SELVA DE IRATI GRAVEL
Multi-stage GRAVEL bike route in the Western Pyrenees.
Crossing the border between France and Spain. From the Irati Forest and the Roncesvalles passes to the Kintoa Valley in the French Basque Country. A journey you won't easily forget.
style - gravel -
SELF-GUIDED ROUTE WITH GPS
- Options of 3 or 4 stages -
SELVA DE IRATI - GRAVEL
Some parts of this website may be in the process of being translated.
IRATI FOREST PUNTO BIKE is a multi-stage cycle touring route designed for gravel bikes. It is located in the western Pyrenees, in the area known as the Basque Pyrenees. The itinerary is equally divided between forest tracks, secluded roads, and mountain passes that can occasionally be quite demanding.
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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
The IRATI FOREST PUNTO BIKE route is located in the central part of the NAVARRE PYRENEES and is nestled between the 2,019-meter Ori Peak to the east and the Quinto Real forests and Adi Peak to the west.
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Its geography is composed of a series of dense woodlands in the lower altitudes, combined with other areas deforested since ancient times that currently exhibit a clear pastoral character, with vast high-altitude pastures dotted with shepherd huts and significant megalithic sites that trace back to the prehistoric occupation of these mountains.
The eastern section of the route (stages A and B) corresponds to the IRATI FOREST itself. Here, the influence of timber harvesting and water resources is palpable. This results in expansive forests and water "everywhere"—except in autumns following rare dry summers. In the far east, the landscape begins to resemble "high mountain" terrain.
The western section of the route (stage C) covers the Pyrenees surrounding RONCESVALLES. There is a notable influence of the Way of Saint James, which crosses the Pyrenees from north to south in this area, leaving its mark especially on the atmosphere of the villages and mountain passes it traverses.
Stage D provides a view of the southern Salazar Valley, introducing us to one of the most hidden and unknown territories in Navarre: the Areta Mountains and the Urraul Alto region. To put it graphically: if you encounter 100 people in the usual Navarre Pyrenees, here you will meet only 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: 70 km Unevenness: 1.585 m
Stage B: Circular Irati
Distance: 97 km Unevenness: 2.470 m
Stage C: Larraun - Burguete
Distance: 67 km Unevenness: 1.865 m
Stage D: Burguete - Ochagavía
Distance: 77 km Unevenness: 1.825 m
La ruta al completo
Distance: 310 km Unevenness: 7.745 m
Abodi, Irati's Balcony
Queen Stage - Irati Mountain Passes
If the "queen stage" exceeds your athletic expectations, we offer a less demanding alternative. With some slight variations from the MTB version shown here, this option eases the overall figures.
Mountains of Roncesvalles and Kintoa
Irati Sur, Irati desconocido
THE ROUTE IN DATA
What you could feel!
- Stage A
Ochagavía-Larraun - Stage B
Circular Irati - Stage C
Larraun-Espinal - Stage D
Espinal-Ochagavía
Abodi, Irati's Balcony
Pyrenean peaks, a constant view looking east throughout Stage A.
The Abodi Range is the "backbone" of Stage A. Often, when the north wind blows, the range marks the edge of the "cloud cap" arriving from the northern slope.
Spectacular panorama from the summit with Pico de Ori —the first 2,000m peak of the range— on the left, and the main Atlantic Pyrenees mountains dominating the rest of the horizon.
Slopes of Pico Idorrokia.
Mountains of Irati's northern slope seen from the Abodi Range. IRATI'S BALCONY
The final kilometers of the route pass through typical villages of the Navarre Pyrenees. Pictured: Orbara.
Queen Stage - Irati Mountain Passes
Stage B HEART OF IRATI
Section shared with the Pikatua nordic ski tracks.
Vicinity of the Col de Sensibil. Tracks beneath the summit of Ori, the first 2,000m peak of the Pyrenees from the Cantabrian side.
The route alternates between forested areas and others with a more pastoral character.
Irabia Reservoir, HEART OF IRATI
Mountains of Roncesvalles and Kintoa
The first kilometers of the day pass through the vicinity of the forests surrounding the Orbaitzeta Arms Factory.
Arnostegi Pass beneath the remains of the Urkulu Roman tower. On the horizon, the 2,000-meter peak of Ori.
In the vicinity of Lepoeder, we will share the route for a while with pilgrims on the Way of Saint James.
Ibañeta Pass between Orreaga-Roncesvalles and Valcarlos. Its status as a natural crossing used since prehistory between the two sides of the Pyrenees links it in the collective imagination to the Battle of Roncesvalles.
Ascent to Lindus from Ibañeta, moving away from the Way of Saint James...
Southern Irati, the unknown Irati
Descending towards Olaldea, the Irati River struggles to make itself seen through the dense woodland it creates.
SOUTHERN IRATI. Very often, the end of the season becomes the highlight for what we do.
Viewpoint over Urraul Alto, one of the most "neglected" areas of the unknown pre-Pyrenean Navarre. IRATI FOREST PUNTO BIKE shares the track in this section with its "sister" MTB version.
Unaccustomed to seeing people on this stage through the unknown southern pre-Pyrenees, the animals here have a wild edge to them.
Abodi's cloud cap in its full glory during the return to Ochagavía through Southern Irati.
Otsagi, the true prototype of a Navarrese Pyrenean village. Plenty of narrow streets to "get lost" in for a while and the end of IRATI FOREST 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-. - Ideal bike: Gravel bike, or lightweight trail bike. Some descents are a bit rocky, so a front tire of at least 45 mm is recommended.
- 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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