La Rioja cycling trip

Flight into Bilbao and journey by bus or taxi to the village of Ábalos, where you'll spend the first three nights. Your host is a young wine-maker and oenologist, whose first commercial wine won the prestigious Bachuss de Oro in the year 2006. The hotel serves a creative set menu for dinner each evening, accompanied by estate-produced wines.

Challenge: Travel to La Rioja.

The first cycling route of this program takes you east of Ábalos, into the Basque section of Rioja Wine Country. Every square inch of fertile soil across this rolling landscape has been covered in grapevines, and Medieval villages sit on hilltops throughout. You'll see historic Laguardia and the wine-making village of Elciego, with architect Frank Gehry's intriguing winery and avant-garde hotel designed for the vintners at the Marques de Riscal Estate. On your way back to Ábalos, you cycle on quiet country lanes through vineyards near Navaridas and Eskuernaga, with the limestone peaks of the Sierra de Cantabria in the distance.

Challenge: 35 km / 22 mi, 580 m ascent and descent.

Villages along the way: Laguardia, Elciego, Navaridas, Eskuernaga

Today's itinerary takes you south toward the River Ebro. You then follow its course, winding along all the way to Haro. En route, lovely spots such as San Vicente de la Sonsierra, with its beautiful Medieval bridge and impressively situated Gothic church. Option of visiting the private collection at Vivanco winery: a display of almost anything having to do with wine-making, of interest to wine enthusiasts and art-lovers alike, with gardens home to over 200 varieties of grapevines.

Challenge: 38 - 45 km / 23,5 - 28 mi, 285 m ascent and descent.

Villages along the way: San Vicente, Briones

Today you cross the Ebro and cycle 39 km / 24 mi south through gently rolling terrain with vineyards, fields of grain and orchards. By way of Alesanco and Badarán, you reach the monasteries of Yuso and Suso, set in an open valley at the foot of the Sierra de la Demanda. Your accommodation is a Baroque monastery turned luxurious hotel, situated on the village square.

Challenge: 32 - 39 km / 20 / 24 mi, 420 m ascent, 300 m descent.

Villages along the way: Alesanco, Badarán, Yuso, Suso

You start off with a short stretch back to Badarán then ride along winding country roads toward Santo Domingo de la Calzada, essential stopover for Christians on the Camino de Santiago. Leaving the vineyards behind, you cycle into the grain-producing area of La Rioja. A converted railway used to transport coal in the 19th century is now a surfaced cycling path which leads directly to Ezcaray, where you'll spend the next three nights at a welcoming family-run hotel in the historical town centre. Wide selection of restaurants, bodegas and tapas bars in which to sample the local wines.

Challenge: 32 - 39 km / 20 / 24 mi, 400 m ascent, 325 m descent.

Villages along the way: Santo Domingo de la Calzada

After a relatively tough day yesterday, today you pedal through peaceful surroundings in Ezcaray Valley enjoying beautiful mountainous settings. The stone houses, tinkling cowbells, quiet woodlands and rushing streams come together to create a completely different landscape from the wine country you visited earlier in the week. First you follow bumpy tractor ruts along the left bank of the River Oja, then take tarmac road on the way back.

Challenge: 20 km / 12,5 mi, 160 m ascent and descent.  

Villages along the way: Sierra de Demanda, Posada, Zaldierna, Urdante

Your last day of cycling offers a 46km / 28,5 mi circular route through waving fields of grain, first through the nearly flat Oja River Valley then up into the hills. Orchards, sunflowers and shady woodlands along the way. Optional visit to Santo Domingo de la Calzada. Return route by way of the Via Verde to Ezcaray.

Challenge: 48 km / 30 mi, 300 m ascent and descent.

Villages along the way: Valle de Oja, Santo Domingo

Your cycling trip comes to an end this morning after breakfast. Departure from La Rioja and flight out of Bilbao.

Challenge: Travel home from Spain