advice tothe customer on travel arrangements.

13. Accommodation

IberoCycle monitors the standard of its accommodationvery carefully and is very grateful for customer feed-back. Customers are requested to fill in our survey atthe end of each trip and to supply us with both positi-ve and negative feedback if it is felt to be relevant. Anyproblems should be reported immediately with a viewto solving them as quickly as possible.

A twin room refers to a room for two people with twobeds. A double room is a room for two people withone bed. All rooms have en suite bathrooms and are ofa high standard. Accommodation is in hotels andlocally graded accommodation.

Every attempt will be made to satisfy a client's roompreference. Clients who have requested a double roommay on occasions be given a twin room if availabilitydoes not permit this.

On some occasions, clients travelling on the same tripmay stay in different hotels. This depends on hotel avai-lability. Every effort will be made to ensure that hotelsare of a similar standard.

14. Prices

Prices include accommodation and continental stylebreakfast. Transfer to and from airports or ferry ports isincluded except in the case of the Way of St James tourwhere customers must take their own way to and fromarrival and departure points. The customer is responsi-ble for all other expenses incurred.

15. Discounts

All discounts are applicable over the trip price for oneperson in double share. Bike hire and the single sup-plement will be added after the discount has beendeducted.

16. Seasonal variations

Prices are given for high, mid and low season. Thoseholidays that fall between two seasons will be chargedproportionately. Final prices will be confirmed beforebooking.

17. Brochure accuracy

We have made every effort to ensure the accuracy ofour brochure. Any variations will be notified to the cus-tomer before a trip is booked.

18. Excursions

We do not provide excursions. IberoCycle may orga-nise excursions on your behalf. In this case, the contractis between the customer and the excursion supplier,and not with IberoCycle. IberoCycle can accept no lia-bility for these excursions and cannot guarantee theywill take place. Excursions will be subject to availabi-lity and to minimum customer numbers.

19. Baggage

Please note that your belongings are your responsibi-lity. We cannot accept any responsibility for loss,damage, or accident involving property. Your travelinsurance should cover this. Please limit your baggageto one item per customer.

20. Non-euro payments

Credit card payments will be charged in Euros with thecorresponding 2% surcharge. When other means ofpayment are used i.e. bank transfers or cheques “theamount owing will be converted into local non-eurocurrencies on the date the payment is due. This amountwill be calculated with the XE Currency Converter”www.xe.com

Documents

IberoCycle · 2010. 1. 30. · hing villages. In between, there is even more variety, where the Parc Natural de La Garrotxa, formed by volcanoes, competes with vineyards, fertile