8 Days & 7 Nights

Biking the Vineyards of La Rioja

Bike through Spain’s most famous wine region
Ride on a section of the Camino de Santiago pilgrim route
Taste the full-bodied flavour of Rioja wines with tapas
Visit medieval towns, UNESCO sites and world-renowned wineries

Cycle in the heart of northern Spain's famous wine growing region and sample some of the best wines this country has to offer. Explore the hill-top medieval towns and villages, ancient monasteries and rolling vineyards at the foothills of the Sierra de la Demanda mountains, and stay in beautiful historic hotels along the way. Starting and finishing in Logroño, the bustling historical capital of La Rioja with its numerous tapas bars, begin by riding on the Camino de Santiago pilgrim route to reach the charming mountain village of Ezcaray. Continue on quiet country lanes amongst the vineyards to Haro, where many famous wineries are based. Take a pause here before riding along the Ebro River to Laguardia, finishing with Logroño's vibrant food scene to celebrate the end of your ride.

From £1,339.00

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Itinerary

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Day 1 Arrive Logroño

Arrive in Logroño, the historical capital of La Rioja with its thriving coffee shop and tapas (pinchos) bar scene. Modern gastro-bars and old-world taverns rub shoulders with each other in and around the old quarter of the town, and mainly clustered around two narrow streets; Calle Laurel and Calle San Juan, which are right next to each other. Take some time to take in the atmosphere, and explore the historical centre with its significant cultural sites, such as the Cathedral of Santa María la Redonda, where the baroque towers rise above the market square, and Santa María de Palacio, the oldest church in Logroño dominating the city's skyline with its Gothic spire.

Overnight Logroño

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Gran Via | 4 Star | Hotel

Located in the centre of Logroño, Hotel Gran Via is an ideal place to enjoy the lively tapas bars and restaurants and wander around the historic center of town. It's just a 5 min walk from the old town and the famous Laurel Street.

Day 2 Cycle from Logroño to San Millán de la Cogolla 23 miles / 37 km

After a short transfer from Logroño to Navarrete, set off on the renowned Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage route taking people to the historic town of Santiago de Compostela, in the North West of Spain, where the remains of Saint James are thought to be kept. This long-distance route is walked and cycled by thousands of pilgrims from all over the world each year. You'll come across walkers and cyclists on their way to Santiago and get a feel for what it's like to follow the Camino. The second half of today's route is along good dirt tracks amongst rich agricultural land, heading south towards the mountains and the historic town of San Millán de la Cogolla (World Heritage Site), where you'll spend the night. The town is famous for its twin monasteries, Yuso and Suso.

Total ascent/descent: 553m/309m (1814ft/1013ft)

Overnight San Millán de la Cogolla

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hosteria San Millan | 4 Star | Hotel

A unique experience in San Millán de la Cogolla. Stay inside the monastery of Yuso, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and originally part of the famous Camino de Santiago. The accommodation preserves some of the oldest manuscripts in Spain and occupies the former monk's quarters. The elegant old-world rooms feature views of the surrounding mountains and vintage wood furnishings. The hotel has an à la carte restaurant offering local specialties and famous Rioja wines, and the cafeteria, located in the former kitchen of the monastery, serves snacks and drinks. Enjoy the gastro bar and the terrace with views of the hills.

Day 3 Cycle from San Millán de la Cogolla to Ezcaray 21 miles / 34 km

Cycle along quiet country roads amongst fields of cereals for the first half of the day. You'll pass through several small villages until you come to a smooth cycle track ascending towards the foothills of the Sierra de la Demanda mountains, all the way to Ezcaray, a lovely town well worth spending the afternoon exploring. The town sits on the banks of the Oja River, and the surrounding area is made up of striking mountain scenery, with streams, forests and peaks over 2,000 metres high, attracting hikers and climbers.

Total ascent/descent: 397m/321m (1302ft/1053ft)

Overnight Ezcaray

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Palacio Azcarate | 3 Star | Hotel

Housed in an 18th-century town mansion in the centre of Ezcaray, this hotel has been lovingly restored from the original property, keeping the impressive, classical-style decor and antique furniture. Palacio Azcárate Hotel offers great views of its surrounding gardens, which has maintained its native species.

Day 4 Cycle from Ezcaray to Haro 23 miles / 37 km

Today's ride mostly follows the Via Verde (dedicated cycle track) from Ezcaray to the lovely town of Casalareina, which is worth exploring. It's mainly a gentle downhill ride. About halfway through, you'll come to Santo Domingo de la Calzada, which makes a great stop for coffee or lunch. Your final destnation is Haro, the epicentre of the wine production of La Rioja, where many famous wineries are based and where you'll spend two nights. The main activity here is vine growing and the production of quality wines with the Rioja Designation of Origen quality label. It also hosts a Wine Fight each year. Thanks to its location on the Ebro River basin, the gastronomy here is fantastic. Asparagus, peppers, artichokes and other vegetables are the staples of such dishes, as is potatoes "a la riojana" or vegetable stew. Also famous are the lamb cutlets (roasted over a sheaf of vine shoots). Enjoy the cusine here with a bold glass of red, which pairs perfectly with jamón serrano, ripe green olives or thick slices of Manchego cheese.

Total ascent/descent: 14m/360m (45ft/1181ft)

Overnight Haro

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Los Agustinos | 4 Star | Hotel

Originally a 14th-century convent, this beautiful building steeped in history now offers unique 4-star accommodation, where rooms are set around an impressive central courtyard lounge with a glass roof. It's the perfect spot to enjoy a glass of wine.

Day 5 Optional rest day or loop ride from Haro 14.6 miles / 23.5 km

A circular route from Haro takes you through fields of vines. Along the way you'll cycle through the historic town of Briones, where the famous Vivanco wineyard and museum is located, and tastings are available here. You'll also find cafes and bars for a coffee break or refreshments in Briones, so we certainly recommend a visit here. It's a very picturesque medieval hilltop town offering views of the Ebro River Valley and the surrounding vineyards, a strong culinary tradition, and perfectly intact medieval architecture. The ride then continues to the walled town of Labastida, which is a great stop for lunch before returning to Haro.

Total ascent/descent: 285m/312m (935ft/1023ft)

Overnight Haro

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Los Agustinos | 4 Star | Hotel

Day 6 Cycle from Haro to Laguardia 23 miles / 37 km

Move on from Haro to the medieval hilltop walled city of Laguardia, one of the best preserved medieval towns in Spain. Surrounded by city walls, it has a lovely mixture of cobbled streets full of restaurants, wine shops and cafes. The deep tunnels under the houses were once used in defending the town but are now used as wine cellars. On today's ride you'll pass through the lovely small towns of San Millan de la Sonsierra and Baños de Ebro, with plenty of cafes to choose from. Much of the cycling today is along quiet country roads and the rest will be along the riverbank of the Ebro River, or amongst vineyards.

Total ascent/descent: 451m/271m (1479ft/889ft)

Overnight Laguardia

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Mayor de Migueloa | 4 Star | Hotel

This former 17th century Baroque mansion dates back to 1619. Set among 300-year-old vineyards in medieval Laguardia, it's retained the charming, historic features and antique furnishings, and provides an authentic and traditional Spanish setting. The main feature of the hotel is the vaulted, cavern-shaped cellar, which you'll visit during your stay here. Filled with exquisite wines from La Rioja, you'll learn about the different wines from the surrounding area and beyond.

Day 7 Cycle from Laguardia to Logroño 20 miles / 31 km

One last day of cycling will take you back to where you started your tour, Logroño. This time you'll cycle very close to the Ebro River for much of the journey, with a chance to stop at the pretty town of Elciego, home to the architecturally cutting-edge Winery Marqués de Riscal. The expansive vineyard, dating back to 1858, makes Marqués de Riscal the oldest winery in the region, and you can visit the winery before continuing with your ride. You'll also pass through the villages of La Puebla de Labarca and El Cortijo along the way. Arrive in Logroño, with its vibrant food scene to celebrate the end of your ride.

Total ascent/descent:230m/484m (754ft/1587ft)

Overnight Logroño

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Gran Via | 4 Star | Hotel

Day 8 Departure

THIS TRIP'S CARBON SCORE

This trip has a carbon score of 9kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 9kg is equivalent to 5.5 avocados. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.

Reviews

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Other Information

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Is it for me?

If you're a relatively fit individual or regular cyclist seeking to spend much of the day in the saddle, stopping off to sample the food and wine of La Rioja, then this is the tour for you. Stay in hand-picked hotels bursting with history and character, and discover the variety or this region with its undulating terrain and hill-top towns and villages. E-bikes are available on this tour should you need battery-powered assistance for the hills.

Trip Type:

Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.

Activity:

Leisure Cycling | Leisure Cycling

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Foodie, Wine

Grade & Terrain

The grade for this cycling tour is moderate. The grade is determined on the basis of the entire trip. Individual days may vary in terms of difficulty, i.e. some rides may be slightly more difficult or easier than the overall grade. The terrain is undulating with some longer or steeper ascents and descents on quiet country roads, cycle paths and easy gravel tracks, with the occasional short stretch on busier roads as you approach towns. You must be prepared to ascend hills at the end of a days ride while approaching hilltop towns, and be comfortable with riding trails off-road as this route is a mixture of paved and off-road. E-bikes are available on this tour should you need battery-powered assistance.

Experience & Fitness

The tour is suitable for relatively fit and regular cyclists seeking an active holiday who are willing to spend much of the day in the saddle experiencing a region and discovering its variety over longer daily distances. Distances range from 25km/16 miles to 37km/23 miles, and the difference in elevation varies between 9 metres and 546 metres.

Accommodation & Meals Navigation What's Included

Included

7 nights accommodation in beautiful historic hotels
All breakfasts
Detailed trip info and mapped tracks, via the Macs App
Luggage transfers
24/7 Emergency telephone support from our UK & US offices
Transfer to the start point of your ride on day 2

Excluded

Travel insurance (required)
Lunches, dinners, drinks & snacks not mentioned in the itinerary
Personal equipment
Travel to and from Logroño
Bike hire (standard and E-bike)

Extras

Bike hire (standard and E-bike)
Extra nights
Private arrival and departure transfers between Bilbao Airport and Logroño

When to go Travel & Transfers

Getting to the Start

The best airports for the start and end of this tour are Bilbao or Madrid. Logroño is easily accessible by public transport. The train station in Logroño is 1.5km from the centre of town, and the bus station is within walking distance from the hotel - only 1km away.

From Bilbao

The airport is 12 kms from Bilbao city centre. A bus leaves from just outside the arrivals terminal very regularly into the city center, to the main bus station (Termibus) and Abando Train Station. A train from Abando Train Station to Logrono takes 2.5 hrs, with 2 direct trains a day for 15 euros per person. Visit the RENFE website for more information.

The Cuadra Bus Lines also operate 8 busses per day for 10 euros one-way per person between Logroño and Bilbao, and takes approx. 1 hour and 45 mins.

Private transfers are available for a supplement between Bilbao Airport and Logroño, please book in advance via your sales specialist.

From Madrid

The bus Company ALSA runs 5 buses each day leaving from the Airport itself to Logroño. The journey takes 4 hours and costs around 24 euros per person. If you are not already in Terminal 4, you will have to make your way from terminals 1, 2 or 3 to terminal 4 using the free airport bus service.

Alternatively, trains from the centre of Madrid to Logroño take 3.5 hrs, with 1 direct train in the morning (around 07:52am) from Monday to Saturday. There are also several trains daily via Zaragoza with a change of train there. Please visit the RENFE website for more information.

Getting from the End

To Bilbao

A train from Logroño train station to Bilbao's Abando Train Station takes 2.5 hrs, with 2 direct trains a day for 15 euros per person. Visit the RENFE website for more information.

The Cuadra Bus Lines also operate 8 busses per day for 10 euros one-way between Logroño and Bilbao, and takes approx. 1 hour and 45 mins.

The airport is 12 kms from Bilbao city centre. A bus leaves from the main bus station (Termibus) or Abando Train Station to the departures terminal very regularly.

Private transfers are available for a supplement between Bilbao Airport and Logroño, please book in advance via your sales specialist.

To Madrid

The bus Company ALSA runs 5 buses each day from Logroño to the Airport itself (Terminal 4). The journey takes 4 hours and costs around 24 euros per person. If departing from terminals 1, 2 or 3, use the free bus service from Terminal 4 to make your way there.

Alternatively, trains from Logroño to the centre of Madrid take 3.5 hrs, with 1 direct train in the morning from Monday to Saturday. There are also several trains daily via Zaragoza with a change of train there. Please visit the RENFE website for more information.

Baggage Transfer

Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.

Info & FAQ

General Information

The distances and ascents/descents are approximations of the recommended routes.

Equipment

Bike & E-Bike Hire

If you’d like to hire a bike, please let us know your height and frame size you currently ride.

Hire bikes are touring hybrid bikes with 28 inch wheels. They are bikes designed for tarmac but with tyres which also do short stretches of good tracks. They have some front suspension to make them comfortable but they are not mountain bikes. Bikes are either Giant, Trek or Kalkhoff.

Included with each bike hire is a pannier rack, 1 pannier bag, a bottle cage, waterproof map holder, mudguards, lock, pump, spare inner tube, a puncture repair kit, and a basic multi-tool. A helmet is also included, though we recommend that you bring your own helmet for your own comfort.

For some battery-powered assistance on longer days, and to ease ascents, we recomend hiring an e-bike. The rechargeable battery on your bike will be your reliable riding partner, getting you to the top of hills or to your final destination with more energy in the tank for an afternoon swim or simply for exploring. E-bikes are growing rapidly in popularity so please make sure to request one at the time of booking so we can secure availability for your trip and avoid disappointment.

If you would prefer to bring your own bicycle please ensure it is thoroughly serviced and is an appropriate bike for this trip such as a Giant Argento, Scott Sub, Trek 7200 or similar.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance that covers you for the activity, emergency evacuation and hospital care.