Raid Pyrenean Cycling Holiday – The Essentials
Cycle the Raid Pyrenean, one of our must-do road cycling tours in France. Cycling the Pyrenees coast-to-coast from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, this 7-night trip is the ultimate challenge, crossing the most famous cols in the Pyrenees such as the Col du Tourmalet, famous in the Tour de France, the col d’Aspin or the col d’Aubisque.
As on all of our cycling tours, you will be accompanied by your local guide in the support vehicle, who will give you daily ride briefs and mechanical support. Your luggage is transported point-to-point in the support vehicle, as well as your daily bag and gear, so you carry only the essentials! You will meet the guide at pre-decided rest stops to take on water and nutrition, as well as at the top of each climb. You can also flag down the support van at any stage if needed.
Those who have been on one of our other French cycling trips know that the road surfaces are generally very good, even in the mountains ; the Pyrenees have the added advantage of being less-frequented than the Alps or the Mont Ventoux, and many of the quieter roads will really take you of the beaten track.
We provide a route card and daily maps with distance, elevation and route information. If you have a Garmin or other device, GPX route files are also available. You have the option of renting a carbon or aluminium road bike from a local bike shop in the Pyrenees, or you can bring your own.
All breakfasts included, all lunches and dinners not included.
Airport: Arrive at Bilbao airport. Depart from Barcelona airport.
Hotels: 2 stars hotels or equivalent
Included:
– Transports luggages during the trip.
– Airport transfers from Bilbao and to Barcelona airport.
– 7 night, B&B in a 2 star hotel or equivalent, in St Jean de Luz, Montory, Argeles Gazost, St Lary, St Girons, Ax les Thermes & Canet en Roussillon based 2 people sharing per room
– 7 breakfasts.
– 6 cycling days with France Outdoors itineraries and support vehicle
– Typically one guide for the week (support vehicle and organization) from up to 12 pax.
Not Included:
– Bike hire on site. From €250 to €350 for the week do not hesitate to contact us.
– Single room supplement: from 280€ for the week. Please note that if you book a sharing place (twin rooms) without a sharing partner, we will do our best to find you one, however in failing doing so, extra single supplement will apply.
– The flights.
– Individual insurance.
– Beverages.
– Lunches and dinners
– All extras not included in the itinerary.
– Card fees. You can avoid fees by paying by bank transfer
Booking process:
– Deposit of 30% payable upon reservation to secure your place.
– Balance one month before trip departure.
– If trip not yet guaranteed : contact us first
Mark Haywood –
Fabulous trip, well paced and thought through and brilliantly supported – Claude was a superstar from roadside picnic to briefings, itinerary and mechanical fixes.If you are thinking about this trip, just do it !
Jon Evans –
The whole trip was fantastic.
Such a sense of achievement at the end of 6 pretty tough but enjoyable days. Special thanks to Claude, who was excellent! He was there at every turn and this man knows how to put on a picnic – what a spread every day! His advice and help was brilliant, too!
Francis –
Superbly organised trip, all we needed to do was ride and eat! Scenery was great, distance just about right for my level of fitness and we were very lucky with the weather. Claude was our guide and had a knack of appearing at the roadside exactly when you needed and letting us get on with it for the rest of the time. highlights; Claude, our group, mountains, learning to descend 🙂
Paul McCabe –
Wonderful, wonderful, and did I say wonderful already, cycle trip through the French side of the Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. Claude our guide was superb and delivered the most amazing picnics each day whilst fixing bike gears, taking photos, route plotting and ferrying all our gear from place to place. The trip was a window into the villages and rural landscapes of that part of France. Food was amazing and the experience unforgettable. Well done to France Outdoors
Lucy –
Claude was exceptional. Knows as cyclists we need to keep fed & watered. Very friendly & was excellent when we cycled. His van modified to take all kit was fabulous.
Claude made the holiday for us. Great person all round. The snacks (peanuts, fruits, etc…) were important to keep us going. Fabulous picnics that made it a lot easier than trying to find restaurants.
Came for the challenge & most certainly challenged !
Ian –
This was a tough tour, as advertised, so it tired up to expectations.
We suffered from 40+°C temperatures but June weather is invariably unpredictable.
Highlights for me:
* Claude (guide) absolutely outstanding
* hotels all good, especially evening meals
* scenery
Richard –
A great holiday – quite hard work cycling in the heat uphill for hours, but so rewarding.
Really good experience. I could do this trip again !
Sebastien –
Fantastic trip. Really enjoyed it – perfect.
Harry –
I was very impressed att the trip, the guide Claude was superb. He created a good, relaxed atmosphere and was very supportive and helped for the slower ones. An excellent guide.
The most fabulous route I had ridden, really terrific, helped by good weather but still great. Highly recommended
John –
Excellent holiday. Tough but rewarding.
Claude is excellent guide/host who really looked after us. He went out of his duty to organise stuff (massage…) which was appreciated.
I could recommend this trip !!!
Tim –
Claude was well organised + prepared, patient, good humoured + communicated very well indead.
one of the best guides I’ve had, if not the best !
A really nice put touch tha Claude takes photos thoughout the trip and send those to the group.
Andrew –
Excellent support, facilitation and leadership from Claude. Appreciated Bruno’s enthusiasm.
Brilliant cycling routes.
Hotels very accomodating.
Only real negative was evening meal on day1 in Hendaye which was very poor.
Kevin –
Wifi very poor at all hotels.
the trip was very good and trully met my expectations.
The hotels could be better in some areas.
Margaret –
Claude is an excellent guide. His attention to detail + his calm, encouraging + skilled personne are commendable.
Amazing route ! Rides tough and challenging but achievable, just what I signed up for. Thanks !
Alan –
Claude ran an excellent trip with his able assistant Bruno, always full of enthusiasm & willing to encourage + help.
Pyrenees region is one of the most beautiful + stunning areas I have seen.
A couple of routes were closed due to road subsidised but Claude + Bruno always sorted an excellent alternative.