Trans-Pyrenees Cycling Challenge

8 Days, Multiple Departures

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Trans-Pyrenees Cycling Challenge
  • About
  • Gallery
  • Itinerary
  • Location
  • Things to keep in mind
  • FAQ

Summit 13 Pyrenean Cols, including the Tourmalet, Aubisque, Aspin, and Peyresourde. Prepare for stunning scenery, hard climbs, spectacular descents and breathtaking days in the saddle. The host team will be there to support you every pedal stroke of the way.

Stay in a different location each night as you make your way across the Pyrenees (Girona, Pobla La Lillet, Sort, Bagnères du Luchon, Saint Savin, St Jean Pied du Port and finally San Sebastian). All hotels and guesthouses have been hand selected to provide the most comfortable experience, each with their own unique style and features and all with high-quality facilities and friendly staff.

Start the day with a breakfast buffet at the hotel, then enjoy a quick lunch served by the support team, and stay fueled all day with ride nutrition from the support vehicle. Dinner is served at hotels and local restaurants where you can taste three-course Catalan, French, Basque and Spanish cuisine en route. On a tour, we take care of everything so you can savour the ride of a lifetime.

About

CYCLING

Fully supported

ACCOMMODATION

Hotels and guesthouses

FOOD

Full board

TRANSFERS

optional

BIKE RENTAL

optional

ACCOMMODATION

Hotel Carlemany

Situated in the heart of the commercial center of Girona and 600m from the historic Old Town district.

Hotel Sèquia Molinar

Built on the site of an old water mill on the banks of the River Ter the Sèquia Molinar is a modern and comfortable hotel in the village of Campdevanol.

Hotel Pessets & Spa

Hotel Pessets is situated next to the Noguera Pallaresa River in Sort, in the Lleida Pyrenees. Its facilities include a spa, swimming pool and gym.

Hotel Alti

Located in a spa and ski resort at the foot of the Pyrenees, the air-conditioned Alti Hotel offers comfortable accommodations, mountain views, and a swimming pool.

Hotel Rochers

A charming guesthouse in the idyllic village of Saint-Savin. Enjoy hearty home-cooked food and a peaceful evening.

Hotel Les Pyrenees

A former coaching inn set just 400 m from the citadel. This 4-star hotel offers an outdoor swimming pool, an on-site restaurant, and free Wi-Fi access. Saint Jean Pied de Port is the traditional starting point for pilgrims setting out on the long walk to Santiago de Compostela. A medieval village, be sure to wander the cobbled streets before your evening meal. 

Sercotel Hotel Europa

An early 20th-century building in central San Sebastian, 200 m from La Concha Beach. Rooms at the Sercotel Europa offer classic décor and antique-style furnishings.

FOOD

Full-board - breakfast, lunch & evening meals

The tour was an incredible experience from start to finish. They prepare you very well for this trip. They are extremely attentive to all questions before the trip begins. The booking process was simple and they helped with hotel upgrades and accommodated my wife who was not cycling. Having the cafe and bike shop in a central location in Girona was perfect. The bikes were great. The food, drinks and camaraderie at the Cafe were a nice bonus. From the moment we met the team they made us feel welcome, safe, and fully supported. The guides were kind, friendly, funny, and encouraged us to seek new heights (literally) on the bike. They were all perfect gentlemen to my wife and made her feel included on the trip despite her not cycling with us. They were all so attentive to everyone's needs during the trip whether they be dietary or road safety or anything in between. Josep, Chris, Zippy, and Chris were class act guys, incredible cyclists and just a blast to be around. Lunch set ups during our rides were superb - ice cold drinks, nourishing, delicious and healthy food. Coffee stops were thoughtful and a nice bonus. They put on fantastic meal spreads at the most scenic spots when our tanks were empty and ready to be refilled. Ride support before and during the rides was exceptional. The hotel we stayed at (Nord - an upgrade) was a lovely spot in town with excellent breakfasts, small soaking pool, bike storage, friendly english speaking staff and clean comfortable rooms. Lastly each night we were guided to a different restaurant with the team and our whole group. Many of us became friends and still communicate on Strava now. The restaurant selections were wonderful as each restaurant was different than the other in terms of cuisine, ambience, and level of formality - it was honestly a great mix and high quality food which was important given that it was included in the package. A nice perk during the trip was that a media team traveled with us for video and photos to help with their promotion. They were a nice crew and made us feel like superstars. In summary I cannot say enough about this company and about their people - this trip was incredible. The value was excellent also. My friend and our wives who accompanied us reminisce about this trip often. I recommend them to everyone now . . . and we are planning our next trip with them already for next year. Thank you so much!

Louis, Lynnfield, MA (As seen in TripAdvisor, Oct 2022)

Gallery
About The Host

As the host, it’s our pedal-powered mission to share our love of cycling with anyone who likes to ride a bike.

We run unique cycling tours across Europe and beyond. Enjoy the company of our exceptional local guides, stay in the best hotels a region has to offer & discover your chosen destination at the best time of year to ride.

Our Cycling Hubs are located in the heart of two of Europe's most popular cycling destinations, Girona & Málaga. Shop a handpicked range of bikes, accessories & apparel, hire a high-quality rental bike, book your bike into the workshop, settle down on the terrace with a chilled beer, or join one of our regular rides.

We put sustainability at the heart of our operations & seek to embed environmentally friendly practices in everything that we do. We believe that it's time to give back to, & protect, the amazing landscapes that give us so much joy as cyclists.

Itinerary

Day 1

Meet the team in Girona and head out for an optional warm-up ride of around 40 km. Enjoy dinner in Girona city center and rest before the first official day of the Trans-Pyrenees Challenge.

Day 2

Day 2 kicks off with a hearty breakfast at the hotel before saddling up and setting off on the first leg of the tour, from Girona to Campdevanol, a village in northern Catalonia, just south of the French border. Enjoy lunch en route and fuel up once again with an evening meal with the team. Sleep in Campdevanol.

Day 3

On day 3, the route heads west, skirting around the border of Andorra before reaching Rialp, another village in northern Catalonia. This leg of the tour includes two long climbs and two descents, all in all covering around 130 km.

Day 4

Fuel up on a big breakfast at the hotel, before setting off for today's route, which will finally pass over the Spanish-French border, ending up in the village of Bagneres de Luchon. Climb high into the Pyrenees today, with two climbs and two descents (the first covering around 50 km) before arriving at your destination for the night. Enjoy lunch on the road and a well-deserved evening meal with the group.

Day 5

On day 5, ride further into France towards the village of Saint-Savin of the Hautes-Pyrénées region. There are 3 spectacular climbs on the cards today, Peyresourde, Aspin, and Tourmalet, with a total elevation of 3,427 m. Charge your batteries with a wholesome meal at the hotel before spending a restful night in Pierrefitte-Nestalas.

Day 6

Day 6 is the penultimate day of the Challenge, and the longest leg of the journey, covering an impressive 151.8 km. Sticking to the north of the Spanish-French border, ride west towards the Atlantic coast, conquering several climbs (Soulour, Aubisque, Marie Blanc, Inharpu) and resting on several glorious descents before arriving in St Jean Pied de Port in the foothills of the Pyrenees, included among the most beautiful villages in France in 2016. Spend a final night with the group before completing the final stretch into San Sebastian.

Day 7

On day 7, cross back into Spain and ride a final 124.9 km to the final destination of San Sebastian, a stunning town on the Bay of Biscay in Spain’s Basque Country. Marvel at the views over the sparkling Atlantic Ocean as you descend toward the town. Congratulations! Spend the afternoon and evening exploring this beautiful location, enjoy a final celebratory meal at the hotel with the team, and a final night's sleep at the hotel.

Day 8

Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel before departing from San Sebastian.

Location
Things to keep in mind

More than 90 days - No Cancellation Fee 

61 – 90 Days - 50% of Tour Price

31 – 60 days - 75% of Tour Price

0 – 30 days - 100% of Tour Price

The parties agree to this combined travel contract, which is subject to the following PARTICULAR CONDITIONS.

TOUR NAME. As established in the Trip Notes, sent to the guest.

DATE OF TOUR. As established in the Trip Notes, sent to the guest.

PRICE. As established in the Trip Notes.

PLACE OF DEPARTURE AND RETURN. As established in the Trip Notes.

PLACE, METHOD, AND CALENDAR OF PAYMENT. As established in the Trip Notes

SCHEDULE. As established in the Trip Notes.

ITINERARY AND PREVIOUS SERVICES. As established in the Trip Notes and supplemented with the documentation that will be delivered to the guest before departure in the Tour Itinerary.

ACCOMMODATIONS AND MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED, CATEGORY, CHARACTERISTICS, AND SITUATION. As established in the Trip Notes. The guest expressly acknowledges being informed of this, giving his/her agreement to the categories, characteristics, and situation of the hotels and means of transport that will be used in the contracted trip. Hotels may vary depending on their occupancy.

MINIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE. The completion of this trip requires the minimum number of people that the Trip Notes expressly indicate (if a minimum is not required, this clause is not applicable). The Agency may cancel the trip if a minimum number of people is required and this minimum is not reached. See Trip Notes for the specific conditions of your tour.

EXECUTION OF THE TOUR. The Agency is responsible for the correct execution of all travel services included in the contract (by article 161 of Bill no. RD 1/2007). The Agency shall provide adequate assistance without undue delay to the traveler in need of assistance. The Agency may invoice a reasonable surcharge for such assistance if the need for assistance has been caused intentionally or due to the negligence of the guest. Said surcharge will in no case exceed the actual costs incurred by the Agency. The guest must inform the Agency without undue delay of any lack of compliance observed during the execution of a travel service included in the contract.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN GUESTS. Visas, passports, fees, and other necessary documentation may be required, as established in the Trip Notes.

INSURANCE

Assistance Insurance. The contracted trip includes the option to obtain travel assistance

Cancellation Insurance. The consumer declares that he/she has been informed by the Agency of the possibility of contracting insurance, paid by the guest, which covers the costs of cancellation and to have assistance covering the cost of repatriation or transfer to the place of origin, in case of accident, illness or death as well as other eventualities.

Insurance in case of insolvency. The purpose of the insurance is to respond to the fulfillment of the obligations arising from the provision of services to the contractors of a combined trip and, especially, to the reimbursement of the funds deposited in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Agency. By European, Spanish, and Catalan legislation, The host has contracted insurance with the following company:

TERRAIN

Road

LEVEL

Advanced

AVERAGE DISTANCE X DAY

110 km

AVERAGE TIME X DAY

5 h 29 min

FAQ