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Please leave your luggage in the hotel reception each morning (by 9am at the latest) so that it can be transferred to your next hotel. Make sure that your luggage is clearly labelled with the nametag provided.
Your bike fitting is scheduled for Tuesday, 9th June at 9am at Hospedería de los Parajes. In case of any issue please contact Jota on +34 606 72 73 78.
Call the Bike Spain Tours office on +34 915 590 653, or out of office hours call +34 677 356 586. We will get you where you need to be and get you the help you need.
Please note that the legal limit for blood alcohol content, which is set at 0.5 g/l of alcohol in blood, applies to both cyclists and drivers in Spain. If you test positive on a breathalyzer, you may be fined between 500 and 1,000 euros. Please drink and cycle responsibly.
Please be aware that Spaniards follow a very particular routine in terms of their daily meals, and this is often strictly enforced by restaurant opening hours, especially in small towns!
You can expect restaurants to be open for lunch from approximately 1:30pm – 4pm. Many places will offer a menú del día: a set menu with 2/3 options for each course, usually including a drink, bread and dessert or coffee. Remember that lunch is the main meal of the day in Spain.
Dinnertime in Spain is any time from 8pm onwards. Dinner in Spain is typically a lighter meal.
La Rioja is Spain’s most celebrated wine region, with viticulture dating back over 2,000 years to Roman times. By the Middle Ages, monks were cultivating vineyards, and in the 19th century, winemakers adopted French barrel-aging techniques, giving Rioja wines their distinctive character.
Rioja reds: Made with predominantly Tempranillo grapes, often blended with Garnacha, Mazuelo, or Graciano.
Rioja white (Viura): Crisp, floral, and fresh when young; rich and nutty if barrel-aged. Pairs beautifully with fish, chicken, or roasted vegetables.
Clarete: A pale rosé with a tradition of being fermented from a mix of red and white grapes — refreshing and lightly fruity.
Mosto: Non-alcoholic grape juice, freshly pressed — sweet, vibrant, and loved by kids and designated drivers alike.
These wines pair beautifully with local Rioja specialties:
Patatas a la Riojana: A rustic stew of potatoes, chorizo, onion, and paprika. Warming, earthy, and deeply tied to local home cooking.
Pimientos del Piquillo: Sweet roasted red peppers, sometimes stuffed with salt cod (bacalao) or meat, often served warm with olive oil.
Chuletillas al Sarmiento: Lamb chops grilled over dried grapevine cuttings (sarmientos) for a delicate smoky, wine-infused aroma.
Caparrones: Small, dark-red beans slow-cooked with chorizo and pork belly. A hearty village dish, best in autumn or winter.
Bacalao a la Riojana: Salt cod in a rich tomato and roasted pepper sauce — a beautiful balance of sweet, smoky, and savory.
Please note that guided visits to bodegas must be booked in advance. Let us know if you would like us to book any visits for you.
It’s also a good idea to bring extra layers of clothing with you if you are planning to visit any bodegas, because the temperatures in the wine cellars are often several degrees cooler than outside.
Click here for our packing suggestions for a self-guided bike tour.
Click here for our recommendations for cycling safely and legally in Spain.
Click here for our recommendations on what to do if you experience mechanical issues with your bike during your tour.
Monday, 8th June: Laguardia (Alava)
Arrival day
Accommodation: Hotel Hospederia Los Parajes
Meals included: Dinner
Welcome to La Rioja, and the start of an amazing tour!
Laguardia is the unofficial capital of the Rioja Alavesa – the Basque section of La Rioja – and many of the town’s 320 wine cellars, which date back from the late 18th century, are still functioning today. As you approach, the town looks like something plucked straight from a fairytale: standing atop a hill, still partly surrounded by walls, towers and fortified gateways.
You can check into your hotel from 2pm. Remember to request your Bike Spain welcome gifts upon arrival!
Dinner tonight is included in your tour package. Upon arrival at your hotel, please advise reception of your preferred dinnertime.
Uncork your tour with a visit to Laguardia’s very own wine interpretation centre: the Villa-Lucía Gastronomic Space (tours available Tue – Sun at 11am, 12:30pm, 5pm and 6:30pm, prior reservation recommended), where you can get to know La Rioja’s famous vintage through a multi-sensory experience, and discover modern and historical wine-production techniques.
During the 16th and 17th century, as Laguardia became important as a centre of wine production, a network of underground bodega cellars were constructed, some of which can still be visited today: Casa Garcetas, which now houses the tourism office (open Mon – Sat 10am – 2pm/4pm – 7pm and Sun 10:45am – 2pm) and Cueva Dorretxe (open Tue – Sun 10:45am – 1:30pm/4:45pm – 7:30pm).
Other visitable bodegas include El Fabulista, located under a 17th century palace (open daily, tours in English available on request) Bodegas El Campillo (open Mon – Sat, tours in English available on request) and Solar de Samaniego (open Wed – Sun, tours in English available on request).
One of Laguardia’s most important historical monuments is the Church of Santa María de los Reyes, which dates back to the 12th century and is considered to be a jewel of medieval Basque art.
For a truly indulgent experience, book a wine massage treatment at the Wine Oil Spa at Hotel Silken Laguardia!
Tuesday, 9th June: Ábalos (Rioja)
Route: Riding through the Rioja Alavesa: 41.9 km/26.1 miles
Elevation:+714m/+2139 ft
Accommodation: Hotel Villa de Ábalos
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner
9am: Bike fitting in Hospedería Los Parajes with our local colleague Jota. In case of any issues, please contact Jota on (+34) 606 72 73 78. Jota will take your luggage to your next hotel, so please bring it with you to the bike fitting.
You’ll hit your first bodega within 2km! The majestic architecture of Bodega Ysios (wine bar open daily 10am – 4:30pm, guided tours and tastings available on request), created by famous architect Santiago Calatrava, seems to blend into the surrounding mountains.
The ride continues along the banks of the Ebro River, winding its way through endless vineyards. Stop for a photo opportunity at the Mirador del Risgo viewpoint just before arriving into Lapuebla de Labarca, which got its name from the small skiff that once transported people and goods across the Ebro. Here, you can visit “Balbino’s Balcony” at Bodega Don Balbino (open Mon – Sat 12pm – 2pm/4pm – 6pm) to enjoy a glass of the bodega’s own wine with fabulous views over the vineyards.
As you enter the next town, Elciego, you’ll notice the unmistakable titanium waves of a Frank O. Gehry building. This is the famous Marques de Riscal hotel and winery (guided tours in English available Mon – Sun 9am – 7pm, prior reservation essential), and is worth visiting for its fabulous futuristic architecture alone.
While in Elciego, we also highly recommend a visit to Valdelana Bodega and Wine Museum (open Mon – Sat 8am – 6pm and Sun 8am – 3pm), set in a 15th century underground cellar and whose exhibition covers everything from local prehistory, traditional wine-making techniques, an introduction to wine tasting theory and a wine and olive oil tasting at the end!
Before you reach the next town, Baños de Ebro, make a quick stop for a photo opportunity over the River Ebro at Mirador Alto del Ramo.
Dinner tonight is included in your tour package. Please advise reception upon arrival of your preferred dinnertime.
The tiny village of Ábalos (pop. 255!) is almost completely dedicated to winemaking. In the town, you can visit Bodega Solana de Ramirez Ruíz (guided tours and tastings in English available Mon – Fri at 5pm on request).
If your legs are up to it after all that cycling, you can hike the 2.5km up to the Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de la Rosa for beautiful views over the town and its surroundings.
Wednesday, 10th June: Abalos (Rioja)
Route: 43.6 km/27.1 miles
Elevation: +622m/+2042 ft
Accommodation: Hotel Villa de Abalos
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner
Today’s route follows small, quiet country paths along the Ebro River, giving you a chance to explore some of the area’s most beautiful and historic little towns.
The first of these is San Vicente de Sonsierra, a former fortress town where coats of arms still decorate historic palaces. Here, you can visit the medieval city centre, which boasts a castle, several watchtowers and the remains of the original city walls. You can also visit the 13th century church of San Juan de Arriba, which houses the Vera Cruz Brotherhood, who precede their Easter Week processions with self-flagellation to show their faith. We also recommend a visit to the interesting Bodega Castillo de Mendoza, formerly housed within the castle walls (shop open and tastings available Mon – Fri 9am – 2:45pm and Sat 11:30am – 1:30pm).
Next, your route takes you up to the tiny mountaintop hamlet of Rivas de Tereso, (pop. just 15!) where you can enjoy a bite to eat with fabulous views at the excellent Asador de José Mari (open Wed – Mon, 10am – 6pm).
Your next stop is the tiny village of Remelluri, famous for the large 10th century necropolis. You can also stop by the excellent Remelluri Bodega, set in a 15th century monastery (shop open Mon – Fri 8am – 3pm).
You’ll continue on through vineyards, through the town of Bastida to the pretty riverside hamlet of Briñas. Your next stop is Haro, one of La Rioja’s centres of wine production, and world-famous for the wine battle that takes place every June, in which locals and visitors alike attack each other with thousands of litres of wine!
Haro itself is a fascinating town, and it’s well worth taking a stroll to discover the sculptures of ordinary inhabitants performing traditional tasks, many of which are, of course, related to winemaking!
Of course, no visit to Haro would be complete without stopping by a winery, and our recommendation here is CVNE, which belongs to one of Spain’s biggest wine companies and boasts a wine barrel cellar designed by Gustave Eiffel (wine bar open Mon – Sat 9am – 4:30pm, tours in English available Mon – Sun on request), or the wine bar at Bodegas Muga (open Mon – Fri 9:30am – 2:30pm, Sat 10:30am – 2:30pm).
From Haro, you’ll head back towards Ábalos.
Thursday, 11th June: Ábalos – Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Route: 42.3 km/26.3 miles OR 60.1 km/37.3 miles
Elevation: +581m/+1,906 ft OR 837m/+2,747 ft
Accommodation: Parador Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner
Please leave your luggage with reception by 9am at the latest, so that it can be collected and transferred to your next hotel.
Long acknowledged as the oldest tourist trail stretching throughout Europe, the Camino de Santiago (Saint James Way, in English) is the dividing line between the upper and lower Rioja regions.
You’ll pass through San Vicente de Sonsierra and into the atmospheric hilltop town of Briones, whose north side overlooks the River Ebro. Here, we highly recommend a visit to the fascinating Museum of Wine Culture, which explores two millennia of the history of wine (open 10am – 6pm Wed – Sun) at Bodega Vivanco.
From Briones, you’ll continue south through Azofra and Alesanco towards Cañas, where you can visit the imposing 12th century Monastery of Santa Maria de San Salvador (open Tue – Fri 11am – 5pm, Sat 10:30am – 5:30pm and Sun 10:30am – 3pm). Opposite the monastery, La Casona de Cañas is a great spot for lunch!
OPTIONAL: If you fancy a bit more cycling (approximately 15 km extra) you can head south from Cañas to the town of San Millán de Cogolla, considered to be the cradle of the Spanish language, thanks to the influence of the Yuso (lower) and Suso (mountainside) monasteries. The monks worked for almost a hundred years to create the first comprehensive Spanish grammar. and the two spectacular monasteries are now UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Yuso is open Tue – Sun 10am – 1:30pm/4pm – 6:30pm, and Suso is open 10am – 1:30pm/4pm – 6pm (prior reservation required to visit Suso; you can buy tickets at the Reservations Office in Yuso).
In San Millán, you have a few options for lunch: Yuso’s very own restaurant, In Vino Veritas (open 1:30pm – 3pm, and a historic flour mill, Restaurante El Molino de San Millán (open daily 1pm – 4pm).
Today’s route finishes in Santo Domingo de la Calzada, an important stop on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.
Dinner tonight is included in your tour package. Please advise reception upon arrival of your preferred dinnertime.
The most important attraction in Santo Domingo is the spectacular 16th century Cathedral (open Mon – Sat 10am – 2pm/4pm – 7pm, Sun 10am – 3pm), which includes a sculpted chicken coop in honour of one of the miracles of Saint Domingo, the town’s patron, who brought a roasted chicken back to life in order to save an innocent pilgrim from being hanged.
Before leaving Santo Domingo, you must try ahorcaditos, small cakes shaped like the shell of St James (due to the town’s importance on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route). The best place to buy these is Pastelería Isidrio (open Tue – Sun 10:30am – 2pm/5:30 – 8pm)
The Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada has an excellent in-house restaurant; however, if you would like to explore the town further we recommend Restaurante Los Caballeros (open Tue – Sat 1pm – 3:30pm/7:30pm – 10pm and Sun 1pm – 3:30pm), which is set in a historic manor house.
Friday, 12th June: Santo Domingo de la Calzada Loop
Route: 30 km/18.6 miles
Elevation: +257 m/+861 ft
Accommodation: Parador Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Meals included: Breakfast
Today, you’ll follow a former railway line that once went all the way to Haro, and has now been converted into a peaceful cycle path: Vía Verde del Rio Oja. Fifteen kilometres of pure biking pleasure between the floodplain of the River Oja and the foothills of the Sierra de la Demanda, dotted with picturesque medieval hermitages and flanked by agricultural fields. As you head towards Ezcaray, the route gradually becomes more forested until you reach the limestone cliffs of the Peña de San Torcuato, an important habitat for birds of prey.
In Ezcaray, you can celebrate the final day of your trip with a lunch at Hotel Echaurren, either at the Michelin Star restaurant Portal de Echaurren (open for lunch 1:30pm – 2:30pm Thu – Sun, prior booking essential) or Restaurante Tradición (open daily for lunch 1:30pm – 3:15pm). It’s also well worth taking some time to explore the town, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful in La Rioja: set in the mountains, surrounded by unspoilt nature, and retaining the traditional architecture of its historic town centre.
When you arrive back at the Parador, please leave your bike with hotel reception for later collection.
Saturday, 13th June
Departure day
Meals included: Breakfast
9am: Private transfer to Miranda Ebro train station. Your driver will pick you up from the Parador de Santo Domingo. In case of any issues, contact Oscar on (+34) 659 87 28 63.
Click here for our Google Maps recommendations in Bilbao!
Bilbao’s most famous attraction, the Guggenheim Museum (open Tue – Sun, 10am – 7pm), needs to be top of your list, even if you only visit the external artworks that form part of this magnificent building! Take a selfie with “Puppy”, Jeff Koons’ colourful dog sculpture made from living flowers, “Maman”, Louise Bourgeois’ enormous spider sculpture, and Anish Kapoor’s “The tall tree and the eye”.
If classical art is more to your taste, don’t miss the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum (open Mon – Sat 10am – 8pm and Sun 10am – 3pm. Closed Tue), which exhibits pieces dating back to the 13th century and has an important collection of Basque art through the centuries.
For the best views in the city, take the cable car up Mt Artxanda, and enjoy a coffee or dinner with an amazing view at hilltop restaurant El Txakoli.
Football fans will love the museum and stadium tour at San Mamés, the brand-new home of Athletic Bilbao, the world’s only all-Basque football team!
There are endless dining options in Bilbao: if you’re looking for a Michelin star experience to celebrate your achievement, you can find a list of restaurants here; alternatively, if you haven’t yet had a Basque cider house experience you can enjoy steak and unlimited cider at Bilbao Urban Sagardotegi (open daily from 10:30am) or Galtzagorri Sagardotegia (open daily from 11am).
Another fantastic dining option is the Mercado de la Ribeira (open daily from 8am), a historic market building converted into a modern gastromarket with an impressive range of eateries.
If you’d prefer a more relaxed dinner, you can enjoy the many pintxos bars of Bilbao’s old quarter! Some of our favourites are Gure Toki, Café Bar Bilbao, Irrintzi, Bar Charly and Victor Montés.
Hospederia Parajes
In the heart of Rioja-Alavesa, Laguardia, there is a unique place to live an experience around wine: The “Hospedería de los Parajes”.
A new hotel concept, where history and modernity combine to accommodate a range of rooms and services full of sensations. Passing through the main gate in the wall of Laguardia, you will find an exceptional building. Inside the walls we have built our hotel. Spa and a great restaurant.
Hotel Villa de Abalos
Located in the very heart of Spains La Rioja region, in the village of Ábalos.
This pleasantly-situated family hotel is surrounded by fields containing seemingly endless rows of the areas characteristic grape vines. Stone, wood and wrought iron combine to create an ambience that is both attractively modern and traditionally comfortable. The ground floor is the location of the communal areas, the reception desk, the lounges, the sun terrace, the garden and the bike park.
Parador Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Comfortable guest rooms decorated with exquisite taste where you will find a warm, harmonious environment.
The hotel occupies a former 12th-century hospital near the cathedral, erected by St. Dominic to take in pilgrims traveling on the Way of St. James. It has a regal, elegant style, with majestic function rooms and a lobby filled with Gothic arches and wood coffered ceilings.
