This route crosses all the Spanish Pyrenees from the mediterranean coast to the atlantic coast (see map below). With no doubt is the best mountain bike route that you can do in Spain but you must be very fit because every day you have to climb an average height of more than 1000 meters up!. Along 1000 kms you will cross the most beatifull vallyes of the spanish Pyrenees, names that you will never forget as Garrotxa, Vall de Cardós, Vall Fosca, Valle del Esera, del Cinca, Añisclo,Valle del Tena, del Aragón, Valle de Hecho, de Ansó, de Roncal, Irati, Roncesvalles, Batzán, …
We (Anna, Roser and Alfonso) made this route in August 1996 following the splendid book “La travesía de los Pirineos en B.T.T.” (“The crossing of the Pyrenees in mountain bike”; authors: Alfons Rovira y Jordi Laparra; publishing Prames, Zaragoza). It is written in Spanish but it has good maps and it is easy to follow the graphic descriptions of the route. As support material you can buy along the route the different maps from the Editorial Alpina or Editorial Pirineo (scale 1:40000 or even less). They are cheap (5 euros), they cover all the Pyrennes and you can find them anywhere.
We made the route in 21 days sleeping in Llansá, Albanyá, Castellfollit de la Roca, Camprodón, Planolles, Bagá, Tuixent, Hostalets de Tost, Llavorsí, Espiu, Pont de Suert, Senz, Escalona, Fiscal, Senegué, Aratorés, Siresa, Uztarroz, Orbaiceta, Erratzu, Lesaka y Hondarribia. In all 1012 km and 22000 meters up. If you want to do this route I would advice you to do it between June and October (because you can find snow at some passes), and not to carry too much weight on your bike because the paths sometimes are in a very bad way (mud, ...). You would not need to carry sleeping bag or tent because you can find anywhere cheap “casas rurales” to sleep (something as the english B&B, that will cost you no more than 35 euros for a double room with bath for 2 people). Cheer up!, you will never forget this journey!.
