Port de la Bonaigua from Vielha
46 km · 1,150 m · Vielha
- Base
- Vielha
- Distance
- 46 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,150 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Type
- Out and back
- Highest point
- Port de la Bonaigua, 2,072 m
- Season
- May–October
A long but steady climb through the Val d'Aran, the only valley on the northern side of the Pyrenees that belongs to Spain. From Vielha it's 22.7 km and 1100 metres of climbing past the stone villages of Arties and Salardú and the ski resort of Baqueira, with a steeper finish in hairpins up to 2072 metres. The view from the top over both Aran and Pallars is magnificent. The pass has been used in both the Vuelta a España and the Tour de France.
TipsPlenty of cafés in Arties, Salardú and Baqueira, a kiosk/refugi at the top. The pass is kept open in winter but can be closed after snowfall. If you're staying in Luchon you can get here over the Col du Portillon (1292 m) via Bossòst, which makes it a hard day of about 115 km. Alternatively: carry on down to Esterri d'Àneu and ride it one-way.
Nearby
Cycling rides
- Gavarnie from Luz-Saint-Sauveur40 km · 700 m · Easy
- Cerdagne loop over the Col de la Perche55 km · 800 m · Easy
- Aubisque and Soulor from Laruns55 km · 1,550 m · Moderate
- Col de Marie-Blanque loop from Arudy60 km · 1,000 m · Moderate
- Col du Pourtalet to Formigal and Sallent82 km · 1,800 m · Moderate
- Port de Larrau and Pierre-Saint-Martin, French–Spanish loop127 km · 3,000 m · Very hard
- The Tourmalet from both sides72 km · 2,700 m · Hard
- Hautacam and Luz Ardiden102 km · 2,550 m · Hard
- Peyresourde and Aspin from Luchon88 km · 2,650 m · Hard
- The Tour's 65-kilometre stage: Luchon–Col de Portet65 km · 3,000 m · Hard
- Port de Balès and Peyresourde from Luchon88 km · 2,300 m · Hard
- The big Comminges loop: Ares, Balès, Menté and Portet d'Aspet133 km · 3,300 m · Very hard
- Col de Port and Mur de Péguère from Foix74 km · 1,750 m · Hard
- Latrape, Saraillé and Col d'Agnes from Aulus76 km · 1,950 m · Hard
- The Pailhères from both sides and Ax 3 Domaines75 km · 2,850 m · Hard
- Coll d'Ordino and Beixalís from Andorra la Vella62 km · 1,700 m · Moderate
- The queen stage Pau–Luchon (the Circle of Death in reverse)197 km · 4,800 m · Very hard