SELVA DE IRATI PUNTO BIKE
Multi-stage point-to-point MTB tour through the Irati Forest
Across the Atlantic Pyrenees, bridging France and Spain
style - mtb -
SELF-GUIDED ROUTE WITH GPS
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SELVA DE IRATI - MTB
SELVA de IRATI PUNTO BIKE is a cycle touring point to point staged route for mountain biking. It is located to the West of the Pyrenean mountain range in what is known as the Basque Pyrenees. Its path is divided equally between forest tracks and mountain trails of medium difficulty.
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The experience offered by PIRINEOS PUNTO BIKE consists, in broad terms, of a Self-Guided Tour pack. This includes Accommodations, the GPS Tracks for the route, a detailed map-sketch with alternatives for each stage, and Luggage Transport from hotel to hotel.
THE ROUTE
SELVA de IRATI PUNTO BIKE route is located in the central part of the PIRINEO NAVARRO and is nestled between the 2,019 meters of the Ori Peak in the East and the forests of the "Quinto Real" and the Adi Peak in the West.
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Its geography is made up of a series of compact forest masses in lower altitude areas that combine with other deforested areas since ancient times and that present a clear pastoral component, with extensive mountain pastures dotted with shepherds' huts and important megalithic sets that take us back to the ancient occupation of these mountains in prehistoric times.
The eastern part of the route (stages A and B) corresponds to the SELVA de IRATI itself. There, a strong influence of logging and water resources is visible. This translates into extensive forests, and water "everywhere" except in the autumns that happen to dry summers (rare). In the most eastern end the mountain begins to look "high mountain".
The western part of the route (stage C) corresponds to the Pyrenees that surround RONCESVALLES. It is perceived in them an important influence of the Way of St. James that crosses the Pyrenees from North to South in this area and that leaves its mark especially in the atmosphere of the towns and mountain passes through which it passes.
Stage D allows us to add a stage of different style to the proposal. It is a stage through the southern area of the Salazar Valley that introduces us to one of the most incognito and unknown territories in Navarra, the Areta Mountains and the Urraul Alto Region. If in the usual Navarrese Pyrenees we meet 100 people, here we will meet barely one.
- Full technical
route totals - Stage A
Ochagavía-Larraun - Stage B
Circular Irati - Stage C
Larraun-Espinal - Stage D
Espinal-Ochagavía
Stage A: Ochagavía - Larraun
Distance: 40 km Unevenness: 1.050 m
Stage B: Circular Irati
Distance: 55 km Unevenness: 1.235 m
Stage C: Larraun - Burguete
Distance: 51 km Unevenness: 1.475 m
Stage D: Burguete - Ochagavía
Distance: 55 km Unevenness: 1.390 m
La ruta al completo
Distance: 200 km Unevenness: 5.150 m
Ochagavía - Larraun
Abodi, Balcón del Irati
Opcional PLUS
Circular Irati
Okabe, Corazón de Irati
Larraun - Burguete / Espinal
Montes de Roncesvalles
Burguete / Espinal - Ochagavía
Irati Sur, Irati desconocido
Opcional PLUS
Si eliminamos la etapa C, irémos directos de Irati/Larraun a Ochagavía
THE ROUTE IN DATA
What you could feel!
- Stage A
Ochagavía-Larraun - Stage B
Circular Irati - Stage C
Larraun-Espinal - Stage D
Espinal-Ochagavía
Ochagavía - Larraun
Abodi, Balcón del Irati
Picos pirenaicos, imagen constante si miramos hacia el este durante toda la etapa A.
La subida inicial al cordal del Abodi va a ser lo más exigente del día.
Tramo compartido con las pistas de esqui nórdico de Pikatua.
La Sierra de Abodi es la "espina dorsal" de la etapa A. A menudo, cuando sopla viento de norte, la Sierra se convierte en el límite de la "boina" de nubes que llega desde la vertiente norte.
Cuando la "boina" de niebla hace acto de presencia el paisaje cambia.
Primeros metros por el eje de la Sierra de Abodi bajo la vigilancia del Pico de Ori.
Llegada a los 1.532 metros de altitud de la cima del Abodi, cota máxima del día
Espectacular panorama desde la cima con el Pico de Ori - primer 2.000 de la cordillera - a la izquierda, y las montañas principales de los Pirineos Atlánticos monopolizando el resto del horizonte.
Laderas del Pico Idorrokia.
Montañas de la vertiente norte de Irati vistas desde la Sierra de Abodi. BALCÓN DEL IRATI
Secciones de "All Mountain" en la parte alta de la sierra. Momentos difíciles de olvidar.
Los últimos kilómetros de la ruta atraviesan típicos pueblos del Pirineo Navarro. En la imagen Orbara.
Circular Irati
Okabe, Corazón de Irati
SELVA de IRATI PUNTO BIKE en estado puro.
Etapa B CORAZÓN DE IRATI
La ruta alterna zonas boscosas con otras de carácter más pastoril.
Escenas cotidianas en las laderas del Okabe.
Uno de los más impresionantes conjuntos megalíticos de los Pirineos. Los 26 cromlechs de Hilarrita en las inmediaciones de la cima de Okabe.
Coronando la cima del Okabe sin bajarnos de la bicicleta. Cuando la niebla no lo impide, sus 1466 metros de altitud y su ubicación en el centro del eje pirenaico conforman un mirador espectacular.
Euforia de cima. La cumbre del Okabe sobrevuela la Selva de Irati.
Descenso de Okabe, momento estrella del día.
Pantano de Irabia, CORAZÓN DE IRATI
Larraun - Burguete / Espinal
Montes de Roncesvalles
Los primeros kilómetros del día transcurren por las inmediaciones de los bosques que circundan la Fabrica de armas de Orbaitzeta.
Collado de Arnostegi bajo los restos de la torre romana de Urkulu. En el horizonte los 2000 metros del Pico de Ori.
En las inmediaciones de Lepoeder compartiremos ruta durante un tiempo con los peregrinos de Camino de Santiago.
Puerto de Ibañeta entre Orreaga-Roncesvalles y Valcarlos. Su condición de paso natural utilizado desde la prehistoria entre las 2 vertientes del Pirineo lo convierten en el imaginario colectivo en un lugar vinculado a la Batalla de Roncesvalles.
Ascenso a Lindus desde Ibañeta, nos alejamos del Camino de Santiago...
... y entramos en el Pirineo Navarro "profundo".
Entre el Alto de Lindus y Mendiaundi el paisaje no tendrá desperdicio. Estamos en uno de los "puntos fuertes" de SELVA de IRATI PUNTO BIKE
Comienza el descenso hacia Burguete por las laderas del Pico Mendiaundi.
Burguete / Espinal - Ochagavía
Irati Sur, Irati desconocido
Ladera norte del Monte La Corona. por ella transcurren los primeros kilómetros del día. A sus pies, Garralda, modelo de pueblo pirenaico navarro.
Vista del semi-desértico Valle de Arce desde la amplia meseta cimera del desconocido monte La Corona, cota opcional en esta etapa D.
Descendiendo hacia Olaldea, el Río Irati se esfuerza por hacerse ver en la densidad boscosa que el mismo genera.
Muy a menudo el final de la temporada se convierte en el momento estrella para lo nuestro.IRATI SUR
Mirador sobre el Urraul Alto, una de las zonas más "desfavorecidas" de la desconocida Navarra prepirenaica. SELVA de IRATI PUNTO BIKE comparte track en esta sección con su "hermana" en versión GRAVEL.
Poco acostumbrados a ver personas en esta etapa por el desconocido sur prepirenaico, los animales tienen por aquí un "punto" de salvajes.
Boina del Abodi en su máxima expresión durante el regreso a Ochagavía por el Irati Sur.
Otsagi, autentico prototipo de pueblo navarro pirenaico. Muchas callejuelas para "perderse" un rato y fin de SELVA de IRATI PUNTO BIKE
THE ROUTE IN PICTURES
Expect to feel it!
OUR LODGES
The half of the Trip
- Lodging for stages with start in Burguete
- Lodging for stages with start in Espinal
- Lodging for stages with start in Irati / Larraun
- Lodging for stages with start in Irati / Larraun
- Lodging for stages with start in Ochagavía
- Lodging for stages with start in Ochagavía
Hotel Loizu
Hostal Rural Haizea
Hostal Rural Urkixokoa
Hostal Rural Mendilatz
Hostal Rural Orialde
Hotel Auñamendi
- Important -
Hotel availability in this area of the Pyrenees requires a specific route logistics that is important to understand.
The usual arrival point for groups is the LARRAUN neighborhood. The first cycling stage is the Irati Circular (B). You then continue with stages C or D (depending on whether you chose the 3 or 4-stage option). After staying overnight in OCHAGAVÍA, the final stage is completed between Ochagavía and Larraun (stage A).
After finishing this last stage, the group returns in their own vehicle to the same hotel in Ochagavía where the final night of the trip is booked.
If you are not traveling with your own vehicle, please let us know so we can arrange an alternative.
There is an alternative if you do not wish to include a final overnight stay: start in ESPINAL and follow the stage order: D + A + B + C.
- rural world-
4 Stages / 5 Nights
3 etapas en línea y 1 circular: B + C + D + A
629 € Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
672 € Price per person for groups of 5 people
632 € Price per person for groups of 4 people
743 € Price per person for groups of 2 or 3 people
Single room supplement: 264 €
When the group consists of an even number of people, an even number of applications will also be necessary to access this supplement.
3 Stages / 4 Nights
2 etapas en línea y 1 circular: B + D + A
486 € Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
524 € Price per person for groups of 5 people
496 € Price per person for groups of 4 people
578 € Price per person for groups of 2 or 3 people
Single room supplement: 228 €
When the group consists of an even number of people, an even number of applications will also be necessary to access this supplement.
4 Stages / 4 Nights con inicio en ESPINAL
With accommodation in Ochagavía at Hotel Silken Puerta de Irati
3 etapas en línea y 1 circular: D + A + B + C
644 € Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
696 € Price per person for groups of 5 people
660 € Price per person for groups of 4 people
776 € Price per person for groups of 2 or 3 people
Single room supplement: 276 €
When the group consists of an even number of people, an even number of applications will also be necessary to access this supplement.
Add night at the end of the route
Add a night at the finalising point of the route - B&B
+ 58 € in doble room or + 92 € in single room
In these proposals when the groups are odd, the accommodation is offered in double rooms and a single room.
- TRIPLE ROOMS ARE NEVER USED -
If you want the price of the Pack to be cheaper, perhaps we can lower the level of one of the chosen hotels. And also, if the number of participants is odd; request a triple room.
- This management is only done once the Pack has been contracted -
Rates for the whole year, subject to availability.
The prices may vary when the dates coincide with the Easter holidays or with the Patron Festivities of any of the places of accommodation.
- 2 nights of accommodation with breakfast
Corresponds to the 1st and last nights - 2 o 3 nights accommodation in half board
Same number as stages are in the Pack Transport of luggage between hotels
1 bag or package of a maximum of 20 kg per person
If not needed, the cost of this service will be deducted from the proposal- Tracks of the route in GPX format for mobile phones or GPS devices and printed map with each day routes options
- Explanatory printed map-sketch of the different route options for each stage
One per stage Download sample - Link to services that may be necessary along the route
- Presentation of the route and delivery of information in hand the day of the arrival of the group to the hotel or the morning of the next day when groups are of 6 or more people
- Telephone assistance for incidents or consultations during the days of the contracted activity
- Beers or other consumptions outside the proposed menus in the dinners or during the stay in hotels
- Meals in restaurants at the time of the noon, unless it has been agreed previously to replace dinner with meals
- Any kind of sports material, helmets, shoes, etc
- Mechanical Assistance during the activity
If possible, we will try to help you in case of a breakdown, but in many situations this help can be very limited due to lack of specific spare parts or other circumstances. The cost of the service if it can be done is € 18 per hour + € 0.40 per kilometer. - Anything not expressly indicated in the offer
- Airport/station pick up
We put you in contact with the transfer companies that provide these services. We do not include its cost in our proposal. - Bicycle rental
We put you in touch with a rental service in the nearest place to the route start point - Hire Asistance / Accident Insurance
and / or Trip Cancellation Insurance
- Best time to go: The route can be done once the snow disappears in the highest mountains of the route. From there, we dare not say that one era is better than another. It really depends on the specific weather of the days we choose.
Do not underestimate the weather, not even in the middle of summer. The conditions -especially in the Pyrenees- can be identical to those of the Central Pyrenees. To summarize... our advice is: bring even the long culotte and if it doesn´t come out from the suitcase, all the better.
In summer it is necessary to be aware of the possibility of storms -frequent in the afternoons-. - Type of tracks: In general, there are many trails and tracks that are more physically demanding than technically challenging, both uphill and downhill.
- Ideal bike: Any mountain bike. There are no particularly technical descents, so the bike's lightness can be prioritized over its downhill potential.
- Orientation: The route must be followed with a GPS device or with the mobile phone App that you are used to using for the same purpose.
It is not advisable to try to learn how to use an App on the fly.
We do not provide Apps or GPS user manuals. It is up to the users to have this knowledge.
There is no on-site signage. - Ciclability: Depending on the technical skills and strength of each person, the route is 100% practicamente.
- Provisioning: Although we sometimes find refreshment points, depending on the time of year we may find that some establishments are closed. The documentation we provide at the start of the route provides information on the options at each stage.
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