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Basque country

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Basque country cycle tour in 4 days, inland detour and coast

Journey unavailable from July 1st until August 21st. 4-day cycle tour through the Basque country. The itinerary takes you to the hills of La Bastide-Clairence, then along other
typical villages such as Espelette, before heading down to the coast along the Atlantic bike route.

Reviews (3) : Reviews (3) :

4.33 / 5

Reference BPB0402

Loop trip
4 days
Challenging
From April to October (unavailable from July to August)
Minimum age 14 years old

GPS-app available

From

Prices

499€ / pers.

Book here

As a gift

Terms and Conditions Terms and Conditions

Itinerary

From the coast to the hills of La Bastide-Clairence, this self guided cycle tour through the Basque country will showcase different sides of this colourful region. On the first day, you will already be able to admire the beaches of the Atlantic coast, the half-timbered houses of Bayonne historic town, the riverbanks of the Adour, the peaceful pastures on the hills and the architectural beauty of La Bastide-Clairence. You bike further through the green landscapes of the low mountains, pass by nice typical villages and enjoy the best views on the coast. Your itinerary leads over the "Col de Pinodieta" and "Col de Saint-Ignace" mountain passes, where you will enjoy wonderful views on the sea and the mountains. You end up along the Atlantic cycle route from Saint-Jean-de-Luz back to Biarritz.

Day 1

Biarritz - La Bastide Clairence Altitude ±260m Bike 40km E-bike (touring bike available)		Biarritz - La Bastide Clairence Altitude ±260m Bike 40km E-bike (touring bike available) You leave the luxury hotels and wonderful houses of the Biarritz seaside resort to follow at your own pace the coastline and then the Adour River to discover the colorful houses of Bayonne. Enjoy the special atmosphere of the city, labeled "City of Art and History". You leave Bayonne by taking a beautiful bike path along the Adour. Then, you ride away the river and start climbing the first Basque hills. Your efforts will be soon rewarded by the magnificent view over the green landscapes. Finally, after a long descent with a breathtaking panorama, you arrive in La Bastide-Clairence with its white facades striped with green or red, ranked among the most beautiful villages of France. The village is known for its numerous craftsmen and annual fairs.

Day 2

La Bastide Clairence - Itxassou Altitude ±480m Bike 28km E-bike (touring bike available)		La Bastide Clairence - Itxassou Altitude ±480m Bike 28km E-bike (touring bike available) You leave La Bastide-Clairence on a country road meanduring on top of the hills. You cycle surrounded by pastures where only the sound of the cows’ bells echoes. Then, you get to Hasparren, a traditional Basque village at the foot of Mount Ursuya. Take a tour in the village to admire its old Basque farms dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. Then, follow Napoleon’s footsteps by riding for a few kilometers on the "Imperial Road of the Heights" built by the emperor to facilitate access to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port during the Spanish war of independence. On your way, do not miss to visit the beautiful Villa Arnaga, house of the French writer Edmond Rostand, author of Cyrano de Bergerac. Finally, you reach Itxassou where you will probably have the opportunity to see basque pelota players on the fronton square.

Day 3

Itxassou - Sare Altitude ±420m Bike 25km E-bike (touring bike available)		Itxassou - Sare Altitude ±420m Bike 25km E-bike (touring bike available) This morning you’ll leave Ixtassou and head towards the charming village of Espelette, where houses are colorfully decorated with dried peppers. Along the way, stop at local farms to buy fresh fruits or tasty treats. After crossing Pinodieta Pass, you’re rewarded with time to visit Ainhoa, designated as one of France’s prettiest villages. You are now close to the French-Spanish border. Pass the old Customs House before cycling on Spanish roads. The village of Zugarramurdi is worth a stop to see its well-known caves and "Witches Museum". Here you have a choice to ride directly to Sare or take an 8km detor and visit the impressive Caves of Sare. The 45-minute guided tour takes you 900meters deep into the cave.

Day 4

Sare - Biarritz Altitude ±365m Bike 32km E-bike (touring bike available)		Sare - Biarritz Altitude ±365m Bike 32km E-bike (touring bike available) You leave Sare and cross the Saint-Ignace pass. Take the "Petit Train de La Rhune’’ and discover the breathtaking views at the summit of La Rhune. This authentic vintage rack railway train dating from 1924 will take you on a 35-minute ride, up to 905 meter high, where you will enjoy one of the loveliest panoramic views on the French and Spanish Atlantic coast and the peaks of the Pyrenees. A few pedal strokes further, you reach Saint-Jean-de-Luz and its sumptuous houses built in the neo-Basque style. Your cycle itinerary follows the "Vélodyssée" along the Atlantic coast, its beaches, its cliffs and waves loved by surfers. On your way discover the town of Guéthary, famous for its sumptuous villas. Finally, you come back to Biarritz and enjoy its relaxed atmosphere in the evening.

Accommodation

Category A

You’ll enjoy staying in these clean and cozy 2-3 Star hotels that give you a pleasant rest after your day of biking. Breakfast is included when you spend th night in these friendly and family-run hotels.

* Example of the type of accommodation

Bikes, luggage and documents

Bikes

On your arrival day, we provide you with:

an electric bike adjusted to your size

equipped : front rack pack with an integrated file compartment, saddlebag, helmet (on demand), repairing toolkit with patches etc.

Luggage

For this trip, bikes are equipped with 2 waterproof saddle bags with a capacity of 10 to 20L each to transport your luggage. Do not forget to put your items in a soft travel bag to be able that you can roll it up in your saddle bags.

For more comfort, you can choose to add luggage transport in your booking:
(see rate in "Prices")

We transport your luggage from one accommodation to the next using a private vehicle.
Your luggage is directly delivered in your accommodation before you arrive.
We provide a saddlebag for the things you shall need during the day.(included in your bike rental).
We advise to take an extra set of clothes with you if you expect to arrive before 5p.m. at your accommodation.

Our word of advice : as we know from experience, we strongly recommend you to avoid wearing a backpack during your cycling trip.

Travel documents

A cycling holiday is the best way to explore a region and discover its culture, landscapes and local traditions.

Your tour is self-guided to give you the freedom to ride at your own pace. You will be provided all the information you need to enjoy the itinerary and its points of interests.

We can provide you with travel documents in paper format (for a supplement of €15 for printing and postage), which include:

a roadbook with maps that we drew at the easiest scale to follow on a bike
a roadbook with step-by-step description giving the direction to follow at each intersection and highlighting the points of interest

Example of a map and of a step-by-step description

Our GPS App

For this trip, you can also use our smartphone app featuring GPS guidance (without extra fee).

You will find in the app all the information given in the map and step-by-step roadbooks. You will be located on the itinerary with the GPS device of your phone. The route and directions to follow will be both viewable on the screen of your phone and announced aloud. As you ride along the itinerary, you will be given information about visits, restaurants, services and useful alerts on the way.

-> You need to have a smartphone and download Le Velo Voyageur app on your Apple or Android store before the trip. All details concerning the downloading and the use of the application will be given after we have confirmed the booking and the balance is paid. Once the trip is downloaded, the GPS guidance can be used off-line.

Practical information

To get to departure point :

By plane: flight to Biarritz.

By train: Direct TGV (fast trains) from Paris Montparnasse. The duration of the trip is about 4h10. Then, take a bus to reach the city center (20-25min). To plan your trip, www.raileurope.com.

Parking:

It is very difficult to park in downtown Biarritz, especially in high season. If you wish, you can park your car in the secure car park at Biarritz SNCF station (~ 4km from the city center). The price is 45€/7days. You must then, take the bus to reach the city center (20-25min).

Otherwise, you can also park in Anglet (~4km from Biarritz). Parking is usually much easier. Our bike partner has a shop in Anglet, so you can pick up your bikes directly and cycle to Biarritz (30min).

Meeting time:

You pick up your bikes in the morning between 9.30am and 12.30pm. We recommend you to arrive at around 10am to enjoy your day fully without rushing and be able to do the visits on the way.

If you chose luggage transport, you must arrive before 10am to drop off your luggage. Bikes pick up point and luggage drop off point are located in the city center and will be given in your travel documents.

.

Reviews

3 bike travelers reviews

4.33 / 5

“ Recommendable biketrip ”

On the 2019-07-23 by Helle

Enjoyed the scenic small routes through beautifull landscapes and villages. Only few times on larger roads with heavy trafic. Well planned and described trip, with alerts and descriptive photos in the App securing we were on the right track. Glad we didn’t have to follow the printed maps (would have been difficult at times). Good quality bikes. We generally arrivd early at the destinations and had to wait for later check in, so bring a book or the like for the waiting time.

“ arnaud ”

On the 2019-07-12 by arnaud

pas mal, mais pourrait être mieux

“ Excellent ”

On the 2017-08-29 by VERONICA

Pour la deuxième fois on a choisi cette enterprise pour notre séjour et on est ravis. Cette fois le parcours a été personalisé et ça été trés bien organisé : un itinéraire fait juste pour nous! Des hôtels excellentes et des paysages magnifiques. Merci encore!!!!!!!

Download
the trip description

Day 1

Biarritz - La Bastide Clairence Altitude ±260m Bike 40km E-bike (touring bike available)		Biarritz - La Bastide Clairence Altitude ±260m Bike 40km E-bike (touring bike available) You leave the luxury hotels and wonderful houses of the Biarritz seaside resort to follow at your own pace the coastline and then the Adour River to discover the colorful houses of Bayonne. Enjoy the special atmosphere of the city, labeled "City of Art and History". You leave Bayonne by taking a beautiful bike path along the Adour. Then, you ride away the river and start climbing the first Basque hills. Your efforts will be soon rewarded by the magnificent view over the green landscapes. Finally, after a long descent with a breathtaking panorama, you arrive in La Bastide-Clairence with its white facades striped with green or red, ranked among the most beautiful villages of France. The village is known for its numerous craftsmen and annual fairs.

Day 2

La Bastide Clairence - Itxassou Altitude ±480m Bike 28km E-bike (touring bike available)		La Bastide Clairence - Itxassou Altitude ±480m Bike 28km E-bike (touring bike available) You leave La Bastide-Clairence on a country road meanduring on top of the hills. You cycle surrounded by pastures where only the sound of the cows’ bells echoes. Then, you get to Hasparren, a traditional Basque village at the foot of Mount Ursuya. Take a tour in the village to admire its old Basque farms dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. Then, follow Napoleon’s footsteps by riding for a few kilometers on the "Imperial Road of the Heights" built by the emperor to facilitate access to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port during the Spanish war of independence. On your way, do not miss to visit the beautiful Villa Arnaga, house of the French writer Edmond Rostand, author of Cyrano de Bergerac. Finally, you reach Itxassou where you will probably have the opportunity to see basque pelota players on the fronton square.

Day 3

Itxassou - Sare Altitude ±420m Bike 25km E-bike (touring bike available)		Itxassou - Sare Altitude ±420m Bike 25km E-bike (touring bike available) This morning you’ll leave Ixtassou and head towards the charming village of Espelette, where houses are colorfully decorated with dried peppers. Along the way, stop at local farms to buy fresh fruits or tasty treats. After crossing Pinodieta Pass, you’re rewarded with time to visit Ainhoa, designated as one of France’s prettiest villages. You are now close to the French-Spanish border. Pass the old Customs House before cycling on Spanish roads. The village of Zugarramurdi is worth a stop to see its well-known caves and "Witches Museum". Here you have a choice to ride directly to Sare or take an 8km detor and visit the impressive Caves of Sare. The 45-minute guided tour takes you 900meters deep into the cave.

Day 4

Sare - Biarritz Altitude ±365m Bike 32km E-bike (touring bike available)		Sare - Biarritz Altitude ±365m Bike 32km E-bike (touring bike available) You leave Sare and cross the Saint-Ignace pass. Take the "Petit Train de La Rhune’’ and discover the breathtaking views at the summit of La Rhune. This authentic vintage rack railway train dating from 1924 will take you on a 35-minute ride, up to 905 meter high, where you will enjoy one of the loveliest panoramic views on the French and Spanish Atlantic coast and the peaks of the Pyrenees. A few pedal strokes further, you reach Saint-Jean-de-Luz and its sumptuous houses built in the neo-Basque style. Your cycle itinerary follows the "Vélodyssée" along the Atlantic coast, its beaches, its cliffs and waves loved by surfers. On your way discover the town of Guéthary, famous for its sumptuous villas. Finally, you come back to Biarritz and enjoy its relaxed atmosphere in the evening.

Category A

You’ll enjoy staying in these clean and cozy 2-3 Star hotels that give you a pleasant rest after your day of biking. Breakfast is included when you spend th night in these friendly and family-run hotels.
* Example of the type of accommodation
Bikes

On your arrival day, we provide you with:
- an electric bike adjusted to your size
- equipped : front rack pack with an integrated file compartment, saddlebag, helmet (on demand), repairing toolkit with patches etc.
Luggage

For this trip, bikes are equipped with 2 waterproof saddle bags with a capacity of 10 to 20L each to transport your luggage. Do not forget to put your items in a soft travel bag to be able that you can roll it up in your saddle bags.

For more comfort, you can choose to add luggage transport in your booking:
(see rate in "Prices")
- We transport your luggage from one accommodation to the next using a private vehicle.
- Your luggage is directly delivered in your accommodation before you arrive.
- We provide a saddlebag for the things you shall need during the day.(included in your bike rental).
- We advise to take an extra set of clothes with you if you expect to arrive before 5p.m. at your accommodation.
Our word of advice : as we know from experience, we strongly recommend you to avoid wearing a backpack during your cycling trip.
Travel documents

A cycling holiday is the best way to explore a region and discover its culture, landscapes and local traditions.

Your tour is self-guided to give you the freedom to ride at your own pace. You will be provided all the information you need to enjoy the itinerary and its points of interests.

We can provide you with travel documents in paper format (for a supplement of €15 for printing and postage), which include:
- a roadbook with maps that we drew at the easiest scale to follow on a bike
- a roadbook with step-by-step description giving the direction to follow at each intersection and highlighting the points of interest
Example of a map and of a step-by-step description

Our GPS App

For this trip, you can also use our smartphone app featuring GPS guidance (without extra fee).

You will find in the app all the information given in the map and step-by-step roadbooks. You will be located on the itinerary with the GPS device of your phone. The route and directions to follow will be both viewable on the screen of your phone and announced aloud. As you ride along the itinerary, you will be given information about visits, restaurants, services and useful alerts on the way.

-> You need to have a smartphone and download Le Velo Voyageur app on your Apple or Android store before the trip. All details concerning the downloading and the use of the application will be given after we have confirmed the booking and the balance is paid. Once the trip is downloaded, the GPS guidance can be used off-line.
To get to departure point :
- By plane: flight to Biarritz.
- By train: Direct TGV (fast trains) from Paris Montparnasse. The duration of the trip is about 4h10. Then, take a bus to reach the city center (20-25min). To plan your trip, www.raileurope.com.
Parking:
It is very difficult to park in downtown Biarritz, especially in high season. If you wish, you can park your car in the secure car park at Biarritz SNCF station (~ 4km from the city center). The price is 45€/7days. You must then, take the bus to reach the city center (20-25min).

Otherwise, you can also park in Anglet (~4km from Biarritz). Parking is usually much easier. Our bike partner has a shop in Anglet, so you can pick up your bikes directly and cycle to Biarritz (30min).

Meeting time:

You pick up your bikes in the morning between 9.30am and 12.30pm. We recommend you to arrive at around 10am to enjoy your day fully without rushing and be able to do the visits on the way.

If you chose luggage transport, you must arrive before 10am to drop off your luggage. Bikes pick up point and luggage drop off point are located in the city center and will be given in your travel documents.
.
Memory of the trip

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3 bike travelers reviews 4.33 / 5

“ Recommendable biketrip ”

On the 2019-07-23 by Helle

Enjoyed the scenic small routes through beautifull landscapes and villages. Only few times on larger roads with heavy trafic. Well planned and described trip, with alerts and descriptive photos in the App securing we were on the right track. Glad we didn’t have to follow the printed maps (would have been difficult at times). Good quality bikes. We generally arrivd early at the destinations and had to wait for later check in, so bring a book or the like for the waiting time.

“ arnaud ”

On the 2019-07-12 by arnaud

pas mal, mais pourrait être mieux

“ Excellent ”

On the 2017-08-29 by VERONICA

Pour la deuxième fois on a choisi cette enterprise pour notre séjour et on est ravis. Cette fois le parcours a été personalisé et ça été trés bien organisé : un itinéraire fait juste pour nous! Des hôtels excellentes et des paysages magnifiques. Merci encore!!!!!!!