CYCLING HOLIDAY VIA VERDE DEL ZAFÁN - EBRO DELTA - PEÑISCOLA
Trek with hotels, Linear route of approx. 300 km,bike level 2/8
6 Days / 5 Nights, Individual or Group Tour
Via Verde del Zafán / Ebro : As far as we are concerned, the most beautiful Via Verde in Spain, and the most varied route in our entire program!
First cycle downhill to the Ebro Delta and the Mediterranean Sea, before climbing again through the hills, passing a forest of ancient olive trees. The endpoint is the picturesque Peñiscola, built on top of a cliff.You can also extend the route to Valencia, you then cycle further south with a sea view. Both routes follow as much as possible cycle paths, Vias Verdes (Greenways) and quiet country lanes. Additional excursions are possible along the way; bird watching or rice planting in the Ebro Delta, a visit to a mussel and oyster farm at sea or the small Picasso museum in Horta de Sant Joan.
The Via Verde del Zafan is a former railway through the mountains. Because a train cannot drive steeply uphill or downhill, the route has been laid out as flat as possible, with the necessary viaducts and tunnels. It goes gradually uphill, but mostly downhill. Lovely rolling through nature! Once at the Ebro, you follow the river, through the rice fields to lagoons on the Mediterranean Sea. Here you can spot special birds, such as flamingos. In the summer you can take a dip in the sea or one of the lakes and rivers along the route. And there are nice places along the way where you can enjoy a delicious meal, including in old stations. From the Ebro Delta, you cycle through the hills to the typical Spanish village of Sant Jordi, between the olive groves. You can cycle an extra trip here to the reservoir of Ulldecona, or spend a day lazing around. The last stage ends by the sea in Peñiscola.
The route lies on the border of Catalonia, Aragon, and Valencia and can therefore easily be combined with a trip to Valencia, Tarragona (Salou/Cambrils), or Barcelona.
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CYCLING HOLIDAYS
Individual or group travel
Greenway with many bridges and tunnels, of which
more than 100 km free of traffic
Optional excursions en route:
Visit to mussel- and oysternursery at sea
bird watching in the Ebro Delta
Plant your own rice
Olive oil mill Sant Jordi
Peniscola Castle
Surf & Sup Peniscola
English Roadbook with tips for restaurants and sights along the way
Personal explanation before departure
GPS tracks available
35 to 70 km per day, sometimes with a choice of short or long routes
This trip ends in Peniscola.
Over therecan you extend the trip, with a stay at the beach, or continue cycling to Valencia in 3 days,More information about this extra bike ride can be found here.
You can also take the train back to Valencia. Or we can pick you up in Peñiscola
INCLUDING
5 or 8 nights in small-scale hotels, 'casas rurales' (both including breakfast) or holiday apartments (only accommodation)
Explanation ovthere trails,
route book with tips for the road in English and GPS device or GPX tracks
transfer from Valencia to starting point Valdeagorfa
Transfer from end point Peñiscola back to Valencia
(with 6-day trip)
telephone assistance
during the daythe journey in English, Dutch, German or Spanish
Replacemente bike in case of serious mechanical problems
OPTIONS
Hire of trekking bike or ebike
Luggage transport
Travel insurance
DATES & RATES
Weekly departure
on Monday or Friday.
Other departure day on request.
ALL RATES PER PERSON,
Minimum number of participants: 2.
The 6-day cycling tour ends in the afternoon on day 6 in Peñiscola,
after which you will be transferred back to Valencia.
You can extend your stay in Peniscola.
The 9-day journey is overcloses on day 9 in the afternoon in Valencia.
You can then extend your stay in Valencia.
MORE INFORMATION
The route follows the old railway line from Alcañiz to Tortosa and 'Camino Naturales de Terres del Ebre' towards the Mediterranean Sea.
You start in the Region Aragón and cycle in 6 or 9 stages via Catalonia to Peñiscola (Region of Valencia), at your own pace and on your own. At the start, you will receive a detailed explanation of the route and you will receive our route book (in English) and GPS tracks or a Garmin bike computer so that you can easily find your way. You can bring your own bike, or rent one. We can also organise daily luggage transfers.
The steepest slope on the Via Verde is 2 percent. On normal roads sometimes 5 to 7 percent, but always over a short distance.
After each climb, there is a descent ;) Sporty cyclists enjoy this a lot.
Do you want to enjoy yourself without too much effort? Then take an e-bike.
In principle, this trip starts with a transfer from Valencia.
Are you coming to Spain by car or train? In that case, we can adjust the transfer so that you don't have to drive all the way to Valencia first. In that case, park your car at the terminus in Peñiscola or get off the train in Tortosa and we will pick you up there.
You can also combine this trip with our trip on the Via Verde Ojos Negros, the longest rail cycle path in Spain.
This way you can put together a cycling tour of up to 15 days, with a start and end point in Valencia.
Small restaurants directly along the route may be closed in winter.
For the winter period, we have another beautiful alternative journey, in an area with more stable weather, south of Valencia.
Several articles have been published about our cycling tours, including inDagblad Trouw on September 9, 2018,
written by Jeannette van Ditzhuizen.
And an article by Kees Volkers in 'the bird-free cyclist', from the magazine of the Fietsersbond(January 2018).
PROGRAM
Day 1 (Valencia) - Valdegorfa - Horta de Sant Joan, 40 km
Early in the morning, we will take you from Valencia to the starting point of the cycling tour, about 250 km inland.
Your tour starts at the town of Valdeagorfa, immediately on the rail cycle path, the Via Verde del Zafán.
The train used to dive here in a 2 km-long tunnel, the longest on the route. You can also bypass this tunnel, even if you cycle a bit uphill, via small roads through the orchards. You are immediately surrounded by silence and wide views. The terraces against the hills are full of ancient olive trees. You cross the river Mataraña via a beautiful bridge. The mountain peaks in the distance are slowly getting closer.
You will stay in Horta de Sant Joan, in *** Hotel Miralles or **Hostal Casa Barceló, depending on availability.
In the village are several restaurants and terraces. And a small Picasso museum, with works that the famous artist made at a young age in the village's 'picturesque' environment.
Day 2: Horta de Sant Joan-Tortosa, 45 km
Today a trip through spectacular ravines, along lakes and rivers. The path has been carved right through the mountains, including the necessary tunnels and viaducts. You pass a number of old stations. Some are used as a restaurant.
You cycle almost continuously downhill today, it will take little effort.
Once at the Ebro River, you cycle along the bank towards Xerta, ending in Tortosa.
Here you can visit the old center or the castle, with a wide view over the Ebro.
You stay in ***Hotel Berenguer IV, **** Hotel SB Corona or ****Parador de Tortosa, located in the castle (surcharge on some dates).
Day 3: Tortosa-Poble Nou del Delta, 35 to 55 km
You follow the Ebro River towards the Delta, where the river fans out over the plain via tributaries and irrigation canals. You cycle through the fields and fruit orchards and eventually reach the rice fields.
During May and JulyThen the rice plants pop up, and all that water turns into a bright green carpet.
In winter and spring, the rice fields are flooded and attract many birds, including ibises and flamingos.
There are several watchtowers along the route for bird watching.
You can book a birdwatching excursion on-site at one of the natural lagoons or visit a mussel or oyster farm (at sea).
In the evening you will stay in a small-scale hotel or an attractive 'Casa Rural' in a nice village with various restaurants.
Day 4: Poble Nou - Sant Jordi, 50 to 55 km
Today's route goes from Catalonia to the Region of Valencia. You can choose from a short - relatively flat - route or a longer route with a short climb to the balcony of the region. You then cycle through hills, with the endless silver-green of olive trees on your right, and the azure blue of the Mediterranean Sea in the distance on the left.
The orchards reach the horizon, and nowhere else can you find so many 'olivos millionarios' (millennial olive trees) as here.
After the climb follows a beautiful descent on a road full of hairpin bends.
The route ends in Sant Jordi, a typical Spanish village with a nice square, bars, and restaurants.
You will stay in a beautiful holiday apartment in one of the oldest buildings in the village.
Day 5: Sant Jordi - reservoir - Sant Jordi, 60 to 70 km
Today you can cycle a beautiful round, or relax in the garden of the farm in Sant Jordi.
If you opt for the tour, you cycle through the orchards to the reservoir of Ulldecona, which is wedged between the mountains.
At the edge of the lake, you can enjoy a nice meal at a restaurant before cycling back to Sant Jordi.
You will stay in a beautiful holiday apartment in one of the oldest buildings in the village.
Day 6: Sant Jordi - Peniscola, 35 km
On your way to the Mediterranean, Cervera del Maestre is a beautiful hilltop village with a castle and an olive oil museum with an impressive implement... Let yourself be amazed. Then it goes downhill to Benicarlo. Here you cycle between the artichokes, which get beautiful purple flowers in June. You end in Peñiscola, a beautiful fortified town, built on a rock, right on the Mediterranean Sea. You can visit the town or cycle a little further to the Sierra de Irta, a protected natural area nearby. Here you can enjoy beautiful walks along rugged cliffs and virgin bays.
In the afternoon we pick up the bikes in Peñiscola. You can extend your stay, or drive back to Valencia with us. The costs for these transfers are NOT included in the trip. You can also return to Valencia by bike, this is an extra 3 to 4 days, as much as possible along the coast. More information about the coastal route can be found here.
All mentioned distances are indicative and depend on the place where the accommodation is located. The hotels and B&Bs we have selected are as close as possible to the route.
PRICES
All rates are subject to accommodation availability.
This tour basically starts every Monday, all year round.
Other departure days on request.
The minimum number of participants for this trip: is 2 people.
Low season
(January-June 15 and September 15-December)
6 days/5 nights
€759 per person for 2 persons
€699 per person for 4 people
based on Bed & breakfast
in a double room
Easter holidays, May holidays, June 16-September 15, Christmas holidays:
959€ pp for 2 persons
€899 pp for 4 people
Single room supplement: +€249
On other departure days, during holidays, local events or local holidays the price may differ;
If you fill in the booking form, we will check availability and get back to you with a quote as soon as possible.
As an alternative, we can provide extra large panniers (approx. 2x25 liters), so that you can take your own luggage on the bike. The surcharge for these bags is €3 per day.
INCLUDING:
- Transfer from Valencia to the starting point (approx. 250 kilometers)
- Trekking bike with panniers and helmet for 6 days
- 5 nights in excellent hotels or B&B on a bed and breakfast basis
- Briefing in English, Spanish or Dutch at the start and detailed route information in English and Dutch
- Telephone support in case of complications along the way and roadside assistance or replacement bicycle (in case of serious technical problems) between 9:00 and 18:00
- Alternative routes in bad weather
- GPS device with pre-programmed routes.
NOT INCLUDED
. Transfer by train to Valencia (approx. 15€ pp)
- Transfer with driver to Valencia (125€ pp, minimum 2 persons)
Surcharge E-bike: € 30 per person per day.
Deposit: €50 for normal bikes and €150 for e-bikes.
Surcharge for single room: €225
Daily luggage transport is an option, this costs €150 per person with 2 participants or €90 with 4 participants.
Luggage transport is based on a minimum of 2 participants.
Finally: Nobody likes stress on vacation. We regularly get guests who doubt whether cycling in the mountains is not too hard.
If the ride is too demanding, we can still arrange an e-bike or a bicycle taxi for you, so that you can easily continue your journey.
The bicycle taxi is also a solution in bad weather conditions.
This service costs approx. €70 to €100 for exchanging a bicycle or transporting 2 persons+2 bicycles to the next accommodation, depending on the distance.
NOT INCLUDED:
Extra nights, personal travel, accident or cancellation insurance, your flight or another trip to Spain / Valencia, airport transfers, and deposit for the bicycles.
All mentioned prices are based on availability and are subject to changes.
For questions or reservations you can also call us: +34 677 709 109
We speak English, Dutch, Spanish and German.