CYClINg BASquE CouNtRY
A coastline of towering cliffs, rugged rocks and sandy bays awaits us in this most southern region of France. We cycle through pastoral green valleys dotted with white-timber villas and climb into the Pyrenees to the Spanish border. In search of some delicious French cuisine we descend to the ham capital Bayonne and the chocolate museum in Biarritz.
ITINERARY
Day 1 Eurostar and local train from London to Bayonne. Drive to St Jean Pied de Port. Day 2 St Jean Pied de Port Cycle through quiet villages, pastoral green valleys and limestone rock hillsides dotted with the traditional half-timbered or sturdy stone “baserri”. Day 3 Cambo Les Bains Follow the river Nive, passing through a vineyard to the Spa town – once home to writer Edmond Rostand. Day 4 Zugarramurdi Optional ride across the Spanish border to discover its witchcraft heritage. Cycle through Sare and Ainhoa. Day 5 St Jean de Luz Pass through Espelette, home of the red chilli pepper, to St Jean de Luz, the town where Louis XIV married the Infanta of Spain in 1660. Day 6 La Rhune Optional cycle to the Col St Ignace. Ride on a rack railway up the mountain to the Spanish border. Day 7 Bayonne Visit the capital of the French Basque country famous for its ham. Return through Biarritz, once the chosen resort of Royalty and home to a chocolate museum. Day 8 Drive to Bayonne. Local train and Eurostar to London.
DAILY DISTANCES Day 2
Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7
30km 50km 30km 48km 47km 50km
Beautiful coastal and inland rides through the
inclusive from
£995 8 DAYS
Basque region in France and Spain, graded moderate to strenuous
Cycle grade MODERATE/STRENUOUS Comfort
Accommodation and Meals: 7 nights hotels. 6 breakfasts are included.
Included Bike: We provide 21 gear Trek T10 Navigator hybrid bikes – see trip notes for details.
For detailed information visit
www.explore.co.uk/tours/cbc
Route and Terrain: On this tour we cycle 255 km over six days (an average of 43 km per day). Three of the cycling days are circular routes and therefore optional. Our route follows quiet undulating roads, mainly on asphalt but with some gravel tracks. There is vehicle back up for emergencies. We have graded the route as moderate to strenuous.
Group Size: Generally 10 to 16. TOUR DATES Cycling Basque Country Ref CBC
Eurostar & TGV from/to London St Pancras
Bay Of Biscay
Bayonne Biarritz
ST JEAN DE LUZ
Rack railway Hendaye
sur Nivelle Sare
St Pee
La Rhune 905m
Zugarramurdi SPAIN
St Etienne de Baigorry
km 025 St Jean Pied de Port 16 For more information and to book, go online at
www.explore.co.uk PIED DE PORT ST JEAN s 0 Espelette ITXASSOU Ainhoa Dantxarinea FRANCE o d FRANCE
Bayonne From/To
London 400km
The Cycling Basque Country tour runs in the following months:
Jan
May Sep
Feb
Jun Oct
Mar
Jul Nov
Apr Aug Dec
For full details of the dates and prices visit
explore.co.uk/tours/cbc
TOUR ONLY – 8 DAYS Tour price without train from £655
train
DETAILS
Ref: CBC
FRANCE • SPAIN
SPAIN
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