This is the tour that has it all – high mountain passes, amazing views, cozy small hotels and natural hot springs. You start biking in Andorra, pass into Spain, pop over to France and finally finish in Spain. Much of the biking is done at altitude and the views are simply stunning. You will pass through several villages that have been inhabited for over an millenia – remember to take a break outside the small churches and breath in the air of history.
This tour can be done over 3 or 5 days. A highlight if you do the 5 day tour is swimming in the Roman Baths of Dorres. These are natural hot springs, with amazing views over the valley, which have been in use for over a 1000 years.
Highlights
- The old smugglers route (still in use!) from Andorra into Spain
- Passing over mountain passes up to 2100 meters above sea level
- Riding through beautiful villages on both the Spanish and French side of the border
- Natural hot springs with amazing views over the Pyrenees
- Beautiful days of biking, 95% of the time on gravel roads or asphalt roads with very little traffic
Difficulty
This tour is classified as MTB Easy. Read more about the grading of our tours.
Route Description
Day 1 – Arrival in Andorra
You land at Barcelona airport, and take the shuttle bus, which we will have booked for you, direct to your hotel in Andorra.
If you would like to spend some time in the tiny principality of Andorra before starting your bike tour, we can book extra hotel nights for you.
Day 2 – Andorra to Spain
After enjoying a hearty breakfast you put on your biking gear and check out of the hotel. We will meet you there, and drive you and your luggage up to the starting point of your bike adventure – a heady 2000 meters above sea level! Here we will make sure everything is correctly set up on your bikes. Your guide will follow you for the first few hours, making sure that your bikes work perfectly and you know how to navigate with the GPS.
The biking is easy and the scenery second to none – the whole day you will have amazing views across to the beautiful Cadí mountains on the other side of the valley. You will pass several old bordas – mountain farm houses. Many of them are still used in summer when the animals are grazing in the high mountain pastures. As there are no villages with restaurants guaranteed to be open, we will provide you with a picnic lunch.
After a few hours of biking at altitude along peaceful gravel roads, you will start rolling down towards the village where you will sleep. What a start to your trip!
32 km, +800/-1400 vertical meters
2* hotel in Lles.
Day 3 – to Bellver de Cerdanya
After breakfast you check out of the hotel and leave your luggage in the reception for us to collect.
Today’s biking continues on the same beautiful south-facing mountain side as yesterday but now the landscape slowly changes as you bike east. Once again, you will pass by old farm houses. You will see both the cows native to the region – the Bruna del Pirineo – and many horses. These horses were used by previous generations as work animals for forestry, mines and farming. Today the locals are trying to preserve this heritage – they are beautiful animals!
You will also ride through several beautiful villages, notably for example Montellà. People have lived there continuously for well over a thousand year – have a look at the year the local church was built!
Today’s tour is a bit shorter so you will reach your destination in time for a great lunch in one of the plazas, and then have time in the afternoon to explore the village.
33 km, +500/-900 vertical meters
2* hotel in Bellver de Cerdanya
The route of the short and long tours split from Day 4.
Long tour
Day 4 – Cadí-Moxiero park
Today you’ll discover the other side of the valley – the shadier and much greener southern side. You will finally get to explore the beautiful mountains you have been looking at during the last two days of biking!
You start with an easy traverse over to the valley Riu de Cerdanya. From here on you have a long slow uphill until reaching the viewpoint of Cap del Ras. After taking in the beautiful views, you will climb a little further before arriving at the manned mountain hut Cortals de l’Ingla. The hut is normally open all summer so make sure to take a break here and enjoy the magnificent views. If you want to have lunch here, we will call ahead to make sure they are open and book you a table.
Now you start a wonderful downhill into beautiful valley. You’ll pass various old farm houses, still in use in the summertime. When you reach the small village of Talló, make sure to stop and visit the beautiful old church.
Please note – today is the day with most height gain, so go carefully and make sure not to run out of battery.
32 km, +/-850 vertical meters
3* hotel in Bellver de Cerdanya
Day 5 – Bellver to Puigcerda
Today you mostly bike along the valley floor, enjoying scenery that is very different from the last two days. Once again you pass through several villages but these ones showcase the new style of houses constructed for the weekend visitors from Barcelona. This is one of the most expensive valleys for property in all of Spain and it shows, some of the houses are very impressive.
Halfway through the day you will cross the border into France where you will pass through two villages. Make sure to stop and enjoy a proper French croissant before you continue. Finally, you return to Spain as you close in on Puigcerda, the main city of the valley. The route takes you through the center so you will get a feel for it – old houses, a big main plaza, a lot of restaurants and shops. We recommend you to head up here for your dinner.
32 km, +620/-540 vertical meters
3* hotel in Puigcerda
Day 6 – Roman Baths of Dorres
After a good breakfast you head out for your last ride of the week. Today you do beautiful tour into France passing through several interesting villages with lovely churches.
The visit to natural hot springs is the highlight of the day. The visit to the hot springs costs 5 €/person (not included). Don’t forget your swimming gear!
After the visit you ride slowly downhill on good roads back to Puigcerda.
30 km, +/-500 vertical meters.
3* hotel in Puigcerda
Day 7 – leaving the Pyrenees
After breakfast you walk or take a taxi down the short hill to the train station. From here the local commuter train takes you straight to the center of Barcelona. The train leaves about every 2 hours and takes around 3h30.
More information and booking
General information
Dates from middle of May to end of September. August is a complicated month with fully booked hotels, it is important to reserve well in advance. The tour can start on any day of the week.
The closest airport is Barcelona El Prat (BCN). You can also fly into Toulouse (TLS). From Barcelona or Toulouse airport we book you on the direct shuttle to Andorra (included in the price). At the end of the tour you take the train from Puigcerda to Barcelona or Toulouse (not included in the price).
We can arrange for a taxi to pick you up at the airport (contact us for price).
If you arrive by car we will arrange for parking at your last hotel and drive you to the start of the tour from there.
Included
Hotels (4 or 6 nights)
Breakfasts
Picnic on the first day of biking
Luggage transport when changing hotels
Map, tourist information and route descriptions in English
GPS with track
Welcome meeting and guiding first day
Tourist taxes
Emergency phone number (7 days a week)
Not included
Transfer from the end of the tour
Bike rental
Lunch and dinners
Extra nights
Extras
Bike rental – read more
Airport pickup – between 250 € to 450 €, depending on the size of your group.
Airport drop-off – between 200 € to 420 €, depending on the size of your group.
Guide – have a guide join you for your entire tour, read more
Bike rental
For this tour we recommend you to use a modern mountain ebike. You can come with your own bikes or rent from us, we then supply you with the bikes at your hotel on the first day and pick them up from your hotel on the last day of the tour.
Full tour: 290 €/person
Read more about our bikes.
Price and booking
Full tour
Persons | Price |
---|---|
2 | 1385 € |
4+ | 1155 € |
Prices for 2024. Price per person, sharing double/twin room. Triple rooms available on request.
Extra for individual rooms: 210 €
Please note: The price can be slightly higher during high season. We can’t offer this tour from end of July to end of August.
For more information, fill in the form below or send us an e-mail: info@pyrenees-ebike.com