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Bike Tours |
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Cycle Touring |
Road Riding |
Mountain Bike |
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3 countries Mountain Bike tour
France, Andorra and Spain
7 days - 6 nights
From May to October
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Prices for this tour for a group of 6*:
Guided without support vehicle:
from 990 Euros per person
Guided with support vehicle:
from 1190 Euros per person
*based
on 2 people sharing a twin room
Single supplement is 150 Euros
Smaller and larger group sizes can be
arranged
make an enquiry
PRICE
INCLUDES
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Accommodation
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maps and
GPS system |
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all meals
included (apart from day 1 picnic) |
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luggage
transfers |
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Support vehicle
option : a 9 seat vehicle will follow the group during the ride
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PRICE
DOES NOT INCLUDE
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Accommodation the night before
arrival |
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beverages |
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personal expenses
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day 1
picnic |
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mountain bike
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personal material for the mountain bike (helmet,
gloves...) |
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transport to the meeting point
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Travel insurance |
From the French Pyrenees into Spanish Catalonia we cross through the
Pyrenees
via Ariege, Andorra and the Sierra de Cadi following the last Cathars paths.
We
ride along an exceptional mountain bike circuit dotted with plateaus and
forests, with thrills for the eyes and work outs for those calf muscles!
From rolling forest trails to very technical mountain tracks.
A total
mixture of unforgettable Pyrenees Mountain scenery, along an itinerary of your choice, for an
encounter with mountain villages, chateaus and
Pyrenean culture.
Itinerary
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Day |
Activity |
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1 |
Transfer Girona-Montségur
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2 |
From Montségur to Ax Les Thermes.
42 kms Elevation change: +1300-1400 |
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3 |
Ax-Mérens-Ax
34kms Elevation
change: +1300-1300 |
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4 |
From Andorre
to Bellver de Cerdanya.
51 kms
Elevation
change +590-1980 |
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5 |
From Belver
de Cerdanya to Baga.
30 kms
Elevation
change: +1100-1000 |
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6 |
From
Baga to Gosol.
28 kms
Elevation
change
: +1200-700
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7 |
From
Gosol to Berga.
43Kms
Elevation
change : + 1350-1565
Transfer
to Girona
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return
to top
Description
of Itinerary
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Day |
Destination |
Ride Description |
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1 |
Montségur |
Transfer Girona to Montségur
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2 |
Ax Les Thermes |
We ride from Ariège to the 'Pays de Sault'. After a superb
descent we cross the spectacular Frau gorge to
reach
Comus.
We climb up to the plateau de Chioula, then descend to the
village of
Ascou
to finish riding a beautiful single track to
Aix Les Thermes.
Approx 42 kms
Elevation change: +1300-1400
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3 |
Ax |
Today we descend to the Orlu valley following the
mountain trails, shepherds' paths and forest tracks heading for
Mérens.
Before
returning to
Ax
we have time to enjoy a bath in the natural source of the thermal springs and then visit the 12th century Romanesque church of
Mérens.
Approx 34kms
Elevation change: +1300-1300. |
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4 |
Bellver de Cerdanya |
In the
morning we transfer to
Andorra
in the heart of the Pyrenees. After a break
in
Pas de la Casa, we go to
Port d'Envalira (2409m) for a superb
mountain descent.
Before us rises the 'Sierra
del Cadi' with an 18 km descent over meadows,
small trails and forest tracks.
Approx 51 kms
Elevation change +590-1980
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5 |
Baga |
After a challenging ascent
we reach a
pass in the 'Sierra del Cadi' range to enjoy stunning views of the Cerdagne and the Capcir
mountains. We
then have a fantastic descent through the pine forests.
For those
who would like to ride a bit more today there is the option to ride to la
Serra de Sant Marc and enjoy an amazing descent. (approx 10 kms)
Approx 30 kms
Elevation change: +1100-1000
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6 |
Gosol |
Following
the forest trail we arrive at the stunning Pedraforca - a stony fortress
culminating at
2506m. There are amazing panoramas before reaching a technical track that
leads to the charming village of
Gosol.
The castle was one of the many shelters
for the Cathars along
this route.
Approx 28 kms
Elevation change : +1200-700 |
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7 |
Berga
Transfer
to Girona. |
This last
stage leads us to the sanctuary
of
Queralt
through the forests to the superb plateau of
Peguera.
The rolling trails of the high altitude
plateau and the descent through the forests are the icing on the cake after a
week of unforgettable mountain biking.
We have
ridden in three countries as well as traversed the mighty Pyrenees mountains!
Transfer to
Girona.
Approx
43Kms
Elevation change : +
1350-1565
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return
to top
THE REGION'S HERITAGE
The Cathars
At the
end of the 12th century spread the idea, derived from Christianity, that there were two entities : the
Bad (material world, reality) and the
Good
(immaterial world after death).
The
Catholic Church went on a crusade to eradicate the Cathars -
defined as the 'heretics'.
However, they were deeply
embedded in society (even among the Lords families like the Trencavel or the Foix Earl). As soon as the battle started, towns were
besieged and the population had to either resist or surrender (Simon de
Montfort won Béziers, Narbonne and Carcasonne amongst other towns for the
King). The Cathars preferred to be burnt at the stake rather than renouncing their
faith.
The Paris
Treaty of 1229 marked the end of the battle and the beginning of the
Inquisition. Catharism was outlawed and the Inquisitors tried to catch them.
The surviving Cathars had to flee to reach the sanctuary of the border guard castles and
there they managed to prosper for several years.
In 1241,
Louis XI came to power and threw them out. Famous as Louis the Saint
throughout the country he is also known as Louis the Bloodthirsty in the region.
return
to top
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Bike Tours |
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Cycle Touring |
Road Riding |
Mountain Bike |
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Adventure Travel Trade Association Member |
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Mountain Bike Instructor Award Scheme Accredited |
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