EPIC Trans Pyrenees
EPIC Trans Pyrenees
An epic ride across the legendary climbs of the Pyrenees
Discover the natural beauty of one of Europe’s most celebrated cycling terrains. Cross the highest peaks in the Pyrenees, conquering legendary Tour de France climbs every day. Includes Tourmalet, Aubisque, Aspin, Peyresourde, Pierre St Martin, Jaizkibel and many more!
Featured Climbs
Col du Tourmalet, Col d’Aubisque, Col de Portet, Jaizkibel, Col de la Pierre Saint Martin
Overview
Details
Next Departure
May 24th 2025
From
USD $4,895
Duration
8 days / 7 nights
Non-Rider Friendly
No
Rental Bike
USD $550
Ride Program
Total Distance
Total Elevation
Daily Av. Distance
Daily Av. Elevation
Overview
The Pyrenees conjure up images of famous Tour de France stages. This is your opportunity to transform these images into real life as you conquer the legendary Pyrenees climbs of the Tour de France.
From St Lary Soulan in the heart of the French Pyrenees, you’ll conquer the most iconic climbs as we cross the Pyrenees from east to west. The ride begins with Tour de France favourites like the Tourmalet, Aubisque, Peyresourde, Portet and Aspin before crossing the mighty Col de la Pierre Saint Martin into Spain. Several magnificent climbs await on the Spanish side, including the iconic Basque climb, the Jaizkibel, which featured on Stage 2 of the 2023 Tour de France. From the Jaizkibel, it’s a short descent to your final hotel in the beautiful city of San Sebastián, one of the world’s most exciting gastronomic destinations.
Tip: The EPIC TRANS and TRANS trips are fully interchangeable, so you can enjoy the classic TRANS route one day and switch to the EPIC the next, or vice versa. The two trips run side by side, with everyone staying in the same hotels, sharing the same staff, and having breakfasts and dinners together. The ONLY difference lies in your choice of daily route: TRANS is slightly shorter with less elevation, while EPIC offers a longer ride with more climbs.
Eddie Sherwood, USA — 2022
Scott Moore, USA — 2022
Cecily Winterbottom, USA — 2024
Itinerary
Day | Description | Distance | Elevation | Hotel | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
01 | Welcome to the Pyrenees | Hotel Mercure, Saint Lary Soulan | |||
02 | Col de Portet | Hotel Mercure, Saint Lary Soulan | |||
03 | The Tourmalet | Beausejour Hotel | |||
04 | Spandelles and Aubisque | Hotel Alysson | |||
05 | Col de la Pierre St Martin | Hotel Silken Puerta de Irati | |||
06 | Best of Spain and France | Balneario Elgorriaga | |||
07 | Jaizkibel and into San Sebastián | Hotel Catalonia Donosti | |||
08 | Au revoir! | ||||
Daily Averages |
Itinerary Detail
Day 1
Distance
Elevation
Welcome to the Pyrenees
Your trip starts at Toulouse Blagnac Airport where our staff will meet you before the transfer to your hotel in St Lary Soulan.
After a brief orientation meeting, lunch and bike build-up, you’ll head out on our warm-up ride, which takes you high into the hills above the Aure Valley, over the Col de Ris and the Montée d’Ilhan. Serene roads and spectacular mountain landscapes set the scene for the week to come!
Day 2
Distance
Elevation
Col de Portet
Your first big day of climbing – and we kick things off with one of the most challenging climbs in the Pyrenees. The Col de Portet was first introduced to the Tour de France in 2018, then again in 2021 when Tadej Pogačar won the stage. Starting right outside the Hotel Mercure there could be no better way to launch an Epic Trans Pyrenees trip. After conquering the Portet, the ride continues with the stunning Col d’Azet Val Louron and the Col de Peyresoude before the descent back to the Hotel Mercure and the end of a quintessential day in the French Pyrenees!
Day 3
Distance
Elevation
The Tourmalet
After the toughest climb in the Pyrenees yesterday, today you’ll ride the most famous Pyreneen of all – the legendary Col du Tourmalet.
Setting out from the hotel, your first challenge is in the form of the Category 1, Col d’Aspin. The descent of the Aspin takes you to Ste Marie de Campan and the start of the Tourmalet. Don’t be fooled by the gentle slopes of the first few kilometers, it won’t be long until you’ll be seeing a lot of grades in double digits! Enjoy a snack at the famous cafe on the summit before heading down to Luz St Sauveur where the spectacular switchbacks of the climb to Luz-Ardiden await, before the ride along the valley to the next hotel.
Day 4
Distance
Elevation
Spandelles and Aubisque
Another spectacular Pyreneen ride today, featuring two magnificent climbs. First up is the Col de Spandelles where Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar broke away together in the 2022 Tour de France, and where Tadej famously crashed on the descent. After the descent of the Spandelles, the road points upwards again as you head for the Col de Soulor and the Col d’Aubisque. The stretch of road between the Soulor and the Aubisque runs along the ridge of the Cirque du Litor and offers some of the most stunning views in the Pyrenees!
Day 5
Distance
Elevation
Col de la Pierre St Martin
Highlight of today’s ride is no doubt the Col de la Pierre St Martin. With an elevation gain of 1500m over a distance of 24km, the Pierre St Martin is close to the Tourmalet in overall difficulty level. It last featured as a summit finish in the 2015 Tour de France when Chris Froome was first over the finish line. The Pierre St Martin also marks the border between France and Spain, so you’ll be descending into the Spanish province of Navarra – hot-bed of Spanish cycling and birthplace of Miguel Indurain, 5-times winner of the Tour de France.
Day 6
Distance
Elevation
Best of Spain and France
On today’s ride you’ll cross the Spanish/French border a couple of times as the route winds its way through the best of the French and Spanish Pyrenees. From the hotel you’ll start climbing the Puerto de Larrau which takes you across the border into France for the first time. Next up is the Col de Bagargui with its steep sections in the final few km. A fantastic descent takes you to the town of St Jean Pied de Port, one of the main starting points for the Way of St James (Camino de Santiago). The short and stunning Col d’Ispeguy takes you back into Spain before the final descent to our hotel in Elgorriaga and the end of a magnificent day on the bike.
Day 7
Distance
Elevation
Jaizkibel and into San Sebastián
A fantastic ride to end the trip through the Spanish Basque Country, the mecca of Spanish cycling. There are 4 categorised climbs on the agenda, culminating in the iconic Jaizkibel climb with it’s views of the cliffs and Atlantic Ocean that form this stunning section of the Basque coastline.
Day 8
Distance
Elevation
Au revoir!
Unfortunately, your trip across the Pyrenees has come to an end.
Our shuttle will drop you off at Bilbao Airport.
Map & Profile
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Col de Ris from Arreau |
5.9% | 2 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
|||||
Montee d’Ilhan from Borderes-Louron |
6.1% | 3 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Col de Portet from St Lary Soulan |
8.5% | HC | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
|||||
Col de Val Louron-Azet from St Lary Soulan |
7.1% | 1 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
|||||
Col de Peyresourde from Avajan |
7.1% | 1 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Col d’Aspin from Arreau |
6.7% | 1 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
|||||
Col du Tourmalet from Ste Marie de Campan |
7.5% | HC | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
|||||
Luz-Ardiden from Luz St Sauveur |
7.5% | HC | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Col de Spandelles from Ferrieres |
8.4% | HC | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
|||||
Col de Soulor from Argeles-Gazost |
5.4% | 1 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
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Col d’Aubisque from Col de Soulor |
4.9% | 2 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Col de Marie-Blanque from Escot |
7.7% | 1 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
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>15
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Col de la Pierre Saint Martin from Lourdios-Ichère |
6.4% | HC | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
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Alto de Lazar from Isaba |
3.8% | 3 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Puerto de Larrau from Ochagavìa |
4.7% | 1 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
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>15
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Col de Bagargui from Auberge Logibar |
7.4% | HC | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
|||||
Col d’Ispeguy from St Etienne de Baigorry |
6.9% | 2 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
|
Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alto Agiña from Lesaka |
6.5% | 2 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
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>15
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Alto de Aritxulegi from Endara |
7.1% | 3 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
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Peñas de Aya from Oiartzun |
5.0% | 2 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
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>15
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Jaizkibel from Hondarribia |
5.5% | 2 | |||
Profile
Map
Gradient (%)
0
0-6
6-8
8-10
10-12
12-15
>15
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Climb | Distance | Elevation | Av. Grade | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No major climbs today |
Climbs
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Climbs
Dates & Prices
Date | Booking Status | Availability | Price / Per Person | Single Supplement | Non-rider Discount | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2025 | |||||||
May 24 - 31 |
Taking Bookings |
Places Available |
USD $4,895
|
USD $850 |
USD $920 |
Book this trip | |
Aug 30 - Sep 6 |
Taking Bookings |
Places Available |
USD $4,895
|
USD $850 |
USD $920 |
Book this trip |
Waiting List
Sign up to the waiting list for this departure, to be notified if a space becomes available. Please fill out the information below:
Trip Hotels
Hotel Mercure, Saint Lary Soulan
Beausejour Hotel
Hotel Alysson
Hotel Silken Puerta de Irati
Balneario Elgorriaga
Hotel Catalonia Donosti
What's Included
What's Included | What's Not Included |
---|---|
Accommodations & Meals
Transportation
Cycling Support
Nutrition during the ride
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What's Included |
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Accommodations & Meals
Transportation
Cycling Support
Nutrition during the ride
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What's Not Included |
|
Pick-up/Drop-off Info
Arrival
Pickup Location | Time |
---|---|
Toulouse Blagnac Airport |
9:00am |
OR |
|
Pullman Toulouse Airport Hotel |
9:00am |
Departure
Drop Off Location | Time |
---|---|
Bilbao Airport |
9:00am |
Rental Bikes
Specialized Aethos Expert
Frame
Aethos FACT 10r Carbon
Groupset
Di2 Shimano Ultegra
Weight
699g (size 56)
Wheels
Roval C38
Chainrings
52/36T
Cassette
11-34t (12-speed)
Sizes
49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61
USD $550
View DetailsEPIC Trans Pyrenees
One of Europe’s most celebrated cycling terrains is an absolute must for every avid cyclist