Gravel
Pyrenees Smugglers Route
Gravel Pyrenees Smugglers Route
Follow the centuries-old Smugglers route, across the Pyrenees mountains, from Spain to Andorra
Ancient smugglers would search out the most remote routes to deliver their illegal goods from Spain to Andorra and back. Expertly re-tracing these ancient trails, our local team have developed a magical route through the wildest parts of the Pyrenees mountains.
Overview
Details
Next Departure
No Upcoming Departures
Duration
Non-Rider Friendly
No
Rental Bike
Not available
Ride Program
Total Distance
Total Elevation
Daily Av. Distance
Daily Av. Elevation
Overview
A truly unique experience through the Pyrenees mountains – only with Thomson!
Your journey starts in La Cerdanya, a high plateau surrounded by France, Spain and the principality of Andorra. From La Cerdanya you’ll head west into the remote but spectacular Cadì mountain range before the final trail northwards across the border into Andorra. Throughout the journey you’ll follow ancient trails used by smugglers to deliver tobacco, alcohol and other dubious products illegally over the borders.
Conquer some of the most majestic climbs in the Pyrenees, forget the Tourmalet, the climbs on this trip are remote and spectacular. You’ll also ride through remote villages, some with over 1000 years of history, enjoy the local cuisine and hospitality and discover local traditions and myths from our local guides.
Be ready for a total immersion into the deepest traditions of the Pyrenees mountains. It will be a challenging ride but an experience that will remain with you forever. Welcome to the Pyrenees!
Trip Technical Difficulty
Ride Surfaces
Bike Setup Recommendations
Recommended Tires
700×42
A minimum 700×42, but feel free to use more rubber for more comfort, grip and safety if your bike can fit it.
Recommended Gearing
36T × 11-42
We recommend a minimum gear ratio of 0.90 using a 36T chainring × 42 rear cog (or equivalent). Check your gear ratios at www.bikecalc.com/gear_ratios.
Gravel Explained
Read below for a brief description of our gravel definitions. We have classed the surfaces into five categories, from tarmac to boulders, to give an indication of the amount and level of rough stuff on each trip.
Itinerary
| Day | Description | Distance | Elevation | Hotel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Welcome to the Pyrenees! | Hotel Villa Paulita | |||
| 02 | Into the mountains | Cerdanya Eco Resort | |||
| 03 | Valley Jumping | Hotel Balneari Banys de Sant Vicenç | |||
| 04 | Into the High Pyrenees | Hotel Riberies | |||
| 05 | A breathtaking loop in the High Pyrenees | Hotel Riberies | |||
| 06 | Into Andorra | Hotel Art Andorra | |||
| 07 | Adeu! | ||||
| Daily Averages |
Itinerary Detail
Day 1
Distance
Elevation
Welcome to the Pyrenees!
Your trip starts at Barcelona Airport where our staff will meet you before the transfer to your hotel in Puigcerdà.
After lunch, orientation meeting and bike build-up, you’ll head out for your first ride in Puigcerdà, a magnificent plateau high in the Pyrenees mountains, nestled between France and Spain.
Day 2
Distance
Elevation
Into the mountains
Today you start the journey followed many years ago by the teams of smugglers transporting goods illegally from Spain into Andorra. It will also be your first big gravel climb in the Pyrenees, reaching an elevation of over 2000m, so definitely a day to pace yourself and get the legs used to climbing at altitude. At the end of the ride enjoy the comfort of the amazing Cerdanya Ecoresort Hotel, committed to sustainability and local traditions.
Day 3
Distance
Elevation
Valley Jumping
On this ride you’ll jump from side to side of the valley, riding on the traffic-free National Park gravel roads in Lles and Aranser, eventually reaching the beautiful north face of the Cadí mountains. A magnificent, but challenging day in the saddle and don’t forget to leave something in the tank for the final series of climbs into Cadí.
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Map & Profile
Surface Details
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Dates & Prices
| Date | Booking Status | Availability | Price / Per Person | Single Supplement | Non-rider Discount |
|---|
Waiting List
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Trip Hotels
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 |
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Pick-up/Drop-off Info
Arrival
| Pickup Location | Time |
|---|---|
|
Barcelona, El Prat Airport |
9:00am |
OR |
|
|
TRYP Barcelona Airport Hotel |
9:00am |
Departure
| Drop Off Location | Time |
|---|---|
|
Barcelona, El Prat Airport |
10:30am |
Gravel Pyrenees Smugglers Route
Follow centuries-old smuggling routes from Spain to Andorra
