CYCLING HOLIDAY ALBUFERA LAKE - RICE FIELDS - JUCAR RIVER
Trek with hotels, Round trip from 215 to 285 km, cycling level 1, 2 or 3
5 or more Days / 4 or more nights, Individual or Group Tour
Cycle from Valencia along the sea to the rice fields, Albufera Lake and the orange groves around the Júcar River. Completely organized including Dutch route information, GPS tracks, bicycle rental and overnight stays. This route can easily be expanded with several cycling days. And you can often choose an easy route on the spot - with hardly any height difference- or a sportier stage with more climbing and descending. In both cases, you cycle as much as possible on quiet asphalted agricultural roads, cycle paths and gravel paths.
There are many places to stop for a snack or drink along the way. And some fantastic places where you can either eat paella or learn to make it yourself! Another well-known regional dish is 'all i pebre', a spicy dish with eel, potato and pepper.
This tour stays close to the Mediterranean Sea because there is excellent cycling weather almost all year round. The sun shines here 300 days a year. In winter it is never really cold, in summer you have beaches everywhere and natural swimming pools along the river to cool off. In winter the orchards are full of colorful oranges and persimmons. In March and April, white flowers and the sweet perfume of the 'Azahar', the orange blossom, are added.
The rice fields are flooded a few times a year. At the end of May, the rice plants rear their heads and the area turns into a bright green sea. In spring and autumn, this area is an important stop for migratory birds.
You can easily extend this trip with one of our other routes, for example the Via Verde Ojos Negros (Greenway)
CYCLING HOLIDAYS
Individual or group travel
Easy routes with hardly any difference in height, as much as possible bicycle paths or car-free asphalt roads.
The routes can be expanded on site with more altimeters (climbing and descending).
Departure all year round, except July and August.
Extra beautiful from December to March (blossom and orchards full of oranges and persimmons)
GPS and roadbook with tips for restaurants and sights along the way
Personal explanation before departure
Shortening or extending stages is possible, useful for families with children
INCLUDING
overnight stays in small-scale accommodations, including breakfast
Briefing and assistance during the trip in English, Dutch, German or Spanish
A normal trekking bike is included in the price
Comes with panniers and handlebar bag
optional rental of trekking bike, ebikes (surcharge)
children's trailers or follow-me tandem.
GPS device or GPS tracks for your own device.
You can also bring your own bicycle
Luggage transport possible
Replacement bicycle in case of serious mechanical problems
Description
South of Valencia you will find the Albufera Nature Reserva. Around this huge lake has been rice has been cultivated for ages.
Through a wide branch irrigation system fields are flooded a few times a year.
You cycle across the rice fields, over dikes and agricultural roads.
Then you cycle through the river basin of the Júcar river, through orchards full of oranges, kakis and avocados.
You can add some extras, like a boat trip on Lake Albufera, a visit to an orange plantation,bird excursion with a birding expert, a paella cooking workshop or canoe trip on the river Júcar or the mountain lake of Tous.
The route is easy, there are not many height differences because almost the entire area is at sea level or along the river. For sportier cyclists, there are a number of alternative stages, with more altimeters and beautiful views as a reward.
Otherwise, consider renting an E-bike.
You stay at attractive hotels along the route. You can also extend your stay on the beach of Cullera, a relatively quiet seaside resort with beautiful sandy beaches.
All our tours start and end in Valencia.Your trip to Spain is not included.
Route
You can book this package as a 5-day bike tour, with the option to add extra days at the beach in Cullera.
The start and end point is Valencia.
Day 1: 45-50km
From Valencia, you cycle through the dunes to El Saler and Lake Albufera, where you can take a boat trip through the reed lands (to be arranged on-site, approx. €6 pp). You will also pass the visitor center of the Albufera National Park, where special birds often settle on a small lagoon. There is always something beautiful to see from the viewing hut.
Or go on a 'safari' with our bird expert. (optional, at extra cost). She knows exactly where you can spot special birds or orchids. With a bit of luck, you will also encounter Flamencos.
The first night is in an attractive Bed&Breakfast or three-star hotel in the town of Carcaixent.
Day 2. 40-60 km
Today you cycle along the banks of the Júcar river, the Antella weir, and through the orchards to the picturesque Sumacarcer. Here the river is shallow. On a warm day, you can swim here or go canoeing.
You can choose from an easy route (almost flat) or a more difficult stage with a climb to the Tous reservoir. Around the reservoir, you can enjoy fantastic views over the mountains and the coastal plain to the Mediterranean Sea.
You could rent an E-bik to enjoy the ride.
If you choose the easy route, you can still cycle a short distance uphill, to get a beautiful view of the river valley and the extensive citrus orchards.
You will spend the night again in the Bed&Breakfast or three-star hotel in the town of Carcaixent.
At this point, you can add 1 or 2 extra cycling days. Sporty routes with a few climbs and descents, both on asphalt and on gravel.
The routes pass a number of reservoirs and waterfalls around Navarrés.
You will spend 2 nights there in a hotel with a view of the mountains.
Day 3: 45-55 km
Today you largely follow the route of 'Via Verde del trenet', a former railway line.
This route goes through a beautiful valley, past stately villas and citrus plantations. You can visit one of those plantations and learn more about the history and cultivation of oranges. You can also visit the enormous monastery of Simat de la Valldigna. Then it continues through the orchards and rice fields to the coast, where you can go to the beach.
You will spend the night in a 3- or 4-star hotel in Cullera, very close to the beach.
In the summer it is pleasantly busy on the boulevard. In low season it is wonderfully quiet and you have the enormous sandy beach almost to yourself.
You can extend your stay at the beach for one or more nights here. For example, there is a beautiful walking route of 16 km. over a ridge, parallel to the sea, with fantastic views over the Bay of Valencia, the Albufera and the Júcar valley.
Day 4: 40-60 km
Today you follow the Júcar river inland. The water of the river has been used for centuries to irrigate rice fields and citrus plantations.
You cycle over the dikes or asphalted agricultural roads near the river, surrounded by orchards. This is especially beautiful in winter, when it is full of bright orange oranges and persimmons.
You can extend the route today by cycling to Alzira and the castle ruins of La Murta, in the nature reserve of the same name.
You can also use this day for a walk on a ridge, parallel to the coast. From here you have a fantastic view over the castle of Cullera, the Albufera and Júcar river.
You will spend the night in Cullera, close to the beach.
Day 5: 45 km
The last stage first takes you along the coast, via the Cullera lighthouse. Then it goes via the rice fields and the 'saints' hill' towards the Albufera lake and the dunes of El Saler.
There is another route variant, where you cycle past an authentic fishing port and visit a bird observation post on the edge of Lake Albufera.
Once in Valencia the arrangement ends. We will also be happy to arrange accommodation for your further stay in the city.
We recommend ****Hotel Eurostars Acteon or ****Silken Puerta Valencia. These hotels are conveniently located for the sea and the city, and you can also safely park your bicycle here at night. In that case we can extend your bike rental during the rest of your stay.
You can easily combine this route with one of our other routes, for example the trip on the rail cycle pathVia Verde Ojos Negros, Via Verde del Zafán and Delta de Ebro or our coastal route from Valencia to Peñiscola.
Don't want to miss anything from Valencia? Then book an English speaking guide who will cycle with you along all the highlights.
Rates
weekly departure on Tuesday from November to April
weekly departures on Mondays and Wednesdays in April, May, June, September, and October.
Other departure days on request.
extension in ****Hotel Silken Puerta Valencia: €51.00 pp per night
bed+breakfast buffet
For questions or reservations you can also call Richard: +34 677 709 109
He speaks Dutch, English, German and Spanish.