CYCLING HOLIDAY ALBARRACÍN - VALENCIA
Discover the Sierra de Albarracín and the Moorish city of Teruel, follow the old railroad Via Verde Ojos Negros to the Mediterranean Sea, and finish at the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia.
Start in Albarracín and the nearby protected nature reserve with prehistoric rock paintings. Then it goes downhill towards the Moorish town of Teruel and merge onto the rail bike path connecting Ojos Negros to the port of Sagunto, on the Mediterranean. Along the way you pass old railway bridges and tunnels in a beautiful landscape with small villages and olive and almond groves.
Description
Discover the Sierra de Albarracín and the Moorish city of Teruel, follow the old railroad Via Verde Ojos Negros to the Mediterranean Sea, and finish at the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia.
From Valencia you bring to the mountainous interior of Teruel and you cycle back to Valencia in 5 stages. You start in Albarracín and the nearby protected nature reserve with prehistoric rock paintings . Then it goes downhill towards the Moorish town of Teruel and merge onto the rail bike path connecting Ojos Negros to the port of Sagunto, on the Mediterranean. Along the way you pass old railway bridges and tunnels in a beautiful landscape with small villages and olive and almond groves.
You cycle this tour independently, based on our Dutch directions or GPS. On the way you will stay in fine hotels or B & Bs, close to the route.
We can also arrange for your luggage to be taken to the next accommodation every day.
The difficulty of this tour is 2 to 3, on a scale of 5. On the first day there is a climb of about 200m. After that it mainly goes downhill. If you insert on the Via Verde railway track, you will first come to a section with a slight ascend, but you will soon be on a plateau. After that it is mostly downhill to the Mediterranean.
By combining this route with our tour 'Via Verde del Zafan', Valencia-coastline-Peñiscola or Albufera and Jucar you can create a route for up to 15 days.
Read more about our extensive security, extensive cancellation policy and low deposits here.
Route
Our standard route is 5 days of cycling, with stages of 45 to 70 km per day. On request we can make the tour shorter or longer. or add a nice 'detour' through Parque natural Sierra de Espadán.
Day 1 Albarracín - Teruel, 45 km
In the morning we take you from Valencia to Albarracín, about 190 km inland.
It is one of the most beautiful fortified towns in Spain . You will have time to look around here. Then the bike ride begins, with a short climb to the Pinares de Rodeno nature reserve, known for its huge red sandstone rocks and prehistoric rock paintings .
The view over the plain of the river Valdecebro is fantastic, and you cycle through a forest full of huge red boulders in the most bizarre shapes. Then it goes downhill to Teruel, where you spend the night. Teruel is famous for its 'jamon' (smoked ham) and of course the Moorish architecture. You stay at Hotel Mudayyan or Reina Cristina, around the corner from the lively Plaza Torico square, with many nice bars and restaurants.
In the summer you stay in ****Parador de Teruel, a luxury hotel with swimming pool, on the outskirts of the city.
Day 2: Teruel - Albentosa, 51 km
From Teruel you merge onto Via Verde and cycle through a colorful forest, where the green of the pine trees contrasts sharply with the enormous sandstone 'dunes' in terracotta color. The Via Verde is a cycle path on an old mining railway , towards the Mediterranean Sea. Cycling through the mountains has never been so easy, because at the time the route was laid out as flat as possible for the train, with gradual differences in height. Accompanied by the scent of wild rosemary and thyme you enjoy the landscape.
Until Puerto de Escandón you gradually cycle uphill and you arrive at a plateau. Here you will stay at one of our favorite accommodations: 'La Casa de la Estación'. This B&B and truffle farm is one kilometer from the spectacular Albentosa Viaduct , over a deep canyon; a beautiful area for a stroll in the evening. The owner of the B&B grows truffles around the house and likes to cook with it for his guests. (dinner is not included)
Day 3: Albentosa - Segorbe, 62 km
Today's stage goes over countless bridges and some long tunnels (up to 500m in length). You will also pass the 50 meter high viaduct at Albentosa. Spectacular! From Barracas you start a descent and you hardly have to pedal.
You are staying in ****Hotel Martin el Humano, a luxury four-star hotel with Spa facilities in Segorbe.
At this point you can add an extra day to cycle our Moorish castle route. This goes through the Sierra de Espadán, a protected nature reserve .
It is known for its cork oaks and crimson rock formations and almond groves and picturesque villages and Moorish castles on the horizon . You will have to cycle uphill here and there (on quiet asphalt roads), but the view makes up for it.
Day 4: Segorbe - Sagunto-Canet, 53 km
Today the Mediterranean Sea comes into view. Through endless orange plantations you descend to sea level and follow the coast to Canet d'en Bergenguer, a quiet seaside resort with a beautiful sandy beach.
You will spend the night at ****Hotel Els Arenals, ****AGH or **Hotel Puerto Canet.
All comfortable hotels, close to the sea. There is a beautiful boulevard and a number of fine restaurants. You can also extend your stay here by one night to spend a day relaxing by the sea.
Day 5: Canet - Valencia, 35/50 km
After breakfast you will cycle to Sagunto. You can visit the Roman castle and amphitheater here . Then you follow the 'Vía Xurra', a cycle path on a former railway line, right through 'Valencia's vegetable garden', a horticultural area with small farms. At some farms you can taste 'Horchata' , a typical drink whose main ingredient is grown on site.
You can also follow the coastline from here as much as possible and drive into the city of Valencia via the boulevard.
Here you can continue cycling via the riverbed of the Turia, nowadays a city park of 8 kilometers long .
A beautiful green lung through the city, where you will encounter futuristic buildings by architect Santiago Calatrava.
The 5-day cycling tour ends in Valencia.
We can arrange a hotel for the rest of your stay.
You can optionally add an extra cycling day to the Albufera; a lake and rice fields south of the city.
We recommend ****hotel ****Silken Puerta Valencia. This hotel is within walking distance of the Turia River and the futuristic buildings of Calatrava. The hotel has a secure parking garage , so that you can also use our bicycles for the rest of your stay (on request).
prices
Price for 2 participants
Based on 5 cycling days / 4 nights:
€ 550 per person, based on occupancy of a double room.
High season (*): + € 150 per person
Minimum 2 participants
Optional daily luggage transport with 2 participants: € 35 per person per day. Minimum 2 participants
High season (*): + € 150 per person
Minimum 2 participants
Read more about our extensive security, extensive cancellation policy and low deposits here.
INCLUDED in the package:
Trekking bike with panniers and helmet for 5 days, 4 nights accommodation in hotels or B&B based on bed/breakfast, detailed route book with information about catering etc. along the route, tire patch kit, English support and roadside assistance (in case of serious technical problems) between 9: 00 and 18:00.
GPS device.
Surcharge E-bike: € 125 per person for 5 days.
Deposit: € 50 for normal bicycles and € 150 for e-bikes.
Surcharge for single room: € 225 for 4 nights
Extra night in **** Silken Puerta Valencia (before or after the bike ride): € 47.00 per person per night including breakfast. On Saturday evening and during the months of July and August: € 52 p.p.p.n.
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).
All rates based on availability and upon departure on TUESDAY.
You can already be brought to Albarracín on MONDAY, so you have time to explore the marvellous village the day before.
In that case, you will spend the night in Albarracín on Sunday evening (at an additional cost) and start cycling on Monday.
The price may differ on other departure days, during holidays or local events or 'fiestas'.
If you fill in the booking form, we will check availability and get back to you as soon as possible with a quote.
This tour is available from April 15th to October 15th. Other departure days on request.
For the winter months, we recommend our trip Albufera-Jucar, through the orange groves. This trip is also available in a 3-day variant, including a unique bird excursion.
NOT INCLUDED:
Extra nights, personal travel, accidents or cancellation insurance, your flight or other trip to Spain / Valencia, airport transfers, bicycle deposit.
All prices mentioned based on availability and subject to changes.
For questions or reservations, call us: +34 677 709 109
We speak English,German, Spanish and Dutch.