7-day Pre-Pyrenees and Bardenas Reales MTB Holiday

Arrival at welcoming rural hotel La Posada de Uncastillo in Uncastillo, one of the 5 major towns that together with 26 smaller villages make up the municipality of Las Cinco Villas. Each town has its own castle, built on the frontline between Christian and Moorish areas in nowadays Aragon and Navarra. As you stroll through Uncastillo and the small alleys of the former Jewish quarter, the Middle Ages come back to life. Marvel also at the richly decorated porch of the Romanesque church Santa Maria la Mayor.

If you’ve rented bikes they will be delivered at the end of the day or early tomorrow morning

First day of testing bikes (and your own fitness!) in the foothills of the Pyrenees in the Sierra Selva. The surfaced track along which you leave town quickly changes to gravel as you reach the reservoir of Anàs, and you will follow it all the way up through the gorge, past a 500 year old holm oak known as the ‘Chaparro de Anàs’. After a 300m ascent you’ll enjoy absolute quietness and fabulous views as you traverse the sierra, going continuously up and down. Relaxing descent through another valley to reach the hotel again.

Challenge: 27 km / 16,8 mi, 600 m ascent

Villages along the way: Uncastillo

Today’s route includes a visit to the town of Luesia, which already was the location of an important monastery in the 5th century.  Was witness to the first version of the castle built in the 10st century, which was destroyed by the Arab warrior Almazor and rebuilt by King Sancho the Great in 1025. As the first ascent to Luesia counts for half of the total, you have the option of getting a transfer with the bikes bikes to Luesia and then start to cycle. The route ascents quietly through the valley of the river Arba to a superb natural pool ‘Pozo de Pigalo’ and the castle of Sibirana, built on two vertical rocks. Return to Uncastillo along quiet gravel and dirt tracks through shady oak woods.

Challenge: 48 / 28 km / 29,8 / 17,4 mi, 750 / 350 m ascent

Villages along the way: Uncastillo, Luesia

A change of hotel and scenery today. You first have to cross three foothills (three ascents of 150-200 m each) to reach Castiliscar and its castle which only the belltower is left. Then you paddle through an area dedicated to agriculture, mostly following an irrigation channel, before heading West to the Aragón river. Your sympathic hotel-restaurant Txapi Txuri is located on the other side, in the village of  Murillo el Fruto.

Challenge: 49 km / 30,4 mi, 825 m ascent

Villages along the way: Uncastillo, Castiliscar, Murillo el Fruto

In the morning you will be literally transferred into another orbit, at the entrance of the Bardenas Reales badlands. Shaped by natural erosion into a fantasy landscape has becomes famous for being a filmset of Games of Thrones. No village, no bar, no restaurant along the route today, but you might enjoy (or suffer from) the weekly aerial training of European armed forces, which gives the scenery an extra ‘out-of-this-world’ dimension. Maximum hight difference is 125m today, so the 525 m is accumulative and spread out over the day. As you cycle back to Murillo, do visit the Monastery Santa Maria de la Oliva founded in the 12th century by Cistercian monks.

Challenge: 46 km / 28,6 mi, 525 m ascent

Villages along the way: Murillo el Fruto

Starting again at El Paso, you cycle back to civilization via another section of the Bardenas Reales, with only one steep ascent of 150 m up to the viewpoint La Estroza. The rest of the day there will be some minor ascents, but basically, you’ll cycle downhill, from the barren desert into the green flatlands of the river Ebro, to Tudela. This city is the centre of agriculture production of Navarra and, after having returned your bikes and relaxed at the nice hotel in town, go out to enjoy the high quality vegetable assortiment of the area.

Challenge: 51 km / 31,7 mi, 500 m ascent

Villages along the way: Murillo el Fruto, Tudela

After breakfast your trip comes for an end unless you have booked an extra night in Tudela.

Tudela is a charming city founded in 802, where for many centuries Muslims, Jews, Mozarabs and Christians have turn the city into a true artistic gem. Don’t miss Plaza de los Fueros, the spectacular cathedral, the city’s churches and palaces, alleys, fortified walls and watchtowers.