The Basque mountains

This is a one-week, linear route, with short but intense stages, for intermediate cyclists, that runs on local roads and greenways, and sometimes climbs up on hard slopes and tracks, tracing a line along the watershed divide between the Atlantic and Mediterranean basins.

We cross different natural parks that preserve forests of beeches and oaks, megaliths and dolmens. On the first two days the route gains altitude from the Bidasoa river valley up to Aralar mountains, then it descends into the Barranca valley and follows up by the Llanada Alavesa flatlands, then it borders the lakesides of Ulibarri-Gamboa and Urrunaga reservoirs, and continues with tendency to the southern face on the foothills of the mounts Amboto and Gorbea, until it reaches the Mount Santiago and rides down to Urduña. Along the route we pedal on many sections of GR trails, as well as the Bidasoa and Plazaola greenways, we sleep in some special lodges, and enjoy spectacular lookouts like the waterfall of the Nervión river. 6 good ride days.

The Ullíbarri-Gamboa reservoir is a protected wetland according to the RAMSAR Convention. This route runs through the Bidasoa river, Aralar mountains, and the Zadorra river dams, sites classified as SCI (Site of Community Importance); and by the Bidasoa river and the Sierra Salvada mountains, areas protected as SPA (Special Protection Area) in the Natura 2000 network.

The city of Bilbao was designated a UNESCO City of Design in 2014.