Cycling | Stage by stage | Spain

Pyrenees coast to coast by bike

800 km and 20,000 metres of climbing, sea to sea. Twelve days if the group holds the pace.

800 kmTotal distance
20,000 mTotal climbing
45 daysStages on foot
18 kmAverage per day

The Pyrenean traverse crosses from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. On a road bike it links the classic passes; on gravel or MTB it follows tracks parallel to the GR-11.

This is a logistics trip — a different valley every night, 40 km stretches with nothing open, and repairs wherever there is a workshop. With stages and beds locked before you leave it is a joy; without them it is a grind.

Stage simulator

How many km and how many days?

The full route is 800 km and about 45 days. Enter any km and days: if you are not doing it in one go, split it into several trips.

14 days, 800 km and 20000 m of climbing: about 57.1 km a day and 13 nights on the way.

The towns with beds on this section give 14 legs; to stretch it to 45 days add rest days when you build the plan.

  1. Hondarribia → Elizondo65 km · 1500 m D+Sleep: Elizondo · Eat: Etxalar
  2. Elizondo → Isaba65 km · 1500 m D+Sleep: Isaba
  3. Isaba → Ansó52.5 km · 1300 m D+Sleep: Ansó · Eat: Zuriza
  4. Ansó → Jaca52.5 km · 1300 m D+Sleep: Jaca
  5. Jaca → Sabiñánigo45 km · 1100 m D+Sleep: Sabiñánigo · Eat: Biescas
  6. Sabiñánigo → Torla-Ordesa45 km · 1100 m D+Sleep: Torla-Ordesa
  7. Torla-Ordesa → Bielsa55 km · 1500 m D+Sleep: Bielsa · Eat: Ainsa
  8. Bielsa → Benasque55 km · 1500 m D+Sleep: Benasque
  9. Benasque → Vielha52.5 km · 1350 m D+Sleep: Vielha · Eat: Bossòst
  10. Vielha → Sort52.5 km · 1350 m D+Sleep: Sort
  11. Sort → Andorra la Vella60 km · 1600 m D+Sleep: Andorra la Vella · Eat: La Seu d'Urgell
  12. Andorra la Vella → Puigcerdà60 km · 1600 m D+Sleep: Puigcerdà
  13. Puigcerdà → Camprodon70 km · 1650 m D+Sleep: Camprodon · Eat: Ripoll
  14. Camprodon → Cadaqués70 km · 1650 m D+Sleep: Cadaqués

Create your account and keep going with these 14 days.

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Stages and sections

Approximate distances and climbing. Every guidebook and GPX varies by a few kilometres.

SectionKmD+DaysSleepEat
Hondarribia - Isaba130 km3,000 m2Elizondo, IsabaEtxalar, Ochagavía
Isaba - Jaca105 km2,600 m2Ansó, JacaZuriza, Hecho
Jaca - Torla-Ordesa90 km2,200 m2Sabiñánigo, TorlaBiescas, Broto
Torla-Ordesa - Benasque110 km3,000 m2Bielsa, BenasqueAinsa, Castejón de Sos
Benasque - Sort105 km2,700 m2Vielha, SortBossòst, Llavorsí
Sort - Puigcerdà120 km3,200 m2Andorra la Vella, PuigcerdàLa Seu d'Urgell, Bellver
Puigcerdà - Cadaqués140 km3,300 m2Camprodon, CadaquésRipoll, Figueres
Stops along the route8

Four facts per village — what is worth a stop, where to sleep, where to eat and the practical warning.

HondarribiaSee — Medieval old town and fishing port
Sleep — Elizondo, Isaba
Eat — Etxalar, Ochagavía
Good to know — Pintxos along calle San Pedro
See on the map
Isaba · km 130See — Roncal valley and its cheese makers
Sleep — Ansó, Jaca
Eat — Zuriza, Hecho
Good to know — Patchy phone coverage in the valley
See on the map
Jaca · km 235See — Pentagonal citadel and cathedral
Sleep — Sabiñánigo, Torla
Eat — Biescas, Broto
Good to know — Last town with bike shops
See on the map
Torla-Ordesa · km 325See — Gateway to Ordesa and its waterfall
Sleep — Bielsa, Benasque
Eat — Ainsa, Castejón de Sos
Good to know — In summer access is by shuttle bus
See on the map
Benasque · km 435See — Stone old town and the Ésera valley
Sleep — Vielha, Sort
Eat — Bossòst, Llavorsí
Good to know — Mountain gear rental in town
See on the map
Sort · km 540See — Noguera Pallaresa whitewater
Sleep — Andorra la Vella, Puigcerdà
Eat — La Seu d'Urgell, Bellver
Good to know — Book rafting in advance
See on the map
Puigcerdà · km 660See — Lake, bell tower and the Cerdanya
Sleep — Camprodon, Cadaqués
Eat — Ripoll, Figueres
Good to know — Train from Barcelona via La Pobla
See on the map
Cadaqués · km 800See — Dalí's house at Portlligat
Sleep — Camprodon, Cadaqués
Eat — Ripoll, Figueres
Good to know — Parking is hard — arrive early
See on the map

Daily distance by level

StarterFour days in the Aragonese Pyrenees — Jaca, Torla, Bielsa, Benasque.
Normal pace12 days, 65-70 km and 1,700 m a day, plus one rest day.
Strong riders8 days with 110 km and 3,000 m stages.
On foot (GR-11)The walking version is around 45 days hut to hut.

Travel and paperwork

Getting thereTrain to Irún, 20 minutes to Hondarribia.
Getting backBus Cadaqués-Figueres and high-speed train from Figueres Vilafant.
Bikes on trainsBike spaces are limited — book them with the ticket.
SupportOptional van to ride light; otherwise 8-10 kg of bikepacking bags.

Season — Late June to September. Earlier there is snow on the high passes.

Keep it in your calendar

Once you build this route as a plan, every stage is a card with time, duration and place. From the plan link anyone can download the calendar (.ics) or add it to Google Calendar and Outlook, with reminders before each day and before payment or confirmation deadlines.

What to lock before you leave

Frequently asked questions

How long is Pyrenees coast to coast by bike?800 km in total, with around 20,000 m of climbing.
How many days does it take?45 days on foot (18 km average per stage); 12 days by bike (67 km average per stage).
Where do people usually sleep?The usual overnight points are Elizondo, Isaba, Ansó, Jaca, Sabiñánigo, Torla, Bielsa, Benasque. The stage table lists them section by section.
How many kilometres a day should I plan?Starter: Four days in the Aragonese Pyrenees — Jaca, Torla, Bielsa, Benasque. Normal pace: 12 days, 65-70 km and 1,700 m a day, plus one rest day. Strong riders: 8 days with 110 km and 3,000 m stages. On foot (GR-11): The walking version is around 45 days hut to hut.
When is the best time to go?Late June to September. Earlier there is snow on the high passes.

In Keago this route becomes a plan — one card per stage with time and duration, the daily track, each night's accommodation with link and location, the meals, and both travel tickets where the whole group can see them. Everyone confirms and you know who is missing.

Create your account and keep building your Pyrenees coast to coast by bike plan.

It is free and takes a minute.

  • Save the plan and pick up where you left off
  • Carry it on your phone, map and times included
  • Send it to your group with one link
  • Download the itinerary and the calendar
Create my accountI already have an account