4 Stages of Sport Cycling in the North of Navarre and the Pyrenees
The Best of the Basque Pyrenees, the BAZTAN region and the IRATI FOREST
style - road -
BASOAK BAZTAN - IRATI is a Route in Stages for road bike with 2 difficulty options. It goes through the Comarca of Baztan in Navarra and the Irati Forest on its northern slope.
The PIRINEOS PUNTO BIKE proposal to pedaal the route is in broad strokes,
a Self Guided Pack which includes the Half Board Accommodations, the Tracks of the route and the Luggage Transport from hotel to hotel.
Logistically, the first 2 days we will stay in the same hotel in Baztan, this will allow us to enjoy this unique enclave of Navarre geography calmly. This same approach will be repeated the last 2 nights in France, where we will stay in the small Bajonavar town of Esterenzubi, located in an idyllic place at the gates of the Irati Forest.
This strategy of not changing hotels every night brings something of relaxation to the hardness of the sporting activity and above all allows us to internalize - at least a little - in the life of the places where we stay.
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Self-guided Route 4 stages / 4 nights BASOAK ROAD BAZTAN IRATI
- The options
- Stage 1
- Stage 2
- Stage 3
- Stage 4
Standar Option
Distance: 378 km Unevenness: 8.360 m
PLUS Option
Distance: 457 km Unevenness: 10.685 m
Stage 1: Baztan - Ultzama - Baztan
Distance: 99 km Unevenness: 1.620 m
PLUS Option: Baztan - Aralar - Baztan
Distance: 142 km Unevenness: 2.420 m
Classic cycling stage with sawtooth profile and ascent to the ports of Orokieta, Urkizu, Uitzi and Usategieta. The ports are of moderate slopes but they are chained without hardly any transition between one and the other and they reach 1,900 meters of ascent in our progress, always pivoting on the axis of the Kornieta wind farm.
The first kilometers, between the Baztan and the Ultzama Valley - the Navarre Switzerland - share track with the new line assigned to the trans-European route Eurovelo 1, enabled here as the Ederbidea route. It will be enough to ascend Orokieta, the first port of the day, to fully understand the name of BASOAK - forests - that titles the route, forests that compete in these parts with those of the same Irati Forest.
If we opt for the PLUS option, we will extend the geographical area of the stage to the Sakana Valley, adding to the aforementioned ports the ascent to the sanctuary of San Miguel de Aralar, we speak of "one of the great ones". A Port that was the final stage in the Spain Tour 2014 with the victory of Fabio Aru. The stage will have hardened enough, we will need a state of optimal form to face it, but if we do we will have put our wheels in the Aralar Range, and there is not the slightest doubt that it will have been worth it.
The Aralar Range seen from the Ultzama Valley
Preparing for the descent in the Uitzi mountain pass
Pelotón of the Euskal Itzulia 2016 passing the Usategieta mountain pass
Representative image of this 1st stage. Larraun Valley.
Climbing up to the Aralar Range - Option PLUS -
Sanctuary of San Miguel de Aralar and Sakana Valley seen from the top of Artxueta
Ultzama Valley - The Navarre Switzerland -
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Stage 2: Baztan - Esterenzubi
Distance: 93 km Unevenness: 2.580 m
PLUS Option: Baztan - Esterenzubi
Distance: 87 km Unevenness: 2.580 m
No, we have not been wrong with the data, the PLUS option is shorter than the standard one. The ports are the same but the routes are shorter, that is, steeper. We are talking about an unknown port located "above" the Basque-French town of Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry, Munhoa, and another "slightly less" unknown called Arnostegi, two true Pyrenean giants. The standard stage is already tough enough. If you think you can choke, we have a track to avoid Munhoa but without driving on the main road. We will ascend in this case Izpegi first, in our farewell of the Baztan and Arnostegi by Ondarolle later. It may be enough.
The faces chosen for the PLUS option are at the top of our mental list of "harder Mountain Passes" of the Pyrenees, Arnostegi by Bellurti with its kilometer at 17% will not leave anyone indifferent. The 87 kilometers of route may seem few, but today it is something else that matters.
Difficulties aside, we find ourselves in one of the wildest and most authentic places we can find today for the practice of road cycling.
We croos the border with France in Izpegi and a spectacular landscape receives us. We descend to Baigorri and the "medium size" Mountain Passes are over, 3 days of Pyrenean Colossus are waiting for us.
Ascending Munhoa mountain pass from Baigorri
Campus Baigorri GIRLS Cycling Experiences 2019
Common scenes on the route
High Pyrenean mountain environment during the ascent to Munhoa
Campus Baigorri GIRLS Cycling Experiences 2019
Bucolic scenes in the 5 star territory of the Atlantic Pyrenees
High part of Arnostegi among shreds of fog, one of the best weather conditions to raise "cooled" the hard and prolonged slopes of this Pyrenean colossus.
And much better if a little later the fog stays down
Gruppe of the "Campus Baigorri GIRLS Cycling Experiences 2019" giving all on the slopes of Munhoa
Remains of the Roman Tower on the summit of the Urkulu guarding the "peaceful" slopes of the Arnostegi mountain pass
With its 5 different ascents, all of them around 1000 meters of unevenness, the arnostegi Mountain Pass begins to stop being a great stranger and begins to occupy its preferred place.
Its simplest route - from Esterenzubi, where we descend - has a coefficient of 268 APM points -Aubisque 255- and the most demanding, -the one we have choose for our PLUS option- the known as Arnostegi by Bellurti reaches 385, points these of which 358 have been achieved in just 7 kilometers - Tourmalet 342 in 23 kilometers - For our standar option we have choose a "less hard" alternative by Ondarolle -288 points- which although it is still demanding, is more "human".
This is the general tone; Points that are obtained essentially due to the high percentages of their pending and not so much because the mileage is excessive. That said we must add the good things ... to the usual in these lands of the almost testimonial traffic must be added simply that of a beauty that sometimes short breath - in case we did not have enough with the slope -
In some section we will coincide with pilgrims who often have the property to offer us unusual images, other times the view will stop on the natural walls of the pre-Roman fortress of Zerkupe ... always above us, in the vicinity of the Col, the Tower Roman Urkulu ... shepherds shepherds everywhere ...
Anyway! Bucolismo at the end of the Slope, that's what we have.
The descent begins. End of stage in Esterenzubi.
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Stage 3: Esterenzubi - Irati - Esterenzubi
Distance: 84 km Unevenness: 2.205 m
PLUS Option: Esterenzubi - Irati - Esterenzubi
Distance: 121 km Unevenness: 3.285 m
The 3rd stage is the IRATI FOREST stage. However, before reaching it, we must ascend and cross the Arbailles Massif, and cross the ridge that connect Ahusky with Bagargi mountain pass
It will be difficult to decide if this first part exceeds in quality the section by the Irati Forest itself. We can seldom enjoy so many kilometers in height without starting the descent after climbing a port. The ascent to Sensibil - the highest point of BASOAK BAZTAN IRATI with its 1,536 meters of altitude - its views over the Pico de Ori, and the last kilometers through Burdinkurutzeta or through the sheepfolds of Artaburu and Errozate, - if we choose the PLUS option - we dare say they are 6 * out of 5.
Ascending Inharpu / Ahusquy by Bastida, the ascend by which it was promoted in La Vuelta a España 2016. If it is hot we recommend the option of ascent by Behorlegi that is for which "officially" ascends BASOAK BAZTAN - IRATI
From the top of Ahusky and on clean days the view extends to the right to the Bay of Biscay and to the left towards the high peaks of the Atlantic Pyrenees.
Without any doubt, one of the best sections of cycling in the whole Pyrenees.
Spain Bike Tour 2016
Tarmac road between Ahusky and Bagargi mountain passes, section 5 stars of the Pyrenean cycle tourism.
In the vicinity of the Surzai Mountain Pass we meet some of the spectacular sections of Pyrenean forest that give name to BASOAK BAZTAN - IRATI
Irati Extrem 2013
The peloton begins the descent towards Altzai during the Queen Stage of La Vuelta a España 2016, ahead of them Soudet, Marie Blanque and Aubisque, a childhood of those...
Spain Bike Tour 2016
Pastoral and cyclist environment in the pastures of Irati
If we choose the PLUS option, in the last kilometers of the stage we will follow the Irati-Extrem track in the opposite direction.
Irati Extrem 2013
COL de Burdinkurutzeta. In the background the massif of the Arbailles through which we have spent throughout the day. A perfect descend starts.
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Stage 4: Esterenzubi - Baztan
Distance: 102 km Unevenness: 1.955 m
PLUS Option: Esterenzubi - Baztan
Distance: 107 km Unevenness: 2.400 m
We return to BAZTAN, on the way we will travel through the villages of the Navarrese Pyrenees - surrounded by the pilgrims of the ever present Camino de Santiago, and the mountains of the Pyrenean chain that mark the Cantabrian / Mediterranean waters border.
Climbing up to Orgambide following the route that we descended at the end of the 2nd stage, we will enter Navarre through Azpegi mountain pass. We will start here a succession of small mountain levels - at least if we compare them with those of the 2 previous stages - through which we will go along the southern slopes of the Navarrese Pyrenees; Lapitzea, Mezkiritz and Erro.
Already in the final part of the stage, we will enter the territory known as Quinto Real where the Artesiaga mountain pass with its long descent, will place us again in the BAZTAN from which we started almost 12 Mountain Passes ago.
If we opt for the PLUS option, which is quite recommendable since the added hardness is not excessive, we will include the Collegiate of Orreaga/Roncesvalles in our souvenir bag. After ascending the soft face of Lindus, which begins just at the summit of Ibañeta we dive again into the environment of unknown mountain passes on the northern face of this area of the Pyrenees.
After a long descent to Urepel, interrupted briefly by small port of Nahala, will come a demanding ascent to the port of Urkiaga in which we will cross the curious administrative region known as Quinto Norte, in which its few inhabitants live in Spanish territory but exercise as French citizens.
Overcome Urkiaga we will join the standard route at the beginning of the last difficulty of BASOAK BAZTAN - IRATI, the Artesiaga mountain pass.
More everyday scenes on the route
Powerful Pyrenean landscape between Orgambide and Azpegi mountain passes. In background, slopes of Artaburu and Errozate, places of yesterday´s route. Irati Extrem Territory.
Cultural recreation of cromlech in front of Errozate mountain
Remains of the old Orbaitzeta Weapons Factory reconditioned for tourism. We are already on the southern slopes of the Pyrenees.
Scenes from the southern slopes of the Navarrese Pyrenees between Espinal and Erro. Small mountain pass ofMezkiritz.
Cicloturista La Indurain 2016
Pilgrims and cyclists sharing track in Espinal, typical village of the Pyrenean Navarre.
Cicloturista La Indurain 2016
Spectacular scenery in the small port of Nahala during the descent from Lindus to Urepel in the PLUS option.
Campus Baigorri GIRLS Cycling Experiences 2019
The same slope and the same trees at different times. Ascent to Urkiaga from Urepel through the intermediate Col de Paradar. 510 demanding meters.
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The Hotels - Day by day
1st and 2nd night: Doneztebe
Hostal Santamaria
A comfortable hostel dedicated to cycling service will be the PUNTO BIKE that welcomes us in Santesteban.
At dinner time Casa Santamaría Restaurant, one of the indisputable gastronomic references in the entire Baztan/Bidasoa area, will be in charge of replenishing our energies.
3rd and 4th night: Esterenzubi
Hotel Andreinia
The base of PIRINEOS PUNTO BIKE in Estérençuby is located in a superb rural hotel in the heart of the Basque Country where Christelle and Eric Larramendy reserve us a family welcome in their establishment with heated swimming pool, a small Spa, and a restaurant with covered terrace surrounded by mountains on the bank of a river.
TARIFFS 2024
4 Stages / 4 Nights
432 € Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
460 € Price per person for groups of 4 or 5 people
508 € Price per person for groups of 2 or 3 people
In these proposals when the groups are odd, the accommodation is offered in double rooms and a single room.
- TRIPLE ROOMS ARE NEVER USED -
If you want the price of the Pack to be cheaper, perhaps we can lower the level of one of the chosen hotels. And also, if the number of participants is odd; request a triple room.
- This management is only done once the Pack has been contracted -
Rates for the whole year, subject to availability.
The prices may vary when the dates coincide with the Easter holidays or with the Patron Festivities of any of the places of accommodation.
INCLUDED
- 1 night of accommodation with breakfast
Corresponds to the 1st night as usually the groups prefer to choose themselves where to dine during the arrival trip to the destination - 3 nights accommodation in half board
Transport of luggage between hotels
1 bag or package of a maximum of 20 kg per person
If not needed, the cost of this service will be deducted from the proposal- Tracks of the route in GPX format for mobile phones or GPS devices and printed map with each day routes options
- Explanatory printed map-sketch of the different route options for each stage
One per stage - Shower and luggage reception at the end of the last stage despite you don’t spend the night at the finalising point of the route
- Presentation of the route and delivery of information in hand the day of the arrival of the group to the hotel or the morning of the next day when groups are of 6 or more people
- Telephone assistance for incidents or consultations during the days of the contracted activity
NOT INCLUDED
- Beers or other consumptions outside the proposed menus in the dinners or during the stay in hotels
- Meals in restaurants at the time of the noon, unless it has been agreed previously to replace dinner with meals
- Any kind of sports material, helmets, shoes, etc
- Mechanical Assistance during the activity
If possible, we will try to help you in case of a breakdown, but in many situations this help can be very limited due to lack of specific spare parts or other circumstances. The cost of the service if it can be done is € 18 per hour + € 0.40 per kilometer. - Anything not expressly indicated in the offer
OPTIONS
- Airport/station pick up
We put you in contact with the transfer companies that provide these services. We do not include its cost in our proposal. - Bicycle rental
We put you in touch with a rental service in Pamplona - Hire Asistance / Accident Insurance
and / or Trip Cancellation Insurance - Single room supplement: + 144 €
When the group is made up of an odd number of people, will be equally necessary an odd number of requests to access this supplement - Add a night at the finalising point of the route - B&B
+ 32 € in doble room or + 52 € in single room
FAQ
- Desarrollo: We refer here to the combination of cassette and chainring of the bike. It is absolutely advisable to go with a "generous" pair, a 34x32 better than a 34x28 or 25. The ascents are really long and demanding. Sometimes they surpass the mythical mountain passes of the Central Pyrenees in difficulty coefficient, and they do so by earning points for having steep slopes rather than for mileage.
- Best time to go: The route can be done once the snow disappears in the highest ports of the route. From there, we dare not say that one era is better than another. It really depends on the specific weather of the days we choose.
Do not underestimate the weather, not even in the middle of summer. The conditions -especially in the Pyrenees- can be identical to those of the Central Pyrenees. To summarize... our advice is: bring even the long culotte and if it doesn´t come out from the suitcase, all the better.
In summer it is necessary to be aware of the possibility of storms -frequent in the afternoons-. - Orientation: It is highly convenient to use a GPS device, since many of the roads that ascend to the mountain passes of the northern slope are actually paved tarmacs for shepherds and we will find many unmarked crossroads in the middle of "nowhere".
- Provisioning: In most of the stages we will find towns with water and other services without too many difficulties. However, there may be exceptions to take into account.
- Philosophy: The philosophy of the route is to make "sport bicycle touring" but trying that at the end of the day there is still enough energy for something else besides resting until dinner. This is done to allow us at the end to have enough time to be able to learn - even slightly - where we are.
Anyway, if what you need are kilometers and hours on bike, all the proposals have their Option PLUS
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