Self-guided Spain Bike tour
Spain
Tour description Asturias --- La Costa Verde
Day 1 The green north coast of the Iberian peninsula makes the perfect setting for a Arrive Villanueva de Colombres cycling holiday. Over hills, or more mountainous terrain if you choose, you'll cy- Day 2 45 km cle along the coastal ranges of El Cuera and El Sueve, beneath the impressive Circular ride around Villanueva snowy peaks of the Picos de Europa. Day 3 26 km To Llanes Following sections of the Pilgrims' Route to Santiago de Compostela (Saint Day 4 27 km James' Way), you'll visit ruins and Romanesque chapels. After a stop in the cider To Nueva de Llanes -making capital of Villaviciosa, you cycle off to the friendly city of Gijon for a tap- Day 5 37 km as feast to celebrate the end of your journey. To Colunga
Day 6 36 km Highlights of this trip include some of the most pleasant cycling through the To Agüero gorgeous landscapes, enjoying views to both the mountains and the sea,. You Day 7 29 km To Gijón do have a choice of different routes on some days, making shorter or more chal- lenging. The gastronomy, wines and ciders of this region, are now becoming Day 8 Tour Ends world renown.
Tour Details Daily from April to end of October Cost: $1595 per person
Single Supplement: $550
Bike Rental: $195 Fast Facts
Length: 8 days / 7 nights E-Bike Info : Luggage transfers, route note and Grade: Moderate with hills services of local office E-bike rental: $325 Trek Ride+ bicycles available Starts: Villanueva de Colombres Lovely accommodations throughout Limited supplies, so reservations rec- Ends: Gijón the journey hand-picked for charm ommended and personality GPS tracks available on request
Active Journeys Contact: 11----800800800----597597597----55945594 or 416416----236236236----50115011 Email: [email protected] Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Villanueva de Colombres Arrival in Villanueva de Colombres, on Spain's Costa Verde, where you are welcomed at a charming and stylish family-run hotel.
Day 2 Circular Route from Villanueva 45 km Circular cycling route from Villanueva de Colombres. Today you start the trip with a lovely ride through rolling hills, never too far from the sea, through the villages of Merodio and Muñorrodero, right on the border between Cantabria and Asturias, the two emerald provinces of Northern Spain. Stop and enjoy a glass of wine in Pechón or Pesués before heading back to Vilde.
Day 3 Villanueva to Llanes 26 km After breakfast take a quiet ride across the border and into the Principality of Asturias, and through the charmingly authentic villages of Colombres, Pimiango and La Borbolla and then along cliffs overlooking the Cantabrian Sea. There's the opportunity of stopping off to visit the Cueva del Pindal, a beautifully situated cave with valuable prehistoric paintings, or to admire the Romanesque ruins of Santa Tina church.
Day 4 Llanes to Nueva de Llanes 27 km Choose between a challenging ascent to enjoy lovely views from the Sierra del Cuera coastal range or a gentler ride through green hills, among fields of grazing cows and tiny villages of quiet beauty like El Mazuco and Rales. En route there are several spots where you can stop for a refreshing pad- dle in the sea or, continue cycling to the Cuevas del mar beach after you’ve arrived at the hotel.
Day 5 Nueva to Colunga 37 km Today you continue along the coast and follow the northern route of the Camino de Santiago pilgrims' trail (Saint James' Way) through the foothills of the Sierra del Sueve. This tiny yet impressive mountain range is home to the stunning black elegance of the Caballo Asturcón, a beautiful breed of horses native to Asturias.
Day 6 Colunga to Agüero via Tazones 36 km The estuary town of Villaviciosa, cider making capital of Asturias, is sur- rounded on all sides by green hills covered with apple orchards. A visit to its inviting historical centre recalls the past, proving that this was once an important stop along the Camino for pilgrims making their way to Santiago de Compostela.
Day 7 Agüero to Gijón 29 km Your last day of cycling is slightly shorter but starts off with a good ascent. Climb up through the lush greenery of the Asturian countryside and then, from an elevation of 220m, sail down into the city of Gijon, riding along the beautiful San Lorenzo Beach boardwalk all the way to your hotel.
Day 8 The tour ends after breakfast.
What to Expect
What will the weather be like? Getting There The weather in this region is definitely Mediterranean, so cooler spring and fall mornings and evening, but can get hot during the day. We tend to avoid July The nearest airports are Oviedo (also and August due to larger crowds and very hot weather. Mornings in the moun- known as Asturias airport), Santander tains will definitely be cooler, jacket recommended. and Bilbao. From these airports there are good bus connections to city cen- How many hours of cycling a day? tre bus stations, where you can catch Be prepared to be active between 3 to 6 hours daily, everything will be at a a connecting bus to your destina- moderate level. This is not a supported tour, so you should be able to ride the tion (ALSA bus company, see time minimums required each day. tables at www.alsa.es ).
How fit do I need to be? From Oviedo city centre, Santander or The fitter the better, as you will enjoy the holiday more. This is a moderate trip Bilbao, you can catch a direct bus to with easier options. Keep in mind that like all wine regions, they tend to be hilly. Unquera. You then continue by taxi to There will be a few steep climbs but these are manageable and short. Villanueva de Colombres 4km.
What are the hotels like? It is wise to book your bus tickets and Based in 6 properties, we use a wide mixture of accommodations carefully se- taxi transfer in advance, especially if lected for their location, atmosphere and/or unique services. Hotels and guest- you're travelling in summer or on houses are small and charming with private facilities. Two dinners are included. weekends. Bus tickets can be pur- chased in advance on the ALSA web- site. www.alsa.es
At the end of your trip, the return jour- ney is from Gijón, also well connected to all 3 airports (Asturias, Bilbao and Santander) by public bus services. Our office in Arenas de Cabrales can help you make the reservations.
Extra Info How to book your holiday Contact our office to make sure there is space available. One Dinners included on Day 1 and 6 of our travel planners will walk you through the entire pro- cess. We have a small selection of hotels for any extra days of your arrival or departure. Download the reservation form from our site and send in Hotels in either Oviedo, Barcelona or Madrid completed form by fax or email. Once this is done, your space start from 140€ per night. is confirmed and a pre-departure packet will be sent.
A deposit is required immediately, and final payment is due 60 days prior to the trip departure. Terms & conditions are outlined in our Reservation Form.
Plan your air travel as soon as possible.
We encourage you to purchase travel insurance, either through us or a travel insurance provider directly.
Ensure you are in proper health for the trip chosen. Contact us, for more information on vaccinations, inoculations, and fitness requirements.