BASOAK ROAD HIRU
3 Days of Performance Cycling through the Basque Country, Navarre, and the Pyrenees.
The most "docile" option within the UNIVERSO BASOAK ROAD.
style - road -
SELF-GUIDED ROUTE WITH GPS
- 3 stages -
Some parts of this website may be in the process of being translated.
BASOAK HIRU
THE ROUTE
BASOAK HIRU is the most "friendly" option within the UNIVERSO BASOAK ROAD for those looking for just a 3-day ride.
In short, we will be cycling through northern Navarre and the Basque Pyrenees.
...
On the first day, from Pamplona, we will head towards the Urbasa Mountain Range until we reach the Sakana Valley.
The second day, we will skirt the Aralar Mountain Range, in the heart of the Basque Country, and head towards Baztan.
In the third stage —the Queen Stage— we will reach the mountains of Lower Navarre, in the heart of the Pyrenees. Via the spectacular Col de Arnostegi or the more manageable Aztakarri pass, we will re-enter Navarre until we reach the ancient city of Iruñea.
The common denominator of the route will be the forest. That is why we call it BASOAK —forest— in the language that has been spoken in this area for hundreds of years.
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 A
Pamplona - Arbizu - Stage C
Arbizu - Baztan - Stage K
Baztan - Pamplona
Stage A1: Pamplona - Arbizu
Distance: 102km Unevenness: 1.470m
Stage C9: Arbizu - Doneztebe
Distance: 100km Unevenness: 1.360m
Stage K6: Doneztebe - Pamplona
Distance: 140km Unevenness: 2.540m
Stage 3 K4 (opción Sorogain): Doneztebe - Pamplona
Distance: 105km Unevenness: 1.685m
Standar Option
Distance: 342km Unevenness: 5.370m
Stage A2: Pamplona - Arbizu
Distance: 155km Unevenness: 2.370m
Stage C4: Arbizu - Doneztebe
Distance: 115km Unevenness: 2.210m
Stage K7: Doneztebe - Pamplona
Distance: 153km Unevenness: 3.215m
PLUS Option
Distance: 423km Unevenness: 7.795m
Media Montaña Navarra
Pastores y Contrabandistas
Col de Arnostegi vs Col Aztakarri
THE ROUTE IN DATA
What you could feel!
- Navarrese Mid-Mountains
- Basque "Little Devils"
- Cantabrian Navarre
- Western Pyrenees Irati
- Southern Navarrese Pyrenees
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Comienza la ruta. Pelotón profesional paseándose por Pamplona antes de "comenzar BASOAK".
Euskal Itzulia 2017
Puerto de Etxauri, todo bajo control.
Euskal Itzulia 2017
Puerto de Etxauri. Pedaleo bajo las rocas de la Escuela de escalada.
Segunda mitad de puerto en Etxauri desde lo alto del puerto. Dejamos atrás la cuenca de Pamplona y vamos a buscar Tierra Estella.
Euskal Itzulia 2017
Descendiendo el puerto de Eraul hacia Abartzuza. En BASOAK nos tocará subirlo por este lado.
Gran Premio Indurain 2017
Escenas de ciclismo profesional en el Alto de Eraul.
Gran Premio Indurain 2017
Encina de Eraul en el Alto del mismo nombre. Dicen que nació cuando en Europa aún no conociamos America. A nosotros nos avisa de que empieza la bajada.
If our chosen route enters the Basque Country, we will—without a doubt—run smack into some of the "walls" that invariably mark the course. These are our Basque "little devils."
Coto minero de Aizpea un paisaje más "profundo" cuando nos adentramos en el interior de las montañas del País Vasco.
Entre dos "muros", reposo del guerrero en la Zerain medieval.
Continuamos el "ratoneo vasco" con el murito de Barbaris entre Zerain y Zegama, 3 kilómetros y 230 metros de desnivel con sus rampitas del 12 y 13%.
Descendiendo Beunda en las laderas de la Sierra de Aizkorri, último muro del día.
Bordeando la Sierra de Aralar, entre Gaintza y Larraitz, 3ª etapa de la ruta en su opción PLUS. Nos movemos en el territorio predilecto de las clásicas vascas.
Ordiziako Klasika 2015
Alto de Lazkaomendi entre Lazkao y Ordizia. Al fondo las montañas de la Sierra de Aizkorri.
Durante los primeros 50 kilómetros de la etapa pedalearemos contorneando la Sierra de Aralar por su vertiente norte. En el centro el inconfundible Txindoki. Nos sorprenderá su cambio de aspecto según avanza la etapa.
En la etapa de BASOAK PYRENEES que atraviesa el territorio de Gipuzkoa se realiza la ascensión al pueblo de Gaintza por la ruta convencional, pero para los amantes de las sensaciones fuertes existe el famoso Muro de Gaintza, un "diablillo" trampa con una sección de 1,6 kilómetros al 15,3% de media en el que Alberto Contador sentencio su Vuelta al País Vasco 2014. Comienza en la cercana localidad de Zaldibia y no es difícil dar con el pero si no lo encuentras pídenoslo y te enviaremos el track.
En la imagen los participantes de la Ordiziako Klasika 2015 negociando la parte dura del muro.
La Gipuzkoa rural/industrial queda atrás. Abandonamos la comarca de Tolosaldea con dirección a Navarra.
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En la Sierra de Aralar comienza lo que podemos denominar como "Navarra Cantábrica" un territorio con puertos de dificultad media a medio camino entre el mar y los Pirineos "de verdad". Llegamos a Astiz, bucolismo puro entre Lekunberri y la Sakana por el Alto de Zuazarrate.
Cruzamos el Larraun en Lekunberri y vamos olvidandonos de La Sierra de Aralar. Por Uitzi, Leitza y Usategieta iremos a buscar el Baztan.
La Sierra de Aralar vista desde el Valle de la Ultzama
Preparando el descenso en el puerto de Uitzi
Cola del pelotón de la Euskal Itzulia 2016 en el Alto de Usategieta
Ascendiendo a la Sierra de Aralar - Opción PLUS -
Santuario de San Miguel de Aralar y Valle de La Sakana desde la cima de Artxueta.
Ultzama Valley - La Suiza Navarra -
Cómodas pendientes del puerto de Izpegi, preludio de entrada al territorio de los grandes puertos.
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Superamos Izpegi y un paísaje espectacular nos recibe, descendemos a Baigorri y se acaban los puertos de "tamaño medio", nos esperan los Colosos Pirenaicos.
Ascendiendo el puerto de Munhoa desde Baigorri
Campus Baigorri GIRLS Cycling Experiences 2019
Escenas habituales de la ruta
Escenas bucólicas en el territorio 5 estrellas de los Pirineos Atlánticos.
Restos de la Torre Romana sobre la cima del Urkulu custodiando las "apacibles" laderas del puerto de Arnostegi
With its 5 main different ascents, all of them hovering around 1000 meters of elevation gain, Col de Arnostegi is no longer a hidden gem and is taking its rightful place among the giants.
Its easiest route —from Esterenzubi, our descent path— has an APM coefficient of 268 (Aubisque 255), while the most demanding —our PLUS option— known as Arnostegi via Bellurti reaches 385 points, with 358 of those earned in just 7 kilometers (Tourmalet 342 in 23 km). For the standard route, we have chosen the Ondarolle -288 points- option, which is still tough but slightly more manageable.
This is the pattern here: points earned through brutal gradients rather than excessive distance. Add to this the perks: almost zero traffic and breathtaking beauty.
On some sections, we will cross paths with pilgrims, see the natural walls of the Zerkupe fortress, and, near the summit, the Roman Tower of Urkulu... shepherds' huts everywhere...
In short: Bucolism at the end of the slope, that's what awaits you.
Coronando Arnostegi entre jirones de niebla, una de las mejores situaciones meteorológicas para subir "refrigerados" las duras y prolongadas pendientes de este Coloso Pirenaico.
Y mucho mejor si después la niebla se queda abajo.
Potente paisaje pirenaico entre los pasos de Orgambide y Azpegi. En el fondo, las laderas de Artaburu y Errozate. Territorio Irati Extrem.
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Recreación cultural de cromlech frente a la montaña de Errozate en el alto de Orgambidea, paso natural a la vertiente sur del Pirineo. La ruta regresa a Navarra.
Restos reacondicionados para el turismo de la antigua Fábrica de Armas de Orbaitzeta. Estamos ya en la vertiente sur del Pirineo.
Peregrinos y ciclistas compartiendo territorio en Espinal, población típica del Pirineo Navarro.
Cicloturista La Indurain 2016
Escenas de la vertiente sur del Pirineo navarro entre Espinal y Erro. Tachuela de Mezkiritz.
Cicloturista La Indurain 2016
Enfilados hacia Zubiri, estamos terminando BASOAK.
Cicloturista La Indurain 2016
Casa natal del pentacampeón del Tour Miguel Indurain, un valor simbólico añadido a la ruta.
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 Doneztebe
- Lodging for stages with start in Elizondo
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
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.
Hotel Trinkete 3*
- 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.
3 Stages / 3 Nights
396 € Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
436 € Price per person for groups of 4 or 5 people
512 € Price per person for groups of 3 people
550 € Price per person for groups of 2 people
Single room supplement: 162 €
When the group consists of an even number of people, an even number of applications will also be necessary to access this supplement.
Add a night at the finalising point of the route - B&B
+ 44 € in doble room or + 68 € in 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 - 2 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- Explanatory printed map-sketch of the different route options for each stage
One per stage Download sample - 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
- 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-. - 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 - 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.
- 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.
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