País Vasco Orbea Gravel Aiaraldea

2nd edition, 2 to 12 June 2027

Basque Week: six gravel stages and a gravel ride day through the Basque Country, Rioja Alavesa and Navarre.

€1,000 deposit to book your place, 50% of the price one month later and the rest one month before departure. Groups of up to 12 riders. Cancellation terms

Dates

2–12 Jun 2027

Duration

10 days

Distance

563 km

Climbing

8,700 m

Difficulty

Medium-high

From

€7,600

Basque Week

Six stages, around 560 km and a full week in the saddle make up this gravel adventure across one of the most characterful corners of northern Spain. We start in Bilbao at sea level and head inland to Vitoria-Gasteiz; from there each stage builds on the last, linking valleys, hills and villages into a single unfolding story.

The riding is demanding and varied, and the nights are in Bilbao, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Pamplona and San Sebastián, with two special stops: Laguardia, a walled town among the vineyards of Rioja Alavesa, and Mundaka, a fishing village on the Urdaibai estuary famous among surfers. Every hotel has been chosen to make the evenings as memorable as the days.

The Basque Country is one of the great food destinations of Europe, and this trip is built to explore it: long, unhurried dinners, local products at their best and wines from the coast to Rioja Alavesa. Eating and drinking well is part of the journey, a way of understanding the places we ride through.

At a glance

Start and finish: Bilbao
Riding: 6 stages plus the Orbea Gravel Aiaraldea ride
Terrain: quiet roads, gravel tracks, cycleways and trails
Support: support vehicle
Nights: selected hotels in cities, Laguardia and Mundaka

Book this trip Download the handbook

€1,000 deposit to book your place, 50% of the price one month later and the rest one month before departure. Groups of up to 12 riders. Cancellation terms

The stone path to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe

Day by day

Six riding stages and around 563 km, plus a gravel ride day. The trip dates include your travel days. Distances and climbing are approximate.

See the full route on Komoot

We meet you on arrival and take you to the hotel. No riding today: time to settle in, take a first walk through the city and meet your fellow travellers.

We hand over the bikes so you can try them, adjust the fit and get comfortable. The rest of the day is free for the old town, the museums or a pintxo and a glass of wine. In the evening, the welcome dinner.

57 km, +1,400 m or 90 km, +2,100 m

Between Bilbao and Vitoria, the Aiaraldea valley is one of the Basque Country’s best-kept secrets: green hills, forest tracks, back roads and small txakoli wineries. Both routes pass the Sierra Salvada and the area around the Salto del Nervión waterfall.

110 km, +1,490 m

A long, hard day linking the two great cities of the region, from the estuary at sea level to the plateau. Mostly paved, with cycleways, dirt tracks, narrow trails and a short cobbled section, through Gorbeia Natural Park and along the Zadorra reservoirs.

65.9 km, +1,230 m

South towards Rioja Alavesa on rolling climbs, as Basque green turns into vineyard-covered hills. Laguardia appears on its hilltop, ringed by vineyards and medieval walls: an evening among some of Spain’s finest wines.

122 km, +1,610 m

The longest stage of the week, east into Navarre, with a demanding early climb and constant ups and downs on trails, tracks and roads. The reward is Pamplona, famous for its running of the bulls.

119 km, +1,760 m

One of the toughest and most varied days: a long early climb, rolling terrain towards the sea, a short ferry crossing and a few stretches where you may walk. The finish is San Sebastián, the Bay of La Concha and one of the best food scenes in Spain.

93.4 km, +1,650 m

West along the coast, alternating seaside stretches with short climbs inland. Near the end we cross the Urdaibai estuary by boat to Mundaka, a fishing village known to surfers for its legendary left-hand wave.

52.6 km, +960 m

The shortest stage, but still up and down along the coast, with one longer climb and a lovely stretch of cycle path before the estuary and skyline of Bilbao. Farewell dinner in the evening.

We take care of all airport transfers. End of the trip.

Included

Bike guides, according to the number of riders
All nights in selected hotels
All breakfasts
All dinners during the stages
Welcome and farewell dinners in Bilbao
Entry to the Orbea Gravel Aiaraldea
Airport transfers
Support vehicle
Personal travel insurance for each traveller, plus the travel agency’s general insurance
Group video call
Dedicated WhatsApp group

Not included

Meals not listed under Included
Gratuities
Return flights, baggage fees and bike equipment
Excursions and extra activities
Additional costs from logistical changes, such as extra transfers
Anything not listed under Included

Your guide

Willy Mulonia

Founder, president and guide

A cyclist and traveller for more than 30 years, best known for his 28,640 km ride from Ushuaia to Prudhoe Bay, in Alaska. He has raced the Iditarod Trail Invitational many times, winning the 2025 edition, founded Progetto Avventura in 2002, now Project Adventure Cycling, and created the Mongolia Bike Challenge in 2010.

Instagram: @willy_mulonia

What riders say

5.0 67 reviews on Google

Logistics in some countries are complicated for many reasons, but the organization of the Mongolia trip was impeccable. I think I'll rely on the same agency for other tours around the world.

Massimo A.Mongolia · Google review · Translated from Italian

I don't know any company that does this kind of trip better. The trip design, the time together, the planning: perfect. I've already done 5 trips with them. Oh, and the guides are a 10!

Santiago R.Google review · Translated from Spanish

True adventure cycling. Going to places one would likely never go on one’s own, in a way that means facing real rather than contrived challenges, but with professionalism and support of the highest standard.

Greg K.Google review

Good to know

No. It is a gravel ride created by Orbea, the Basque bike brand, built around the landscape, the food and the people. You choose the short route (about 57 km, +1,400 m) or the long one (about 90 km, +2,100 m), with local txakoli, cheese, honey and bread at the feed stations. The entry fee is included.

It is demanding: long days with plenty of climbing on a mix of quiet roads, gravel tracks, cycleways and some narrow trails, with the occasional short stretch where you may need to walk. You need very good fitness.

Cancellations must be sent in writing to Project Adventure Cycling. An administrative fee of €300 applies, plus a percentage of the total trip cost:

30% up to 45 days before departure
40% up to 30 days before departure
50% up to 21 days before departure
75% up to 14 days before departure

After that, no refund is given. There are no refunds for riders who do not show up at the start, leave during the trip, or cannot start or finish because of missing or incorrect travel documents. Project Adventure Cycling is not liable for delays or cancellations caused by force majeure events and is never responsible for airfare expenses. See the full refund and cancellation policy.

A specific personal insurance policy for each traveller and each trip, on top of the travel agency’s general insurance.

More questions? Read our general FAQ, write to info@pa-cycling.cc or message us on WhatsApp.

Ride the Basque Country

2 to 12 June 2027. From €7,600 per person.

Book this trip Download the handbook

€1,000 deposit to book your place, 50% of the price one month later and the rest one month before departure. Groups of up to 12 riders. Cancellation terms