San Sebastien to Girona

Description

Basque Coast to Catalan Cycling Capital 

This 10‑day journey is a ride through changing Spains: from the Atlantic elegance and pintxos culture of San Sebastián, across the vineyards and medieval market towns of Navarra, into the wild limestone sierras of Aragón and the Pre‑Pyrenees, then up onto the high bowls and legendary passes of the Catalan Pyrenees—before finishing in the stone-and-river beauty of Girona.

Expect quiet, characterful roads, big geological drama (gorges, ridges, and “cathedral” limestone walls), and a daily rhythm built around café stops, village squares, and unforgettable arrivals: Sos del Rey Católico’s perfectly preserved medieval lanes, the cinematic rock towers of Riglos, the Montsec and Terradets corridor, high‑valley riding in La Cerdanya, and finally a descent into historic Ripoll and onward to Girona’s old town.

The food story is just as strong—Basque pintxos, Navarra produce and wines, rustic mountain cooking, and the understated quality of Catalonia’s interior wine regions—making each day as much about what’s on the plate as what’s over the next ridge.

This is a tour for riders who want more than ticking off kilometres: it’s for those who want landscape transitions you can feel, villages with real presence, and evenings that reward the effort with culture, cuisine, and a sense of having travelled properly.

 Overview of Route

Itinerary

Arrival Day: San Sebastián / Donostia

Touch down in San Sebastián, get checked in, and keep the plan simple: today is about sea air, a coastal stroll, and one of Europe’s great food scenes—so you start the tour feeling relaxed, well-fed, and excited for the first ride tomorrow.

Start with a gentle walk along the La Concha waterfront—it’s the perfect reset after travel and immediately delivers the Basque Country “coastline glamour” feel. Perhaps treat yourself to lunch at one of its numerous Michelin starred restaurants. 

If you want a quick, iconic pre-dinner viewpoint, head up to one of the hills for a panoramic “this is where we start” moment—San Sebastián looks especially good as the light softens.

Tonight is about Parte Vieja (Old Town) and a proper pintxos crawl: hop between a few bars, take one signature pintxo at each, and pair it with a small beer or local wine—keep it light, fun, and social (you’ll ride tomorrow). 

Day 1: San Sebastián → Pamplona

^{66 miles / 106 km • 5,682 ft / 1,732 m}

We roll out from San Sebastián (Donostia), a city defined by its sweeping bay, grand waterfront architecture, and a food culture that sets the tone for the whole trip. 

As we head inland, the roads narrow and the terrain feels distinctly “Basque Country.” Expect a landscape of lush green wooded slopes, scattered farmhouses, and small valleys that keep you working steadily without ever feeling like a single long climb. 

The route continues to reward riders who love quiet roads: less traffic, more birdsong, and a steady sequence of rises and dips. The scenery here is classic northern Navarra—deep green meadows and wooded slopes—far removed from the drier images many people associate with Spain.

Pamplona is much more than its famous festival week—today it’s our first true Navarra city finish: historic streets, animated cafés, and further opportunity in the evening for bar-hopping and small plates called Pintxos. A perfect first-night move is to wander to Plaza del Castillo, the city’s social living room, for a celebratory drink and a first taste of Navarra’s food culture.

Day 2: Pamplona → Sos del Rey Católico

^{53 miles / 85 km • 4,230 ft / 1,289 m}

After yesterday’s forested, hill-and-valley rhythm, today opens like a curtain: we leave Pamplona’s medieval lanes and quickly find ourselves in big-sky Navarra, where the horizons stretch and the light feels brighter. This is classic “rolling-through-a-kingdom” riding—wide farmland, distant mountain silhouettes, and the first hints of wine country in the ordered geometry of vines.

We then thread through tiny villages such as Lumbier, Navarra’s landscapes can change in a single glance: open plains give way to dramatic limestone cuttings and river corridors.

From here, the route tilts into a glorious descent that delivers us into Sangüesa, a medieval river town set beside the Río Aragón—a place of stone façades, a bridge crossing that has carried travellers between Navarra and Aragón for centuries, and a bustle that feels like a threshold between regions.

We then follow the Río Aragón valley through rolling farmland—this is steady, honest riding where the scenery is pastoral and the mood is calm. And then comes the finale: the final climb to Sos del Rey Católico, a perfectly preserved medieval village rising on a rocky perch. You don’t just “arrive” in Sos—you climb into it, and the reward is instant: tight cobbled streets, honey-coloured stone, and a lookout over an immense sweep of countryside.

Tonight, the best ritual is unhurried: wander the lanes, then take pre-dinner drinks on the terrace and watch the light fall away from the hills. 

Day 3: Sos del Rey Católico → Murillo de Gallego

^{57 miles / 92 km • 4,730 ft / 1,442 m}

Your journey begins with an invigorating ascent right from the starting point, climbing to over 1,000 meters as you enter the breathtaking Sierras de Luesia. Here, panoramic vistas of the High Pyrenees unfold before you, setting the tone for an unforgettable day.

Wind your way through spectacular mountain terrain along quiet country lanes, crossing into the Aragonese province and the Sierra de Santo Domingo—gateway to the pre-Pyrenean ranges. This untamed wilderness serves as a sanctuary for magnificent birds of prey, including the extraordinary Lammergeier, one of Europe's largest and rarest vultures, soaring overhead on wingspans that can exceed nine feet.

The route brings you past the enchanting village of Uncastillo, where a solitary castle stands guard over an impressive collection of six Romanesque churches—a testament to the region's rich medieval heritage.

After a leisurely picnic lunch surrounded by dramatic sierra landscapes (and perhaps a brief siesta to recharge), prepare for an exhilarating reward: a serpentine descent that plunges all the way down to the rushing Río Gállego valley. This vital waterway carries precious snowmelt from the Pyrenees to the sun-baked plains of inland Aragón.

As you descend, prepare to be captivated by the otherworldly sight of Los Mallos de Riglos—towering conglomerate rock formations that thrust skyward like colossal fingers reaching for the azure heavens, their rust-colored pinnacles a photographer's dream.

From Ayerbe, a gentle final climb follows the Río Gállego upstream to your accommodation, riding in the shadow of these magnificent natural monuments—a fitting finale to an extraordinary day of cycling.

Day 4: Murillo de Gallego → Alquezar

^{63 miles / 101 km • 4,702 ft / 1,433 m}

This day threads a steady morning ascent into the Sierra de Caballera, where vineyards cling to the slopes and a spectacular 11th-century fortress at Loarre watches over the landscape.

After the climb, the route swings south and descends about 30 km, offering horizons dotted with fortifications, tranquil river valleys, and pretty villages as you arrive in Huesca to soak up town life. Crossing the city's edge, the road enters the Pre-Pyrenean Sierra de Guara, a sparsely inhabited region carved by canyons, sculpted gorges, painted caves, and enchanting villages, with mile after mile of quiet mountain roads.

 The Sierra de Guara is famed as Europe's canyoning capital, but we'll stay on the roads and savor this wild, dramatic setting. The route climbs and descends around the rolling hills until reaching Alquézar, the eastern gateway to Guara, perched high above the River Vero canyon and crowned by a 9th-century Moorish citadel. Alquézar is also a hub of the Somontano wine region, offering the chance to taste mountain cuisine paired with its excellent local wines tonight.

Day 5: Alquezar → Balaguer

^{65 miles / 105 km • 3,126 ft / 953 m}

Today offers a delightful change of pace—with less than 1,000 meters of climbing, this is one of the tour's gentler days. But don't be fooled: the kilometers ahead are packed with exhilarating riding. The day begins with an absolute treat: a glorious 20-kilometer descent cascading out of the Sierra de Guara. Follow the serpentine curves alongside the Río Vero as it carves through the heart of the Somontano wine region.

This flowing descent delivers you to Barbastro, the elegant capital of Somontano, its historic quarter a testament to centuries of prosperity from the surrounding vineyards.

From Barbastro, the route pivots northward, climbing gently up the verdant Río Cinca valley. Here, the riding transitions to enchanting country lanes that weave through a tapestry of agricultural land and medieval heritage. Stone villages, each with its own ancient church tower piercing the skyline, punctuate the landscape like pages from a history book—quiet hamlets that have watched centuries pass from their timeless perches.

At Fonz, a striking hilltop village commanding panoramic views, pull over for a well-earned mid-morning coffee. This is the perfect moment to refuel and soak in the atmosphere of authentic rural Spain before the route threads through the foothills of the Sierra de Carrodeilla.

As you continue east, the landscape undergoes a dramatic transformation. You're entering the Serra Llarga, where the terrain takes on an unexpected, almost otherworldly character. This curious semi-desert region—all sun-bleached earth, scattered scrub, and rust-colored badlands—lies in the pronounced rain shadow of the towering Pyrenees to the north. The contrast is striking: while massive peaks capture the Atlantic moisture, this southern fringe bakes under relentless sun, creating a landscape more reminiscent of Spain's arid interior.

The day's finale is pure cycling joy: a long, steady descent as you glide toward Balaguer with its medieval fortress and historic quarter rising majestically from the plains. Tonight, as you settle into Balaguer, you'll have conquered another diverse stage—from mountain gorges to wine country, from medieval hilltops to semi-desert badlands, all while sharing the work and the joy of the road with your fellow riders.

Day 6: Balaguer → Tremp 

^{36 miles / 58 km • 3,746 ft / 1,142 m}

Prepare yourself for a short but breathtaking stage. Today we leave the plains behind and ride straight into the limestone backbone of the Montsec—a landscape that feels wilder with every kilometre.

We roll out of Balaguer trading the town’s edges for open countryside and that first glimpse of the dark, saw-toothed ridgeline ahead. The road steadily tightens the scenery around us—fields give way to scrub and rock, and the horizon turns from “wide” to “vertical.”

As we approach Àger, the route begins to feel like a gateway: this corridor has long been a natural passage through the Pre-Pyrenees, and you sense it in the way the land funnels you forward. 

Then comes the drop beyond Àger—one of those descents that instantly changes the tone of the ride. The road carries us into the Congost de Terradets, and the scale is jaw-dropping: limestone walls rise like a fortress on both sides, their layers stacked into a cathedral of stone. This gorge is internationally known for climbing, with routes that reach up to 600 m in length—so as we thread through, you may spot climbers as tiny specks against the rock, moving on lines that seem impossible from the saddle. Source

We continue with the water of the Pantà de Terradets often close by, and the road cutting cleanly through the gorge—fast, cinematic riding where the landscape does all the talking. Eventually the walls begin to ease and the route releases us into the broader Tremp basin, a calmer finish after the day’s stone-and-shadow intensity.

Day 7: Tremp → Oliana

^{45 miles / 72 km; 4,930 ft / 1,503 m}

You roll out from Tremp, leaving the broad basin behind as the landscape tightens and darkens with the first folds of the Pre-Pyrenees. The early kilometres feel purposeful rather than dramatic.

That moment arrives at the Terradets reservoir. Here, the route’s character changes completely: water turns the valley into a mirror, the limestone starts to rear up, and the road suddenly feels like it has been pressed into the mountains by sheer force. From this point you turn due east, penetrating the eastern massif of the Sierra de Montsec—a rugged, remote realm where the geology is ancient and the scale is uncompromising.

The road now threads through terrain that feels almost impossibly removed from modern Spain. You pass the tiny hamlets of Solana and Toló—time-worn settlements clinging to mountainsides, where stone houses seem fused to the slopes and life feels pared back to essentials. They’re not so much “villages” as punctuation marks in the wildness, brief reminders that people have endured here for centuries.

The day’s effort culminates with the climb to Coll de Comiols, a high pass that earns its reputation. This is your natural lunch stop—partly because you’ll want the break, but mostly because the panorama demands it. From the pass, the view opens into a huge amphitheatre: the High Pyrenees stretched across the north, and—on clear days—an astonishing sense of distance.

After lunch comes the reward: a long, flowing descent that drops you steadily into the Riu Segre valley. The air softens as you lose altitude and the vegetation shifts in real time—from tougher alpine scrub and high-country grasses into warmer Mediterranean oak and greener valley growth. The land opens, the horizon widens, and the sensation changes from “mountain mission” to “valley glide.” You finish in Oliana, settled beside the Segre and poised at the edge of the Costers del Segre wine country.

Culturally, it feels like you’ve crossed an invisible seam: you’re now firmly in Catalan territory, with a distinct shift in language, architecture, and everyday rhythm compared with the Aragonese roots at the beginning of the journey.

Day 8: Oliana → Puigcerdà 

^{58 miles / 93 km; 4,602 ft / 1,403 m}

You roll out of Oliana with the Segre close by—early light in the valley, warmer air, and that gentle “wine-country calm” still lingering in the legs from last night. But today is a true connector stage: you’re leaving the Mediterranean-leaning interior and climbing steadily into the high Pyrenean basin of La Cerdanya, and you’ll feel the landscape changing with every hour.

The first part of the day is all about the Organyà valley—a quiet, purposeful corridor. The gradients aren’t trying to break you early, but the road has a persistent upward intention, threading between rock and river, with the valley walls tightening and releasing in folds of forest, and the sense that the Pyrenees are no longer “ahead” but already “around” you.

As the route tilts higher, you begin to skirt the great ramparts of the Cadí–Moixeró—limestone architecture on a huge scale, textured with pine, pasture, and shadow. Eventually, the reward arrives as a geographic reveal: La Cerdanya—a wide, bright high valley that feels like a different country after the southern gorges.

Day 9: Puigcerdà → Ripoll 

^{42 miles / 68 km; 4,170 ft / 1,271 m}

This is the definitive “two worlds in one ride” you leave the wide, bright bowl of La Cerdanya and cross the threshold into Ripollès, where the valleys tighten, the forests deepen, and the road funnels you down to historic Ripoll.

Leaving Puigcerdà, the first kilometres are deceptively gentle—big sky, open pastureland, and long sightlines. Soon the road turns to Collada de Toses. This climb is less about spikes and more about rhythm, let the scenery roll by in layers: pine forest, high pasture, and widening views back over the Cerdanya plateau with a distinctly Alpine feel. 

On the ridge, the route brushes through small high hamlets—Planoles and Toses—where the architecture and atmosphere feel built for winter: stone, steep roofs, and tight little clusters that speak to mountain practicality. It’s a short, memorable “high Pyrenees” interlude before the descent commits you to the valley. 

Then comes the incredible descent of long, sweeping turns dropping into the Ribes de Freser valley. The landscape shifts as you lose height—cooler, tighter mountain air giving way to greener woodland and the presence of water. 

From Ribes de Freser, the final run to Ripoll feels like being drawn downstream into history. The valley opens just enough to reveal why Ripoll became a crossroads, and the finish is as cultural as it is physical: the Monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll, one of Catalonia’s great Romanesque landmarks, is the perfect end-of-tour stroll before dinner.

Day 10: Ripoll → Girona 

^{50 miles / 80 km; 3,799 ft / 1,158 m}

You roll out of Ripoll with that unmistakable “last stage” mix of light legs and heavy memories—one more day of riding, but with the mountains now beginning to loosen their grip. A final glance back at the monastery town feels appropriate: this valley has carried you deep through Catalonia’s interior, and today it delivers you onward to Girona.

The route draws you west-to-east through a greener, softer Catalonia, climbing and dipping as you approach Olot, the gateway to one of the most surprising landscapes of the whole tour: the Garrotxa volcanic zone.

Here the scenery changes tone completely—less jagged limestone drama, more rounded forms, deep soils, and dense woodland. The road feels cooler and quieter beneath tree cover, and the riding becomes a steady, immersive passage through a landscape shaped by ancient eruptions rather than tectonic violence. 

In and around Olot, you sense a different Catalonia again: a small-city energy after days of valleys and hamlets, with cafés and squares that make an ideal final “proper stop” before the run toward Girona. From here, the day begins to tip in your favour: the terrain gradually opens and trends downhill as you leave the volcanic park behind, trading forest shade for brighter farmland and wider horizons.

As Girona approaches, the tour’s finish gains definition—more movement on the roads, more signs of the city’s pull, and that final-hour feeling that you’re rolling out of the mountains and back toward the Mediterranean-facing world. The arrival into Girona is one of the best of the trip: the old town presence, the river corridor, and the sense of entering a true cycling capital for a well-earned celebration.

What's included

    11 Nights Bed & Breakfast Accommodation

We stay in great quality and highly rated 3-4* Hotels. Where ever it is possible we all stay together in the same accommodation as a group. No need to check in Pedal Britain & Europe team will have done that for you, just collect your key and relax. Bikes are either locked in a secure area of the hotel or in your room. Breakfasts are all included.

 Fully Supported Tour 

The Pedal Britain & Europe support van is never far away to provide any assistance you need, be it access to your day bag, resolve a mechanical issue, report a first aid problem or just have a morale boosting chat. Just phone the driver or tap helmet as we pass if you need anything and we'll stop for you.  

Daily Luggage Transfer

The support vehicle moves all of your luggage between each nights accommodation. Luxury, wherever time allows we'll even put it in your room for you. Also we recommend leaving a day bag in the support van to further reduce what you need to carry on the bike.

Includes Lunch and Brew Stop Refreshments 

Lunches are a mix of cafes or our delicious picnics of local produce in a scenic spot. The famous Pedal Britain & Europe brew stops deliver welcome fuel at strategic points along the route to keep energy levels up providing you with water, tea, coffee, fruit, biscuits, cake, flap jacks and anything else you specifically request.

Expert Cycling and Tour Guides

Pedal Britain & Europe prides itself on having staff with a 'can-do' attitude, their entire focus is on ensuring they attend to your every need, to ensure that you have the best experience possible. They have detailed knowledge of the route, are first aid qualified and decent mechanics - but most importantly they care about you. When asked 'What makes Pedal Britain better than others?' quite simply it is our amazing staff - the one thing our competition cannot copy.

Pedal Britain Tour App & Detailed Route Notes

From here you can download the relevant file format for the daily route maps - GPX, TCX etc.. These can then easily be transferred to whatever GPS unit you are using such as a Garmin or Wahoo.

Don't have a GPS unit? No problem, just download our APP and it turns your Smart Phone into a GPS unit with turn by turn route navigation.

We also provide very detailed route notes which act as both information about the days cycling and back up to your electronic gadgets.

Live Tracking App

Pedal Britain Live Tracker app allows family and friends to see how well your progressing. The same tracker also helps us keep you safe and also ensure your following the route!!

WhatsAPP Tour Groups

We will invite you to join a closed WhatsAPP group for your specific tour. This enables you to get to know people before the holiday and provides a platform to share training experiences or any questions, concerns you may have before the tour.

Not Included

Evening Meals - although group bookings will be made at local restaurants attendance is optional, however payment isn’t!!

Travel Insurance - We highly recommend you take out insurance 

Transport to Start at San Sebastien or home from the End in Girona

Easy Bike Transfer (Available for a Fee or Free if dropping & collecting)

Single Room Option (Limited number available for a supplement)

Cycle Hire (Contact us to discuss options)

Travel logistics

Getting to the Start - San Sebastien

Ferry

For a more serene arrival into San Sebastien take the overnight ferry to Bilbao which departs from Portsmouth at around 7.00pm on Thursday evening arriving at 8.00am on Saturday morning - giving you a couple of days explore the town or surrounding area.

Estimated Cost - around £270 (Early Bird) to £320 one way as foot passenger with inside 4 berth cabin. 

Air

Probably the quickest and easiest way to arrive on this tour as we will have your bike. 

Bilbao - You can fly direct from Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton or Manchester.

From the airport you can get a bus directly to San Sebastien using Avanza Guipuzkoa (Do04) which departs at quarter to the hour (e.g. 12.45) hourly and takes around 1h.20m. This will cost around £10-£15. 

Or if there is a group of you on the same plane share a Taxi directly to Hotel or a one way hire car to San Sebastien. Once in San Sebastien centre again either take a 5min taxi to our Hotel which is 3km out of town or one of the team can collect you. 

Getting Home

Air 

The best way back home is to fly. Girona has direct flights to UK via Stansted, Leeds and Nottingham.

Or for a wider choice to any UK airport you can get the train from Girona to Barcelona Centre (perhaps extend trip to have a couple nights here) then catch the tube to the airport in about 1hr 20mins for around 15 euro.   

Bike transfer

Getting Your Bike to San Sebastien and from Girona

Procedures for taking our vans full of equipment and bikes into the EU changed from 1st January 2022. There are now many extra pieces of paperwork that we need to complete, but the one that affects customers joining our European tours is called an ATA carnet.

This document details every item and piece of equipment that we take into the EU, for customs this has to be the same when we return to the UK and has to be completed for every van that we take to/from the EU. This has since January 2025 also included some extra customs paperwork - so not getting any easier to transfer bikes into EU!!!

Good News

We can still take bicycles, helmets and saddle bags over into the EU.

Bad News

I'm afraid that we can no longer take your personal luggage.

A further restriction is what we take out has to be exactly the same as what we bring back, so there is no flexibility to offer one way transport for your bike. If that did happen then we would be subject to a 20% charge of the value of the bike.

Each ATA carnet is subject to a fee and also a security bond payment which is dependent on the value of the bikes that we are carrying over in each van. You will be requested 4 weeks prior to the trip to complete a customs declaration form that we use on the ATA Carnet. 

It is for this reason that sadly we can no longer take bikes to/from the EU for free and will have to charge £75 per bike to cover the additional charges (covers both ways) which is in addition to any charges listed below for bike transfers and will be added to your balance invoice. 

Option 1: Customer Drop Off / Collection

FREE of Charge

If you can bring your bike to our offices in Northamptonshire then we will take your bike Free of Charge. No need to dismantle we'll take it fully assembled and safely secure it in the support vehicle for transporting to Porto and Pedal Britain will bring your bike back from Tavira.

Option 2: Bike Collection or Delivery - Pedal Britain Support Van

Cost for this service is £75.00 per bike - One Way to Start or From the End

On the Tuesday and Wednesday before a tour starts and in the week after a tour end, based on geographical location of clients that have signed up for this service, Pedal Britain's support van will come to an address of your choosing, which could be work, home or cycle shop to collect / deliver your bike. This means our van will transport your bike to San Sebastien for the start, and will bring your bike back from Girona then deliver to you in week after.

No need for dismantling we'll take it fully assembled and safely secure in the support vehicle for transporting. 

Option 3: Bike Collection or Delivery - Transport Partner

Cost for this service is £75.00 per bike - One Way to Start or From the End

If you happen to fall outside the geographical area being covered by the support van prior to the tour then do not despair we have an alternative solution.

On the Monday before a tour starts we'll arrange for our trusted transport partner to collect your bike from an address of your choosing, which could be work, home or cycle shop and deliver your bike to Pedal Britain.

Clients will need to securely package up their own bike in a Medium size (150 x 22 x 90 cm) cardboard bike box. A local bike shop will for free or small fee provide a suitable box and much of the packing material you will need for this. Pedal Britain will bring your bike back from Nice and return your bike to you the same way in the week after a tour ends.

We cannot via this service accept helmets or any day bags packed inside the boxes.

Bike Transfer Service: Both Ways

Total Cost is £150.00 per bike 

Terms & Conditions of Bike Transfer Service

• Pedal Britain cannot be held responsible for any damage that occurs in transit - although we will obviously take great care of bikes in transit
• Where a third party is being used Pedal Britain cannot be held responsible for any damage in transit
• We recommend that you have insurance in place to cover you for any accidental damage or theft during transit