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Europe / / Rioja Bike Tour Basque Country, Bilbao, and the Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain

© 2021 DuVine Adventure + Cycling Co. Visit world-renowned wineries like award-winning Bodegas Baigorri, plus a few of our favorite boutique bodegas Ride a section of the Camino de Santiago to the Monastery of Yuso, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized as the birthplace of the Spanish language Sample family-style Riojana and Basque dishes during an exclusive wine-paired lunch Stay at the Frank Gehry-designed Hotel Marques de Riscal and relax with a wine-infused treatment at Spa Vinothérapie Caudalie Arrival Details Departure Details Airport City: Airport City: Bilbao, Spain Bilbao, Spain Pick-Up Location: Drop-Off Location: Hotel Gran Domine or Hotel Miró Bilbao Bilbao Airport or your downtown Bilbao Pick-Up Time: hotel 9:15 am Drop-Off Time: 11:00 am

NOTE: DuVine provides group transfers to and from the tour, within reason and in accordance with the pick-up and drop-off recommendations. In the event your train, flight, or other travel falls outside the recommended departure or arrival time or location, you may be responsible for extra costs incurred in arranging a separate transfer.

Emergency Assistance For urgent assistance on your way to tour or while on tour, please always contact your guides first. You may also contact the Boston office during business hours at +1 617 776 4441 or [email protected]. Tour By Day

DAY 1 Welcome to Green Spain

Your DuVine guides will greet you in downtown Bilbao, and then we’re off to our luxurious hotel designed by iconic architect Frank O. Gehry. After a safety review and bike fitting, we’ll head out on our first ride through the Tempranillo vineyards of La Rioja before returning to Elciego for lunch with our friends Gaby and Jorge. Tonight we'll get to know each other over an apéritif, then kick off the week with a Michelin meal at the hotel's gastronomic restaurant.

Meals: Lunch / Dinner Destinations: Bilbao, Elciego Accomplished: 13 miles / 21 km, elevation gain: 1,043 feet / 318 meters Accommodations: Hotel Marqués de Riscal

DAY 2 The City of Cellars

Today, take your pick between an easygoing or more challenging route. We’ll ride out of Elciego along a ridge high above the vineyards, then meet the Ebro river after descending through the town of . Our destination is the medieval town of Laguardia, which sits upon a warren of 300 cellars carved from rock in the Middle Ages. These cellars—called calados—were once hideaways to protect townspeople in times of turmoil, but they’ve since been re-purposed as subterranean wine storage. The ancient calados are a striking contrast to the ultra-modern, award-winning Baigorri winery, which will host us for a guided tour and wine-paired lunch of locally inspired Basque and Riojana dishes. Tonight, meet a charming mother-daughter duo, Irene and Tania, and join them for a homemade dinner at their family winery.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner Destinations: Lapuebla de Labarca, Laguardia, Elciego Accomplished: 21 miles / 34 km, elevation gain: 1,850 feet / 564 meters Longer Option: 33 miles / 54 km, elevation gain: 2,909 feet / 887 meters Accommodations: Hotel Marqués de Riscal

DuVine itineraries may be subject to slight route changes, hotel substitutions, and other modifications. DAY 3 Origins of the Spanish Language

Today we cruise south to the 11th-century UNESCO World Heritage Monastery of Yuso, passing pilgrims as they hike this section of the 500-mile Camino de Santiago. Considered the birthplace of the Spanish language, we'll stop at this historic monument for a visit before a barbecue lunch served in a shady garden and paired with fruity local Rioja wine (or an ice-cold cerveza). Choose to bike back to our hotel, or transfer by van for more relaxation time by the pool or at the spa. Dinner tonight will be at your leisure—our guides are happy to escort you to the nearby city of Logroño for an authentic tapeo along the famous Calle del Laurel. Try out the local tradition of hopping between the 50-plus tapas bars, sampling different interpretations of appetizer-sized bites.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch Destinations: Najera, San Millan de la Cogolla Accomplished: 23 miles / 37 km, elevation gain: 1,594 feet / 486 meters Longer Option: 46 miles / 73 km, elevation gain: 2,316 feet / 706 meters Accommodations: Hotel Marqués de Riscal

DAY 4 Vivanco Dinastia

The day begins with a ride to Bodegas Vivanco, a family winery that’s also the country’s largest private museum of wine accouterments and art. Back on the bikes, we’ll pedal to the village of San Vicente and stop for lunch at a tapas bar owned by cult winemaker Benjamin Romeo of Bodega Contador. Afterwards, opt to complete the ride to our next hotel or take it easy with a van transfer. Join us for a pre-dinner wine tasting if you wish, then dine at the hotel: Chef David Mosquera’s modern cuisine incorporates seasonal, local ingredients and delights the palate with a contrast of flavors.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner Destinations: Briones, San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Briñas Accomplished: 21 miles / 34 km, elevation gain: 1,863 feet / 568 meters Longer Option: 30 miles / 48 km, elevation gain: 2,558 feet / 780 meters Accommodations: Palacio Tondón

DuVine itineraries may be subject to slight route changes, hotel substitutions, and other modifications. DAY 5 To the Source

Bid farewell to the charming village of Briñas as we bike through the wine town of Haro and into the open countryside. We’ll encounter a 2,000-year-old Roman bridge en route to a winery where we’ll be treated to an exclusive tasting of some classic (and vintage!) Rioja wines. After a light lunch, we’ll follow the Rio Oja—the river which gives this region its name—and pass through the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage town of Santo Domingo de la Calzada. After checking in to our Relais & Châteaux hotel, choose to keep riding into the hills beyond the hotel or take a pre- dinner stroll through the village of Ezcaray. Tonight, enjoy a show-stopping dinner at the hotel’s two-Michelin-star restaurant, El Portal, created for us by Chef Francis Paniego and accompanied by a selection of excellent Rioja wines.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner Destinations: Haro, Ezcaray Accomplished: 29 miles / 47 km, elevation gain: 1,692 feet / 516 meters Longer Option: 44 miles / 71 km, elevation gain: 2,788 feet / 850 meters Accommodations: Hotel Echaurren

DAY 6 Adios Rioja

Bid farewell to La Rioja, its wines, medieval architecture, sumptuous gastronomy, and stunning landscapes. We transfer back to Bilbao where your guides will take you to your post-trip hotel or Bilbao airport.

Meal: Breakfast

DuVine itineraries may be subject to slight route changes, hotel substitutions, and other modifications.