EL OASIS MTB
EL OASIS, Journey to the Country of Paths
SELF-GUIDED MTB ROUTE IN TIERRA ESTELLA - NAVARRA
style - mtb - All Mountain
style - mtb - All Mountain
- Options from 3 to 7 stages -
Some parts of this website may be in the process of being translated.
EL OASIS is an All Mountain route in stages located almost entirely in the TIERRA ESTELLA region of Navarra.
The geographical characteristics of this region, which extends from the Ebro in the South to the Sierras de Urbasa and Andia in the North, generate a diversity of environments that is clearly reflected in the different environments of the stages of the route.
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In terms of structure of stages, we can "visualize" the proposal by imagining a triangle whose vertices are; Estella, Zudaire and Puente La Reina. Between these vertices, 3 online stages are developed (B, E and G).
A circle at each vertex of the aforementioned triangle, provides the system with another 3 circular stages (A, C and H) that we can decide whether or not to include in our trip, and which grant a flexibility of between 3 and 7 stages to the proposal. And we say 7 and not 6 because the aforementioned geographical diversity means that in Las Améskoas (Zudaire) we can pedal 2 stages of a well-differentiated nature, that is; that in that vertex of the triangle we have 2 circles instead of only one.
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
What is EL OASIS?
The simplest way we can think of to communicate what EL OASIS is in geographical terms is to say that it is the transition territory between the westernmost extreme of the Pyrenees and La Rioja.
Since we must specify more, we will say that this area is largely occupied by the Navarrese region known as TIERRA ESTELLA.
We are talking about a region of dimensions large enough to generate an important duality in terms of climate, environment and vegetation. To the South, the Ebro and the basins of its tributaries host crops and scrubland -some not so low-, we are talking about the Zona Media of Navarra. In the North, however, the Lokiz, Urbasa and Andia ranges give rise to a clearly mountainous territory "saturated" with beech forests, holm oaks and pastoral meadows. A territory that, qualifying more, comes to be the continuation of the Pyrenees and its connection with the Sierra de Cantabria.
It is worth adding that the latter, which seen on a map is a long spine that goes without hesitation from Navarra to the North of Burgos -completely framing La Rioja in its path to the north- is likewise the connection of the PYRENEES with the Cantabrian Mountains and the PICOS DE EUROPA.
As for what our wheels are going to find, we can refer to the tag that we have put in the name of the route
- Journey to the Country of Paths -
Entering Tierra Estella is entering a land of high cycling tradition. To the professional reference of the Indurain Grand Prix which has been held on its roads since 1951, a popular test called Tierra Estella Epic has been added, which in its MTB version (also held for gravel bikes) meanders along the roads of the central zone of what for us is EL OASIS.
In the style of the classics of The Netherlands, in which the organizers value (almost with first and last name) the different sections of pavés or the different slopes that, well chained, generate a profile with the perfect image of a saw, in Tierra Estella Epic the valued sequence is that of the singletraks that follow one another along the route with a regularity that can only be maintained due to the simple fact of their abundance.
In some of the areas through which EL OASIS passes, other initiatives are also active, sometimes public and other times by small groups of local bikers, almost even personal, in which the paths are worked so that our wheels can pass through them well. This is the case of Montejurra Bizi (stages C and D), Etxabarri Land (stage B), Antzin Enduro (stages C and D) o Sendas de Artajona (stage H).
Pretty summed up, this is it. If you decide to come... Welcome to
EL OASIS Journey to the Country of Paths
- Full technical
route totals - Stage A
Circular Estella - Stage B
Estella - Zudaire - Stage C
Circular Zudaire - Stage E
Zudaire - Puente La Reina - Stage H
Circular Puente La Reina - Stage G
Puente La Reina - Estella - Stage D
Zudaire - Estella
Stage A: Circular Estella
Distance: 53 km Unevenness: 1.125 m
Stage B: Estella - Zudaire
Distance: 55 km Unevenness: 1.620 m
Stage C: Circular Zudaire
Distance: 65 km Unevenness: 1.105 m
Stage E: Zudaire - Puente La Reina
Distance: 57 km Unevenness: 1.240 m
Stage H: Circular Puente La Reina
Distance: 52 km Unevenness: 1.075 m
Stage G: Puente La Reina - Estella
Distance: 52 km Unevenness: 970 m
Stage D: Zudaire - Estella
Distance: 55 km Unevenness: 1.390 m
The route of 6 stages, A + B + C + E + H + G -3 circular and 3 point to point- at full:
Distance: 322 km Unevenness: 7.550 m
The route of 6 stages, A + B + C + D -2 circular and 2 point to point- at full:
Distance: 208 km Unevenness: 5.035 m
Circular Estella
Montejurra Singletracks
Beginning and ending in Estella, the capital of the Tierra Estella region, stage A has as its almost unique axis the Montaña de Montejurra.
The area has been reinforced as it is by the Montejurra Bizi, MTB project, with structured routes along all the slopes of the mountain, and with the double guarantee, in addition to being its trails repeatedly included in the route of the popular MTB event called Tierra Estella Epic, selecting the stage as the first route of the Pack is something that will not disappoint anyone.
Estella / Lorca - Zudaire
Etxabarri Land
We could say that stage B is the one that communicates the Llano with the Mountain, that is; the City of Ega with Las Améskoas.
The work of the bikers in the area and the design of singletracks in the Peñas de Etxabarri and its surroundings -in the central part of the stage- give the whole the character that we usually look for on this type of route.
Circular Zudaire
Urbasa and/or Lokiz Ranges
In this stage C, we will have to choose between 2 environments. -Unless we extend the proposal another day and carry out the 2 circular stages available from Zudaire-
If we prefer meadows, beeches and holm oaks, the option is Urbasa Range.
If we prefer Singletracks, the option, without a doubt, is Lokiz Range.
The first of the options runs through the well-known Urbasa Range, one of the most important Natural Parks in Navarra. As can be seen in the profile, except for the demanding walls at the start and end of the stage, the route has hardly any significant unevenness and the rolling is fast.
The second option, Lokiz Range, has a wilder environment and runs through more solitary territory and in a certain sense more "mtb". The long descent, combining the Tartalo - New Zeland trails of the Antzin Enduro MTB Center, is the main landmark of the route. The kilometers are less than in the Urbasa option, but the riding is more technical and therefore slower.
Sometimes the weather may decide or at least help us in the choice, since it is relatively frequent that to the North (Urbasa) the clouds are "disturbing" and to the South the sky looks clearer.
Zudaire - Puente La Reina
Iranzu Lands
With the exception of the vicinity of the start and end points of the route, the rest of the kilometers of the stage pass through the Iranzu Lands, a Navarrese region that leads to the West of the Pamplona Basin.
If stage B was the one that connected the Llano with the Mountain, stage E is simply its inverse.
The first half is "Mountain" combining the Urbasa Range at the beginning and the foothills of the southern slope of Andia Range later. In the second half, from Riezu the atmosphere changes completely. We enter the Navarra of crops and scrubland and we return to "take advantage" of the local bikers and their elaborate paths that, through a complex orography, deposit us, now yes, in the "Llano" of the Cuenca del Arga in Puente La Reina.
Circular Puente La Reina
Artajona Singletracks
In an apparently insipid environment, one of the stages that justify the "tag" of the name of the route takes place; Welcome to EL OASIS, Journey to the Land of Paths.
The meritorious action of the Artajona City Council, which has considered the conservation of the paths of its municipality as a common good, regardless of the use that may be given to them, that is; as a heritage in themselves, they turn our stage H into the Artajona Singletracks stage. A look at the profile and the sequence of paths that appear in it explains it better than this text.
Puente La Reina - Estella / Lorca
Flying over "El Camino"
La G3 es la opción de track estándar para la que habitualmente es la última etapa de EL OASIS.
If stage A "Montejurra Singletracks" was not included in the selection of stages of the chosen Pack or simply if you want to force the machine a little more in this stage, the proposal is to close the triangle of EL OASIS by extending the stage with the ascent to Montejurra and finishing off the track along the paths of our "SuperFlow".
Framed between 2 important points on the Camino de Santiago, such as Puente La Reina and Estella, stage G passes through what in Navarra is known as the Zona Media.
But "we fly over El Camino" and for this we must first gain altitude ascending to the Altos de Iturtxuria and Ezkintza along their tracks and singletracks camouflaged at all times among the sparse vegetation of the area. Thus, scrubland, Aleppo pines, crops and some vineyards make up the "balcony" through which we pass from the Arga Basin in Mendigorria to the Ega Basin in the vicinity of Estella.
Stage with reminiscences of history not too distant. In a way we are in the "star" territory of the Carlist Wars, and something will be noticed.
Zudaire - Estella
Lokiz Range, Ancin MTB territory
When the route option of 4 stages 2xH (2 nights per hotel) is chosen, in which the accommodations are only in Estella and Zudaire, this stage D is the one used to close the proposal. (Pack stages A + B + C + D)
The geography of the route is largely in common with stage C through Lokiz Range, and as in that one, one of the main references is the long descent of the Tartalo - New Zeland trails of the Antzin Enduro MTB Center.
THE ROUTE IN DATA
What you could feel!
- Stage A
Circular Estella - Stage B
Estella - Zudaire - Stage C
Circular Zudaire - Stage E
Zudaire - Puente La Reina - Stage H
Circular Puente La Reina - Stage G
Puente La Reina - Estella - Stage D
Zudaire - Estella
Circular Estella
Montejurra Singletracks
Ladera norte de Montejurra, espectacular territorio de juego para el MTB
Biker "volando" hacia el final de ruta en Estella.
Senda de La Ballena, Tierra Estella Epic-2021
Monasterio de Iratxe y sus viñedos al pie de la montaña de Montejurra.
Los casi 6 kilómetros de senda de la parte alta del Montejurra, la que nosotros hemos decidido llamar SuperFlow, desembocan en secciones más pisteras en la zona baja de la montaña.
Viñedos de otoño de Bodegas Quaderna Vía bajo la cima del Castillo de Mojardin.
Estella / Lorca - Zudaire
Etxabarri Land
Paredes de Altikogaina, terreno de juego de los primeros kilómetros del día.
Escuela de MTB y Monasterio de Iranzu, parada obligatoria antes de iniciar la subida del día.
Ascendiendo a las Peñas de Etxabarri. El horizonte se llena con el territorio de las etapas C y D, la Sierra de Lokiz y su desconocida red de senderos.
Redondeada cima de Larraiza, inicio de descenso a Las Améskoas.
Fin de día en cualquier otoño en los Montes de Etxabarri, epicentro de la etapa B.
Bikers en acción por los singletracks de la Tierra Estella Epic-2021 en las orillas del Urederra.
Zudaire, fin de etapa a los pies de la Sierra de Urbasa.
Circular Zudaire
Urbasa and/or Lokiz Ranges
Zudaire, inicio y fin de ruta a los pies de la Sierra de Urbasa.
Campas diseñadas para nuestras bicicletas en la parte alta de la Sierra.
Dolmen de Legaire en los Rasos del mismo nombre.
En Urbasa el ganado está bien acostumbrado a los bikers. Estamos en uno de los Parques Naturales más visitados de Navarra.
En el extremo norte la Sierra se desploma sobre la Llanada Alavesa.
Rincones incógnitos de la Sierra de Urbasa, rincones de EL OASIS
La opción de ruta C por la Sierra de Lokiz se adentra en un territorio de carácter más "asilvestrado".
Ermita de Santiago de Lokiz en lo alto de la sierra.
Los farallones de la Sierra de Lokiz se desploman sobre el Valle de Lana.
Fin de jornada en nuestro PUNTO BIKE en Zudaire
Zudaire - Puente La Reina
Iranzu Lands
Grupeta de bikers acercandose al "Balcón", punto de entrada a la Sierra de Urbasa en la etapa E entre Zudaire y Puente La Reina.
Ubaba, comunmente conocido como Balcón de Pilatos es sin ninguna duda uno de los puntos más fotografiados de Navarra. La espectacularidad de su mirador sobre el Nacedero del Urederra y sobre toda la comarca de Las Améskoas no deja indiferente a nadie y justifica la repetición de la visita en diferentes épocas del año.
Ciclistas sobre el borde cimero. Mejor no acercarse demasiado.
Acabo el otoño, pero EL OASIS se sigue dejando. Últimas secciones de la ruta por la Sierra de Urbasa.
Rasos clásicos de la Sierra de Urbasa en la primera parte de la etapa. Hacia el norte, los 1.495 metroa del Beriain nos cerrarán el horizonte durante gran parte del día.
Pantano de Alloz, referencia en la segunda parte de la etapa.
Singletrack entre "Mar de Colza" en la Tierra Estella navarra.
Puente medieval sobre el Arga. Fin de etapa en Puente La Reina.
Circular Puente La Reina
Artajona Singletracks
Cerco de Artajona en el horizonte. Bajo la aparente indiferencia de un paisaje monopilizado por los cultivos, se esconde una red de sendas impecables para "lo nuestro".
Senda El Abuelo
Artajona sobre sus viñedos y su Cerco (espectacular conjunto de torres medievales) visto desde el interior del mismo.
Senda La Majada
Sendas de Ibarbero, en breve estaremos en Mendigorria.
A partir de Mendigorria la ruta regresa relajadamente a Puente La Reina por la orilla del Arga.
Puente La Reina - Estella / Lorca
Flying over "El Camino"
Nostalgica bandera Carlista sobre las campas donde tuvo lugar en 1.835 la Batalla de Mendigorria entre Carlistas y Liberales. Las heridas no están del todo cerradas.
Puente sobre al Arga en Mendigorria. Comienza la cuesta.
Una vez ascendido el fuerte repecho hasta "El Banderin del Corner" la ruta se vuelve "singletrack" y zizagea bien marcada en dirección Oeste hacia los Altos de Iturtxuria (fuente blanca).
Ciclista "dandolo todo" en ruta hacia Estella -Tierra Estella Epic 2021-
Reducto "liberal" Princesa de Asturias con Montejurra -para algunos La Montaña de los Carlistas- en el horizonte.
Al final de la que habitualmente es la última etapa de EL OASIS recorremos de nuevo La Senda de La Ballena, tal como hicimos en el inicio de la ruta. A la izquierda, en el horizonte, se visualiza la Montaña de Montejurra (Etapa A). A la derecha, la Sierra de Lokiz (etapas C y D). -Tierra Estella Epic 2021-
Fuerte Santa Barbara, más historia en la ruta.
Si el primer día cuando comenzamos EL OASIS la etapa A "Sendas de Montejurra" no estaba incluida en la propuesta, tenemos la oportunidad de alargar esta etapa G y poner el broche de oro a la ruta finalizando por la sección de más de 6 kilómetros de singletrack que recorre la parte alta de la montaña y que hemos querido llamar "SuperFlow".
Zudaire - Estella
Lokiz Range, Ancin MTB territory
Pueblo de Ollobarren en el Valle de Lana y a los pies de la Sierra de Lokiz. Ambiente de la etapa de hoy.
Nos adentramos en la Sierra de Lokiz, un territorio de carácter "asilvestrado", lo que aquí comunmente llamaríamos "Navarra Profunda".
Ermita de Santiago de Lokiz en lo alto de la sierra.
La Sierra de Lokiz va quedando atras, nos acercamos al final de ruta en Estella.
En la segunda mitad de la etapa volvemos a territorio "humanizado"
EL OASIS mantiene la "tensión" hasta casí el último metro antes de finalizar en Estella. El País de los Senderos hace honor a su nombre.
THE ROUTE IN PICTURES
Expect to feel it!
Route in 2 x H format
In this 2 x H option of THE OASIS, accommodation in the southern area can be in ESTELLA —a small city— or in LORCA —a small village—. In the northern area, the point is always ZUDAIRE, where we also have 2 circular route options to choose from: towards the Sierra de Urbasa or towards the Sierra de Andia.
OUR LODGES
The half of the Trip
- Lodging for stages with start in Estella / Lizarra
- Lodging for stages with start in Zudaire
- Lodging for stages with start in Puente La Reina
Hotel Yerri - 2*
Hotel Ibaisek
Hotel Jakue
- Important -
In the rural world that our routes run through, hotel establishments are usually small. It is often difficult to book the sequence of accommodations necessary to complete a Pack, especially if the number of participants in a group is a bit high.
Booking in advance is often the key. It is not a commercial trick on our part. Many times, that reservation with enough time in advance is simply the difference between being able or not being able to reserve the Pack.
3 Stages / 3 Nights
3 point to point stages: B + E + G
384 € Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
400 € Price per person for groups of 4 or 5 people
444 € Price per person for groups of 2 or 3 people
Single room supplement: + 86 €
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
1 circular and 3 point to point stages
498 € Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
522 € Price per person for groups of 4 or 5 people
560 € Price per person for groups of 2 or 3 people
Single room supplement: + 108 €
When the group consists of an even number of people, an even number of applications will also be necessary to access this supplement.
5 Stages / 5 Nights
2 circular and 3 point to point stages
619 € Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
638 € Price per person for groups of 5 people
620 € Price per person for groups of 4 people
682 € Price per person for groups of 3 people
670 € Price per person for groups of 2 people
Single room supplement: + 144 €
When the group consists of an even number of people, an even number of applications will also be necessary to access this supplement.
6 Stages / 6 Nights
3 circular and 3 point to point stages
696 € Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
733 € Price per person for groups of 5 people
712 € Price per person for groups of 4 people
780 € Price per person for groups of 3 people
760 € Price per person for groups of 2 people
Single room supplement: + 176 €
When the group consists of an even number of people, an even number of applications will also be necessary to access this supplement.
7 Stages / 7 Nights
4 circular and 3 point to point stages
825 € Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
846 € Price per person for groups of 5 people
820 € Price per person for groups of 4 people
894 € Price per person for groups of 3 people
868 € Price per person for groups of 2 people
Single room supplement: + 196 €
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
And you can add a Night with Breakfast at the end of the route -in the same hotel where you started it- - for 44 € per person in a double room or for 72 € in a 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.
OPTION 2 x H
4 Stages / 4 Nights
2 circular and 2 point to point stages
443 € Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
463 € Price per person for groups of 5 people
448 € Price per person for groups of 4 people
484 € Price per person for groups of 3 people
465 € Price per person for groups of 2 people
Single room supplement: + 102 €
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 / 3 Nights
1 circular and 2 point to point stages
350 € Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
365 € Price per person for groups of 5 people
356 € Price per person for groups of 4 people
389 € Price per person for groups of 3 people
378 € Price per person for groups of 2 people
Single room supplement: + 72 €
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
And you can add a Night with Breakfast at the end of the route -in the same hotel where you started it- - for 44 € per person in a double room or for 72 € in a 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.
- As many nights of accommodation in Hotel as stages have the Pack
The 1st in B&B and the rest in Half board - Shower and luggage reception at the end of the last stage despite you don’t spend the night at the finalising point of the route
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
- 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 - Hire individual room
When the group consists of an even number of people, an even number of applications will also be necessary to access this supplement.
- Best time to go: The route can be pedaled at any time of the year except in winter unless there is no snow.
Spring and Autumn are usually the most pleasant seasons; in summer it can be hot in the stages of the southern part of the route. In any case, we have to say that the punctual weather of the days in which we are going to do the route is more important than the season itself. - Type of tracks: Almost all stages are characterized by "overdose" of trails. This makes the duration of the stages usually turn out to be longer than what the technical figures of the same can suggest.
We will have to go through some road sections due to the geographical conditions generated by the location of the hotels. - Ideal bike: Preferably a dual suspension MTB bike.
- 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 98%.
- Philosophy: We make an effort in the Briefing so that the tracks that we advise you adapt to what interests you the most. If you prefer to have free time at the end of the stages we will give you shorter tracks. If you come to "give everything", do not worry, you will give it.
- 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.
¿And why EL OASIS?
In 1876, the Catalan writer Juan Mañe y Flaquer undertook a journey through the "Northern Provinces" which he transferred to paper in the form of a book titled EL OASIS, Viaje al País de los Fueros (Journey to the Land of the Charters).
The writer justified his choice of title by the fact that at that time, despite the "Fueros" —ancient rights held by those northern provinces— having already been abolished, certain liberties still existed in these lands that were not enjoyed in the rest of Spain. That was his Oasis, an oasis of freedoms.
We, "mountain bikers of the north", have rescued the title for our route. Often, when the mist and the "txiri-miri" set the mood and turn northern Navarre and its forests green, TIERRA ESTELLA becomes an oasis where the weather is more benign for our purpose of cycling.
If we add the undeniable fact that the concentration of "singletracks" in the territory is clearly well above the usual, the result is EL OASIS, "Journey to the Land of the Trails". We don't mess with the "Fueros"... as the wounds, apparently, are not fully healed.
Located in the Navarre valley of La Sakana, the Oak of Zamartze (shown in the engraving from the original book) symbolizes the slow passage of history, where although we often overlook it, one day leisurely follows another, and deep-rooted things do not change easily, for better or for worse.
Almost 150 years ago, the stone embedded in its trunk, already leaning somewhat under its weight back then, caught someone's attention enough to turn the vision into an engraving.
Today it is still there, gradually leaning, following the same cycle as all living beings on the planet.
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