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Photo by Don Toothman |
Have you ridden the Alps? The Rocky Mountains? Great. Now you must experience the Pyrenees!
This 500 km long mountain range between Spain and France is “good old Europe’s” paradise for motorcyclists. The Adventure includes some of the best motorcycling roads in the world - but unlike many areas in the Alps, there will be almost no traffic. You'll enjoy the full range of road conditions, from tight and tiny mountain roads to high-speed sweepers. With a loop into France and Andorra, you'll experience three different countries on the tour.
Features of the Pyrenees Adventure include:
- Beginning and ending accommodations in an upscale, downtown Barcelona hotel, in the midst of the city's many shopping and cultural attractions. This exciting Spanish destination is well worth an additional day or two at the beginning or end of the trip.
- Stunning scenery in numerous national parks, canyons, the Atlantic coast, and the highest mountain range of Northern Spain.
- A free day in Pamplona - the city famous for the San Fermin Festival and the running of the bulls.
- A free day in Santillana del Mar, providing the opportunity to soak up the culture in this little town, or perhaps ride the loop into the Picos de Europa - the highest mountain range in northern Spain.
- Crossing of two autonomous regions of Spain: Catalunya and the Basque Country
- High quality hotels consisting mostly of 4-star Paradores, some located in historical buildings.
- Fantastic dining in interesting restaurants, insuring that you experience the best of spanish cuisine!
- Visits to many famous wine regions, including Navarra and Rioja.
This tour should be the choice of experienced riders, especially those who enjoy examination of the cultural aspects of their Adventure. The area is rich in history, from the Spanish “Reconquista”, including numerous castles and monasteries in medieval villages along the St. James Pilgrimage Way. |
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Day |
From |
To |
KM |
Arrive |
Arrival in Barcelona |
2 |
Barcelona |
La Seu d’Urgell |
300 |
3 |
La Seu d’Urgell |
Vielha |
260 |
4 |
Vielha |
Pamplona |
400 |
5 |
Free Day in Pamplona |
6 |
Pamplona |
Santillana del Mar |
350 |
7 |
Free Day Santillana del Mar |
8 |
Santillana del Mar |
Santo Domingo de la Calzada |
300 |
9 |
Santo Domingo de la Calzada |
Sos del Rey Católico |
300 |
10 |
Sos del Rey Católico |
Peramola |
330 |
11 |
Peramola |
Barcelona |
160 |
12 |
Departure from Barcelona |
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Day 1: Arrival in Barcelona. We'll meet your flight and accompany you to the hotel in downtown Barcelona. In the afternoon we'll hand over the motorcycle and have a kickoff meeting, followed by dinner in an upscale Barcelona restaurant.
Hotel: “ Hotel 1898” - a 5-star experience! |
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Day 2: Barcelona – La Seu d’Urgell (~300 km, 200 miles)
Route: Barcelona – Montseny – Vic – Berga – La Seu d’Urgell. Our first riding day starts with some of the best mountain roads of Catalunia! We cross through the Sierra de Montseny, stop for a break in the city of Vic and continue our twisty ride through medieval villages and the Sierra de Cadí, where historical Seu d’Urgell is our today’s destination.
Hotel: Parador |
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Day 3: La Seu d’Urgell – Vielha (~260 km, 160 miles)
Route: La Seu d’Urgell – Andorra – Puigcerda – La Seu d’Urgell – Sort – Vielha. An optional loop in the morning brings us to Andorra, one of the smallest states of Europe, and even into France, before we continue to Sort and ride through the impressive and scenic Aiguestortes National Park. Our destination Vielha is located in the Central Pyrenees. Hotel: Parador |
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Day 4: Vielha – Pamplona (~400 km, 250 miles)
Route: Vielha – Barèges – Jaca – Pamplona A long and challenging riding day! One of the best roads of Europe brings us to France, where we cross the Pyrenees National Park. Besides stunning scenery and historical villages this day – with some additional options to change the route – will leave you breathless and certainly ranks among the top five riding days of your life! Back in Spain, Pamplona is our destination – well known by the yearly “running of the bulls”, but also by its rich culture.
Hotel: Gran Hotel La Perla |
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Day 5: Free day in Pamplona. Discover this ancient city and relax in one of the numerous bars – or go for a half day’s ride into the nearby mountains! |
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Day 6: Pamplona – Santillana del Mar (~350 km, 220 miles)
Route: Pamplona – Beasain – Bermeo – Castro Urdiales – Santillana del Mar. An exciting ride through the Bask Country (Pais Vasco) to the Atlantic coast of the Cantabrican Sea is today’s program. We discover this corner of Spain again on twisty roads, but if you’d like to visit the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, you can also jump on some highways that bring you there directly. Santillana del Mar is a historical city in Cantabria and a good base for riding in the “Picos de Europa”
Hotel: Parador - a 5-star accommodation! |
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Day 7: Free day in Santillana del Mar.
Enjoy the atmosphere in this historical city or go for a twisty half day’s ride into the mountains – the Picos de Europa are waiting for you!
Hotel: Parador - a 5-star accommodation! |
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Day 8: Santillana del Mar – Santo Domingo de la Calzada (~300 km, 200 miles)
Route: Santillana del Mar – Reinosa – Escalada – Miranda de Ebro – Santo Domingo de la Calzada The twisty roads won’t come to an end!Today we cross the Cantabrian Mountains, full of stunning scenery and little interesting stops. The river Ebro is on our way and leads us to the famous wine region “La Rioja”. Santo Domingo de la Calzada lies on the St. James Pilgrimage Way and we certainly see some pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela!
Hotel: Parador |
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Day 9: Santo Domingo de la Calzada – Sos del Rey Católico (~300 km, 200 miles)
Route: Santo Domingo de la Calzada – Najera – Montenegro de C. – Logrono – Lodosa – San Martín de Unx – Sangüesa – Sos del Rey Católico We follow the St. James Pilgrimage Way today (backwards, though!): a wonderful loop to the south into the Sierra de la Demanda is the perfect warmup for the day. We cross the plains east of Logrono and enter the hills around Sos del Rey Católico, which are dotted with historical places like monasteries and fortresses.
Our destination looks like 600 years ago – a truly historical place! Hotel: Parador |
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Day 10:
Sos del Rey Católico – Peramola (~330 km, 210 miles)
Route: Sos del Rey Católico – Ayerbe – Huesca – El Grado – Tremp – Peramola The day of monasteries and castles! We follow the mountains to the east, riding on some more of the best roads in Europe and have lots of opportunities to add some culture: medieval witnesses made of stone set us back to the times of the “Reconquista”!
Hotel: Canboix |
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Day 11: Peramola – Barcelona (~160 km, 100 miles)
Route: Peramola – Solsona – Manresa – Barcelona. Our last riding day gives us the opportunity for a late start and a visit of the famous Montserrat, the “sawed mountain” nearby Barcelona. We will be early enough in Barcelona to do some sightseeing – although it’s recommended to add a day or two in this wonderful city!
Hotel: “ Hotel 1898” - a 5-star ending to a fantastic tour experience! |
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Day 12: Departure from Barcelona |
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The route consists entirely of good, paved roads that vary from straight and level to wide mountain sweepers and some twisties. Challenging portions may include animals on the road. |
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Dates and Prices:
(Arrive on start date, depart on end date)
| Start Date |
End Date |
Duration |
Price (USD) |
Co-Rider (or rider using own motorcycle) |
Note |
| May 5 2012 |
May 16 2012 |
12 Days |
$7,750 |
$5,775 |
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| May 4 2013 |
May 15 2013 |
12 Days |
$7,750 |
$5,775 |
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Includes BMW F650GS
For G650GS, subtract $150 from tour price
Additional charge of $270 for a BMW F800ST or F800GS
Additional charge of $690 for a BMW R1200GS
Additional charge of $780 for a BMW R1200RT
Additional charge of $1,550 for a BMW K1600GT
Single room supplement - $1,350
Need a currency converter? Click here: CURRENCY CONVERTER
Meals: All breakfasts and 8 dinners
Ride Profile:
Motorcycles Available: |
| Model |
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Specifications |
BMW G650GS
(Single Cylinder) |
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Seat Height: 780 mm
Seat Height: 30.7 inches
Dry Weight: 176 kg / 388 lb
Fuel Capacity: 17.3 Liters / 4.6 Gallons
Displacement: 652 cc
Damage Deposit: $3,000 |
BMW F650GS
(2 Cylinder) |
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Seat Height: 820 mm / 790 mm
Seat Height: 32.3 inches / 31.1 inches
Dry Weight: 171 kg / 377 lb
Fuel Capacity: 16 Liters / 4.2 Gallons
Displacement: 798 cc
Damage Deposit: $2,000 |
| BMW F800 GS |
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Seat Height: 880 mm / 850 mm
Seat Height: 34.65 inches / 33.46 inches
Dry Weight: 178 kg / 392 lb
Fuel Capacity: 16 Liters / 4.3 Gallons
Displacement: 798 cc
Damage Deposit: $5,000 |
| BMW F800 ST |
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Seat Height: 790 mm
Seat Height: 31.10 inches
Dry Weight: 187 kg / 412 lb
Fuel Capacity: 16 Liters / 4.3 Gallons
Displacement: 798 cc
Damage Deposit: $2,500 |
BMW R1200 GS
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Seat Height: 870 mm / 850 mm
Seat Height: 34.25 inches / 33.46 inches
Dry Weight: 199 kg / 439 lb
Fuel Capacity: 20 Liters / 5.3 Gallons
Displacement: 1170 cc
Damage Deposit: $3,500 |
| BMR R1200 RT |
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Seat Height: 840 mm / 820 mm
Seat Height: 33.07 inches / 32.28 inches
Dry Weight: 229 kg / 505 lb
Fuel Capacity: 33 Liters / 7.1 Gallons
Displacement: 1170 cc
Damage Deposit: $3,500 |
| BMW K1600 GT |
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Seat Height: 810 mm / 780 mm
Seat Height: 31.9 inches / 30.7 inches
Dry Weight: 249 kg / 549 lb
Fuel Capacity: 24 Liters / 6.3 Gallons
Displacement: 1649 cc
Damage Deposit: $2,500 |
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