The trans-Pyrenean motorcycle route is one of the best adventures you can embark on if you are passionate about motorcycling. It is a very complete tour for lovers of this means of transport and for those who enjoy traveling by road. You can plan it to your liking and travel, along 800 kilometers, incredible places with the Pyrenees as a backdrop.
Trans-Pyrenean motorcycle route: this is what you need to know
The trans-Pyrenees is a trip that all motorcycling lovers should take at some time in their lives. It is one of the best adventures for those who like to travel the road aboard this means of transport. The trans-Pyrenean route connects the Cantabrian Sea with the Mediterranean Sea, passing through the Pyrenees, for 800 kilometers. Without doubt an unforgettable experience!
The route mostly takes place in Spain, but it also covers part of France and Andorra. To travel the trans-Pyrenean route by motorcycle, we recommend that you plan it between the months of May and September. Take into account the climate of most of the places through which the route passes, because in the rest of the months of the year, the route is usually covered with snow. Of course, do not forget to check the weather report daily due to storms that, sometimes, can fall accompanied by hail.
Tips before you leave
On the other hand, it is important to check the condition of your motorcycle before embarking on the adventure and familiarize yourself with the workshops and gas stations closest to your route. Check the tires, oil and coolant levels. Of course, check the status of the bulbs and, of course, check to have everything in your luggage. Do not forget to bring several pairs of gloves, special motorcycle boots and that they are waterproof. It is also advisable to wear a rain-resistant jacket; And don’t leave a pair of motorcycle pants at home. It doesn’t hurt that you take a raincoat with you.
Make a travel plan to know how many kilometers you will do each day and do not forget to make all the relevant reservations in the places where you are going to stay. To carry out the trans-Pyrenean route by motorcycle , a few days are required to enjoy the landscape and the route and, of course, to rest enough between sections. Although many bikers ride the route in 3 days, adjust the kilometers (no more than 250 a day), depending on the time you have available.
Where does the trans-Pyrenean motorcycle route begin?
The route begins in Hondarribia, Basque Country, and ends in Cap de Crus, Catalonia. You can travel it from north to south or vice versa. You can also do it on the road, that is, following the road; the more adventurous (and expert) opt for off-the-road, following other types of roads. So the distance of the route can vary considerably. No matter how you do it: you will enjoy incredible landscapes and places.
You can also contact an agency specialized in this iconic route to fully entrust the planning of your route. So you won’t have to worry too much. They can also manage (according to the days you have available and your budget), reservations in hotels, hostels, lodgings and lodges in each place where you stop to rest. Some agencies include specialized guides and photographs so that you have a nice memory of your trip.
How to do the trans-Pyrenean route on a motorcycle?
If you leave from Hondarribia, your first obligatory stop is Roncesvalles, in Navarra. This Navarrese municipality is a key point because it is not only emblematic for its involvement in the songs of deed, but also for the Camino de Santiago. Do not be surprised to find a multitude of pilgrims in this place, because the traditional French way enters through Roncesvalles and Ibañeta. Of course, find accommodation in advance if you want to spend the night here, as some only allow pilgrims to enter.
When leaving Roncesvalles, which we recommend you to visit because it is a magical place, you will pass through some French towns such as Saint Jean Pie de Port, Larrau and Accous. You can decide to spend the night in a French village or go to Candanchú or Jaca. You decide where to stay.
The second day of your trip can be concluded in Viella , but not before going through the Formigal ski resort. In this section of the route, do not stop passing through Lourdes, in France; as well as the town of Saint Lary-Soulan. The route ends in Roses, passing through Baqueira and through Andorra! What better than to stop here to do some shopping, eat and explore this beautiful city!
If you decide to do the route in reverse, you can start at Cabo de Creus and end at Cabo de Higer in Hondarribia. The original route (which is 800 kilometers long), runs through the southern part of the Pyrenees. Keep in mind that you can plan the trip to suit you, stop at the places you see fit and, if you go with time to spare, stay up to 2 days in the same town. It depends on what you want to know!
Places you cannot miss
Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, Huesca
Obligatory stop for all those who make the trans-Pyrenean route by motorcycle . The Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park is located in the Pyrenees of Huesca, in Aragon and receives approximately 600,000 visitors a year, approximately. The park has an area of 15,608 hectares and has an altitude of between 700 meters above sea level (in the area of the Bellós river) and 3,348 meters above sea level in the part of Monte Perdido.
It is the second oldest national park in Spain (since 1918) and is the seventh in number of visitors. Since 1977 it has been a Biosphere Reserve; in 1982, it became a Special Protection Area for Birds and, in 1997, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition, the park is a Site of Community Importance.
The park is divided into 6 sectors and each has its own hiking trails. We recommend you visit Monte Perdido or Tres Sorores, the highest limestone massif in Europe and typical of the Pyrenees. It has a spectacular glacier that you cannot miss on your visit. Other smaller mountains and glacial valleys descend from this mountain, the most emblematic of which is the Ordesa Valley; the valley is crowned by the Arazas river. Another place of interest in the park is the Escuaín Gorges, surrounded by the Yaga River. Of course, you can find thick forests.
Aneto, Huesca
You won’t want to leave Huesca! And it is here that the Aneto is located, the highest peak in the Pyrenees in the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park. It is one of the must-sees of this route and, best of all, you can climb to the top and enjoy the spectacular views of the Pyrenees, what better place for such a feat?
Don’t worry: you don’t have to climb its 3,404 meters to reach the top, a possibility for the more adventurous. To reach the top of the impressive mountain, you only have to cross the spiers of the Bridge of Muhammad. Of course, we recommend you go early, as there are many who want to start the ascent to the mountain and it can take a long time.
Pyrenees National Park
Since you are doing the trans-Pyrenean route by motorcycle , what better way to visit the Pyrenees National Park ? This famous park (Parc National des Pyrénées) is located in the central area of the French Pyrenees and has a protected area of 45,707 hectares. It is an impressive site made up of peaks, glacial cirques, valleys … and shares a border with our country.
The park was created in 1967 and here you can see the Midi d’Ossau peak, the Vignemale and Lake Gaube. We recommend that you go to the Gavarnie waterfall, inside the park. It is the highest in France and, outside of Norway, it is the second in Europe. After the tour of the park, maybe you can escape to the small village of Gavarnie, in the Hautes Pyrenees, 30 minutes (walking) and spend the night there or eat something typical French.
Lourdes, Hautes Pyrenees
Following the route through France, you may want to get closer to Lourdes, in the south-east of the Hautes-Pyrenees and in the region of Occitania. Lourdes, in Occitan, Lorda , is located at an altitude of 400 meters. On one side runs the river Gave de Pau, which comes from Gavarnia. Although Lourdes is a pilgrimage center (you can visit the Sanctuary), you can also get close to other emblematic monuments of the small city.
Escape to Andorra
Andorra la Vieja, capital of the Principality of Andorra, is a small (but very populated) city that we recommend you visit on your tour. The capital of the principality is also located in the Pyrenees, near the Valira del Norte and Valira de Oriente rivers , which together form the Valira river. The city has an altitude of 1,022 meters above sea level; this makes it the capital of a European state at a higher altitude above sea level.
Andorra is an incredibly touristy place and ideal if you want to see something different. You can visit the Casa de la Vall, which dates back to the 16th century and is one of the most iconic buildings in the city. You can also go to the churches of San Esteban and Santa Coloma and cross the Valira river from the Pont de la Margineda, an immense Romanesque bridge dating from the Middle Ages. You can also go up to the complex (castle and church) of Sant Vicenç d’Enclar, at 1,126 meters high.
