Cycling Rioja: Vineyards, Villages & Mountains
Embark on this weeklong cycling holiday in the Basque Country, exploring the stunning coastline and rolling hills that connect Bilbao, San Sebastián, and Saint-Jean-de-Luz in France. This 7-day road cycling tour invites you to experience the region’s rich cultural heritage, world-class cuisine, and breathtaking landscapes, where lush green hills meet the rugged Atlantic coastline.
Your cycling Basque Country adventure begins in vibrant Bilbao, home to the iconic Guggenheim Museum and a thriving culinary scene. Pedal along quiet, perfectly paved roads that wind through coastal cliffs and verdant valleys. Conquer classic climbs that reveal panoramic vistas of the ocean and the rolling countryside, offering a mix of steep, punchy ascents and smooth gravel tracks through peaceful valleys.
Discover charming fishing villages, explore historic towns like Guernica—whose tragic past inspired Picasso’s famous painting—and visit Azpeitia, birthplace of the Jesuit movement. As you ride, the beauty of the Basque coast unfolds with pristine beaches, dramatic cliffs, and hidden inland gems.
Food and drink are integral to this journey. Refuel with pintxos and tapas, sip on txakoli (the region’s signature white wine), and indulge in fresh seafood delicacies like chipirones (baby squid) and navajas (razor clams). In the evenings, hearty dinners featuring locally sourced meats and fresh produce await, offering the perfect end to your days of exploration.
Ride into San Sebastián, renowned for its stunning beaches and gastronomic delights, before crossing into France to finish in picturesque Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Stroll through the Grande Place and along its beautiful cliffs, reflecting on a week filled with challenging rides, cultural discoveries, and the best of Basque hospitality.
Our ride to Santiago along the Camino was awesome. Each day the riding brought new adventures. The terrain varied from beach boardwalks ...
This was my first bike tour trip and it was the best vacation I have taken. Despite having biked recreationally in ...
Upon arrival in Bilbao, a private transfer takes you south into the heart of Rioja Alavesa, where medieval villages and endless vineyards create one of Spain's most iconic landscapes. After checking in, collect your bicycles and enjoy a short introductory ride through the vineyards surrounding Laguardia. The route leads to the striking Bodegas Ysios, renowned for both its award-winning wines and spectacular architecture designed by Santiago Calatrava. This evening, enjoy your first Rioja wine tasting and a welcome dinner overlooking the vineyards.
Ride: 5 km | +102 m
Overnight: Hotel Silken Villa de Laguardia Premium: La Casa Cosme Palacio
Your first full day of cycling explores the rolling vineyard landscapes of Rioja Alavesa. Quiet country roads connect charming wine villages including Elciego, Villabuena de Álava, Leza and Samaniego, offering constant views across rows of vineyards stretching towards the Cantabrian Mountains. Along the way you'll discover centuries-old wine traditions, elegant wineries and spectacular viewpoints overlooking one of Europe's most prestigious wine regions. Highlights include the village of Elciego and the iconic Marqués de Riscal City of Wine.
Ride: 35 km | +573 m
Overnight: Hotel Silken Villa de Laguardia Premium: La Casa Cosme Palacio
Leaving Rioja Alavesa behind, today's route follows scenic vineyard roads towards Rioja Alta. Cycling through historic villages and alongside the Ebro River, you'll discover a landscape shaped by centuries of wine production. Passing through Baños de Ebro, San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Briñas and Haro, the route finishes in the beautifully preserved medieval village of Briones. After arriving, take time to stroll through its stone streets and enjoy panoramic views across the surrounding vineyards. Wine lovers may wish to visit the renowned Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture or explore Haro's legendary winery district.
Ride: 48 km | +657 m Overnight: Hotel Santa María de Briones
Today's circular ride showcases the quieter side of Rioja Alta. Pedalling through an ever-changing landscape of vineyards, fields and traditional villages, you'll visit Haro, Sajazarra, Anguciana and Cihuri before returning to Briones. This is one of the most picturesque cycling days of the tour, combining gentle terrain with endless vineyard scenery and authentic rural Spain. For wine enthusiasts, a visit to the historic Bodegas López de Heredia offers an unforgettable glimpse into Rioja's winemaking heritage.
Ride: 48 km | +437 m Overnight: Hotel Santa María de Briones
Today marks a transition from wine country into the quieter mountain foothills of Rioja. Leaving the vineyards behind, you'll cycle towards San Millán de la Cogolla, home to the UNESCO-listed Monasteries of Suso and Yuso. The scenery gradually changes as forests and rolling hills begin replacing vineyards, creating a completely different atmosphere from the previous days. This stage offers a fascinating blend of history, spirituality and nature.
Ride: 30 km | +492 m
Overnight: Hostería San Millán
The final ride takes you deeper into the mountains of La Rioja. Following quiet roads through forests, valleys and traditional villages, you'll reach the charming mountain town of Ezcaray, nestled beneath the Sierra de la Demanda. This region feels worlds away from the vineyard landscapes where the journey began and provides a fitting finale to your Rioja adventure. Celebrate your week with exceptional local cuisine and a farewell dinner.
Ride: 37 km | +472 m
Overnight: Hotel Echaurren Relais & Châteaux
This tour follows a relaxed mix of quiet vineyard roads, well-maintained gravel tracks, and scenic country lanes, making it ideal for leisure cyclists, e-bike riders, and wine lovers seeking a comfortable cycling holiday. The first days are spent riding through the renowned wine regions of Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Alta, where peaceful backroads and gravel paths wind between endless vineyards, medieval villages, and historic wineries. As the journey progresses towards San Millán de la Cogolla and Ezcaray, the landscape gradually changes from rolling wine country to forested valleys and gentle mountain scenery, with a few longer climbs balanced by rewarding descents and spectacular views. With daily distances ranging from 30 to 50 kilometres and moderate elevation gain throughout, this tour is designed for relaxed exploration, combining world-class wines, authentic villages, outstanding gastronomy, and some of the most beautiful cycling routes in northern Spain.
/ Riding is a great part of my life, and I ride my bike regularly with my friends. I am comfortable with rides of 2 to 3 hours, or even more at a relatively strong pace. I like to be challenged and to surpass obstacles or just ride smoothly in a peloton.
You will get to feel different riding experiences, from tougher climbs to rolling along in great company. You’ll have time to enjoy the great landscapes, gain speed in the descents and also push yourself and climb those tough hills. You’ll enjoy the variety of terrain, riding in a peloton and pushing a little harder just before the stop at the café.
Our guides and support vans will provide you with nutrition and hydration along all our guided tours so that you can better enjoy your ride.
Ricardo "El capitán" Costa is the"roadie" in charge of designing this tour. Having ridden all over the world, from Malaysia to the USA, it is in Portugal that he found some of the best rides in the planet. Ricardo has picked some of the best roads in the region, that will introduce you to his favorite vineyards, coffee stops, viewpoints, hotels and other secret spots.
