Our 'standard' tour lasts 5 days. (see description below.) On request we can make the tour shorter or longer, for example by adding an extra stage via Parque Natural Sierra de Espadán or Pinares de Rodeno.
On this PDF map you can (roughly) see the route , including 2 extra 'diversions'.
Our 5-day tour (April 15 to 15 novenber):
Day 1 Peracense - Teruel, 55 km (Tuesday)
In the morning we bring you from Valencia to the starting point, over 200 km inland.
We start at the castle of Peracense, not far from the mine where iron ore was formerly extracted from the ground. The mountains in this area are red in color and have - due to erosion - the most bizarre shapes. The fascinating castle blends seamlessly into the mountain on which it is built. You descend to the former route of the mine railway, and initially drive on small roads with hardly any traffic, past abandoned villages. After a long descent with enormous views, you will arrive at the plateau at Santa Eulalia. This is where the car-free section of the route begins, over the current rail cycle path. Teruel goes uphill very gradually.
You spend the night in *** Hotel Mudayyan, in the center of the city of Teruel, right next to the famous square 'Plaza Torico' with many bars and restaurants. Teruel has some beautiful Moorish and modernist buildings.
Alternatively, you can also start today in the medieval town of Albarracin, one of the most beautiful fortified towns in Spain. You will then drive through the Pinares de Rodeno nature reserve to Teruel, where you will spend the night. This route is shorter, but more challenging than the route from Peracense (more altimeters). You only insert on the original track on the 2nd day.
Day 2: Teruel-Albentosa, 45 km (Wednesday)
Today you cycle from Teruel through the valley of the Alfambra river to 'Puerto de Escandon', the highest point on the route. You will gradually cycle uphill over a distance of approx. 15 kilometers. At that time, the railway cycle path was made as flat as possible, because a train cannot drive steeply uphill. There are numerous bridges and tunnels to compensate for height differences. The landscape changes color at Valdecebro. Orange clay contrasts with bright green pine forests. And occasionally you can smell wild thyme and rosemary. Along the way you can stop for a virtual tour and tasting at a 'dryer' of traditional Spanish ham and wine from the region. (15 € pp)
Near Sarrión you cycle through orchards where black truffles are grown. You will spend the night near the spectacular railway viaduct of Albentosa, in B&B / truffle farm La Casa de la Estación or * Hostal Los Maños in Venta del Aire. Both accommodations have a fine restaurant, where you can go for dinner. (Not included)
Day 3: Albentosa - Navajas, 60-65 km (Thursday)
Today you cycle over many bridges and through a number of long tunnels (up to 500 m long) and you also cross the 50 meter high bridge over the Albentosa canyon. Spectacular! This stage is mostly downhill. Nice and easy to enjoy the landscape!
You spend the night in B&B Villa Pilar in Navajas, a stately house from 1910 with a beautiful garden and sunny veranda. The vintage interior and furniture are largely original. This house has shared bathrooms.
The breakfast is included. For dinner, there are several options in the village.
Do you want even more luxury? Then cycle on to Segorbe and spend the night in **** Hotel Martin el Humano. In an old monastery, this hotel has spacious rooms and spa facilities (at an additional cost).
Option: Extension of the route (at an additional cost), where you drive through 'Parque Natural Sierra de Espadán'.
At this point in the route you can make a nice detour; 1 extra day cycling through the Sierra de Espadán. (approx. 40 km). This protected natural area is known for its red sandstone ravines and forests full of cork oaks. There are some beautiful asphalt roads full of hairpin bends through this area. Many cyclists come here to train.
You then cycle through the foothills of the Sierra de Espadán, with the necessary cols and descents. Ideal for sporty cyclists or recreational cyclists on an e-bike.
All villages on your way have their own castle (ruin) from the Moorish period. A particularly photogenic route for sporty cyclists. This route starts and ends again in Navajas or Segorbe, where you spend the night again in B&B Villa Pilar or **** Hotel Martin el Humano.
Day 4: Navajas / Segorbe - Sagunto / Canet, 55-60 km (Friday)
Today you descend to the Mediterranean Sea and drive past orange plantations and orchards full of olives and almonds.
Option: Extension of the route (at an additional cost), where you drive through 'Parque Natural Sierra de Espadán'.
(This time less heavy than the extra round that is mentioned on day 3).
You then cycle through the Sierra and spend the night in the brand new eco hotel ' Mar de Fulles '. A hotel with a special, sustainable philosophy. Power is generated 100% with solar energy, water is used as economically as possible, there is no TV (instead huge windows to stare endlessly at the mountains). And a very good restaurant where as much as possible with local products, vegetables and herbs from their own garden. There is an outdoor pool (heated by the sun) and a yoga zone. Most of the guests are lyrical about this place and sometimes stay here for 1 or 2 extra days ...
Once In Sagunto you can visit the Roman castle and amphitheater.
This time the stage ends at the Mediterranean Sea, at the port of Puerto de Sagunto. Trains used to be unloaded here with iron ore.
In the neighboring seaside resort of Canet you will stay in **** hotel Els Arenals, **** hotel AGH or ** hotel Playa Canet, a stone's throw from the boulevard, dunes and the beautiful sandy beach. Breakfast is included. At the boulevard there are restaurants for dinner (own expense).
You can also extend your stay for one or more days / nights at this point. Canet is a great place for a quiet stay on the beach. It is much less crowded than in Valencia.
Day 5: Canet - Valencia, 35-45 km (Saturday)
After breakfast you cycle through the orange groves at Sagunto towards Valencia. You can cycle an extra round here to '' El Marjal dels Moros', a protected nature reserve.
In the spring and autumn, many migratory birds settle here in the swamp and reed lands, right behind the coast.
Then you follow the 'Via Xurra'. This former railway line ran straight through the fields and past old 'barracas' (typical farms). At some farms you can stop to eat or to taste 'Horchata', a typical drink from the region. Then you cycle through the seafront into Valencia. Valencia is located by the sea and is as flat as the Netherlands. Cycling is easy. There are now many bicycle paths. One of the most beautiful runs through the bed of the Turia river, a city park of no less than 9 km long.
In the evening the cycling package ends and the bicycles are collected.
You can extend your stay in Valencia through us. We recommend **** hotel Silken Puerta Valencia . We can offer this hotel for a fixed price almost all year round, even on weekends.
Hotel Silken has a secure parking garage for bicycles (and cars) of guests. If you stay here overnight, we can extend your bike rental for the rest of your stay. The hotel is conveniently located near the futuristic buildings of the 'City of Arts and Sciences' not far from the beach or the old town.
You can also cycle a city tour with a Dutch-speaking guide. 3 hours / 28 € pp
Day 6/7/8 (optional) Albufera lake, rice fields and Jucar River, 40-60 km
From Valencia you can make an extra trip, south of the city. You then cycle via the dunes and the beach of El Saler to the Albufera lake and the rice fields, a protected nature reserve where special (migratory) birds regularly descend. A visitor center with an observation point is located by the lake. Rice fields surround the lake. It is not without reason that this is the best place to eat an authentic paella, in a typical 'arroceria'. A little further south is the river Jucar, surrounded by orange plantations. And you can also spend one or more days at the beach in Cullera, a relatively quiet resort with a beautiful sandy beach and boulevard.
Look here for more information.
The stated distances are indicative and depend on the location of the accommodation. The hotels and B & Bs selected by us are as close to the route as possible.
You can further extend your cycling holiday by, for example, linking our route ' Land of Contrast ' to your stay. This route takes 8 days and ends again in Valencia.
