Spanish Pyrenees and Cantal Mountains
Mon 26th May - Sun 8th June 2008
| Duration |
13 Nights / 14 Days |
| Tour Area |
Spanish Pyrenees, Andorra & Auvergne Region, S. France |
| Status |
Escorted Tour (E) |
| Accommodation |
3 Star Hotels and Paradors |
| Mileage |
200 - 250 miles per day - longest 350 miles |
| Approx Tour mileage |
2500 miles |
| Roads |
Combination of Motorway, A, B and Mountain Roads |
| Skills |
Intermediate - experienced rider with continental experience |
Spanish Pyrenees and Cantal Mountains - a great combination...
The beginning of summer sees us head for yet another of my favourite parts
of the world: the Spanish Pyrenees. We have done this trip many times
before and it represents everything good about biking - superb roads, stunning
views and biker-friendly locals. We ride along the Spanish side of
the Pyrenees, which tends to enjoy the better weather and provides great
roads and beautiful views. You will be amazed as you pass down deep
river valleys, along mountain ridges and through rock gorges, how every corner
brings something new - a castle, a reservoir or a rugged stone-peaked mountain. We
are making our trip in May, not only because it is cooler, but also to avoid
the tourists, although, to be honest, I have never found this part of the
world busy, sometimes going for an hour without seeing another vehicle. Leaving
the dramatic mountains of the Pyrenees behind, we turn northwards past the
walled city of Carcassonne to the more rounded volcanic mountains of the
Auvergne region. Our stay here allows us to explore this lovely part
of France, with its pretty river valleys, scenic mountains roads and dramatic
Millau bridge.
This is not a tour of the Costa's - but a chance to experience the ‘Real
Spain’ with a touch of ‘Rural France’.
Tour Format
Day 1: Monday 26th May Today, you will make your
way to Portsmouth to catch the Brittany Ferries overnight ferry to St Malo. The
ferry boards early evening, allowing you to travel down on the day. Once
onboard, you have time to relax, get a meal, and meet your fellow riders
and escort for the tour. A two-berth en-suite cabin is included in
the package.
Day 2: Tuesday 27th May (350 miles) The ferry docks at 0800hrs, which
means we will get off in plenty of time for our first day’s journey
down through Western France. This is the only long day we have. Our
overnight stop is a 3 star hotel with a swimming pool - an evening meal is
included.
Day 3: Wednesday 28th May (183 miles) Today sees us complete
our journey across France, and we get our first glimpse of the Pyrenees. Some
275 miles long, these form one of the world’s great mountain chains,
stretching from the Catalan Mediterranean in the south, to the Basque Atlantic
in the north. Our stop for the next two nights is at a 3 star Parador on
the eastern side of the Ordesa Park. These state-run hotels are amongst
the best accommodation available in Spain, being converted historic buildings
such as Castles and Monasteries, or new hotels, being built in the traditional
style of the area. From its position at the end of a valley under the
dramatic Monte Perdido, our hotel offers an atmosphere of peace and wellbeing. Our
stay will include breakfasts and evening meals.
Days 4: Thursday 29th May (free day) Our two night stop allows us
to explore the Ordesa National Park in more detail. Within the park
lies the most spectacular section of the mountain chain, with peaks rising
over 3000 metres and valleys that were once so isolated that they had their
own distinct traditions and dialects and, indeed, saw no form of motor transport
until the late 20th century. Since its creation in 1918, the park has
increased tenfold, encompassing an area rich in woodlands, lakes, waterfalls
and abundant wildlife.
Day 5: Friday 30th May (171 miles) Our journey continues as we take
a leisurely ride eastwards along the Pyrenees through the Tunnel de Vielha and
into the Vall d’ Aran. Passing Vielha, the capital of Vall d’ Aran,
the road climbs up the Bonaigua Pass (6,800ft) from where you get tremendous
views. The rest of the day takes us along what are considered by many
to be some of the best roads in the Pyrenees, as we first drop down a series
of hairpins to the Olympic village of Sort, before climbing once again to
cross the Canto Pass to our next night’s stop in Seu d’Urgell. Our
accommodation for the next two nights will once again be a 3 star Parador.
Day 6: Saturday 31st May (free day) Situated in the old quarter of
the town, alongside a Romanesque cathedral, the hotel - with its large inner
courtyard - is a haven of peace and quiet. Breakfast and evening meals
are included in your stay, as is use of the hotel’s facilities, which
include an indoor swimming pool, sauna and solarium.
The town itself is considered one of the most historically important towns
in the Catalan Pyrenees. Today it is more a commercial centre. However,
the town’s Cathedral and museum of religious artefacts' are well worth
a visit.
To the south, there are a multitude of scenic roads to ride, or - just 10km
to the north - the duty-free state of Andorra awaits - with its Aladdin's
caves of cheap biking gear. (You could always post a parcel home!)
Day 7: Sunday 1st June (110 miles) Time to leave Spain behind as we
ride northwards crossing over the French side of the Pyrenees, towards Languedoc-Roussillon
and an overnight stop at the walled city of Carcassonne.
Day 8: Monday 2nd June (165 miles) With the Pyrenees fading
into the distance, we we enter the huge central plateau of ancient granite
and crystalline rock that makes-up the Massif Central, and in particular,
Auvergne with its giant range of extinct volcanoes, lush mountain pastures,
and blissfully empty roads. Our day finishes at a 3 star hotel in a
small rural town under the shadow of the Cantal Mountains, which will be
our base for the next 3 days. We will share the evening meal with
our colleagues who will have just arrived on our Cantal Mountains Tour.
Days 9, 10 & 11 Tuesday 3rd - Thursday
5th June Your time here is your own. The area offers many great places
to visit, from mountain roads to river gorges. You can join one of
the organised rides-out, or explore on your own. Your guide will be able
to advise you on routes and places to go.
Day 12: Friday 6th June (250-300 miles) Today, we leave for our return to
the Loire Valley. There are a number of routes on offer, one of the more
scenic ones being a ride through the dramatic lakes and volcanoes of the
Puy-de-Dome region.
Day 13: Saturday 7th June (220 miles) We travel back to Normandy,
where we briefly say goodbye to our colleagues as they return via Le Havre. Both
ferries leave at around 1700 hrs, so we can have a leisurely day - a chance
perhaps to visit the magnificent Chateau de Chenonceau? Alternatively,
a visit to the Pegasus Bridge or the Normandy beaches. Both ferries
arrive in Portsmouth late evening, so - for those that wish - we have arranged
overnight accommodation in Portsmouth.
Day 14: Sunday 8th June Suitably refreshed, after breakfast, we bid
our farewells and make our way home.
Accommodation
Your accommodation for this tour will be at 3 star hotels in France, and
Paradors in Spain. If you have never stayed in a Parador before, I feel sure you
will enjoy the experience. These state run hotels are specially created
to provide a combination of luxurious surroundings and unique atmosphere. If
new buildings, the hotels are built in the traditional style of the region,
however the majority are former castles, monasteries and palaces carefully
restored to maintain their identities yet provide a high standard of accommodation.
Several of the hotels on this tour have swimming pools, so its well worth taking
your swimming gear.
| Tour prices are inclusive of the following |
| * Outward overnight ferry Portsmouth to St.Malo
with en-suite cabin (2030 hrs) |
| * Return afternoon ferry Caen to Portsmouth (1715hrs) |
| * 12 nights' en-suite accommodation at 3 star hotels
& Paradors |
| * 12 regional breakfasts |
| * 7 evening meals (see
note 1) |
| * Full use of hotels' leisure facilities |
| * Undercover parking where available |
| * Maps and route notes as appropiate - Garmin routes
available |
| * services of experienced Tour Guide |
| Not Included |
| * Hotel parking charges in Spain |
| Tour Cost |
|
| Two persons, one bike, shared room |
£995 each |
| One person, one bike, shared room |
£1095 each |
| One person, one bike, single room |
£1295 (price based
on single hotel room and cabin share on ferry) |
| Deposit £95 |
deduct £35
each if last nights B&B in Portsmouth not required. |
Note 1. In
Spain it is the normal practice to eat quite late - evening meals will
be traditional regional menus and mainly meat based. Although
we will do our best to get an alternative - vegetarians should be aware that
the choice can be limited.
Insurance
On all European tours (including Southern Ireland) we require
clients to take out some form of Personal Travel and Accident/Breakdown cover. This
is essential for repatriation of yourself and your motorcycle in the event
of an accident or medical emergency. We can offer cover through Gold Cover
Insurance Services Ltd, a company that have specialised in travel insurance
for many years and are used by many Motorcycle Tour Operators.
It is not a condition of your tour that you use our insurance; we only
offer this as a service to our clients.
GOLD COVER INSURANCE
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