We love it when our leaders and partners send us their reasons as to why we should visit their destination. After all they live there, they know where the best places are to go and have all the inside knowledge.

Our man in France Finn, has sent us his 8 highlights from our 8 day Pyreneees Coast to Coast cycling holiday!

1. The village of Collioure

Discover this beautiful seaside town, nestled on the edge of the Mediterranean. With its strong Catalan culture, seafront cafe terraces and numerous historical buildings, Collioure makes a great starting point for this trip.

2. Begin the tour with a dip in the Med, finish with a plunge in the Atlantic Ocean!

The small bays and calm, crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean offer a marked contrast with the vast, open beaches and crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

3. Ride the famous Cols of the Tour de France.

The Pyrenees are home to numerous mountain passes that regularly form stages of this famous cycle race. The Col d’Agnès, Col de Tourmalet, Col d’Aspin and the Col d’Aubisque are just a few of the many wonderful passes to be discovered on this unforgettable coast to coast trip.

4. Discover the contrasting culture, architecture and scenery of the Pyrenees

You'll see all of this as you pass from the Mediterranean climes of the Pyrénées Orientales and the Aude, to the high mountains of the Ariège and the Hautes Pyrénées, before finishing in the lush green rolling hills of the Pyrénées Atlantiques.

5. A rich fauna and flora

The relatively untouched, wild nature of the Pyrenees means it harbours a wealth of flora and fauna. The mountain range is home to numerous wild and often rare flowers, as well as chamois, marmots, wild boar and even a small but growing population of brown bear.

6. Ride the length of the spine between France and Spain

The Pyrenees form an impressive natural barrier between these 2 countries, spanning some 500 kilometres in length and reaching 3404 metres above sea level at the Pic d’Aneto. The 2 sides of the range offer vastly contrasting landscapes and scenery, relatively dry and arid on the southern Spanish side, yet lush and green on the northern French side.

7. Discover the wonderful Basque Country!

Spanning the border between France and Spain at the western end of the Pyrenees, the Pays Basque with its rich cultural heritage, distinct language (Euskara is one of the oldest languages in Europe) and numerous festivals offer a wealth of interest to visitors.

8. Finish in the pretty, coastal town of Saint-Jean-de-Luz

Sheltered by the Baie de Socoa, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, with its small port, large sandy beaches and seafront restaurants offers a perfect finish and opportunity to indulge yourself after this superb coast to coast ride.

>> Pyrenees Coast to Coast Road Cycle