BASOAK MTB 5 STARS
5 Star Mountain Bike Route through the Forests of Western Navarre
5 MTB stages through the Urbasa and Aralar mountain ranges and the Eremua and Basaburua mountain biking areas.
style - mtb - All Mountain
SELF-GUIDED ROUTE WITH GPS
Some parts of this website may be in the process of being translated.
BASOAK 5 STARS
THE ROUTE
BASOAK 5* is a MTB stage route in its most classic form, that is; stages always in line.
The route runs through the northwest of Navarra, joining the Urbasa/Andia Range in the 1st stage and the Aralar Range in the second.
...
To these 2 first-class natural spaces, a 3rd stage is added along the paths of the BASABURUA Valley and MTB Centre, a 4th stage through the forests full of “flow” trails of Quinto Real, “closely watched” in this case by the EREMUA, MTB and Trail Centre, and a 5th stage that takes us back to old Pamplona - the place where the route begins - along the lines that the Eremua MTB Centre has designed in the area and which it calls Esteribar Sur.
Speaking about bike style and in order to understand "where the shots go" in the BASOAK MTB UNIVERSE, we can say that overall these are stages with a considerable level of physical demand and moderate technical demands. We could summarise this by saying that we are not looking for enduro but we are pursuing "singletrack", the more "flow" the better. In some of the stages this is achieved better and in others worse.
The experience offered by PIRINEOS PUNTO BIKE consists, in broad terms, of a Self-Guided Tour pack. This includes Accommodations, the GPS Tracks for the route, a detailed map-sketch with alternatives for each stage, and Luggage Transport from hotel to hotel.
- Full technical
route totals - Stage I
Pamplona - Arbizu - Stage A
Arbizu - Lekunberri - Stage M
Lekunberri - Ultzama - Stage N
Ultzama - Zubiri - Stage F
Zubiri - Pamplona
Stage I: Pamplona - Arbizu
Distance: 64 km Unevenness: 1.135 m
Stage A: Arbizu - Lekunberri
Distance: 44 km Unevenness: 1.215 m
Stage M: Lekunberri - Ultzama
Distance: 57 km Unevenness: 1.445 m
Stage N: Ultzama - Zubiri
Distance: 50 km Unevenness: 1.645 m
Stage F: Zubiri - Pamplona
Distance: 44 km Unevenness: 1.205 m
The full route
Distance: 259 km Unevenness: 6.645 m
Pamplona - Arbizu
La cima de la Sierra "Grande"
La etapa I de BASOAK MTB es la etapa "Sierras de Andia/Urbasa".
Tras la larga sección de llaneo que se adivina en los perfiles y que corresponde mayoritariamente al Paseo Fluvial del Arga entre Pamplona e Ibero, la ruta se acompasa durante unos kilómetros a la Cuenca del Arakil para despues abordar un duro ascenso a la Sierra de Andia.
No resulta fácil tomar la decisión de la ruta a pelear, la opción 1, que cruzando el Puerto de Lizarraga se adentra en la Sierra de Urbasa -divisoria más administrativa que geográfica- y termina con un descenso "exigente" a Etxarri Aranaz, o la opción 2, que asciende a los 1.495 metros de la cima del Beriain y desciende luego más relajadamente por la localidad de Unanua. En ocasiones la meteorología será la que nos haga decidirnos entre un opción u otra. Ninguna nos va a defraudar, el entorno del Parque Natural Andia/Urbasa en el que nos movemos, lo magnifíca todo.
Arbizu - Lekunberri
Sierra de pastores
La etapa A de BASOAK MTB es la etapa "Sierra de Aralar".
Tras una primera incursión en la Sierra de Altzania en la que atravesaremos el impactante sendero de los Robles Milenarios y una sucesión de restos de diversos dolmenes, el track de la ruta entra en la Sierra de Aralar. Aquí se diferencia claramente una 1ª parte ascendente por la vertiente de Gipuzkoa y una 2ª parte en la zona navarra en la que trás llanear varios kilómetros por lo alto de la sierra procederemos a descender al valle en Lekunberri.
De antiquisima tradición pastoríl, Aralar es actualmente una Reserva Natural que sigue manteniendo dicha tradición pese a encontrarse en las inmediaciones de algunas de las zonas más industrializadas del País Vasco.
Lekunberri - Ultzama
Basaburua A tope!
Between the Sierra de Aralar in the east and the Pyrenean forests of Quinto Real in the west, there is an intricate succession of low-altitude mountains crisscrossed by small valleys and gullies with more of a stream than a river. The usual sequence that we will repeat throughout the kilometres of the route will always be the same; Forest-Prado-Pueblo and I go because it is my turn...
Larraun Valley, Imotz, Atez, Ultzama, Basaburua, Selva de Anué... this is the toponymy that dots a territory in which in recent years efforts have been redoubled to facilitate the practice of mountain biking by some local authorities, something that has exponentially increased the possible combinations of routes in the area.
In this stage, specifically, the most relevant singletrack sections that we will travel through in the central part of the route come from the efforts of the BASABURUA Mountain Bike Centre.
Ultzama - Zubiri
Territorio Eremua
Zubiri - Pamplona
Valle de Esteribar, Eremua Sur
THE ROUTE IN DATA
What you could feel!
- Stage I
Pamplona - Arbizu - Stage A
Arbizu - Lekunberri - Stage M
Lekunberri - Ultzama - Stage N
Ultzama - Zubiri - Stage F
Zubiri - Pamplona
Pamplona - Arbizu
La cima de la Sierra "Grande"
Tras una larga sección de llaneo, dejamos atras la Cuenca de Pamplona con el ascenso por las laderas de la Sierra de Andia, un cuestón de los que no se olvidan.
La cima del Pico Beriain con sus 1.495 metros de altitud es una de las montañas ciclables más elevadas y emblemáticas de Navarra.
En la foto inferior, la montaña rellena el horizonte detras de los ciclistas. En este caso, una cima de las que no se olvidan.
Constantes sube-bajas por lo alto de la Sierra de Andia
Un descanso en el camino y ermita de San Donato, ya en los 1.495 metros de la cima del Beriain.
Comienza el descenso, cada loca con su tema.
Aforunadamente, todo lo que sube baja, largo, largo descenso hacia Unanua.
Arboles "invernales" en la Sierra de Andia.
Pistas de gravel en la llegada al Alto de Lizarraga, punto de descanso "oficial" en la etapa.
Cueva de Lubierri, rincones ocultos en la ruta.
Ermita de San Adrián, mirador privilegiado sobre el Valle de La Sakana. Al fondo, la mole del Beriain va empequeñeciendose.
Arbizu - Lekunberri
Sierra de pastores
El sendero de Los Robles Milenarios da la bienvenida a BASOAK ya en el inicio de la etapa.
Túmulo dolménico en la cima del Txaradigorri.
En el Alto de Lizarrusti entramos ya en la Sierra de Aralar.
Embalse de Lareo.
En alguna ocasión deberemos empujar la bicicleta, pero lo habitual será fluir.
Majadas pastoriles de Pikuta.
"Tapón" de ciclistas en el roquedo.
Otro momento, el mismo lugar. Majadas pastoriles de Oidui.
Senderos serpenteantes en las Majadas pastoriles de Oidui. El pantano de Lareo va encogiendose en el bosque.
Refugio de Igaratza, parada obligada, se acabo el subir.
Caballos en Desaomendi, 1.306 metros, el punto más elevado de la etapa A.
La ralla de BASOAK corta las laderas de Aralar. La Sierra de Aizkorri y las montañas del interior de Gipuzkoa cierran el horizonte.
Pedalear relajado en las campas de Unakoputzua.
Vamos cambiando de valle y el Pirineo Navarro comienza a ocupar nuestro horizonte.
Descenso hacia Lekunberri. Si la nieve pinta las cumbres de las Malloak de Aralar, la temporada ciclista en BASOAK MTB esta llegando a su fin.
Lekunberri - Ultzama
Basaburua A tope!
Comienza la etapa M y la Sierra de Aralar comienza a convertirse en horizonte.
Ya en los primeros kilómetros el bosque -BASOAK- toma el protagonismo de la etapa.
BASABURUA; bosque y bosque.
Yeguas en las laderas de Ernaizu.
Descenso por Lauburu, último singletrack de nuestra "Trifásica Basaburua", un encadenamiento de 3 de las más populares líneas del Centro de BTT BASABURUA.
"Senda de los Jabatos" atravesando la cima de Itxondoa, en los kilómetros finales de la etapa.
Típicos senderos "alfombrados" del bosque navarro
Ultzama - Zubiri
Territorio Eremua
Los prados del Valle de La Ultzama finalizan con brusquedad ante el frente arbolado de los bosques del Quinto Real. Entramos en los Pirineos.
Rincones de la ruta por la Selva de Anue.
La cima alomada de Goitiko Gaina hace de frontera entre los hayedos del norte de Navarra y los prados y bojedales que colonizan el territorio más al sur.
Descendiendo la ruta "Magnun" en día de "cencellada".
Si queremos un "intensivo" en el Centro de BTT de Eremua retornamos por la ruta Sugea para realizar un doble descenso en las laderas del Monte Burdindogi.
Ambiente de auténtico bosque tropical en los singletracks del Barranco de Etxarro - Centro de BTT Eremua.
Zubiri - Pamplona
Valle de Esteribar, Eremua Sur
Secuencia de valles y montañas entre el Pirineo navarro y la Cuenca de Pamplona.
Ambiente de prados y bosque bajo si elejimos la opción de ruta por el sur del Valle de Esteribar.
Últimos kilómetros de la ruta por el Paseo Fluvial de la Comarca de Pamplona.
Fin de etapa, y fin de BASOAK MTB en Pamplona.
THE ROUTE IN PICTURES
Expect to feel it!
OUR LODGES
The half of the Trip
- Lodging for stages with start in Iruñea-Pamplona
- Lodging for stages with start in Arbizu
- Lodging for stages with start in Lekunberri
- Lodging for stages with start in Ultzama
- Lodging for stages with start in Zubiri
Hotel Villava
The base of PIRINEOS PUNTO BIKE in Iruñea / Pamplona is located in the HOTEL VILLAVA, a comfortable 3-star establishment located in the town of Villava, with Bikefriendly category and perfectly prepared for our cycling activity. The hotel is in a privileged situation for the practice of our sport, at the foot of Mount Ezkaba and on the road to the Pyrenees.
Hotel Izar Ondo
Hotel Ayestaran
Hotel Mirador de Ulzama 4*
Hostería de Zubiri
- Important -
In the rural world that our routes run through, hotel establishments are usually small. It is often difficult to book the sequence of accommodations necessary to complete a Pack, especially if the number of participants in a group is a bit high.
Booking in advance is often the key. It is not a commercial trick on our part. Many times, that reservation with enough time in advance is simply the difference between being able or not being able to reserve the Pack.
5 Stages / 5 Nights
642 € Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
692 € Price per person for groups of 5 people
674 € Price per person for groups of 4 people
763 € Price per person for groups of 3 people
760 € Price per person for groups of 2 people
Single room supplement: 195 €
When the group consists of an even number of people, an even number of applications will also be necessary to access this supplement.
Add night at the end of the route
And you can add a Night with Breakfast at the end of the route -in the same hotel where you started it- for 44 € per person in a double room or for 68 € in a single room
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.
- 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 - 4 nights accommodation in half board
- 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
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 Download sample - Link to services that may be necessary along 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
- 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
- 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 the nearest place to the route start point - Hire Asistance / Accident Insurance
and / or Trip Cancellation Insurance
- Best time to go: The route can be done once the snow disappears in the highest mountains 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-. - Type of tracks: Paths and tracks with more physical than technical demands, both uphill and downhill. The "singletracks" selected from the MTB Centres through which the route passes are usually blue level. Sometimes they can be red, but it is always a temporary and avoidable difficulty. To summarise, we can say that the aim is to make the paths have "flow" while avoiding the "enduro" concept as much as possible.".
For technically demanding sections - which sometimes exist - when possible we offer alternative tracks, although the easiest way to avoid distorting the route is to get off the bike. - Ideal bike: Preferably a dual suspension MTB bike.
- Orientation: The route must be followed with a GPS device or with the mobile phone App that you are used to using for the same purpose.
It is not advisable to try to learn how to use an App on the fly.
We do not provide Apps or GPS user manuals. It is up to the users to have this knowledge.
There is no on-site signage. - Ciclability: Depending on the technical skills and strength of each person, the route is 98%.
- Provisioning: Although we sometimes find refreshment points, depending on the time of year we may find that some establishments are closed. The documentation we provide at the start of the route provides information on the options at each stage.
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