Basque Country

After landing in Bilbao, you will be picked up and driven to Ábalos, a town perched at the foot of the Cantabrian mountains. We will arrive at your accommodation for the night, where you will enjoy your first taste of the Spanish gastronomy and wine. After lunch you can enjoy an afternoon walking along quiet tracks overlooking Rioja's vineyards and in the evening we will visit a local family of winemakers who will host a delicious wine tasting and dinner for us.

In the morning we ride through vineyards in the foothills of the Sierra de Cantabria, stopping to admire some prehistoric megaliths. After another superb lunch in a small village, we climb a pass over the ridge and descend towards - and then through - the delightful and forested Izki Natural Park. The contrast with this morning's landscape is stark. Our accommodation this evening is a house in the charming village of Virgala Mayor, and there's a small pool in which we can cool off.

We begin with a short transfer to Maturana, where we jump on our bikes and head towards the sprawling Ullibarri-Gamboa reservoir, a haven for birdlife, from cormorants to herons and egrets. We will skirt its shore for much of the morning before beginning our gradual ascent towards the mountains. In Olaeta, nestled in a sheltered bowl, we will take lunch and visit a former Olympic wrestler who is now a shepherdess and makes traditional Basque cheese. In the afternoon our ride climbs further, towards the impressive jagged peaks of Urkiola, before dropping down to the picturesque village of Axpe. Despite an altitude of 200 metres above sea level, the feeling is alpine. We will spend the night at a peaceful hotel overlooking the valley.

After breakfast, we set off on bikes and climb up the other side of the valley. Along the way, we'll admire the towering peaks of Urkiola Natural Park surrounding us. We’ll then transfer to the gloriously situated Bodega Berroja for lunch, close to the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, where we will have our first glimpse of the sea and taste a traditional Basque white, Txakoli. After lunch we jump on our bikes again to cycle along quiet roads and tracks, winding our way down until we join the Camino de Santiago and reach our rather special family run accommodation.

Today we start on the bikes. After negotiating a few climbs and descents along quiet backroads, we start meandering along the River Lea towards the sea towards our final destination, the historic fishing town of Lekeitio. Once we arrive we will have a celebratory drink and a well deserved lunch, before enjoying the beach and swimming in the sea. Late in the afternoon we get back on the bikes one last time to make the short journey along the coast to our guest house, owned by friendly and fascinating hosts.

After breakfast we will jump straight in the transfer to the airport, stopping to visit the historical town of Guernica. At the airport we will say our goodbyes.