Level
A fantastic guided bike and wine tour though the idyllic wine-making regions of La Rioja and Ribera del Duero in northern Spain.
Experience a sublime cycling journey through rolling hills and medieval hilltop towns whilst sampling the best food and wines that Spain’s top wine regions have to offer. This beautiful tour presents a unique opportunity for you to experience a tranquil and traditional side of Spain that most visitors will never see.
Our bike and wine tour begins in La Rioja, one of Spain’s most famous wine-making regions, La Rioja. We’ll cycle through the dramatic valley of the Ebro river, surrounded by rolling hills and sweeping vineyards. We’ll enjoy stays at the region’s best hotels, and sample the best La Rioja wines combined with exquisite, gourmet food.
Moving south into the Duero valley, we’ll visit some of Spain’s most picturesque medieval towns whilst savouring the more dramatic reds of the Ribera del Duero. The climb to the stunning walled town of Pedraza is one you won’t forget in a hurry! We’ll finish with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Segovia, before celebrating our final night with a traditional flamenco show.
Day 1: Villabuena de Alava (Rioja)
Route: 26.6 km/16.6 miles
Elevation: +380 m/+1,246 ft
Accommodation: Hotel Viura
Meals included: Dinner
Welcome to your bike and wine tour of La Rioja and Ribera del Duero!
Your Bike Spain Tours guide will pick you up from your hotel in Madrid, and we’ll travel together by van up to La Rioja.
On the way, we’ll stop off in the historic city of Burgos, which dates back to the 9th century, and is well-known for its UNESCO World Heritage Site Cathedral. You’ll enjoy some time at leisure in the city to stretch your legs and sample some excellent local tapas, before continuing the journey north.
Our first hotel is Hotel Viura, a luxury hotel set in its own vineyard. Once we’ve checked in, we’ll adjust the bikes and enjoy a short cycle loop around the local area to warm up your legs for the rest of the week!
In the evening, we’ll celebrate the start of our bike and wine tour with a gourmet dinner at the hotel, paired with local Rioja wine.
Day 2: Villabuena de Alava (Rioja)
Route: 48.6 km/30.2 miles
Elevation: +728 m/+2,387 ft
Accommodation: Hotel Viura
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Today’s route follows small, quiet country paths along the Ebro River, giving you a chance to explore some of the area’s most beautiful and historic little towns.
We’ll discover San Vicente de Sonsierra, where you can visit the medieval city centre, which boasts a castle, several watchtowers and the remains of the original city walls. Our next stop will be Haro, one of La Rioja’s centres of wine production, and world-famous for the wine battle that takes place every June, in which locals and visitors alike attack each other with thousands of litres of wine!
Next, we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch at one of the region’s best wineries, paired with wines produced and bottled in-house.
In the afternoon, we’ll travel in the van to the charming little city of Laguardia, the fortified medieval capital of the Rioja Alavesa. As you approach, the town looks like something plucked straight from a fairytale: standing atop a hill, still partly surrounded by walls, towers and fortified getaways.
Tonight, dinner is not included in your tour package, so you can explore Laguardia and have dinner at your leisure.
Day 3: Lerma (Burgos)
Route: 41.9km/26 miles
Elevation: +651 m/+2,137 ft
Accommodation: Parador de Lerma
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Today, we’ll leave La Rioja behind, and discover our next Protected Denomination of Origin wine region: La Ribera del Duero!
We’ll head south to the town of San Millán de Cogolla, considered to be the cradle of the Spanish language, thanks to the influence of the Yuso (lower) and Suso (mountainside) monasteries. The monks worked for almost a hundred years to create the first comprehensive Spanish grammar and the two spectacular monasteries are now UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We’ll stop here to enjoy a delicious lunch in beautiful surroundings.
After lunch, our van will take us to the historic town of Lerma, in the Ribera del Duero wine region, where we’ll stay in the hilltop Ducal Palace, which once played host to Napoleon!
Tonight, we’ll enjoy a dinner ot traditional Castilian fare at the hotel restaurant.
Day 4: Valbuena (Burgos)
Route: 44.6 km/27.7 miles
Elevation: +459 m/+1507 ft
Accommodation: Castilla Termal Monasterio de Valbuena
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
After breakfast, we’ll have a short drive to Santo Domingo de Silos, famous for its 12th century monastery, which boasts a beautiful Romanesque cloister. The monastery became famous all over the world when the first ever CD of Gregorian chants was recorded there.
From here, we’ll begin a charming route through the Ribera del Duero, cycling through vineyards and countryside towards the beautiful medieval village of Peñaranda de Duero, dominated by its imposing castle and boasting a well-preserved medieval town square. The town is situated on the Ribera del Duero wine route, and wines produced here are famous world-wide.
Next, we’ll continue cycling south all the way to the Duero river, where we’ll have lunch at a traditional local winery, set in the cellars of a former 15th century bodega.
We’ll spend the night in one of the best-preserved 12th century Cistercian monasteries in Europe. Overlooking the Duero River, the views from the hotel stretch across over the surrounding vineyards and countryside.
Tonight, we’ll enjoy a delicious dinner at the hotel, paired with excellent locally-produced wines.
Day 5: Valbuena (Burgos)
Route: 60.6 km/37.6 miles
Elevation: +455 m/+1493 ft
Accommodation: Castilla Termal Monasterio de Valbuena
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Today’s route takes us through some of through the oldest vineyards of Ribera del Duero. We’ll visit the town of Pesquera del Duero, known for growing some of the best grapes in the region, and dedicated almost exclusively to wine production.
Next, we’ll follow the course of the Duero river to the historic fortified town of Peñafiel, one of the region’s centres of wine production. The town’s castle, the oldest part of which dates back to the 9th century, has been repurposed into a Wine Museum. We’ll visit the charming Plaza del Coso, which retains its original traditional wooden balconies. During the summer, the square fulfils its original medieval function as the town bullring. We’ll enjoy lunch in Peñafiel before returning to our hotel by van.
Tonight, we’ll head to a nearby town to enjoy a gourmet dinner of traditional fare in a refurbished historic windmill.
Day 6: Madrid
Route: 50.5 km/31.4 miles
Elevation: +685 m/+2247 ft
Accommodation: Hotel Petit Palace Lealtad Plaza
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
After breakfast, we’ll travel by van to the town of Ortigosa del Monte, from where we’ll begin our final cycle route. We’ll discover the Palacio Real de Riofrío, constructed in the 18th century and still in use today by the Spanish Royal family. The palace is surrounded by some 600 hectares of forest, making for a very pleasant cycle ride.
Next, we’ll pass through the beautiful mountain village of Valsaín, where the Spanish kings used to hunt in centuries gone by, before continuing on to the majestic Palacio Real de La Granja de San Ildefonso, another official residence of the Spanish Royal family. The Palace is surrounded by expansive gardens, which are considered to be one of the best examples of 18th century landscaping in Europe.
Finally, we’ll finish the route in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Segovia. Here, we can visit the impressive Roman acqueduct, which was in use from the first century AD up to 1973; the enormous Gothic Cathedral; and the Alcázar Castle, said to have inspired Walt Disney!
After lunch in Segovia, we’ll continue to Madrid by van.
In the evening we’ll enjoy a farewell dinner, as well as a fiery flamenco show. ¡Olé!
Day 7: Madrid
Departure day
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast, our services come to an end. Please consult with your Bike Spain Tours travel consultant if you would like to book additional nights in Madrid.
We hope that you enjoyed your bike and wine tour of La Rioja and Ribera del Duero!
Hotel Viura
The design hotel Viura is a tourist attraction on itself, with its ultramodern architecture surrounded by ancient buildings.
The name of this hotel comes from the most planted white grape in Rioja, which is the Viura grape. All rooms are spacious with a modern design, offering a great view on the surrounding buildings and the countryside in the distance. Delightful dinners are offered in the restaurant, based on Riojan and Basque cuisine and accompanied by local wines.
Hotel Parador de Lerma
The amazing ducal palace at Lerma, now a Parador, is located in the upper part of the city.
The hotel features a central courtyard surrounded by lovely columned galleries. The elegant majesty of this palace from the era of the Hapsburgs and its lovely interiors, with beautifully designed lighting and décor, will make your stay an unforgettable experience.
Castilla Termal Monasterio de Valbuena
Right at the heart of Ribera del Duero, this hotel – the first spa with 5 stars status in Castilla y León – is located in one the best preserved Cistercian monastery of the 12thcentury in Europe.
The Monastery of Santa María de Valbuena provides 79 rooms, all of them of high quality, a spa centre and hot spring bath, an outdoor pool, children’s playground and terrace.
Petit Palace Lealtad Plaza
The Petit Palace Lealtad Plaza is a boutique hotel located between Paseo del Prado and El Retiro in Madrid.
It is a perfect hotel at the heart of Madrid Triangle of Art, an ideal location close to the main tourist attractions of the city. Discover its complete rooms with a free iPad and relax: the Petit Palace Lealtad Plaza invites you to live a unique experience in Madrid.
3.540,00€
Experience a sublime bike and wine tour through the rolling hills and medieval hilltop towns of Castile, whilst sampling the best food and wines that the La Rioja and Ribera del Duero wine regions have to offer.
Minimum group size for guaranteed departure at this price: 4 people.
Other dates and group size options available upon request.
| Dates | 5 May 2025, 9 Jun 2025, 15 Sep 2025, 13 Oct 2025, Custom dates |
|---|
