With this bicycle trip you will pedal along two of the most beautiful greenways in terms of landscape and surroundings. It is a combination of different cycling routes that pass through the Basque Country and Navarra. Specifically, the bicycle trip through the Greenways of the Basque Country and Navarra begins in Vitoria, pedaling gently along the Greenway of the Vasconavarro Railway to Estella. Here the bicycle trip connects with the Eurovelo 1 route, and after passing Pamplona, you pedal gently down to San Sebastián along the Plazaola Greenway.
It is a magnificent cycling tour that runs through three provinces and passes through three important capitals of the Basque Country and Navarra. Practically the entire trip takes place on Greenways, paths or bike lanes away from the busy roads. So it is a good option to pedal slowly in the middle of nature from the Llanada Alavesa to the sea.
There are 5 stages, 6 nights and 7 days, starting in Vitoria and arriving in San Sebastián.
This trip partially combines the bicycle trips of the Vasconavarro and the Plazaola Greenways, which can be done separately as well.
Vitoria – Gasteiz, arriving the day before starting pedaling.
The trip ends in San Sebastián.
Santa Cruz de Campezo, Maestu, Antoñana, Estella, Pamplona, Lekunberri, Andoain y San Sebastián.
Relaxing day to visit the capital of the Basque Country the day before you start pedaling. Here you will receive the bikes if you have rented them. Today is the day to relax and prepare for a beautiful bike trip.
We will start pedaling gently along the Vía Verde of the Vasco Navarro Railway, away from Vitoria. A quick stop at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Estíbaliz, a jewel of Romanesque art from the 11th century, is worthwhile.
Then we go deeper and deeper into typical forests of the area next to small towns. This first section is conditioned by the Laminoria tunnel (2,195 m.), Which is currently impassable and closed. To save it, the itinerary takes a detour through a mountain track where you probably have to walk up the slopes during the ascent and descent. This is the only section that presents a certain difficulty. Yes, it is a beautiful section in the middle of the native forest in Montaña Alavesa. Once we leave the mountain track, we will descend the Guereñu pass until we return to the original route of the Greenway, where after a few kilometers and after passing through a sound tunnel, we will arrive at Maestu.
After breakfast, and shortly after we start pedaling, we will leave Alava to enter Navarra. Where we will reach the end of the Vía Verde of the Vasconavarro Railway in Estella, located in the old Estella railway station, today a bus station.
You will leave the Vía Verde del Vasco Navarro behind and after a good breakfast, the bike trip will pass through Eurovelo 1, following the Camino de Santiago Frances in the opposite direction. The landscape changes completely, and after a beautiful stage we will arrive in Pamplona. It is worth visiting the historic center of the city.
We will start pedaling towards the exit of the capital of Navarra. Under the watchful eye of Mount San Cristóbal, we will get closer to the beginning of the Plazaola Greenway. We will travel its first kilometers gently ascending to the old Lekunberri train station.
The last stage is fascinating. As soon as we start pedaling, leaving the old station behind, we will suddenly enter a beautiful landscape. Green slopes, forests and valleys will accompany us to the end of the Greenway. In its more than 40 tunnels you have to bundle up, and we will have to set foot on the ground in the mandatory detours to save the closed tunnels, but it will be worth it.
When we arrive at Andoain, we will pedal along rural roads and bicycle lanes to the capital of Guipuzcoa, San Sebastian. Here, next to the beaches of San Sebastián, we will see the sea.
The accommodations of this trip through the Greenways of the Basque Country by bicycle have been selected for their quality and location, as close as possible to the route. Always valuing comfort when arriving with the bicycle and inspected by our team. They are 1-4 star hotels, 1-3 star guesthouses and rural tourism establishments, always in private rooms with bathroom.
