Day 1 - Morning pick up at hotel in Bilbao and it's on to the world famous Guggenheim Museum of Modern Art designed by American architect Frank Gehry. This massive museum is clad in shimmering titanium and has been hailed by many architectural critics as the first great building of the 21st century. After lunch, we transfer from Bilbao to our country hotel in the little village of Trasvia near the seaside town of Comillas - at one time the summer home of the Spanish royal family. After the bike fittings, we'll offer a warm-up ride into Comillas to admire the abundance of noble homes and palaces. In the evening we'll toast the beginning of our tour with a special dinner at a four-star restaurant designed by Antoni Gaudí, one of only three buildings outside of Catalonia designed by the architect.

Day 2 - Comillas to Pechon

We ride south today through quiet countryside amid centuries-old farmhouses and picturesque Cantabrian villages reminiscent of Austria’s Tyrol. Then, it’s back to the coast for a night along the sea before starting into the Picos de Europa. Our hotel is in the postcard perfect little village of Pechón overlooking the Bay of Biscay. We’ll enjoy a special paella dinner together tonight. (40km/25miles)

Day 3 - Pechon to Potes

On our bikes and a glorious ride through the Hermida Gorge to the little mountain town of Potes for two nights at the base of Spain’s most beautiful mountain range. Potes is a lively town full of hikers and cyclists from all over Europe. We’ll be staying at a charming little family run hotel overlooking the Deva River. Free evening to try one of the local restaurants in town -- we’ll be happy to give you our suggestions. (43km/27miles)

Day 4 - Potes

Today we can either ride our bikes to the cable car at Fuente Dé (a stiff climb) or catch a lift in the van. We then take the breathtaking cable car to the top of the mountain for a great hike along mountain paths to a rustic lodge for lunch on your own and then it’s back to the cable car. The views are stupendous with lofty peaks in all directions -- truly a walk to remember! Dinner tonight at the excellent little restaurant belonging to the hotel. (50km/31miles)

Day 5 - Potes to Riano

We start the day with a 12-mile climb through an area of wild and rugged mountain terrain with heart-stopping views to reach the Puerto de San Glorio pass. After the pass it’s all downhill to Riaño and our lakeside hotel for the night. Dinner on our own at one of several restaurants in town. (63km/39m)

Day 6 - Riano to Cangas de Onis

This morning we start the ride along the Riaño reservoir and then head north along the Sella River and down through one of the most spectacular gorges in the world -- the Desfiladero de los Beyos. This is a 35km/22m easy downhill that doesn’t leave your hands paralyzed! The scenery is truly astounding -- high waterfalls shrouded in ferns, eagles circling above and the lovely clear salmon and trout laden Río Sella rushing along far below. All too soon this wonderful ride brings us to the ancient little village of Cangas de Onis, the first capital of Christian Spain, famous for its medieval bridge spanning the Sella River. Our accommodations are in a small comfortable hotel right next to the medieval bridge. Dinner tonight at a wonderful local restaurant where we’ll get a demonstration of how the Asturianos drink their favorite brew - hard cider! (71km/44miles)

Day 7 - Cangas de Onis to Alles

Heading east toward Panes, we visit Covadonga where Pelayo rallied the Christians for the re-conquest of Spain from the Moors and is now considered one of the holiest sites in Spain! From there, we’ll enjoy another fantastic all-day ride along another lovely gorge -- this one following first the Río Güeña and then the Río Cares to a country inn set in a restored mountain village. And for those wanting a change of mounts, there’ll even be time in the afternoon to go horseback riding! Dinner at our hotels excellent restaurant. (60km/37m)

Day 8 - Alles

This is a day off of the bikes where we’ll take a 12.5km/8m walk along the breathtaking Cares Gorge through an area accessible only by foot. This is one of the most beautiful walks in Spain. It was literally carved out of the mountain wall and follows a broad path that meanders through short tunnels and behind waterfalls as it follows the Cares River far below while the mountains rise steeply up either side providing unbelievable vistas. A well-deserved dinner at our secluded hotel.

Day 9 - Alles to Santillana del Mar

Today we’ll have a short ride along the Deva River to its estuary and the seaside town of San Vincente de la Barquera where we’ll then transfer to one of Spain’s most picturesque villages -- Santillana del Mar. Frozen in time, Santillana is an unbelievably pretty walled town that has lost none of its charm and beauty - so pretty, in fact, that the whole town has been declared a national monument! We’ll arrive in plenty of time for sightseeing and a visit to the famous Witchcraft Museum after checking into the wonderful stone and rough-hewn beamed hotel in the center of the village. Tonight we’ll enjoy a special farewell dinner together. (30km/19m)

Southern Spain

Day 1 - Flights Arrive in Sevilla

Day 2 - Sevilla to Carmona

Midmorning 25 mile coach transfer from the pick-up hotel in Sevilla to the lovely walled town of Carmona. Stronghold of the Moors and later the favored town of Pedro the Cruel. On the way, we'll visit the famous Roman Necropolis just outside of the town walls before heading on to our hotel -- a charming 16th century palace! The afternoon is free to enjoy an al fresco lunch of tapas in the town square before exploring the cool maze of Arab-like streets and/or having a dip in the hotel's charming pool. Later in the afternoon we'll fit the bikes. In the evening we'll get acquainted over a glass of champagne and a festive welcome dinner.

Day 3 - Carmona to Palma del Río

Beautiful, typically Andalusian countryside unfolds as we ride quiet country roads graced with olive trees, fields of wheat, sunlight and wildflowers. Afternoon finds us in the little town of Palma del Río and our lodgings for the night -- the charming converted 14th century monastery of San Francisco famous for its cuisine. Fray Junípero Serra stayed here in the 14th century before he left to found his missions in California. Dinner together.

(51km/31.5 miles)

Day 4 - Palma del Río to Córdoba

Today we'll have a fairly long but mostly flat ride following the Guadalquivír River, lifeblood of the Andalusian plains, to the magnificent town of Córdoba. Along the way, we'll stop to visit the stunning castle in Almódovar del Río rising up from the fields of grain and wildflowers. On into Córdoba, we head for the old Juderia (Jewish Quarter) where we'll spend 2 nights next to the historic 8th century Mosque -- the only medieval mosque in existence. At one time, under the Moors, this lovely town was the world's center of culture and learning. Now it is famous not only for its Moorish memories, but also for its lively fiestas, flower-bedecked patios, famous restaurants and sophisticated shops. We'll give you a list of our favorite restaurants. You can try one on your own or discover a new one -- and then afterwards, perhaps some Flamenco? (70km / 43.5 miles)

Day 5 - Córdoba

Today we walk instead of roll for a guided tour of the Mosque. The day is then free to explore all of the other sights, soak up the ambiance or do a little shopping. This evening we enjoy a tapas feast at Córdoba's most famous tapas bar and restaurant!

Day 6 - Córdoba to Baena

After a morning transfer to the little town of Espejo, we ride on quiet country roads surrounded by vast vineyards of the Montilla-Moriles wine (a sherry-like wine famous throughout Spain and hardly known anywhere else) and a neverending sea of olive groves. In the afternoon, we will pay a visit to the renowned Nunez de Prada Oil Mill in the town of Beana, where olive oil is still made in the old traditional way. Our night's destination, La Casa Grande, is just across the pretty park from the oil mill. This small hotel was once an elegant private mansion and only recently has been converted into a charming hotel. Free evening.

(60 km / 37.2 miles)

Day 7 - Baena to Priego

This morning we hop on our bikes and cycle south into the National Park of the Sierra Subbética -a remote unspoiled region of the southern Córdoba Province. For half of the day's ride, we will take advantage of Spain's "Rails for Trails" system, which converts old train tracks into bike trails. We'll be staying outside of town, in the countryside, in a lovely hotel complex, VILLA TURISTICA DE PRIEGO, built to resemble a small Andalusian village. The complex is situated in the hills around Priego and has magnificent views of the surrounding countryside. Amenities include a wonderful refreshing pool! Group dinner at our hotel.

(55.5k / 34.4 miles)

Day 8 - Priego to Granada

Today is our final and longest ride, to glorious Granada. We head south for the pueblo blanco (white village) of Montefrio through the very wild and sparsely inhabited area of the northern Granada Province. Many of our participants consider this the most beautiful ride of the tour. There'll be almost no traffic and the scenery is fantastic, however, it may also be the toughest ride of the tour, so don't hesitate to catch a ride with the van if you begin to feel your energies flagging! The countryside, still part of the Sierras Subbéticas, will have all of the characteristics of yesterday's ride for a while, until it gradually gives way to olive groves - lots of them. We will cycle into Montefrio, a spectacularly situated town, it sits between 2 rocky outcrops each topped with a church. This area is ancient and has been in continual use since the stone-age, as attested to by the many tombs and caves with paintings and carvings found in the vicinity. As we head towards Granada, much flatter riding takes us through fields of asparagus dotted with wildflowers and butterflies. We ride through numerous sleepy little Andalucian villages with grand views of the Sierra Nevada that beckon us on to romantic Granada. The traffic on all roads into Granada is rather heavy, so people will get shuttled in from the town of Fuente Vaqueros. In Granada we check into our charming downtown hotel located near the Cathedral and within easy walking to the Alhambra.

(87.6km / 54.4m)

Day 9 - Granada

We have all day today to explore this legendary city and the last bastion of the Moors beginning with a tour of the breathtaking Alhambra - the fortress palace of the last Moorish caliph, Boabadil. The rest of the day you have plenty of time to visit Granada's other important sights, shop or to just spend time at an outdoor café in one of the many pretty squares people-watching. Evening finds us toasting to our adventures with good wine and Andalucian cuisine at one of Granada's most famous restaurants and the former haunt of such great literary figures as Federico García Lorca.

Day 10 - Final Day

Breakfast and a.m. transfer to the airport for those needing it.