Bike Route Through the Picos de Europa

Today you arrive in León, where you'll stay in a nice hotel in the center of the city.

From here you can discover León, visiting all of its monuments. At the same time, you'll walk its streets and enjoy its people, bars and tapas. Notably, this year 2018, León is also named the Spanish Capital of Gastronomy, which gives you one more reason to the visit this beautiful city that captures and delights everyone who visits.

Transfer to Cistierna after lunch (approx 1hr.)

Once you have checked into the hotel, you will be given a short briefing about the tour at our cycling expert's facility, where you will be handed the bike after it is personally adjusted to you. In this way, you have everything ready to begin the adventure the next morning.

Dinner in Cistierna is included in the price.

Your bike is ready and so are you; it's time to start this magnificent adventure through the Picos de Europa. The first stage is a short route, approximately 32 kilometers, a perfect distance to come into contact with and get acclimated to the trip that lies before you.

As you exit Cistierna, you will ride to Yugueros, from which point you'll find the first hard climb of the day to Sabero. There you can visit the Mining Museum of Castilla y León. After that short stop, another hard climb awaits you, but it's through spectacular alpine landscape all the way to Valdoré. From there, you'll continue on to Crémeres, but not without first going up one more climb that ends in a fun descent arriving at the entrance of the town.

• Distance: 32,50 km.
• Maximum height: 1,306 m.
• Minimum height: 926 m.
• Departure difference - arrival: 82 m.
• Maximum difference in height: 380 m.
• Cumulative ascent: 1,068 m.
• Maximum slope: 26.90

Accommodations and dinner at Crémenes (dinner included in the price).

Distance: 32 Km

Today's stage is significantly longer than yesterday's: you have 57 kilometres ahead of you with climbs, descents and some uneven terrain. Today you will reach the Picos de Europa National Park. Please adhere strictly to the park regulations to avoid problems and protect the environment.

On this journey, you will be accompanied by oak and beech forests, meadows, mountains, cows and many other animals. Today, there are a few short asphalt sections on your route, which will give your arms and legs a chance to rest after the climbs. Today's stage ends in Soto de Sajambre.

• Distance: 56.63 kilometres.
• The maximum height is 1,564 metres.
• Minimum height: 690 m
• The difference in altitude between departure and arrival is -103 m.
• The maximum difference in altitude is 874 metres.
• Cumulative ascent: 1,763 metres.
• Maximum outstanding: 27.27%

Accommodation and dinner are included in Soto de Sajambre.

Distance: 56 Km

Today's stage begins with a descent although with another slope. This is just a short rest before a very hard climb to Panderrueda. The landscape is spectacular since you are inside the National Park of the Picos de Europa, so you must stop to take photos and enjoy nature! After these climbs there are always descents, and the descent, that continues until Posada de Valdeón, is long by a wide and very fast road. The last climb of the day is to the Port of Pandetrave between beeches and oaks. And since there is no climb without descent, this is your last descent of the day until you reach Boca de Huérgano. Expect landscapes of great beauty that will accompany you throughout the entire stage, making it feel much shorter than it is.

• Distance: 53.88 km.
• Maximum height: 1,557 m.
• Minimum height: 770 m
• Departure difference - arrival: 196 m.
• Maximum difference in height: 787 m.
• Cumulative ascent: 1,649 m.
• Maximum pending: 27.36%

Lodgings and dinner at Boca de Huérgano (dinner included in the price).

Distance: 54 Km

This stage begins with a gentle ascent until reaching 1539 meters of altitude.

The following descent is very fast on easy roads without much difficulty. When you get down to a bit of asphalt and there is a new and more demanding climb that will take you to Morgovejo, a nice place to rest. After the break, get ready for a very tough climb with one leg-breaking section. When arriving at the top the rocky landscape in front of you is absolutely spectacular. After that, you only have to descend to La Mata de Monteagudo, a most authentically rural mountain village and from there on to Santuario.

• Distance: 50.96 km.
• Maximum height: 1,592 m.
• Minimum height: 1.033 m.
• Departure difference - arrival: -17 m.
• Maximum difference in height: 559 m.
• Cumulative ascent: 1,563 m.
• Maximum slope: 22.26%

Lodgings and dinner at La Matamonteagudo (dinner included in the price).

Distance: 51 Km

Today you'll have the shortest stage of the entire route so that you're able to arrive in time to eat at Cistierna where the adventure ends. This ride begins with a descent, but after a few kilometers the fun begins; a hard climb up through a path of oaks. The descent has a few expert spots, not too difficult but with some treacherous and sharp limestone rocks that you have to know how to avoid. Once downhill you will reach the FEVE tracks, then a few more kilometers and you'll reach Cistierna, which after the small villages you've seen over the past few days will seem like a great city.

At our collaborating partner's office, you will receive a variety of products from the region: a strong Valdeón cheese, savory wild boar and venison sausage, Lazos de San Guillermo sweets ... and, of course, a jersey of completion from our partner's company on the route, "Pedales de León".

After a well-deserved shower, a taxi will come to pick you up and take you back to Leon, where you can enjoy a free afternoon.

• Distance: 24.87 km.
• Maximum height: 1,310 m.
• Minimum height: 927 m.
• Departure difference - arrival: -158 m.
• Maximum height difference: 383 m.
• Cumulative ascent: 605 m.
• Maximum slope: 22.06%

Accommodations in León. 

Distance: 25 Km

You travel by train from León to Madrid. From there, you fly back home – with many experiences in your luggage.