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Highlights
Discover beautiful Green Spain on this short self-guided cycling pilgrimage
Get a taste of the historic Northern Way as you cycle the spellbinding landscapes that link Nueva de Llanes and Gijón.
Balance active days on your bike with the mouth-watering gastronomy of the Asturias region.
Take in Romanesque chapels and countless historical wonders as you ride through the charming villages of Northern Spain.
Hop off your bike to discover fossilized dinosaur tracks on the beach between Ribadesella and Colunga.
Savour every moment of this short-but-sweet bike tour on a section of Spain’s Northern Way as you enjoy the thrilling ride from Nueva de Llanes to Gijón. Pedal your way through enchanting small villages adorned in traditional architecture and take in the wonders of Romanesque chapels. With picture-perfect views of the sea and the mountains accompanying you on the ride you’ll whiz your way through the beautiful Asturian countryside with nothing but the open road before you. Stay in cozy rural accommodations and enjoy the flavours of Asturia as you kick back each evening to enjoy delightful local wines and artisan cheeses.
Enjoy an active short break over the course of 4 brilliant days on the Northern Way to Santiago by Bike Tour!
Savour every moment of this short-but-sweet bike tour on a section of Spain’s Northern Way as you enjoy the thrilling ride from Nueva de Llanes to Gijón. Pedal your way through enchanting small villages adorned in traditional architecture and take in the wonders of Romanesque chapels. With picture-perfect views of the sea and the mountains accompanying you on the ride you’ll whiz your way through the beautiful Asturian countryside with nothing but the open road before you. Stay in cozy rural accommodations and enjoy the flavours of Asturia as you kick back each evening to enjoy delightful local wines and artisan cheeses.
Enjoy an active short break over the course of 4 brilliant days on the Northern Way to Santiago by Bike Tour!
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The Northern Way to Santiago by Bike Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Nueva de Llanes and Cycle to Colunga
Your adventure starts right away today as you pick up your hire bike in Nueva de Llanes and then cycle to your first accommodation in Colunga.
A fairly long but gentle route awaits you today with no tough ascents, just a few rolling hills (60m to 90m) halfway through the route. You’ll follow the pilgrimage route along the coastline and do one section through the foothills of the Sueve range. You can stop off to visit the interesting cave art at Cueva Tito Bustillo, the fossilized dinosaur tracks on the beach between Ribadesella and Colunga, or the karstic formations on the cliffs near Guadamía (blowholes!), at the protected nature area called Castru Arenas.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Colunga
Distance: 37 km, 330m/400m ascent, 365m descent
Meals: None
Day 2 Cycle Colunga to Argüero Via Villaviciosa and Tazones
Today you start off with a lovely section, which is shorter but also steeper than yesterday’s ascents. Once again, the route follows the Camino de Santiago, passing the “Sierra del Sueve” to reach Villaviciosa, the capital of cider-production in Asturias. In the town centre, there are some interesting buildings dating back to times when many pilgrims walked the Santiago Trail following the ‘Camino del Norte’, or northern route. From Villaviciosa you follow the estuary through a protected area (especially interesting for birdwatchers). Finally, you ascend via the picturesque port of Tazones to the plateau at Argüero.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Argüero
Distance: 37 km, 420m ascent, 390m descent
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 3 Final Ride from Argüero to Gijón
Your last day of cycling is not too long (in terms of kilometres) but do remember that halfway through the route, a tough ascent (of 210m) awaits! You’ll cycle along a narrow winding road (the only way to avoid heavy traffic), then sail down into the city of Gijón and ride along the boardwalk past San Lorenzo beach, to reach your hotel.
In the afternoon, you can take a short bus or train ride to the regional capital of Oviedo, some 30km inland, which has a very interesting Gothic cathedral and three of the most important pre-Romanesque monuments in Spain, all of which are listed as UNESCO’s World Heritage sites.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Gijón
Distance: 28.6 km, 240m ascent, 277m descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 End of program
Your cycling programme comes to an end this morning after breakfast. Depart from Gijón.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation on The Northern Way to Santiago by Bike Tour
Hotels on this trip are 2 and 3-star and offer modern conveniences that can make this trip more pleasant.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
Standard rooms are double occupancy. You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel where possible. Solo travellers may be required to pay a supplement.
What’s Included in the Northern Way to Santiago by Bike Tour?
Meals
3 hearty breakfasts and 1 dinner are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 3 nights are included. Accommodations before the tour are not included but can be added as a supplement.
Transportation during the Tour
During this tour, you will be moving from one location to another by bike and your luggage transfers are included. However, you will be responsible for any other transportation outside of the tour itinerary.
Also Included
- Detailed route description and maps
- 24-hour telephone assistance
- Routes in digital format (.gpx) for GPS or mobile devices
Not included
- Flights
- Any personal transport
- Tourist Tax
- Meals, drinks, or snacks not previously mentioned
- Travel insurance
- Guide services
- Helmet and bike hire (can be booked separately)
- Personal expenses such as drinks, phone calls, tips, extra transfers, etc.
Optional Extras
- Extra nights at any of the accommodation of the programme, as well as city hotels in Oviedo, Gijón or Bilbao.
- Bike rental:
-
- Hybrid bicycle
- E-bike
- Helmet
- Transfers to and from airport / train station / bus station
- Transfer from last hotel back to the start or the program
- Bus or train tickets
- How hard is the Northern Way to Santiago by Bike Tour?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Spain?
- Are meals included on the Northern Way to Santiago by Bike Tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Nueva de Llanes to start this tour?
- Where does the Northern Way to Santiago by Bike Tour end?
- Can I rent a bike?
- Can I bring my own bike?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Spain?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Spain?
We rate this tour as a 3 / 5. You’ll be biking up to 37km daily. The terrain is mix of gravel and paved paths and while there are some hilly paths, the ascents are mostly mellow.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
3 hearty breakfasts and 1 dinner are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover biking. Get your Travel Insurance.
If you fly to Asturias airport (OVI) there are easy shuttle connections to the city centre bus station, then take a bus to Nueva de Llanes (check timetables at www.alsa.es).
If you fly to other airports (Santander-SDR or Bilbao-BIO) you can catch a direct bus to Nueva de Llanes from Santander or Bilbao city centre.
It is wise to book your bus tickets and taxi transfer in advance, especially if you're travelling in summer or at weekends. Bus tickets can be purchased in advance on the ALSA website (www.alsa.es) or during the booking process.
The tour ends in Gijon. From Gijón there are easy bus connections to all 3 airports (Asturias-OVD, Santander and Bilbao). Check www.alsa.es.
If you want to return to the start, in Nueva, you can take a slow train or a faster trip by bus.
If you arrive in your own vehicle, you can leave it parked in a public parking lot in Nueva de Llanes, but it is not a guarded parking lot.
Yes, you can rent a bike during the booking process.
Yes. If you bring your own bike, make sure your bike is suitable for the route demands during the booking process.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
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