Basque Country to Asturias
Spain Bike Tours
Bike the northern coastline of Spain
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Tour Type
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Skill Level
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Length9 days
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Prices from€1228 Rates
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Overview
On this bike tour of Northern Spain you will follow the beautiful coastline, biking west from Bilbao in the Basque Country to Ribadesella in Asturias.
This is misty land with an extraordinary and extreme landscape, alternating between sheer cliffs and green hills, tiny coves, and sandy beaches. The austere blue of the ocean and the colorful splashes of small fishing villages and resort towns add to the palette.
The Basque Region is completely autonomous and is a distinct national and cultural entity, unique in every way. It is also one of the world's top gastronomic destinations!
Highlights
- Beautiful villages and beaches
- The gleaming titanium Guggenheim Museum and the Museo de Bellas Artes (Fine Arts Museum) in Bilbao
- Unique culture
- The scenic routes and cuisine
For a list of all of our bike tours in Spain click here.
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Itinerary
Day 1: Bilbao
Day 2: Bilbao - Castro Urdiales, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 3: Castro Urdiales - Santoña, 22 to 27 mi. (35 to 43 km)
Day 4: Santoña - Santander, 34 mi. (54 km)
Day 5: Santander - Santillana del Mar, 39 mi. (62 km)
Day 6: Santillana del Mar - San Vicente de la Barquera, 22 to 39 mi. (36 to 63 km)
Day 7: San Vicente de la Barquera - Llanes, 29 mi. (47 km)
Day 8: Llanes - Ribadesella, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 9: RibadesellaAll distances are approximate. Due to circumstances beyond control, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during your holiday. For example, along the way, you may find temporary deviations/detours necessary due to roadworks or other unforeseen circumstances that will not be reflected on your maps or route descriptions.
Day 1: Bilbao
Individual arrival to Bilbao. A good time to explore the old quarter in Bilbao and enjoy the best tapas in Spain.Preferred accommodation: Hotel Abando
Day 2: Bilbao - Castro Urdiales, 31 mi. (50 km) | Elevation: Ascent: 720 meters; Descent: 730 meters
A welcome meeting and bike fitting are scheduled after breakfast on the first riding day. Following the Nervión River, you will depart Bilbao and cycle to the delta, passing the Guggenheim Museum en route. In Getxo, you can see the magnificent 19th-century villas built by the rich Basque industrialists before visiting Algorta, an old fishing port. Using the unique Puente Vizcaya, a transporter bridge and World Heritage Site that dates back to 1893, the route crosses the river and then follows the coastline to the fishing port of Castro Urdiales with its pretty harbor and gothic church on the seafront.Preferred accommodation: Sercotel Hotel Las Rocas
Day 3: Castro Urdiales - Santoña, 22 to 27 mi. (35 to 43 km) | Ascent: 515 meters; Descent: 515 meters
From Castro Urdiales, you pedal west along the magnificent coastline. The Playa de Sonabia, with its crags and cliffs, is home to a colony of majestic griffon vultures which you will see soaring high above as you ride. The route leads to the fishing port of Laredo and heads out along its enormous beach towards Santoña and the backdrop of the Monte Buciero. A short ferry ride crosses the river estuary. Santoña is famous for its anchovies - a local delicacy. You will overnight in a hotel on the beach of Berria.Preferred accommodation: Hotel Juan de la Cosa
Day 4: Santoña - Santander, 34 mi. (54 km) | Ascent: 640 meters; Descent: 640 meters
From Santoña the route continues westward, parallel to the coast, with beautiful green scenery, beaches, and cliffs as your constant backdrop. Somo, with its beaches and surfers, is on the agenda as well as Pedreña and the Bay of Santander, which will be transversed by ferry to reach the elegant capital of Cantabria.Preferred accommodation: Hotel Bahía
Day 5: Santander - Santillana del Mar, 39 mi. (62 km) | Ascent: 705 or 955 meters; Descent: 620 or 870 meters
Leaving Santander, you follow the waterfront, taking in the magnificent views across the bay; the Magdalena Palace and beach, and the beautiful beaches of El Sardinero. Cycling west again past the unspoiled beaches of Liencres, you will enjoy the views down the coast to the Picos de Europa mountains. Here you will join the pilgrims' trail of the El Camino de Santiago. You will follow a lovely bike path down to the Besaya River towards the sea and the village of Suances. From here it is only a short ride to the beautiful medieval village of Santillana del Mar.Preferred accommodation: Casa del Organista
Day 6: Santillana del Mar - San Vincente de la Barquera, 22 to 39 mi. (36 to 63 km) | Ascent: 650 or 1030 meters; Descent: 725 or 1105 meters
First on the agenda today is the village of Novales with its lemon groves. More beach and coastal scenery will follow to Comillas, with its many modernist buildings, the most famous of which is El Capricho, built by the Catalán architect Antoni Gaudí. The journey takes you through the Natural Park of Oyambre, with its beautiful beaches and coastline, toward tonight's accommodation in the seaside fishing village of San Vicente de la Barquera.Preferred accommodation: Hotel Faro de San Vincente
Day 7: San Vicente de la Barquera - Llanes, 29 mi. (47 km) | Ascent: 780 meters; Descent: 770 meters
Leaving San Vicente, the route heads westwards along the coast. After a short distance, you will cycle around the beautiful headland of Pechón with its magnificent views of the coastline. Crossing the River Deva in Unquera you enter the province of Asturias. The village of Colombres is home to the sumptuous villas of the Indianos, emigrants to the Americas who made their fortune and then returned. From here, the route continues between the coast and the dramatic mountain backdrop of the Sierra de Cuera - foothills of the Picos de Europa. A beautiful descent through eucalyptus forests brings you back to the coast where you cycle past beautiful and unspoiled beaches to arrive at the charming fishing village of Llanes.Preferred accommodation: Hotel Don Paco
Day 8: Llanes - Ribadesella, 25 mi. (40 km) | Ascent: 385 meters; Descent: 375 meters
Cycling westwards, you will visit a string of fine beaches, including the incredible landlocked beach of Gulpiyuri. You continue with the magnificent coastline to your right and the beautiful mountains of the Sierra del Cuera and the Picos de Europa to your left. Finally, you reach Ribadesella. Here you can spend time enjoying this pretty Asturian fishing village with its beach and lively atmosphere.Preferred accommodation: Hotel Don Pepe
Day 9: Ribadesella
Departure after breakfast.Be sure to check out all of our featured bike trips and specials, or check out all of our tours & trips in Europe & beyond.
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Map
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Hotels & Bikes
Hotels range from small posadas, Casas Rurales, Casas de Labranza* or country inn-type accommodation to three and four-star hotels. They are, wherever possible, small establishments, each with its charm and character, and are chosen for their unique location, regional atmosphere, comfort, cleanliness, and personalized customer attention. Please note that many of these accommodations do not use the hotel star rating system as they are classed as country inns by local Tourist Boards. On each day’s details, you will find the name of the preferred hotel. A hotel of an equal standard will be offered if the preferred hotel is unavailable.
Bicycles
Standard Bike
Trek FX - male and female frames
- 27 speed
- Lightweight aluminum frame
- Bontrager tires
- Shimano gearing
- Bontrager Sport saddle
Accessories
- Helmet
- Handlebar bag
- Odometer
- Rear luggage rack
- Choice of rear rack bag (5 liters) or pannier (40 liters)
- Pump
- Spare inner tube
- Water bottle
- Bike lock
- Basic tool kit
Electric Bike
Conor/Haibike (Various Brands/Models)
- Aluminum frame (men or women's)
- Shimano Alivio 9 speed
- Hydraulic brakes
- Bosch Active Line Motor
Accessories
- Helmet
- Handlebar bag
- Odometer
- Rear luggage rack
- Choice of rear rack bag (5 liters) or pannier (40 liters)
- Pump
- Spare inner tube
- Water bottle
- Bike lock
- Basic tool kit
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Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodation for 8 nights with breakfast
- Luggage transfer
- Standard touring bike rental (Trek FX). Please see our bike section for more information.
- Helmet
- Information pack (route guide, maps, elevations profiles, & GPS files)
- GPS tracks on request
What’s Not Included
- Lunch & dinner
- GPS device (see pricing)
- Bike Protection
- Travel Insurance
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Dates & Pricing
Dates & Pricing
Questions about dates or pricing? We’re here to help! Call 800-951-4384 to talk to a Tour Specialist now.
Mar 30Mar 30 € 1228 Book Mar 30Mar 30 € 1617 Book Apr 6Apr 6 € 1228 Book Apr 6Apr 6 € 1617 Book Apr 13Apr 13 € 1228 Book Apr 13Apr 13 € 1617 Book Apr 20Apr 20 € 1228 Book Apr 20Apr 20 € 1617 Book Apr 27Apr 27 € 1228 Book Apr 27Apr 27 € 1617 Book May 4May 4 € 1228 Book May 4May 4 € 1617 Book May 11May 11 € 1228 Book May 11May 11 € 1617 Book May 18May 18 € 1228 Book May 18May 18 € 1617 Book May 25May 25 € 1228 Book May 25May 25 € 1617 Book Jun 1Jun 1 € 1228 Book Jun 1Jun 1 € 1617 Book Jun 8Jun 8 € 1228 Book Jun 8Jun 8 € 1617 Book Jun 15Jun 15 € 1228 Book Jun 15Jun 15 € 1617 Book Jun 22Jun 22 € 1228 Book Jun 22Jun 22 € 1617 Book Jun 29Jun 29 € 1348 Book Jun 29Jun 29 € 1848 Book Jul 6Jul 6 € 1348 Book Jul 6Jul 6 € 1848 Book Jul 13Jul 13 € 1348 Book Jul 13Jul 13 € 1948 Book Jul 20Jul 20 € 1348 Book Jul 20Jul 20 € 1948 Book Jul 27Jul 27 € 1348 Book Jul 27Jul 27 € 1948 Book Aug 3Aug 3 € 1348 Book Aug 3Aug 3 € 1948 Book Aug 10Aug 10 € 1348 Book Aug 10Aug 10 € 1948 Book Aug 17Aug 17 € 1348 Book Aug 17Aug 17 € 1948 Book Aug 24Aug 24 € 1348 Book Aug 24Aug 24 € 1948 Book Aug 31Aug 31 € 1228 Book Aug 31Aug 31 € 1695 Book Sep 7Sep 7 € 1228 Book Sep 7Sep 7 € 1695 Book Sep 14Sep 14 € 1228 Book Sep 14Sep 14 € 1617 Book Sep 21Sep 21 € 1228 Book Sep 21Sep 21 € 1617 Book Sep 28Sep 28 € 1228 Book Sep 28Sep 28 € 1617 Book Oct 5Oct 5 € 1228 Book Oct 5Oct 5 € 1617 Book Oct 12Oct 12 € 1228 Book Oct 12Oct 12 € 1617 Book Oct 19Oct 19 € 1228 Book Oct 19Oct 19 € 1617 Book Oct 26Oct 26 € 1228 Book Oct 26Oct 26 € 1617 Book Show pricing details and extra options →
Pricing details and extra options
Other start dates available on request for a supplement. Groups of 4 or more can choose any start day at no additional cost.
- Off Season 2025 Mar 30–Jun 28 & Sep 14–Oct 26 from € 12282025 departures: Sundays Mar 30–Jun 28 and Sep 14–Oct 26
2025 March Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 April Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 May Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 June Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 September Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 October Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Tour Package Double occupancy € 1228 Single occupancy € 1617 Bike Rentals Price Standard trekking bike Included Carbon road bike € 51 Electric bike € 83 Garmin GPS € 45 - Low Season 2025 Aug 31–Sep 13 from € 12282025 departures: Sundays Aug 31–Sep 13
2025 August Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 September Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Tour Package Double occupancy € 1228 Single occupancy € 1695 Bike Rentals Price Standard trekking bike Included Carbon road bike € 51 Electric bike € 83 Garmin GPS € 45 - Mid Season 2025 Jun 29–Jul 12 from € 13482025 departures: Sundays Jun 29–Jul 12
2025 June Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 July Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Tour Package Double occupancy € 1348 Single occupancy € 1848 Bike Rentals Price Standard trekking bike Included Carbon road bike € 51 Electric bike € 83 Garmin GPS € 45 - High Season 2025 Jul 13–Aug 30 from € 13482025 departures: Sundays Jul 13–Aug 30
2025 July Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2025 August Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Tour Package Double occupancy € 1348 Single occupancy € 1948 Bike Rentals Price Standard trekking bike Included Carbon road bike € 51 Electric bike € 83 Garmin GPS € 45 - Extra Options
Transfer Options To Santander Airport/City center 2 travelers € 95 3 travelers € 64 4+ travelers € 48 1 traveler € 190 To Bilbao Airport/City center 2 travelers € 153 3 travelers € 102 4+ travelers € 76 1 traveler € 306
Please Note
- Rates are per person, based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
- Off Season 2025 Mar 30–Jun 28 & Sep 14–Oct 26 from € 1228
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Extra Info
Skill Level — Moderate
This is a moderate self-guided bike tour, at times comprised of hilly terrain. Each day you will have a climb of about 6%. Route graphs are available so that you can see daily elevation changes. On two days, a shorter or longer ride is offered and there are suggestions on other days on how to ‘take a shortcut’. On any given day, if you tell our partner the day before, you can opt out of a ride by traveling to the next destination with the luggage transfer or even shorten the ride by riding with luggage transfer part of the way.
Airport Info
The closest international airport to your tour start is Bilbao Airport, easily accessible from a variety of international destinations. This airport is located 9 km north of Bilbao. At the end of your tour, you can depart from Bilbao or Santander.
Local Travel
To travel to Bilbao city center, the Bilbao Airport Bus line departs from the airport every 30 minutes with a travel time of approximately 33 minutes. However, if you would like to include San Sebastian in your itinerary, you might consider first traveling to San Sebastian which is only a 1 1/2 hour bus ride from the Bilbao Airport. Buses depart hourly to San Sebastian. At the end of your tour, it is possible to take the ALSA bus to Santander or Bilbao. The bus leaves Ribadesella at 10:00 and takes around 2 hours to Santander (city or airport) and 4 hours to Bilbao. It is also possible to take the ALSA to Oviedo, the capital of Asturias, and then from there to Asturias Airport. Please see the pricing for airport transfers. In addition to bus services, please note that there is a train service running west along the coast to Santander with RENFE FEVE and also east with Euskotren to San Sebastíán.
Climate
Please check local conditions before arrival.
Remarks
It is recommended to include San Sebastian on your cycling holiday. We can book a hotel for you if you would like. Just ask us for pricing.
Important to know
Travel Documents
It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance with the country or countries you plan to visit. This includes and is not limited to passport validity, visa requirements and acquisition, blank passport pages required for your destination (s), etc.
US citizens: A good website to research the requirements of the Schengen Agreement and entry into other countries is travel.state.gov.
Non-EU and EU residents: Please research the requirements of your country of residence for international travel and your destination country or countries.
*Important note: Please check on the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) status as once implemented, this will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.Tour Operator
This tour is run by Iberocycle.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
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