Difficulty Rating : 5 Start : Biarritz Finish : Biarritz Terrain : Undulating, hilly region Daily Average : 40km Weekly Average : 40km Tour Type : Self Guided Teaser : A chance to experience the beauty of the Basque Country and coastline while cycling on fantastic backroads
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A chance to experience the beauty of the Basque Country and coastline while cycling on fantastic backroads via the lush low lying hills of the Pyrenees.

Starting in Biarritz, cycle along the coast from this beautiful seaside resort to the Spanish border where you take a river shuttle to the coastal Spanish fishing town of Hondarribia. Surrounded by towering walls and famous for its delicious tapas, this is your chance to sample Spanish cuisine and history,  in the surroundings of beautiful stately buildings and the 16th Century Castle of Charles V.    You continue back ito France towards the French Pyrenees, over rolling green hills and through medieval, picturesque villages like Saint Jean Pied de Port.  From there you can take an optional train ride along the route and then cycle to the town of Bayonne, famous for its local festival life and gastronomic food.

This tour is a sensational experience, and you will be taken by the cultural richness of the Basque Country.

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A downloadable version of the itinery is available from the Resources Tab

Itineraries

Day 1

Arrival in Biarritz

Arrival at your accommodation in Biarritz, one of the most famous seaside resorts of France and Europe. Its magnificent ocean beaches and surfing, its thalassotherapy and many golf courses are popular worldwide. At night, its restaurants, bars and squares will delight every sense!

Day 2

Biarritz ~ Hondarribia (30 km)

Your cycle heads to the corniche Basque Valley with its ridges, cliffs, mountains and farmland. An area dotted with many small villages, including Saint-Jean-de-Luz and its famous bay, Hendaye and the domain Abbadia. Then you will cross into Spain and a river shuttle will bring you from Hendaye to Hondarribia, a fortified city with many historical treasures. Famous for its tapas and nightlife, it is a coastal fishing town, with colourful Basque houses and many balconies with flowers, surrounded by towering walls of the 16th century, dominated by the castle of Charles V.

Day 3

Hondarribia ~ Ainhoa (35 / 40 km)

You continue your journey to Ascain with its prestigious roman bridge and its cultural richness. A small train of the Rhune will bring you to the highest top of the Basque country for wonderful views. The day ends in the typical village of Ainhoa dotted with half-timbered houses, palombières, meadows populated with sheep. Between the medieval village and the elegant Bastide, 800 years of history are retraced through its streets.

Day 4

Ainhoa ~ Saint Jean Pied de Port (46 km)

After crossing the Pinodieta Pass, you cycle through the market town of Espelette known for the trade of small wild horses called “Pottocks” and its famous pepper of Espelette that will truly interest your taste buds! The cycle continues along the river Nive on small paths that snake to Saint Jean Pied-de-Port, a typical village world famous for its Saint Jacques gateway classified by UNESCO, which, year after year, more and more pilgrims are drawn here.

Day 5

Saint Jean Pied de Port ~ Itxassou / Camboles Bains (41 km)

Todays cycle can be tailor made to suit everyone. You can either continue your bike ride through this wonderful countryside or if the journey of the day before has exhausted you, take a train that will take you to the next step! ( departure in the morning and/or early afternoon). You will have time to explore the surroundings by following an itinerary specially designed for you. Dinner Included.

Day 6

Return to Biarritz (46 km)

After the first 15 kilometers, you will be back on a cycle track that leads all the way to Bayonne. You will have time to enjoy this city famous for its local festivals and its gastronomic food. Then you can cycle along the coast of Anglet and end your journey in Biarritz.

  • 6 nights accommodation in 3* hotel / guesthouse incl. breakfast
  • 2 Dinners
  • Luggage transfers daily (1 bag up to 20kg and 1 handbag)
  • Route details, notes and maps
  • Return river shuttle transfer - Hendaye to Honarribia
  • 24/7 Assistance phone helpline

Option:
GPS App for smartphone in addition to the usual paper roadbook: €5 per person

Bike rental is not included in the tour price. This is an additional:
€95.00   Hybrid bike
€195.00 Road bike
€185.00 E-bike

5 night tours can be organised on this route,  please email the office for further information

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2024 TOUR PRICE
High Season (July & August)
€900 per person sharing 
+€445 for single room occupancy (if travelling with others)
+€150 person travelling alone

Low Season (April, May, June, September, October)
€845   per person sharing
+€370 for single room occupancy (if travelling with others)
+€150 person travelling alone

Self Guided Tour Information

Tours start daily from April 1st to October 31st
Except in July & August there is no Monday departure

How to get to the start point:

Biarritz airport is the access point to this tour and is well serviced by international flights

Getting from Biarritz to your accommodation >
Taxi from Biarritz airport to first hotel is approx €20
Alternatively, there is an airport shuttle bus to the centre of Biarritz (No 14) every 30 minutes, approx €1 per person

As always please contact us in the office for more information (info@cyclingsafaris.com).

BIARRITZ

Day 1 & 6: Hotel Georges 6

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Hondarribia

Day 2: Hotel Jauregui

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Ainhoa

Day 3: Hotel Maison Oppoca

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Saint Jean Pied de Port

Day 4: Guesthouse Gure Lana

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Itxassou

Day 5: Hotel du Fronton

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Tour Date Options

Red = booked out / not available, Blue = Limited Availability, Green = available

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Booking Form

Primary Contact Details.

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Insurance

We require you to have Travel Insurance when you book the tour. It is important that you are covered in case of cancellation due to injury as the deposit is non refundable

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Other members of your group if applicable.

Please indicate below how many people are in your group including yourself.

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Acommodation

For single travellers, we organise accommodation on a twin sharing basis. Please note it may not be possible on all our tours and a single supplement will be applied.

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Other Information

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Payment Information

If you have been on a previous tour, there is a €50.00 discount on our week long tours in Ireland (unfortunately this discount does not apply to other European trips)

A €250.00 deposit is required for each person booking on a holiday. The Balance payment is required two month prior to the starting date. The deposit is forfeited in the event of a cancellation of your booking. The balancing payment is also non-refundable in the event of the cancellation occuring within 14 days of the tour starting date. All transactions are taken in Euro.

We will contact you to confirm your booking and payment details.

Please ensure that you have read the terms and conditions before proceeding.

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Booking Conditions

Irish Cycling Safaris Ltd (“the Company”) accepts bookings subject to the following conditions:

  • The contract is between the Company and the client, being any person travelling or intending to travel on a tour operated by the company. The contract, including all matters arising from it, is subject to Irish law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the Irish courts. A booking is accepted and becomes definite only from the date when the company sends a confirmation. It is at this point that a contract between the company and the client comes into existence. Before your booking is confirmed and comes into existence the company reserves the right to increase or decrease brochure prices. The company or their agents reserve the right to decline any booking at their discretion.
  • To secure a booking the Company or their agent requires a completed booking form and the necessary deposit. (Full payment if travel within 60 days). The first named client must be over 18 years of age. Clients booking by telephone, by website/E-mail or fax will be deemed to have signed the booking form and read and accepted our terms of booking. The person signing, or being deemed to sign, the booking form warrants that he/she has full authority to do so on behalf of all persons whose names appear thereon, and confirms that all such persons are fully aware of and accept these conditions.
  • The balance of all monies due, including any surcharges applicable at the time, must be paid to the company or their agents not later than 60 days before departure. In the case of non-payment of the balance by the due date the Company reserves the right to cancel your booking and cancellation charges will apply. If any cheque is dishonoured we reserve the right to charge €25 to cover administration costs.
  • Travel Insurance is mandatory for all clients whilst on a tour organised by the Company. Clients are wholly responsible for arranging their own insurance. Clients are responsible for ensuring that they are in possession of private Travel insurance with protection for the full duration of the tour in respect of at least medical expenses, injury, death, repatriation, cancellation and curtailment, with adequate cover.
  • An administration fee of €25 per booking plus any additional costs incurred will be charged if a confirmed booking is changed or transferred to a different departure date or tour, up to 60 days prior to departure. Thereafter all changes will be treated as cancellations and subject to the relevant charges. Changes are subject to availability. For an administration fee of €25 you may request a credit voucher. This must be redeemed within 12 months of issue and must be used against a new booking. The voucher is non transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash. In certain circumstances, which the Company considers reasonable, the booking may be transferred to another suitable person; however the tour arrangements must remain the same and will only be allowed if all suppliers agree to accept the name change. If a transfer is allowed an administration charge of €25 per person will be charged plus any extra charges levied by suppliers.
  • Should the client wish to cancel, cancellation charges will be imposed. These are calculated from the day written notification is received by the company or their agent as a percentage of the total tour price, including surcharges as follows:

    > 60 days before departure – retention of deposit

    60-14 days before departure – 50%

    < 14 days before departure – 100%

  • Clients are responsible for arranging, and must be in possession of, a valid passport and any visas and vaccination certificates required for the whole of their journey. Information about these matters or related items (climate, clothing, baggage, personal items etc) is given in good faith but without responsibility on the part of the company.
  • Should the client have a reason to complain, you must immediately notify our representative and the relevant supplier. If the client’s complaint is not dealt with satisfactorily at the time, they must write to us with full details of the complaint within 28 days of the end of the tour. Failure to notify complaints entirely within accordance of this clause will diminish or extinguish the client’s ability to claim compensation.
  • The company provides all services on a “ground only” basis. The client is responsible for arranging their own travel to the designated start points of each tour. The company cannot accept any liability for any delay/cancellation in your transportation and cannot offer any refunds for lost holiday time.
  • Clients agree to accept the authority and decisions of the Company’s employees, tour leaders and agents whilst on the tour with the company. If in the opinion of such persons the health, level of fitness or conduct of a client at any time before or after departure appears likely to endanger the safe, comfortable or happy progress of a tour the client may be excluded from all or part of the tour without refund or recompense. In the case of ill health the company may make such arrangements as it sees fit and recover the costs thereof from the client. If a client commits an illegal act the client may be excluded from the tour and the Company shall cease to have responsibility to/for them. If you are affected by a condition, medical or otherwise, that might affect you or affect other people’s enjoyment or active participation of the tour, you must advise us at the time of booking. No refund will be given for any unused services.
  • The Company will use its best endeavours to operate all tours as advertised. However, it reserves the right to change any of the facilities, services, prices or itineraries described in our brochure/website. If a major change is necessary or deemed advisable, the company will advise the client as soon as reasonably possible, if there is no time before departure. A major change does not apply to a change of transport or named accommodation, but is usually considered a major change in itinerary or change in duration of a client’s holiday. If advised of a major change before departure, the client will have the choice of accepting changes (at additional cost if applicable), purchasing another available tour from the company, or cancelling the tour with a full refund.

    Provided that the major change is not as a result of situations outside the company’s control or consolidation, compensation will be paid as follows:

    Notification Period Given / Compensation Per Person

    More than 30 days: Nil

    14-30 days: €40

    Less than 14 days: €50

     
  • Force Majeure. We regret we cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of our contractual obligations is prevented or affected by reasons of circumstance amounting to “force majeure”. In these conditions “force majeure” means any event which we the supplier of services in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events include war or threat of war, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire or adverse weather conditions, epidemics or health risks and all similar events outside our control.
  • The company reserves the right to cancel a tour in any circumstances but will not cancel a tour less than 4 weeks before departure except for “force majeure”, consolidation, or the client’s failure to pay the final balance. Unless the client fails to pay the final balance, the company, upon cancellation will return all monies paid to it, or offer the client an alternative holiday of comparable standard if available (if less expensive than original we will refund the difference, if more expensive, the client will have to pay the difference). Compensation will not be payable (1) where the company is forced to cancel as a result of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which we could not have avoided even with all due care or (2) where an insufficient number of people book the clients chosen holiday and we notify we are cancelling for this reason not less than 28 days before departure. In all cases our liability is limited to offering the above choices and the compensation payments (where applicable) set out in clause 11. No compensation is payable if we notify you of cancellation more than 8 weeks before departure. We cannot be held responsible for any costs or expenses you may have as a result of cancellation.
  • Client’s bookings are accepted on the understanding that they appreciate the risks inherent in adventure travel and that they undertake the tours featured in our programme at their own volition. Our obligations, and those of any suppliers providing any service or facility involved in any travel arrangements you book with us, are to provide services and facilities with reasonable care and skill. Facilities will be provided to the realistic minimum standard recommended by the regulatory authorities responsible.
  • Bike Hire: The equipment including all accessories supplied is let out on hire. The equipment remains the property of the company and the Client will not sell, hire out or otherwise part with the possessions thereof.

    The Client undertakes not to misuse the equipment and to return it with all accessories in the same condition as when received (ordinary wear and tear accepted). The company shall be entitled to charge the client for any damages caused to equipment during the period of hire. In event of a breakdown, other than a result of the Clients misuse, the company will use its best endeavours to repair or procure repair of the equipment.

    The company will not be liable for any damage or loss whatsoever, through breakdown or other defect in the equipment or other circumstances beyond the company’s control. The Client shall indemnify the company with respect to all costs, claims, expenses and demands suffered or incurred which arise directly or indirectly out of the use of the equipment during the period of hire. The company reserves the right to charge the client for partial or full settlement of any claim. In the event of the equipment being stolen or lost, the company reserves the right to call upon the client to indemnify the company the replacement of the equipment. However, should the equipment subsequently be returned in a satisfactory condition, the company undertakes to refund the clients indemnity within 14 days.

    The Client will ensure that the equipment is adequately secured when not in use, will not use the equipment whilst under the influence of drink or drugs and will immediately notify the company in the event of breakdown or loss of equipment.

  • Clients bringing their own bikes do so on the proviso that their equipment is in a suitable condition for participation in a tour. Responsibility for maintenance of bicycles brought by clients rests with the client. The company will endeavour to accommodate such clients, but cannot guarantee that correct tools and spares will be available, given the wide range of possibilities that exist.