CYCLING HOLIDAY VIA VERDE DEL ZAFÁN - EBRO DELTA - PEÑISCOLA
Trek with hotels, Linear route from 225 to 253 km, cycling level 2/8
6 Days / 5 Nights, Individual or Group Tour
Via Verde del Zafán / Ebro : In our opinion the most beautiful Via Verde in Spain!
Cycle gradually downhill to the Ebro Delta and the Mediterranean Sea over 5 days, ending in picturesque Peñiscola. You can also extend the route to Valencia , then cycle along the coast as much as possible. Both routes are easy to cycle on, on cycle paths, Vias Verdes and quiet country roads.
You first drive straight through the mountains, over old railway bridges and through tunnels, in a breathtaking landscape of jagged mountains and olive groves beyond the horizon.
Once at the Ebro, follow the river, through the rice fields to the Mediterranean-
The Via Verde is a former railway and has no major differences in height or steep slopes, because the path used to be as flat as possible for the train. On the first day you will cycle uphill for a while, but it is gradual. After that it mostly goes downhill. Lovely rolling through nature! In the summer you can take a dip in the lakes along the route, or the beaches along the Mediterranean Sea. And there are nice places along the way where you can eat delicious.
The route is located on the border of Catalonia, Aragon and Valencia and can therefore be easily combined with a trip to Valencia, Tarragona (Salou/Cambrils) or Barcelona.
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CYCLING HOLIDAYS
Individual or group travel
Rail bike path with many bridges and tunnels, of which
more than 100 km autovrij
Dutch route book with tips for restaurants and sights along the way
Personal explanation before departure
GPS tracks available
40 to 70 km per day
This trip ends in Peniscola.
You can then extend the journey by continuing to cycle to Valencia, along the coast.
This is 3 to 4 days of cycling.
More information about this extra trip can be found here.
You can also take the train back to Valencia. Or we can pick you up in Peñiscola
INCLUDING
5 nights in hotels and bed&breakfast, incl. breakfast
trekking bike with anti-puncture tires
panniers en handlebar bag
helmet and repair kit
or your own bike
Explanation about routes,
route book and GPS
transfer from Valencia to starting point Valdeagorfa
(transfer from Peñiscola terminus not included)
Luggage transport possible
telephone assistance
during the trip in Dutch
e-bikes on request
Replacement bicycle in case of serious mechanical problems
DATES & RATES
weekly departure
on Monday
Other departure day on request.
ALL RATES PER PERSON,
unless otherwise stated.
HUUR TREKKING FIETS
15€ PER DAG
HUUR E-BIKE met Bosch middenmotor: 40€ per dag
Hieronder vind je de tarieven voor aanvullende diensten zoals bagagevervoer en transfers.
Deze prijs geldt voor alle deelnemers uit dezelfde boeking, dus niet per persoon.
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 5 stages via Catalonia to Peñiscola (Valencia Region), at your own pace.
At the start, you will receive a detailed explanation of the route and you will receive our roadbook (in English) and GPS tracks or a Garmin GPS device so that you can easily find your way. Everything is arranged for you; the bicycles, accommodations en route, and possibly daily luggage transport. Although you can also choose to take your luggage with you on the bike.
The steepest slope uphill is a few percent.
Basically, this trip starts with a transfer from Valencia.
Are you coming to Spain by car? In that case, we may be able to adjust the transfer so that you don't have to drive all the way to Valencia first.
You can also combine this tour with our trip on the Via Verde Ojos Negros , the longest rail cycle path in Spain.
Or combine the Via Verdes with our cycling tour 'Albufera and Jucar'
This way you can put together a cycling tour of up to 15 days, with a start and endpoint in Valencia.
Small restaurants directly along the route may be closed in winter.
For the winter period, we have a beautiful alternative trip , in an area with more stable weather, south of Valencia.
Various articles have been published about our cycling tours, including in (dutch newspaper) Dagblad Trouw on September 9, 2018 ,
written by Jeannette van Ditzhuizen.
And an article by Kees Volkers in ' de Vogelvrij Fietser', from the magazine of the Fietsersbond (January 2018).
PROGRAM
Day 1 (Valencia) - Valdegorfa - Horta de Sant Joan, 40 km
Early in the morning, we 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 panoramic 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 approaching.
You will stay in Horta de Sant Joan, in ***hotel Miralles or **Hostal Casa Barceló, depending on availability.
There are several restaurants and terraces in the village.
Day 2: Horta de Sant Joan-Tortosa, 45 km
Today a trip through spectacular ravines, along lakes and rivers. The path is cut straight through the mountains, including the necessary tunnels and viaducts. You pass a number of old stations. Some are in use as a restaurant.
Today you cycle almost continuously downhill, it will take you little effort.
Once at the Ebro River, cycle along the bank towards Xerta, ending in Tortosa.
Here you can visit the old town or the castle, with panoramic views over the Ebro.
You will stay in ***Hotel Berenguer IV, ****hotel SB Corona or ****Parador de Tortosa, located in the castle (surcharge).
Day 3: Tortosa-Deltebre, 45 km
You follow the Ebro River towards the Delta, where the river fans out across the plain through tributaries and irrigation canals. You cycle through the fields and fruit orchards and eventually arrive at the rice fields.
In winter and spring, these are underwater and attract many birds.
In the course of May and June, the rice plants emerge, and all that water turns into a bright green carpet.
You follow the Ebro to its mouth at the Mediterranean Sea.
Here you can take a cruise (not included, to be arranged on-site)
In the evening you will stay in a Masia, an attractive Bed & Breakfast in a farm, surrounded by rice fields.
The house has a nice garden with a swimming pool.
And when the weather is nice, you can barbecue. There is also a great restaurant nearby.
If this house is not available, you will stay in ***Delta Hotel, also on the edge of the rice fields.
Day 4: Deltebre - Lagoons in the Ebro Delta - Deltebre, 45-55 km
A tour along various lagoons and lakes in the Ebro Delta. The length is flexible.
There are several watchtowers along the route for bird watching.
If you are lucky you will also see a huge colony of flamingos.
In the evening you will stay again in a Masia or ***Hotel Ciutat d'Amposta.
Day 5: Deltebre or Amposta - Peniscola, 50 - 68 km
Today you cycle 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 will then cycle through hills, with endless silver-green olive trees on your right, and the azure blue of the Mediterranean Sea in the distance on your left.
The orchards reach to the horizon, and nowhere can you find so many 'olivos millionarios' (millennial olive trees) as here.
After the climb follows a beautiful descent over a road full of hairpin bends.
At Benicarló you cycle between the artichokes. You end in Peñiscola, a beautiful fortified town, built on a rock, right on the Mediterranean Sea. Here you will spend the last night in a four-star hotel, close to the boulevard and the beach.
Day 6: After breakfast, you can spend the day in Peñiscola, for example, visiting the castle.
You can go to the fine sandy beach. Or explore the Sierra de Irta on bike, a protected nature reserve nearby.
Here you can enjoy beautiful walks along rugged cliffs and virgin coves.
In the afternoon you will be picked up in Peñiscola and we will take you back to Valencia.
This transfer takes approximately one and a half hours / 150 km.
All distances mentioned are indicative and depend on where the accommodation is located. The hotels and B&Bs selected by us 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.