Barcelona to Lisbon

BARCELONA TO LISBON

The Barcelona to Lisbon Adventure was specifically designed for a group of our repeat customers who wanted to ride the best of the best in Spain and Portugal. These seasoned riders called on the expertise of our veteran European tour leaders to design a tour that would create a virtual playground through the mighty 300-mile-long Pyrenees mountain range. With peaks of 11,000 feet, the Pyrenees form a natural border between Spain and France and separate the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of continental Europe. Less crowded and older than the Alps, the Pyrenees appear more pristine and are full of roads that offer some of the best riding in the world! Microstate Andorra, Pamplona, and the autonomous Basque Country are all on the way to the Cantabrian Sea. From there we will climb the Picos de Europa, Spain’s oldest national park, before spending a free day in the world-famous pilgrimage destination, Santiago de Compostela. From there we turn south to cross the border into Portugal. Two nights in the famous city of Porto ensure that we will get immersed in the culture and traditions of this fascinating country. Our tour will end in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal and one of the oldest cities in Europe.

Highlights of this Adventure include:

• Free days in Pamplona, Santiago de Compostela, and Porto
• Riding through the principality of Andorra
• Some of the best motorcycle roads in the Pyrenees
• Scenic routes in Aigüestortes National Park
• Mountain riding in Picos de Europa National Park
• Coastal riding along Spain’s Cantabrian Coast
• Port wine tasting in Porto

At a Glance Your Barcelona to Lisbon Adventure

Day 1 – Arrival in Barcelona

Welcome to culturally rich Barcelona – known for its architecture, Spanish cuisine and nightlife. We will pick you up at the airport to transport you to the hotel. Those arriving early can enjoy some of the city sights, perhaps take a stroll down La Rambla and sample some tapas. In the late afternoon, we will meet for the motorcycle handover, a brief kickoff meeting, and our welcome dinner at an upscale restaurant featuring Spanish cuisine.

Day 2 – BARCELONA TO LA SEU D’URGELL ~ 140-155 MILES

On our way out of Barcelona we will have the option of visiting Montserrat, a spectacularly beautiful Benedictine monk mountain retreat with its Black Madonna. Historic villages and cities along our way provide great stops for coffee, lunch and photo opportunities. We will arrive early enough at our destination to allow for exploring the arcaded streets and old mansions of La Seu d’Urgell.

Day 3 – LA SEU D’URGELL TO REGION OF ARTIES ~ 155-185 MILES

Today we have the option to travel to three countries. In the morning we can take a loop deep into the mountains to Andorra, a tiny principality tucked into the mountains between Spain and France. From there we will proceed to France heading into the high Pyrenees and through the impressive and scenic Aigüestortes National Park. We will enjoy numerous twisty mountain roads before we arrive at Arties, a winter ski resort in the scenic Aran Valley.

Day 4 – REGION OF ARTIES TO PAMPLONA ~ 255 MILES

This will be a long and challenging riding day! On our way to France, we will be on one of the best roads in Europe as we cross the Pyrenees National Park. Besides stunning scenery and historic villages, it is no exaggeration to say the ride today will leave you breathless and rank among the top five riding days of your life!

Day 5 – FREE DAY IN PAMPLONA

Pamplona is known, not only for its annual “running of the bulls”, but also for its rich culture. On this free day, you have the option to explore this ancient city with its fourteenth-century Gothic cathedral, walk across medieval bridges that span the river Arga, stroll around the city parks or relax in one of the numerous bars. For those interested in more riding there’s a nice half-day ride into the nearby mountains.

Day 6 – PAMPLONA TO SANTILLANA DEL MAR ~ 220 MILES

Today’s ride takes us through Basque Country (País Vasco) to the Atlantic coast of the Cantabrian Sea. In this corner of Spain the roads are twisty, unless you’d like to visit the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, which would require some highway riding. Santillana del Mar is a historic city in Cantabria and a good base for riding in the “Picos de Europa”.

Day 7 – SANTILLANA DEL MAR TO CANGAS DE ONIS ~ 60-120 MILES

The direct route to our destination today is only about 60 miles but we will more than double that by taking the scenic route. The Picos de Europa National Park is one of the scenic highlights of this trip. With its 8600 ft peaks, it’s a rider’s paradise. Our destination, Cangas de Onis, is the site of the first church constructed in post-conquest Iberia. Santa Cruz de Cangas de Onis was built on an ancient pagan dolmen in 737 AD.

Day 8 – CANGAS DE ONIS TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA ~ 250 MILES

Today we will choose between the Cantabrian Coast or the Sierra de los Ancares, both approximately the same distance to our destination. Depending on our decision, the temperatures will vary considerably. Santiago de Compostela is known for its famous cathedral, historic sites and numerous bars and restaurants. A wonderful place to spend our free day.

Day 9 – FREE DAY IN SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

The options for our free day include a half-day ride to Fisterra, the “end of the world” or you could choose to relax and explore the city.

Day 10 – SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA TO PORTO, PORTUGAL ~ 175 MILES

Small and twisty roads are abundant in the mountainous border area of Spain and Portugal before we head to the coast, to one of the oldest European cities. Porto, the second largest city in Portugal, gave its name to Port wine as well as Portugal itself. We will dine in a typical restaurant to sample the unique and tasty cuisine.

Day 11 – FREE DAY IN PORTO

What a great place to spend our free day to really get to experience the culture of Portugal. Explore the small alleyways of Porto, join a Port wine tasting, or take a boat excursion on the River Douro. The options are endless.

Day 12 – PORTO TO REGION OF COIMBRA ~ 145 MILES

Leaving Porto, we turn inland and enjoy the twisty ride through scenic mountainous roads in Portugal, with opportunities to add additional loops along the way!

Day 13 – REGION OF COIMBRA TO LISBON ~ 200 MILES

On our last riding day, there will be several opportunities to stop and relax, including a visit to Castelo Branco, before joining the highway into Lisbon, the oldest city in Western Europe. After days filled with countless twists, turns, and unforgettable riding, we arrive at our final destination. We will celebrate with a tasty dinner accompanied by traditional Portuguese Fado music, a soulful art form that originated in Lisbon in the early 1800s.

Day 14 – DEPARTURE FROM LISBON

After breakfast, we will arrange your transfer to the airport for your flight home.

TOTAL MILES: ~ 1,550 MILES