ANCIENT PATHS OF THE PYRENEES

We want you to have the best experience in the Spanish Pyrenees, so it’s important to be sure that this is the perfect mountain bike adventure, with the right level of challenge, for you.

You’re an experienced mountain biker, riding at least twice a week through the season and comfortable on: long descents with drops, roots, rocky sections, tight corners, steep sections, and sometimes very loose surfaces. 

Many of the trails are used for international enduro races, so expect technical features. 

Read more on our intermediate+ skill level.

Does this sound like you? Your vacation time is precious and we want to be absolutely sure that you’re making the most of it. Be honest with yourself, if this adventure isn’t right for you, we have other MTB tours that may be a better fit for your mountain biking ability.

Please note: The skill level required reflects an overall rating for the trails on the trip but you should expect to find sections and obstacles that push your ability levels.

• You are generally comfortable riding most types of terrain in different conditions: singletrack, double track, muddy, dry, loose, bedrock…
• You can brake, use gears and corner instinctively
• You’ll have a go on moderate technical features, such as small rock gardens, small drops and steeper sections, but may get off and walk certain technical features
• You mountain bike two or three times a week throughout your biking season
• And the ‘+’ part of ‘Intermediate+’ means that you will be aiming to tackle more of those moderate technical features

• You have a good level of bike fitness, exercising at least three times every week throughout the year, for an hour at a time
• You can ride a mountain bike for up to six hours a day at a moderate pace, with snack and photo stops, for three or more consecutive days
• You can tackle two or three fairly significant climbs a day, up to 600 metres each

• Some of the riding you’ll do on our mountain bike tour in the Pyrenees is just over 6,500ft/ 2,000m  with exposure present on some trails
• Double track: undulating jeep roads made up of hard-packed dirt, small rocks and occasionally sand
• Singletrack: rustic singletrack, mainly high mountain trails with very dry, loose surfaces, and through valley forests with roots crossing the trails, and at times you will encounter tennis ball-sized rock gardens, and flow trails. There will be some tight corners to contend with also
• The trails in the Pyrenees are thousands of years old, so are not always buff purpose built trails, they are natural high altitude walking trails that link villages across the region and surfaces will be soft and loose, and/or rocky and dry at times. They are also affected by the weather and may be eroded in places
• You will have to hike-a-bike for up to two hours during this adventure to reach the high mountain passes

To get the most out of your mountain bike tour in the Pyrenees you should plan plenty of training in advance of your tour.

You will experience altitudes of between 5,00ft/ 2,00m and 6,500ft/ 2,000m when mountain biking in the Pyrenees, so we have some advice on mountain biking at high altitudes.

The ideal bike for the Pyrenees trails is a good quality full-suspension mountain bike with 29” or 27.5” wheels, dropper seat post, and 130mm -160mm of travel front and rear.

We only run small group mountain bike tours and there will be a maximum of 10 riders and minimum of four in each group.

Our mountain bike tour in the Pyrenees of Spain caters for a wide age range; typically between 30- and 55-years-old. Regardless of age, you must have the appropriate level of physical fitness and mountain biking skills to participate in this adventure. Please refer to clause 14 of our terms and conditions of booking to find more information on rider age.

This mountain bike adventure in the Pyrenees of Spain is a guided mountain bike vacation, ideal for Intermediate+ mountain bikers.

The terrain you’ll be riding on consists of double track and singletrack through valleys, villages and across high plateaux and mountain passes. Much of the terrain is very rocky, sometimes loose or exposed, and generally quite dry. There are some forested trails too.  Altitude is a factor in this trip and we have some tips for riding at high altitudes and managing the effects of altitude.

The distances we cover each day range from 20km to 40km, in accordance with the altitude and height gain/ loss on each stage. Each evening your guides will chat with you about the following day’s mountain biking and give you an idea of the sorts of trails you can look forward to. If there’s anything you feel anxious about, your guides will be happy to discuss it with you.

No, you only need to carry a day pack with you whilst riding. We have your large kit bags transferred to your next accommodation each day, and have it ready and waiting for your arrival.

Your guide will be happy to give you skills tips during your trip to help improve your confidence and your enjoyment of your mountain bike tour in The Pyrenees.

If there is a section that you would prefer not to ride, then you can simply hop off your bike and walk. You won’t be the only one to walk certain sections and it’s not a competition in biking ability; it’s a mountain bike holiday!

All meals starting with lunch on day one, and ending with breakfast on day 8.

The ideal bike for the Pyrenees trails is a good quality full-suspension mountain bike with 29” or 27.5” wheels, dropper seat post, and 130mm -160mm of travel front and rear.

Read the full kit list to find out what you need to pack for your mountain bike tour in The Pyrenees.

Yes, you will have the chance to have laundry done on days 4 and 5.

Unfortunately not. We are working hard to provide each and every customer who rides with us an unparalleled mountain bike experience in every destination we ride. This takes years of experience, riding and planning to get right, and a drone adds a very real danger to the group’s riding experience and health & safety. Why not read our tips on taking better MTB pictures, and make the most of your camera?

You should travel to Barcelona, in Spain which is served by a number of international airlines.

You should book your bike on to your international flight in advance, otherwise you could face a higher charge at the airport.

Please arrive 24 hours before the start of the tour to allow for any travel disruption.

Visas

It is your responsibility to find out the visa and passport requirements to enter Spain from your country. You can find these details on the Spanish tourism website

Arrival & departure details

Your guide team will meet you at the designated pre-trip hotel in Barcelona on day 1, and transfer you to the first hotel of your adventure.

On day 8, the last day of your Pyrenees MTB adventure, we will transfer you back to Barcelona airport. The drive is around 3.5 hours and you should book your return flight no earlier than 16:00 if possible.

Our mountain bike guides in The Pyrenees are of the highest level.

They are qualified in first-aid and they have the knowledge and experience to lead a group safely in these remote, wild and beautiful parts of The Pyrenees.

Our guides have years of experience in the saddle on the trails of The Pyrenees and will be able to enhance your holiday with facts and fables on local history, flora and fauna. They’re also genuinely nice people and will do their best to make sure that everyone in the group has a great time.

Meet your guides Sepu and Edu.

One of the things that sets our adventures apart is the unique local accommodation we use. We  use the best, locally-run accommodation in each country, and that which is traditional to that area, whether it be a city or mountain.

On our mountain bike tour in The Pyrenees you’ll be staying in a selection of traditional Spanish accommodations from rustic mountain hotels, to small family run guest houses, and an old monastery.

Most of the food you will enjoy on our mountain bike tour in The Pyrenees is traditional food influenced by surrounding countries, all prepared with the greatest of care and skill. Typical dishes include: cheese, eggs, local meats and of course plenty of local wine.

The local cuisine is not well-suited to a vegan diet, so please contact us to discuss this if you are vegan.

We will eat together as a group at each mealtime, and all meals are included in the tour price.

No vaccinations are required for visiting The Pyrenees.

You should always consult your own doctor or physician before travelling to new countries to seek their advice on matters concerning your health abroad.

We recommend you check before drinking tap water. Bottled or filtered water will be readily available throughout the trip.

Also, please let us know if you have any special food requirements, allergies or pre-existing conditions your guides should know about.

Your health and safety on tour is our top priority and when you travel with us you will be covered by Global Rescue emergency medical and evacuation services.

The official currency of Spain is the Euro. ATM machines are available in Barcelona, but limited in the countryside.

Tipping

It is not compulsory to tip your guides or drivers in The Pyrenees , but it is much appreciated. If you feel you’ve had a good service or experience on your mountain bike tour in The Pyrenees, you can tip at your discretion.

It is not compulsory to tip in restaurants, however should you wish to tip your servers, 10% – 15% of your meal cost would be acceptable.

You are required as a condition of booking to be insured against medical and personal accident risks. In this policy you must include cover for mountain biking and we recommend that you take out a policy which covers trip cancellation, and baggage loss/ damage, including your bike.

The minimum fee for cancelling your tour with us is your deposit, so it is essential that you take out suitable travel insurance to cover you should something happen that prevents you from taking part in your tour with us.

We work with Global Rescue whose policies are specially designed for adventure travel and you can arrange your insurance cover directly with them. Global Rescue Signature Travel complements the cover you have with us as part of your booking.

You are covered through our Global Rescue membership for emergency evacuation to a local hospital, and have 24/7 telephone access to a doctor also. It does not cover the items mentioned above.