Biking the Vineyards of La Rioja

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.

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.

Leisure Cycling | Leisure Cycling

Foodie, Wine

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. E-bikes are available on this tour should you need battery-powered assistance.

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.

On this tour you will stay in a mixture of 3 and 4-star hotels. We've hand-picked hotels bursting with history and character; the monastery of Yuso (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), an 18th-century town mansion in Ezcaray, a restored 14th-century convent in Haro and a former 17th century Viana Palace in Laguardia.

Alternate Accommodation

During the high season, you might be booked into alternative accommodations that are not listed in the main daily description. If those listed are unavailable the alternative accommodation will be of the same or better standard than those described.

Single Rooms & Solo Cyclists

If you require single rooms within your party we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable. This trip is also available to solo cyclists, subject to a supplementary payment.

Meals

Breakfast is included each day at your hotel and usually consists of consist of coffee, juice, toast, cheese and ham, and some fruit. If you have special dietary requirements do let us know at the time of booking. Dinner on night 6 is included, with wine tasting and a visit to a 17th century cellar. On night 7 in Logroño, a wine tasting and tapas (pintxos) tour is included with a wine expert. Lunches and remaining dinners are not included. As you will be staying the heart of each village or town, there are extensive cafes and restaurants to choose from in the evening. La Rioja is famous for its pintxos scene, where small portions of food are served up with slices of bread. They are usually cheap and paired with a glass of local red wine. There are hundreds of pintxos to choose from in Logroño in particular, with some bars offering many varieties, while other bars are famous for just one.

Detailed routes notes with turn by turn directions will be given to you at your first hotel when you check-in. GPX tracks are also available in our Macs Adventure Smartphone App. Should you require assistance, local 24/7 telephone support will also be available throughout your trip.

April to June and September to October are just about perfect conditions, with the weather being warm and dry. April generally has cooler temperatures whereas May welcomes long warm days, where plazas come to life and the countryside is thriving. In July and August, temperatures can rise up to 35 degrees, so we recommend that you avoid being out in the mid-day sun. During these hotter months, most people cycle in the morning and then relax in the shade until the evening.

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.

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.

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.