Mountain bike Spain

A MTB long distance crossing in Spain Ref CY52

Just on the other side of the Pyrenees, one of our most beautiful tours abroad is hidden... An itinerary as sumptuous as it is varied: Crossing from east to west of the famous Sierra de Guara, with its deep canyons, its superb abandoned villages and its landscapes of moors and thorny forests; Crossing the backbones of the Sierra de Gratal, Cabaliera and Santo Domingo, passing at the foot of the "Mallos" of Riglos and Agüero, impressive rocky spires where countless birds of prey swirl... Passage to the castles of Loarre and Marcuello; North-south crossing of one of the European meccas of MTB : the Bardenas Desert. A climactic end in a western setting where the wonders of erosion and "ghost" villages mingle... Vamos amigos !

Guided version: from 1390€ - DetailsSelf-guided version: from 1055€ - Details Duration : 8 days | Level : Customer satisfaction :
- 2 reviews
+33 458 140 435 A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.
Book this tour
Physical level :   Technical level :  
This tour is E-MTB compatible

Highlights

  • Two days in one of the Mecca of MTB : the Bardenas.
  • The abandoned villages of the Sierra de Guara.
  • Many birds of prey throughout the trip.
  • Practical ! The night before the start of the tour is included, to give you time to get there...

Description


Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Ainsa

Itinerary start: Rendezvous with the organization team is on day 1 at 6pm in Boltana (next to Ainsa).

Meeting point at the Boltana campsite. Settling in mobile homes (bungalows) and dinner all together at the restaurant. Presentation of the tour and the next day's stage.

Day 2: Ainsa - Nocito

A short warm-up on a small tarmac road, before entering the bucolic valley of the Rio Sieste. We ride along the Rio for a few kilometres, before crossing it to start our climb to the Sierra de Guara plateau. As we gain height, the view gradually opens up to the peaks of the Pyrenees. We are indeed just south of the Ordesa National Park and the Mont Perdu. After 400 metres of ascent, we reach the first stone village of the Sierra de Guara plateau. Throughout our east-west crossing, these magnificent villages will follow one another, sometimes still inhabited, often abandoned. The soul of these old shepherds' houses still seems to be present...
By little tracks, we cross the plateau due west in a landscape alternating moors, thorny forests, rivers, stone villages...
We reach the village of Nocito, nestled at the confluence of several valleys. A heavenly place... Night in a gite.

Distance covered: approx. 50 km / Ascent: 1200 m

Day 3: Nocito - Bolea

We leave our idyllic valley over a small pass that allows us to "dive" into the lake of Belsué. A very rolling descent over a Rio set in a deep canyon, before opening up into the open valley of Lake Belsué. Superb single track along the lake. On small technical trails we now descend towards the Mallos de Pena Sen and Pena Men. The "Mallos" are huge rock faces in the shape of a club. Countless birds of prey circle around them in an incessant ballet...
We walk along these cliffs in the direction of Nueno. The scenery changes: we are now at the foot of the Sierra Caballera, in a region of hills dotted with orchards, almond fields and various crops. We reach the medieval village of Bolea with its authentic Spanish atmosphere. Overnight stay in a lodge.
Buenas noches y hasta manana amigos!

Distance covered: approx. 50 km / Ascent: 900 m

Day 4: Bolea - Murillo de Gallego

We regain altitude heading for the magnificent and famous castle of Loarre. A beautiful castle located on a rocky promontory which offers us a beautiful view of the plain.
We then leave for one of the highlights of this trip: the Mallos de Riglos. Just after passing the ruins of the castle of Marcuello, still proudly erected on the edge of the cliff, arrival overlooking this remarkable natural site. We go to the "mirador of the griffon vultures", for a bird's eye view of the village of Riglos and its rocky monoliths reaching more than 300 meters in height. Above our heads, dozens and dozens of birds of prey circle around... Impressive.
Technical single-track descent in gorges dominated by huge ocher cliffs. Many raptor nests. We emerge into the narrow streets of the village of Riglos. You have to twist your neck to see the top of these vertical needles of conglomerate. We leave with a fabulous single dominating the Rio de Gallego and its turquoise blue. Night in a gite at Murillo de Gallego, almost at the foot of the Mallos de Riglos... What a setting!

Distance covered: approx. 35 km / Ascent: 700 m

Day 5: Murillo de Gallego - Luesia

A short unavoidable stretch of road brings us to the village of Agüero. Other "Mallos" are revealed: the Mallos of Agüero. We leave the Mallos sector to attack the Sierra de Santo Domingo. This long ridge, reaching 1517 meters above sea level, stretches for about 50 kilometers from east to west, separating the valleys of Jaca and Zaragoza. A track in balcony allows you to follow it while being almost at its summit, offering panoramas as far as the eye can see on the plain of Zaragoza and... the Bardenas which are beginning to point their noses! We therefore gain altitude to reach this balcony track, crossing new stone villages lost in the middle of nowhere.
At the end of the day, we join the valley of Pigalo by a descent on very rolling track. If the weather is good, stop and swim in a superb basin with turquoise waters. End of the rolling route to the village of Luesia, dominated by the ruins of its castle. Overnight in small apartments.

Distance covered: approx. 60 km / Ascent: 1200 m

Day 6: Luesia - Carcastillo

We climb back up the flanks of the Sierra de Santo Domingo to enjoy the last views. Impressive and innumerable wind turbines spin their propellers on top of all the mountains that we see in the distance. The shadow of Don Quixote fighting against the mills still hovers... We bid farewell to the Sierra de Santo Domingo as we descend to the village of Castilliscar via a ridge route. Total change of scenery: we are now in the transient plain which separates the Sierras from the Bardenas. Crossing the plain to reach the surroundings of Carcastillo, for a night in an inn.

Distance covered: approx. 60 km / Ascent: 800 m

Day 7: Carcastillo - Bardenas - Carcastillo

After passing through Carcastillo and its old Basque pelota pediment, immersion in the atmosphere of the Bardenas with its eroded sedimentary formations and abandoned corrals. The Bardenas are one of the two main “deserts” of the Pyrenees. “Desert” without a doubt since we simply reach the figure of 0 inhabitants per square kilometer! Less "desert" if we look at the level of vegetation, because even if the land is often bare, we still find trees, bushes and even cereal crops...
The only downside to the Bardenas is the presence of a “military polygon” located right in the center of this natural park. You have to know how to ignore the noise of military planes flying over the region (irregularly and unpredictably). Vultures have even learned to live with it...
Crossing the Bardenas to the south, discovery of the “Bardena Blanca”, one of the “musts” of these western landscapes: entry into the Rallôn valley, climb to the top of the Rallôn tabular plateau, “mythical” descent to the foot of the walls of the Pisquera, single-track for kilometers at the bottom of the magnificent Barranco Grande (barranco=gorge, canyon). The Bardena Blanca is also called “Badlands” because of its resemblance to Dakota in the United States.
An unforgettable day in the life of a mountain biker!... Night at the same accommodation as the day before.

Distance covered: approx. 50 km / Ascent: 400 m

Day 8: Carcastillo - Rincon del Bu (north - south crossing of the Bardenas)

And we dive back into the Far-West decor of the Bardenas. Passage at the foot of Castildetierra, the “Castle of Earth” and its tower pointing towards the sky. Many abandoned corrals testify to the intense pastoral life that reigned here a few decades ago... We still come across many shepherds with their flock of sheep. We approach the eroded promontories of the Balcony of Pilatos and the Rincon del Bu, to slip into a valley worthy of the United States. New single track at the bottom of a barranco, a short carry and presto, all you have to do is turn around to enjoy the show... Last point of view on these magnificent landscapes of the Bardenas, before reaching our picnic point and meeting with the bus which will take us back to the starting point (Ainsa).

In the early afternoon, transfer to Ainsa (approx. 3h). Separation at Ainsa around 5 p.m. (continuation to Lanemezan for those coming by train).

Distance covered: approx. 50 km / Ascent: 450 m

Itinerary end: Separation at the end of the tour is in Ainsa at 4-5pm. On request we can book the following nights accommodation for you in Ainsa.

Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.

Dates and price

Dates
Start date End date Duration Price
27/09/2025 04/10/2025 8 days 1390 €
18/10/2025 25/10/2025 8 days 1390 €

Costs and services guided tour

The tour price includes:
  • Professional guiding by a certified mountain bike guide (English-speaking)
  • 7 nights in guest houses and  2* or 3* hotels in double rooms (DR) with en-suite facilities
  • 7 breakfasts
  • 7 picnic lunches
  • 7 dinners (3 to 4 course menu)
  • Daily baggage transfers
  • Return transfer on day 8 to Ainsa
The tour price does not include:
  • International flights & your transfer to the meeting place
  • Your transfer to the meeting place (see paragraph below)
  • All services mentioned in extensions
  • Insurance, assistance
  • Drinks at the accommodation
  • Visits to museums, monuments and sites not covered by the programme
  • Additional travel related to change in the programme due to bad weather
  • All personal expenses
  • Everything not mentioned under  “the price includes".

Available extra services

(prices per person)

Return transfer Lannemezan - Ainsa
(nearest train station)
100 € / 

Bike rental

Full suspension trail bike
(guided tour only)
545 € / 

Full suspension eMTB (all mountain, 625 Wh battery)
(guided tour only)
585 € / 

Private groups / Custom tours

You are a group of friends, a family, a company or a cycling club and you would like to organise a private cycling tour on the dates of your choice. This option is available for guided and self-guided tours.

  • If you are interested in one of the tours presented on our website, we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in your group.
  • If you are interested in a custom version of one of our tours, with specific requirements (tour duration, accommodation type, vehicle assistance, airport transfers, bike rental, etc.), we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in the group and the group's specific requirements.

For more information or to receive a quote, please contact us by phone at +33 458 140 435  or by email at info@france-bike-trips.com.

Booking with us

Expert advice
  • Unsure which tour to book?
  • Interested in a custom version of one of our tours?
  • Not sure if a particular tour is suitable for your riding style?

A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm (French time) by phone - +33 458 140 435 or by mail - info@france-bike-trips.com.

How to book

In order to make a booking please fill in the online booking form on the "booking" page of your chosen tour. At the end of the booking process you will be transferred to our bank's secure payment page in order to pay a 30 % deposit.

Last minute booking

All self-guided bookings made within 21 days of tour departure will incur a surcharge of 15 € per person.

Payment options
  • by credit card via our website (Mastercard and Visa accepted)
  • by bank transfer (bank details on request)
Tour confirmation

In order to confirm our guided tours, we need to reach a minimum number of participants (usually 5 persons are necessary). Therefore booking a guided tour does not necessarily mean the tour is confirmed. In the unlikely event that we are unable to confirm your chosen tour, we will offer you the opportunity (no less than 21 days before departure) of switching to another (confirmed) tour, or receiving a full refund.

Self-guided or custom tours: We confirm bookings of self-guided tours and custom tours directly after booking.

In both cases, please await our final booking confirmation before making any travel arrangements.

Balance payment

Your invoice will be available 5 weeks before tour departure. Tour balance payment must be made no less than 30 days before tour departure. Your travel documents will be sent to you once we have received your balance payment. Road books and maps will be sent to you 3 weeks before departure.

Cancellation

In the event that you are obliged to cancel your tour France Bike Trips will reimburse the entire sum paid for the tour, minus the following cancellation charges:

  • More than 60 days before departure: 5 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 60 and 31 days before departure: 15 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 30 and 21 days: 30 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 20 and 14 days: 50 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 13 and 7 days: 70 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Less than 7 days before departure: 100 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium

Full details of our sales conditions are available here.

Travel insurance

It is important to be correctly insured when embarking on a cycling holiday. We recommend checking the details of your travel insurance (if you have one) and, if necessary, subscribing to our contract below. Please note that France Bike Trips is simply an intermediary between you and the insurance company.

You can choose between these travel insurance contracts while completing your booking form:

  • I subscribe to the "comprehensive multi-risk" insurance cover (4.5%), minimum premium of 15 €:
    This contract covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage, holiday interruption and cancellation. To see the full contract, click here.
  • I purchase the "cancellation only" insurance cover (2.5%), minimum premium of 10 €:
    This policy covers cancellation only. To see the full contract, click here.
  • I purchase the "repatriation & assistance" insurance cover (1.6%), minimum premium of 10 €:
    This policy covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage and holiday interruption. To see the full contract, click here.

Recommendation:
If you choose to take out a travel insurance policy with another insurance company, please check that the search and rescue coverage is suitable: area covered, expenses included, risks covered (as an indication, a minimum cover of 15 000 € is recommended). Please note that credit card insurance rarely offers this type of coverage.

Groupe size and guiding

For guided trips we limit the size of our groups from 5 (min) to 12 (max) persons in order to ensure security and conviviality.

You will be guided by English-speaking French mountain bike guides.

No size limitation for self-guided groups.

Car sharing

If you sign up for a guided tour, we offer you the opportunity to see if you can carpool with other participants to get to the point of departure. To do this, go to "Car sharing" in our website. By entering the complete reference and the date of departure of the tour (available on the registration confirmation that we have sent you), you have access to route details and emails of other participants who wish to carpool.

How to get to the meeting point

By plane

Saragosa airport: https://www.aena.es/en/zaragoza.html

Barcelona airport: https://www.barcelona-airport.com/

Airport transfers are available on request

By car

Route planer: en.mappy.com

Camping Boltana
Ctra. Nacional 260, KM. 442
22340 - Boltana
Huesca - Espagne
Tél : 0034 974 502 34

Accommodation

We favour comfortable accommodation with warm hospitality. For more details, please see the "Costs and services" section.

For private groups and self-guided tours it is possible to choose alternative accommodation (upgrade) depending on availability.

Food

"L'art de la table"

We pay very careful attention to the quality and the variety of your meals.  Fresh and local produce will be served wherever possible.

  • Continental breakfasts taken at the accommodation
  • Cold picnics for lunch (mixed salad, bread, cold meats, cheese and fruit). Each participant carries his picnic in his daypack
  • Cereal bars and dried fruit during the day
  • Hearty dinners (3 to 4 courses, with local dishes)

Baggage

During the day you carry only a daypack for additional clothing, water, food, camera, etc. The rest of your baggage is transferred each day to the following nights accommodation.

Health

We strongly recommend having a medical check-up before your holiday. 

Our / Your state of mind

- A "group" tour: If you join a guided tour, you will be part of a group for several days. This is a superb opportunity to meet new people and share some magical moments. However, a group tour requires that each person show friendliness, openness and mutual respect for their fellow travellers.

- An "adventure" tour: despite the most careful preparation, adventure tours can present unforeseen events. Accepting these risks will help you enjoy your trip to the full, in the knowledge that your guide, our local partners and the entire France Bike Trips team will offer you the most suitable solutions to any given situation.

Bike and plane / train

If you decide to bring your own bike, be aware that transporting a bike by plane or train is no longer an issue. However a few simple guidelines help to optimise the transport and avoid potential damages that could occur.
Your bike must be transported in a designated bike bag (standard size 120x90cm). This maximal size allows you to travel with your bike as "hand luggage" in any TGV and SNCF trains.
It is very important that you protect your bike in the bag. After having deflated the tires, removed the wheels (by removing the quick release mechanisms), pedals and rear derailleur (which is left hanging on the chain), we recommend you wrap your bike inside the bag in a sheet of dense foam (thickness of 3 to 5 cm). A piece of cardboard or rigid plastic positioned between the foam and the inside of the cover can be beneficial to provide more rigidity.

Once folded up the bike bag will take up very little space and will be transported by the assistance vehicle during your tour.

Bike bags are available directly from France Bike Trips at a cost of 70 euros, plus postage.

Your equipment

Material provided by France Bike Trips (guided version only):
  • A group first aid kit
  • A repair kit and tools
Personal equipment to bring:
Luggage

All your luggage must fit in two bags: a daypack and a travel bag.

1/ Daypack

This is the bag you will keep with you each day whilst riding. This bag should not be too large (up to 30 litres).

It will contain: a picnic lunch, camera, waterproof, extra clothing, sunglasses...

Each day, your guide will advise you on what to bring in your bag according to the route and the weather.

2/ Travel bag

This is the bag that will be transported from one accommodation to the next by vehicle. It should contain all the belongings you will not use during the day.

Please note: Your luggage transported from one accommodation to the next must fit in a single bag and must not exceed 20kg maximum - or less if stated otherwise in the included services).

List of equipment to pack:
For your head
  • A cap or other head protection against the sun
  • A hat or headband
  • A mountain bike helmet (COMPULSORY).
For your upper body
  • Two cycling jerseys (made of synthetic or natural breathable fabrics)
  • A warm shirt or a sweatshirt
  • A fleece
  • A waterproof jacket
For your legs
  • Two good quality cycling shorts with chamois
  • Trousers
  • Casual short
  • A swimsuit
  • Waterproof trousers (recommended for our alpine tours)
For your feet
  • Mountain bike shoes (“multi-activity / outdoor” type with grippy soles or clipless biking shoes)
  • Sports socks (+ warm wool socks for our alpine tours)
  • Sandals (not compulsory, but nice during breaks...).
For your mountain bike

If you rent your MTB from France Bike Trips, this material is not necessary.

  • If you have tires with tubes: 2 spare tubes + puncture repair kit
  • If you have tubeless tires: sealant, a tube with presta valve (just in case), a spare tire
  • If you have V-brakes: 2 sets of replacement brake pads
  • If you have disc brakes: 2 sets of replacement pads
  • A rear derailleur cable + 1 rear brake cable
  • Chain lube
  • A pump
  • A high pressure pump for your suspension  (optional, your guide will have one).
  • VERY IMPORTANT: A spare derailleur hanger  (only if your rear derailleur is not integral to the frame).
Various
  • A pair of MTB gloves (+ warm waterproof gloves for our alpine tours)
  • A bike lock
  • A head torch with batteries
  • A pair of spare laces
  • A toiletry kit and towel
  • 2 bike bottles 75 cl (or camelbak)
  • A pocket knife
  • Some plastic bags to protect your equipment
  • A needle and thread
  • A small individual pharmacy: sunscreen (face and lips); band aids + double skin; Immodium; pain killers, earplugs, other personal medication.

Costs and services self-guided tour

Price per person for a group of

The price includes:
  • 7 nights in guest houses and  2* or 3* hotels in double rooms (DR) with en-suite facilities
  • 7 breakfasts
  • 6 dinners (3 to 4 course menu) (dinner on day 1 in Ainsa not included)
  • Daily baggage transfers
  • Return transfer on day 8 to Ainsa
  • Detailed travel documents, highlighted maps in digital format and GPS tracks
What is not included:
  • Lunch meals
  • International flights & your transfer to the meeting place
  • All services mentioned in extensions
  • Insurance, assistance
  • Drinks at the accommodation
  • Visits to museums, monuments and sites not covered by the programme
  • Additional travel related to change in the programme due to bad weather
  • All personal expenses
  • Everything not mentioned under  “the price includes".

Available extra services (self-guided)

(prices per person)

Return transfer Lannemezan - Ainsa
(nearest train station)
100 € / 

GPS tracks

If you choose to book a self-guided tour, we provide the GPS tracks of the route. You will be able to download the GPX type files from your France Bike Trips user account once you receive our travel documents by email. They are compatible with all current GPS software applications and editors.

Accuracy

These tracks have been created using professional mapping software. There may be slight differences between the GPS track and the reality on the terrain. The GPS tracks should thus be considered a "plus" to help you find your way. However, they are by no means a substitute for orientation with the help of the highlighted map material.

The distances and altitude gain in the tour's programme remain the reference. Indeed, real-world altitude and mileages can be different and vary significantly from the data shown in GPS software applications.

Data privacy

We ask you not to publish these GPS tracks on any website, social network or anywhere else. Their elaboration required many hours of hard work, both to create the track in the field, but also in our software applications. The non-respect of this ethic would force us to remove these valuable tool from our offer.

Analogue maps (optional)

We offer digital map material with highlighted tracks for our self-guided tours by default. These are printable (A4, pdf format).

On request, we can provide you with analogue maps containing the highlighted itinerary and route infos (official French maps at a scale of 1:25,000). Shipment will be made to the accommodation of your extra night before the tour.

Price of this option incl. shipping within France: see supplementary services

Please let us know in the booking form if you would like this option. Please also give us an accommodation address for shipping if you do not book an extra night through us before the tour.

Self-guided tour "user guide"

Active autonomy: what you need to know for our self-guided tours

In order to achieve the planned tour programme, you must:

  • Guide yourself with the highlighted maps and road book;
  • Choose suitable start times adapted to the lengths of the daily stages as well as your own riding pace, and leave an adequate safety margin of time;
  • Obtain daily weather forecasts from your hosts, and take into account the weather conditions when planning journey times;
  • Arrive at the booked guest houses and hotels listed in the programme on the given dates; 
  • Bring the necessary personal equipment to carry out the tour. France Bike Trips equipment list constitutes the necessary minimum;
  • Carry insurance policies and emergency telephone numbers with you at all times;
  • Be familiar with basic first-aid steps;
  • In the event of any problems during your trip, contact France Bike Trips (contact information in your travel documents). Possession of a mobile phone that works in France is strongly recommended.

Self-guided tours are undertaken without a guide and at your own risk. France Bike Trips cannot be held liable for any route error, misconduct, personal imprudence, inadequate planning or inappropriate reactions in the event of incidents.

Any programme change of your own initiative is under your responsibility and at your expense. 

Having said this, with our advice and good preparation, you should be able to look forward to a wonderful, trouble free holiday. Enjoy your trip!

Average tour rating:

4.5/5 - 2 Reviews
Bruno V. | Participant rating:
"Accommodation, meals, route, everything was very good. One of our best trips with France Bike Trip.
Our guide was very nice and very competent.
We will be back.

(customer review translated from our French website Vélorizons)"
Martin A. | Participant rating:
"Very nice landscapes and sometimes very cool trails. A lot of gravel roads to connect them. Very friendly people in the hotels. Last day: There was no way in this canyon and we lost a lot of time... and there was some water and difficult to pass."
This review has received a response from France Bike Trips:

Thank you, Martin, for your feedback. We're glad that you enjoyed your MTB trip in the Sierra de Guara and the Bardenas desert. The Bardenas desert, in particular, can be tricky to navigate in wet weather conditions. That's part of the nature of the terrain; what can be fun (getting lost in the many little canyons) in good weather can create difficulties otherwise. We hope, nonetheless, that you'll keep great memories of the trip!

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A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.


Phone number: +33 458 140 435

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A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.

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