Ride Across Spain 1: San Sebastian to Madrid

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $150 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

OVERVIEW: This ride, together with “Ride Across Spain Part II: Madrid to Tarifa,” provides the opportunity to cycle the length of Spain from the north coast to the south coast. Both rides are designed for strong experienced riders who will have a good base of challenging riding leading up to the start of the tour, and are capable of riding long daily distances with significant climbs. You’re welcome to sign up for either ride or both! These rides were previously led in 2017 and 2023, but in the reverse direction, south to north, and in the spring rather than the fall.

This tour begins on Wednesday, Sept. 16th, 2026, in the luxurious resort city of San Sebastián on the northern coast of Spain with the traditional BAC happy hour at 6pm in Hotel Catalonia Donosti. We’ll finish riding on Friday, Oct. 2nd in Madrid, and the tour will end after breakfast on Saturday, Oct. 3rd.  

Experience the varied landscapes and cultures of the Iberian Peninsula as we ride along roads with little traffic and excellent surfaces. Ancient archeological ruins, ornate cathedrals, quaint remote villages, vast vineyards, excellent red wine, and delicious tapas are abundant in this part of Spain. This tour will take us through five of Spain’s geographically and culturally diverse autonomous communities: Basque, Navarra, La Rioja, Castile-León, and Madrid, home of Spain’s capital city of the same name. We’ll have the opportunity to visit UNESCO World Heritage sites in Burgos (rest day), Segovia (rest day), Àvila, and San Lorenzo del Escorial. Highlights of the tour include:

• San Sebastián: The tour begins in San Sebastián, one of the prettiest cities on the Cantabrian coast. You might plan to arrive a day or two early to explore and experience the renowned Basque gastronomy. Walk the elegant promenade along the white sand of La Concha Beach. Climb the steps to the lookout on Mt. Igeldo for a view of the city. Visit the historic old quarter with several interesting old churches and the San Telmo Museum. Enjoy a meal in one of San Sebastián’s Michelin starred restaurants.  
• Pyrennes’ Roncevaux Pass: After spending the second night of the tour in Saint Etienne de Baïgorry in France, we cross the Pyrennes at Roncevaux Pass, the range’s lowest crossing point. The pass is an important point along the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.
• Laguardia. This beautiful medieval village where we have our first rest day is world famous for the exceptional quality of its wine. Explore Laguardia’s city center which offers several buildings of artistic and historic interest, and a lovely town square, or take a ride through the vast and beautiful vineyards surrounding the town.
• Burgos. Our second rest day will be in Burgos. Plan to spend some time visiting the opulent Gothic style cathedral with its soaring spires (UNESCO World Heritage Site), and other sites of historic and cultural significance in Burgos’s old town. For those who prefer to ride, there will be a loop ride.
• Peñafiel. A ride through the vineyards of Ribera del Duero, another one of Spain’s premium wine regions, will bring us to Peñafiel, best known for its castle and the Plaza del Coso, the medieval square used for bullfights.
• Segovia. After crossing the Meseta Central, Spain’s high plain with its windmills, rolling fields of grain, and cattle ranches, we arrive in Segovia where we have our third rest day. Segovia is known for its extremely well-preserved Roman aqueduct (UNESCO World Heritage site), “fairytale-like” Alcázar castle, and Gothic cathedral. Spend the day exploring these fascinating historic sites or do a loop ride if you prefer.
• Àvila. This exceptionally well reserved fortified city dates from the Middle Ages. Àvila was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985 because of its numerous churches and convents, and the nearly intact multi-turreted wall that surrounds the town which was constructed in the 11th century.
• San Lorenzo del Escorial. San Lorenzo Del Escorial is home to the Monastery of Felipe II, the historical residence of the King of Spain. UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Madrid. Our final day of riding takes us into Madrid. The last few miles of the route to our final hotel will be on bike paths, allowing us to avoid Madrid’s heavy traffic. Plan to spend an extra day or two here, visiting the city’s famous museums and exploring this welcoming and diverse city. 

HEALTH & SAFETY: Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to
ride. Should someone's health become compromised and the group’s health and safety placed
in jeopardy, a plan will be developed by the ride leader and communicated to all individuals.
The expectation is for the group to work together to mitigate any spread of infection or illness as
a means to ensure the tour can continue as planned.

RIDE RATING: 3B! This will be a challenging ride! There are 13 required riding days and 3 rest days. The daily average distance will be 42 miles, and average daily ascent will be 3100’ of climbing.  Distances will range from 31-50 miles, and daily ascents will range from 1600-4800’. There are 5 required riding days that exceed the 3B rating (hence the “!”):

• Day 1: 47 miles, 4000’ climbing (4B)
• Day 2: 45 miles, 4800’ climbing (4B)
• Day 4: 42 miles, 3900’ of climbing (4B)
• Day 6: 46 miles, 3500’ of climbing (4B)
• Day 12: 39 miles, 3700’ of climbing (4B)

The ride rating is based on the average of the shortest ride options for each required riding day. There will be longer routes available for many days, generally with additional elevation. There also will be riding options on rest days for those who prefer to ride rather than rest or sightsee. Although most routes will be along well paved, lightly traveled back roads, the ride out of San Sebastián and into Madrid may include some heavier traffic. You should be comfortable riding hills, in remote areas, and for short distances in heavy traffic which we may encounter in urban areas. Riders must come prepared to handle minor mechanical mishaps (e.g., flat tires, minor bike mechanical adjustments) and carry anything they’ll need during the day such as sufficient water; tool kit with whatever you’d need to change a flat tire or make minor mechanical adjustments to your bike, lunch/snacks, rain jacket, etc. All riders are expected to ride the entire route each day; the luggage transport van does not support riders on the road except those with significant injuries, or whose bikes have a major mechanical issue. For a detailed itinerary with daily distances and climbing contact the Ride Leader.

Cue Sheets, Maps, GPS Files: Excellent GPS routes, cue sheets, and maps will be provided. Riders must be able to complete each day’s ride using a navigation device (e.g., Garmin, Wahoo, smartphone with RWGPS, etc.), or cue sheets and maps. We will not ride as a “stay together” group, and thus riders must bring (and be able to use) a navigation device or plan to navigate via cue sheet and map.

Bikes, Bike Cases, Bike Rentals: If you bring your own bike, be sure it is in good mechanical condition, and has appropriate gearing for tours with a 3B! rating. The average elevation gain for the rides on this tour is between 31-107 feet per mile. Many of the rides will have occasional very short pitches between 8-12%. Road bikes, gravel bikes, or hybrids are appropriate for this tour. Due to occasional short sections of rough road, tires with a width of at least 28mm are recommended. E-bikes and tandems will be accepted on a case by case basis. If you plan to ride an e-bike or tandem, contact the ride leader before you sign up.

Iberocycle will arrange transport of bike cases from San Sebastian to Madrid for a cost of 80€ per case, payable directly to Iberocycle. If you prefer, you may make your own arrangements to transfer your bike case from the starting hotel in San Sebastián to the final hotel in Madrid. (For those doing both Rides Across Spain, the cost for Iberocycle to transport your bike box from San Sebastián to Tarifa will be only 80€ per case – i.e., not 160€.)

To rent a bike for this trip (at your own expense) contact Iberocycle (info@iberocycle.com). They can supply rental bicycles at the following costs: Cube Carbon road bike 206€ rim brakes / 232€ disc brakes, Hybrid bike 145€, Road e-bike 305€, Hybrid e-bike, 262€.

WEATHER: Average high temperature in San Sebastian in Sept. is 72°F, rarely falling below 52°F or exceeding 83°F. The average number of days with precipitation is 7. The average high temperature in Madrid in early Oct. is 74°F, rarely falling below 49°F or exceeding 84°F, and the average number of days with precipitation is 5.

LODGING & MEALS: Seventeen (17) nights lodging, including one (1) night each in San Sebastián, St-Étienne-de-Baïgorry, Pamplona, Estella, Ezcary, Lerma, Peñafiel, Sepúlveda, Àvila, San Lorenzo del Escorial, and Madrid; and two (2) nights in Laguardia, Burgos, and Segovia. Lodging will be in 2–4-star hotels, including overnight stays in several exceptional modern properties, and several with historic significance. A detailed list of hotels will be provided before the start of the tour. All daily breakfasts will be provided, and we will have 15 happy hours and 4 group dinners. All other meals will be on your own.

LOGISTICS: We’ll have our initial happy hour at our starting hotel, Hotel Catalonia Donosti, on Wednesday, September 16th at 6pm. Plan to arrive no later than noon to allow adequate time for putting together your bike, or for fitting your rental bike. Our first day of riding will be Thursday, September 17th. Our last day of riding will be Friday, Oct. 2nd when we arrive in Madrid where we’ll have our final happy hour and group dinner. The tour ends on Saturday, Oct. 3rd after breakfast.

Ride participants can book an open-jaw flight arriving in Bilbao (BIO) (the closest international airport to San Sebastián) and departing from Madrid (MAD). You can take a bus or taxi from the Bilbao airport to San Sebastián. There is also a regional airport in San Sebastián so you could fly into Madrid or Bilbao and transfer to a flight into San Sebastián. For those who prefer to fly in and out of the same city, consider flying into Bilbao or Madrid. There is good reliable bus and/or train service between major cities in Spain, including Madrid, Bilbao, and San Sebastián. Transportation by bus, metro, or taxi is available between the Madrid airport and downtown Madrid.

ETIAS Pre-Screening: Starting in mid-2025, travel to Europe will require completion of the European Travel Information & Authorization System (ETIAS) mandatory pre-screening security questionnaire. Without ETIAS approval, travelers from the US, Canada, and many other countries cannot book travel into Europe. Approvals can be issued quickly and once issued are valid for 3 years. Sign up for ETIAS notifications or to complete the ETIAS application here: https://etias.com/etias-application.

COST AND ADMINISTRATION: In addition to the $100 non-refundable BAC ride registration fee, the estimated tour cost is $4,000 based on an exchange rate of $1.15 = 1€ and a minimum of 14 participants. The estimated cost includes: 17 nights lodging with full breakfast; 15 BAC social hours with beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages and snacks; 4 group dinners; luggage transport & emergency sag support; maps, cue sheets and GPS files; ride leader expenses; gratuities; and a 4% contingency. Once you are accepted onto the ride, a deposit of $1,500 is due within 2 weeks. The remaining balance of $2,500 is due Feb. 28th, 2026, and may be adjusted based on the exchange rate on Jan. 1st, 2026. Any funds not expended during the tour will be refunded to participants.   

The BAC tour cost does not include:

• Transportation to/from the start/end of the tour.
• Meals other than daily breakfasts and 4 group dinners.
• Transfer of bike cases from the start to the end of the tour. Iberocycle can arrange bike case transfer from San Sebastian to Madrid for €80 per case. (For those on both Rides Across Spain, the cost is 80€ for bike case transport from San Sebastián to Tariffa).
• Bicycle rental. Bicycles can be rented directly from Iberocycle: Cube carbon road bike 206€ rim brakes / 232€ disc brakes, hybrid bike 145€, road e-bike 305€, Hybrid e-bike 265€.

SINGLES & SOLOS POLICY: Singles (riders sharing a room with a roommate) and Solos (riders occupying a room by themselves) are both welcome. The solo supplement payment is $1,047 and is due within a month of signing up for the tour. Singles must attempt to find their own roommate, although the Ride Leader will assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride. After receipt of the initial deposit, a single without a roommate will be placed on the tour and given a month from the date they sign up to find a one. If they are unable to find a roommate, they will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the BAC fee and credit card processing fees) or pay the $1,047 solo supplement and stay on the tour.  If a single pays the solo supplement fee, they may continue to seek a roommate but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary.  If they find a roommate, the solo supplement will be refunded.

Solo supplement payments may be made in one of two ways:

1. By check made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check. Checks should be mailed to: Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193.
2. By Zelle. This is how to use Zelle for a solo supplement payment:

• In your online bank account, add Bicycle Adventure Club as a new recipient, with email address treasurer@bicycleadventureclub.org
• Initiate a payment
• In the Message block enter the name of your ride

If you have questions about using Zelle to make the solo supplement payment, contact Nancy Bohnett (nbohnett@bicycleadventureclub.org ) in the BAC office.

NOTE: Only solo supplement payments may be paid via Zelle. All other tour payments must be made by credit card through the BAC website.

CANCELLATION POLICY: The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled due to participation below stated minimum requirements. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost because of cancellations. If the cancelling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the cancelling participant cannot be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY:  Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

INSURANCE STATEMENT:  Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. BAC maintains insurance that covers expenses related to accidents, medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected sickness, and repatriation. This coverage applies when touring outside the US and your home country, regardless of your nationality. It will cover you door-to-door for a maximum of 90 days but will expire if you make a side trip not related to the BAC tour for more than 7 days before or after. There is limited coverage for a family member to join a covered person in an emergency. The policy covers the cost of treatment for Covid and other unexpected illnesses, but not quarantine. You should ensure that your vaccinations are up to date. Coverage is subject to a $1000 deductible.

SIGN-UP:  To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the Tour Deposit and the non-refundable BAC Ride Registration Fee by credit card. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.