BASOAK ROAD PYRENEES 5
5 Stages point to point route for road bike through the Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Route in stages combining the Forests of Navarra and the unknown Mountain Passes of the northern slope of the Basque Pyrenees.
style - road -
SELF-GUIDED ROUTE WITH GPS
- 5 stages -
Some parts of this website may be in the process of being translated.
BASOAK PYRENEES 5
THE ROUTE
BASOAK PYRENEES is a 5-stage route for road bicycles with 2 difficulty options. It runs through the Cuenca de Pamplona and the Baztan in the first part, before entering the "heart" of the surprising, solitary and - it must be said - steep Irati and La Soule passes in the French Basque Country. We will not leave this conglomerate of passes until the middle of the last stage, which will return us a little more peacefully to the starting point in Pamplona.
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In terms of sport and geography, in this proposal reduced to 5 stages of BASOAK PYRENEES we will find 2 environments and styles of cycling. A first stage of Navarra Mid-Mountain and 4 stages of Pyrenean Colossi.
Going into more detail, the first of the environments - that of Navarrese mid-mountain - could also be called the "non-Pyrenees" of Navarre.
Here we are talking about a territory made up of the peripheral regions of the Pyrenees, the Pamplona Basin, Leitzaldea and Baztan. Its kilometers are characterized by alternating flat stretches through valley bottoms, with mountain passes of 4 to 6 kilometers and 400 meters of gradient on average.
Once the first stage is over, there is no longer any doubt about the term to use, we are absolutely in the Kingdom of the Pyrenean Colossi.
Therefore, in order to design the standard option of the route, trying to ensure that its difficulty does not limit a sector of cycle tourists who do not want to "lose their legs" in each stage, the only option we have had has been to include only one of the big mountain passes during each of the 2 days that we are going to travel through the Pyrenees. For those who want more excitement, there is the PLUS option in each of the stages.
To clearly convey what we are talking about, we can resort to data and simply note that of the 7 big ports that the route faces in its PLUS option, 3 are more difficult than the Tourmalet and the other 4 are as difficult or equal to the Aubisque via Larrun. In the standard option, the score is 2 above the Tourmalet and 2 above the Aubisque.Beyond the numbers, you will find almost zero traffic on most passes, a peaceful pace of life in the valleys, and an overflowing natural beauty that you can preview in "The Route in pictures" tab in the sidebar.
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 L
Pamplona - Baztan - Stage D
Baztan - Arette - Stage E
Circular Arette - Stage F
Arette - Ezterenzubi - Stage G
Ezterenzubi - Pamplona
Stage L1: Pamplona - Doneztebe/Elizondo
Distance: 102km Unevenness: 1.145m
Stage 4 - D1: Doneztebe / Elizondo - Arette
Distance: 93km Unevenness: 1.980m
Stage 5 - E1: Arette - Arette
Distance: 71km Unevenness: 2.030m
Stage 6 - F1: Arette - Esterenzubi
Distance: 72km Unevenness: 1.970m
Stage 7 - G1: Esterenzubi - Pamplona
Distance: 93km Unevenness: 1.805m
Standar Option
Distance: 432km Unevenness: 8.930m
Stage L2: Pamplona - Doneztebe/Elizondo
Distance: 137km Unevenness: 2.170m
Stage 4 - D2: Doneztebe / Elizondo - Arette
Distance: 109km Unevenness: 2.685m
Stage 5 - E2: Arette - Arette
Distance: 121km Unevenness: 2.945m
Stage 6 - F2: Arette - Esterenzubi
Distance: 103km Unevenness: 3.170m
Stage 7 - G2: Esterenzubi - Pamplona
Distance: 121km Unevenness: 2.450m
PLUS Option
Distance: 591km Unevenness: 13.420m
Pastores y Contrabandístas
La Baja Navarra y Los Arbailles
La Pierre de St Martín, un TOP5 pirenaico
Selva de Irati Norte
Arnostegi, coloso pirenaico
THE ROUTE IN DATA
What you could feel!
- Cantabrian Navarre
- Western Pyrenees Irati
- Western Pyrenees Bearn
- Southern Navarrese Pyrenees
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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
Ambiente de alta montaña pirenaica durante el ascenso a Munhoa
Campus Baigorri GIRLS Cycling Experiences 2019
Grupeta del "Campus Baigorri GIRLS Cycling Experiences 2019" dandolo todo en las laderas del Munhoa
Ascenso a Inharpu / Ahusky desde Bastida, la vertiente por la que se ascendió en La Vuelta a España 2016. Se puede elegir, pero si hace calor recomendamos la opción de subida por Behorlegi que es por la que "oficialmente" asciende BASOAK PYRENEES.
Desde lo alto de Ahusky y en días limpios la vista se extiende por la derecha hasta el Golfo de Bizkaia y por la izquierda hacia las cimas altas del Pirineo Atlántico.
Sin ningún genero de dudas, uno de los mejores tramos de cicloturismo de todo el Pirineo.
Vuelta a España 2016
El pelotón comienza el descenso hacia Altzai durante la Etapa Reina de La Vuelta a España 2016, por delante les vienen Soudet, Marie Blanque y Aubisque, una minucia de esas...
Vuelta a España 2016
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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Arette se encuentra en el extremo más oriental de BASOAK PYRENEES, las posibilidades que tiene para el cicloturismo son tantas y tan buenas que se hace casi obligatorio pasar 2 días en el mismo PUNTO BIKE. Realmente ello supone un valor añadido pues aporta un punto de relax al conjunto de la ruta el hecho de saber que al día siguiente no es necesario recoger todo el equipaje al salir a realizar la etapa.
El "bucolismo" de la fotografía podríamos decir que tiene algo de "falso" en cuanto a lo nuestro se refiere, pues las pendientes son de traca y los desniveles que se avecinan de los mayores -si no los mayores- que podemos encontrar en Los Pirineos.
Col de Labays 1351 metros, primera cota puntuable durante nuestro ascenso al Col de La Pierre de San Martín.
Col de Soudet 1531 metros, segunda cota puntuable durante la misma ascensión.
Pax Avant 2013
Por encima de la estación de esquí de Arette la pendiente se suaviza, pero el viento acostumbra a compensarlo.
Pax Avant 2013
Col de La Pierre de San Martín, techo de BASOAK PYRENEES. En la opción estándar volvemos sobre nuestros pasos. El objetivo es la cima.
Pax Avant 2013
Durante el descenso nos desviamos en el cruce del Soudet para ir a buscar el Col de Issarbe, que por esta vertiente se convierte en un casi agradable paseo de escasos 5 kilómetros con 200 metros de ascenso.
En la opción PLUS abordamos un clásico de la zona, el encadenamiento Larrau - La Pierre de San Martín. Un recorrido más o menos coincidente con el de las asentadas pruebas cicloturistas Pierre Jacques y Larra Larrau que partiendo una desde el norte y la otra desde el sur se celebran todos los años en estas pendientes.
Surge la duda de en que sentido realizar la vuelta, puesto que la de hoy es una etapa circular. En cualquiera de los 2 sentidos surgen muchos Pros y pocos contras, así que es una decisión difícil, pero como teníamos que elegir, hemos elegido subir Larrau primero.
En la imagen, el pueblo de Larrau -ya en el kilómetro 3 del puerto- va quedando abajo.
Cogiendo altura en el Larrau, hay que alcanzar los 380 puntos APM. Los conseguiremos en 15 kilómetros y 1200 metros de cuesta. En la cima estaremos a 1585 metros de altitud.
Desde el Puente de Laugibar, que es donde comienza el puerto, hasta el antecimero Col de Erroimendi al que en breve llegarán los 3 ciclistas de la foto, el Larrau es casi un muro constante de 10 kilómetros al 10% -fácil de recordar-
Descenso por el buen asfalto de la vertiente sur del Larrau. Sobrevolamos la Selva de Irati.
Segundo puerto grande del día. Sol y lluvia durante el ascenso a La Pierre de San Martín, también llamado Portillo de Ernaz desde el Valle de Belagua.
Karst de Larra en las inmediaciones de La Pierre de San Martín, un paisaje característico y a menudo muy frío, da igual que sea verano.
Participante de la cicloturista Pax Avant celebrada en 2013 en este territorio, descendiendo La Pierre de San Martín hacia Isaba.
El conglomerado de rutas -7 ascensos diferentes- que culminan en este puerto, sumado a los grandes desniveles que deberemos superar por cualquiera de sus vertientes, hacen de este coloso de 1.764 metros de altitud, uno de los lugares de "peregrinación" obligados de los Pirineos.
Sus desniveles rondan los 1.500 metros, y su dificultad llega a alcanzar en su opción Issarbe, los 417 puntos de coeficiente APM, cifra difícilmente alcanzable en los Pirineos y claramente por encima de los puerto míticos de la cordillera - Aubisque 255, Tourmalet 342, Luz-Ardiden 233-
Pax Avant 2013
Etapa F. Si vamos por la opción PLUS, al poco de salir de Arette ya estaremos metidos entre bosques peleando con otro de los reyes de la zona, Col de Issarbe, por resumir, 11 kilometros al 9%.
El "coloso" obligatorio de la etapa F de BASOAK PYRENEES es el Col de Bagargi desde Laugibar, un autentico puerto TOUR, ascendido en la 16ª etapa de la edición de 2003 -a continuación del Soudet- en su ruta entre Pau y Bayona. Otra vez los números no engañan, 326 puntos APM, 15 kilómetros de puerto y una zona central de 3 kilómetros con pendiente media del 12%.
En las inmediaciones del Col de Surzai se encuentran algunas de las espectaculares secciones de bosque pirenaico que dan nombre a BASOAK PYRENEES.
Irati Extrem 2013
Descenso de Errozate hacia Esterenzubi. Necesario ir bien de frenos.
En los últimos kilómetros de la etapa seguiremos en sentido inverso el recorrido de la 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
Espectacular Alto de Nahala durante el descenso de Lindus a Urepel en las opciones PLUS. Un breve regreso a la vertiente norte, a los Cols "de verdad".
Campus Baigorri GIRLS Cycling Experiences 2019
La misma cuesta y los mismos arboles en distintas épocas. Ascenso a Urkiaga desde Urepel por el Col intermedio de Paradar. 510 metros de desnivel exigentes.
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 Doneztebe
- Lodging for stages with start in Elizondo
- Lodging for stages with start in Arette
- Lodging for stages with start in Esterenzubi
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.
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*
Hotel de l'Ours
The base of PIRINEOS PUNTO BIKE in Arette s located in a Rural Hotel completely dedicated to cycling.
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.
- 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
796 € Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
866 € Price per person for groups of 4 or 5 people
998 € Price per person for groups of 3 people
1.050 € Price per person for groups of 2 people
Single room supplement: 224 €
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 - 4 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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