Birding with expert guide
Parque Natural Albufera
Parque Natural Albufera
Birding with expert guide
BIRDS, BIKE & BEACH
ALBUFERA VALENCIA
BIKING WITH A BIRD EXPERT
BY A UNIQUE ECOSYSTEM
Have a look around in 360 °!
Cycle 3 days through the Albufera National Park and along the Jucar River. During a 'safari' with a nature expert, you will look for special birds, plants or dragonflies ... You will stay 2 nights in La Alqueria de Vilches, an attractive *** hotel between the rice paddies, close to the sea and the beach. In the evening you can enjoy dinner or relax in the courtyard or the spacious lobby. And take time for yourself in the yoga room or indulge in the spa with massage.
The bikes are comfortable and equipped with GPS and spacious panniers. But you can also have your luggage transported. You cycle 35-50 kilometres a day.
Albufera National Park is an area with a unique ecosystem. You have dunes, a Mediterranean forest, lakes, rice fields and an ancient irrigation system. The abundance of water is a magnet for (migratory) birds. Our English speaking guide is an experienced bird watcher. You enter the area with telescopes and binoculars. The world is equally exclusive to you there, in a soothing setting with the murmur of the sea and a bird's choir in the background.
PROGRAM AND DETAILS
Albufera & Jucar National Park
Rice and Riverland
The Albufera is a special polder, which is sometimes flooded for rice cultivation. This has been going on for centuries, and the special cycle of irrigation, sowing and harvesting has created a special ecosystem.
A little further is the Jucar River. The floodplains are full of orchards with exotic fruits.
In winter, the orchards turn orange; it's harvest time for persimmons, tangerines and oranges. You cycle here on dykes and agricultural roads with little traffic.
The whole area is at sea level and there are hardly any height differences; it is easy to cycle, also for sporty children. The stages of the bicycle tour are between 35 and 50 km per day. For young children we have child seats, bicycle trailers or the Follow Me Tandem; a children's bicycle that can be connected and disconnected. As a result, children aged 5-8 can easily cycle themselves at the pace of adults.
This package is available all year round, with daily departure.
Minimum participants: 2.
Even in winter it is ideal cycling weather, with daytime temperatures between 15 and 20 degrees, often under a clear blue sky. The sun shines here 300 days a year!
Hiking trails and activities
Program
Day1 | 35 - 45 km
After a short briefing, you will get on your bicycle around 09:00. You cycle through the dunes to an inland lake, directly behind the coast. There you will be taken care of by our guide, who will take you to various places within the ecosystem of the Albufera ; the dunes, the Mediterranean forest and the rice fields.
You also go to the visitor center of the National Park, where you can always see special species from the viewing hut, such as flamingos.
After the 'safari' you can eat an authentic paella at one of the restaurants nearby. (not included.) Then you cycle through the rice fields in front of your hotel for the next 2 nights.
It is a few minutes by bike from the beach.
Day 2 | 35-60km
Today you will cycle to Sueca, the epicentre of rice culture. In this town, you will find a number of beautiful buildings from the early 20th century, the time of ' Modernism ' (Art Nouveau). Then you cross the Jucar river, and you cycle over the dykes, through the citrus groves and floodplains towards the coast. We give you various options to extend or shorten the route.
You can add a paella cooking workshop to your program on this day. Then head towards the coast and cycle back to your hotel via the Cullera lighthouse.
Day 3 | 35-55 km
The last stage goes back to Valencia via the Montanyeta dels Sants (Holy Hill ).
You can take the short route back to the city, along the coast. Or you drive around the Albufera lake, past a number of small harbours with fishing boats. If you want to try a typical regional dish, you can order ' All i Pebre ' today in one of the restaurants along the route. This is a spicy dish with eel and potato. You can also take a boat trip on the Albufera lake today, you can easily arrange that on the spot.
Once in Valencia, the package ends. We are also happy to arrange an extension for you in the city.
We recommend **** Hotel Eurostars Acteon or **** Silken Puerta Valencia. These are bicycle-friendly hotels, with a parking garage. If you stay here we can extend your bike rental.
Don't want to miss anything from Valencia? Then book with us an English-Dutch speaking guide who will cycle along all the highlights of the city.
You can also easily combine this route with one of our other cycling routes, for example, the tour on the Via Verde railway track .
3 nights, 2 days
Cycling package
Including:
Rental of trekking bike with punctures, panniers (*), helmet
GPS, maps and road book
briefing on departure
excursion with official, English-speaking nature guide incl. binoculars
2 nights including breakfast in 3-star Hotel Alquería de Vilches.
Repair material for bicycle
Replacement bicycle for serious mechanical problems (**)
Telephone support from 08:00 to 20:00
Minimum number of participants: 2
RATES per person:
Low season / High season
€ 299 / € 399
based on a stay in a double room
€ 289 / € 389
based on a stay in a triple room
€ 229 / € 329
based on a cuadruple room
€ 345 / € 499
based on a 2-person suite
€ 369 / € 409
1 person room, only possible with a minimum of 3 participants.
Extra options:
Spa (1 hour) € 15
Spa incl. Massage: € 50
Half board: + 18 € per day
E-bike instead of trekking bike + € 20 per day
Luggage transport 100 € per booking
High season : June 15 to September 15, Semana Santa, Easter and Christmas holidays to January 6 and during local holidays such as May 1 and October 9, and events such as Fallas (March 15 to 19), Moto GP (13 to November 15) and Marathon Valencia (November 27 to 29).
As an option, you can take out travel and comprehensive cancellation insurance through us . For bookings in the autumn and winter 2020/2021 we also require a deposit of only 10% . View the details here.
(*) Luggage transport can be booked as an option.
(**) Flat tires are not covered by roadside assistance. You will receive a repair kit.