Alicante - Valencia bike tour

Welcome to this magnificent tour along the Costa Blanca, this is an idyllic place to travel by bike where the sun and beach landscapes join with the Alicante Mountains to create a fantastic contrast in scenery. You will visit the most picturesque towns on the Mediterranean coast and its seafront with the beautiful terraces close to the beach where you will be able to try the traditional foods of the area. You will pass through ancient Roman towns close to the beach, you will see typical traditional buildings with rows of arches linked with the successful business of wine-making. You will ride along fantastic beaches and you will be delighted by the friendly nature of the locals. A mixture of tradition, culture, landscape, cuisine and people who will be hard to forget.

TOUR PROFILE: The tour is not too difficult and does not require a high level of fitness. You will mostly cycle on quiet back roads, green railroad tracks and bike paths. It is possible to shorten or extend the daily stages. About 230 to 260 km

Enjoy Alicante, a city open to the sea which has a quiet seafront in winter but in spring and summer offers an incredibly lively seafront with many „chirnguitos“ (bars actually on the beach). You can’t miss the old town, „El Barrio“, which is threaded by narrow streets and dotted with pleasant bars and cafés. From here you can go up the famous and spectacularly situated Santa Barbara Castle which overhangs the seafront. In Alicante there is an unusual custom called „el Tardeo“ where people meet close to the central market for the afternoon for the sole purpose of socialising in the pubs and bars. Here you can soak up the atmosphere amongst them.

Today you’ll cycles close to Alicante beach, riding along the seafronts of places such as the Playa de San Juan and El Campello, wher you have the opportunity to visit the archaeological site of „L’illeta dels Banys“, one of the most important of the Mediterranean region. (It’s more than 5,000 years old!) You will pass Benidorm which was once a small fishing village but which has become a town of skyscrapers. You can take in the magnificent vistas of the „Puig Campana“, an imposing mountain, and finally you arrive in Altea. This town, famous for its artists, still has its historic seafront promenade as well as its very attractive old town centre, which is impossible to miss.

Today you'll experience the amazing contrast between the coast and the fields and mountains inland. You can take in fanstastic views of the Alicante coast and of the imposing mountains behind, which are more than 1,400 m high. You'll explore an area of traditional wine-making, where you cycle between vineyards and traditional "Riu Raus", typical buildings with rows of arches where the locals used to dry their grapes under cover to produce sultanas and raisins. Finally, you'll arrive in the historic town of Xabia which boasts some of the finest beaches in Alicante.

You will ride alongside Montgó mountain until you arrive in Denia. Along the way you will see traditional buildings called riu Raus (C.XVIII.) These buildings were very important for the key activity of grape drying. Some now have other uses, for example, as outdoor markets. Finally, by the sea, Denia is waithing for you. This town has plenty of fantastic, quiet beaches that you can enjoy even in winter, if the sun is shining. Denia was designated UNESCO Creative City in 2015, for the quality and variety of its excellent local dishes. Enjoy them!!

You will leave Denia and soon come across small remnants of marhsland known ans marjals, a favourite nesting spot for birds, and a birdwatcher’s paradise. You will ride along parts of the old railway line constructed by the British in the 19^th century. Not too far away! By riding a few more kilometres you’ll reach the handsome coastal town of Gandia, whith its interesting historic quarter and Ducal Palace.

You start the day riding past oange groves and soon come across small remnants of marshland known as marjals, a favourite nesting spot for birds, and a birdwatcher’s paradise. You venture into a pretty little valley to follow part of the pilgrimage route that linked different monasteries and where there is the opportunity to explore the imposing monastery of Simat de la Valldigna. Amongst rice fields, you’ll arrive in Cullera, a coastal city with beautiful sea views where you’ll be able to taste some of the rice specialities of the area. This town has plenty of beaches that you can enjoy even in winter when the sun is shining.

If you choose the longer option, you’ll start off along the banks of the River Xúquer, the waters of which irrigate the many, prolific fields and groves fot he whole district. You venture into the natural reserve known as Parque Natural de la Albufera, one of the most valuable ecosystems in the Mediterranean. You’ll be able to marvel at different natural environments such as lakes, marshes, sand- dunes and pinewoods that border the seafront. All of these ecosystems have their corresponding flora and fauna. It is well worth enjoying one of the typical dishes of this rather special district. You can go for a stroll by the port and see the fishermen at work before they return home to picturesque El Palmar. Upon reaching Valencia, you’ll explore the formidable old quarter with its cathedral and central market – a cathedral of a market, indeed! Not tob e missed are the narrow streets and squares that offer so many kinds of cafés, bars and restaurants. The lovers of good food will be pleased. The city’s nightlife is also famous.

Individual departure or extension.

• 7x overnights of booked category
• 7x breakfast
• Detailed tour documentation: maps of the tour, route description, points of interest (English and German)
  
• Service-Hotline from 9h to 18h
  
• Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel
  
• Welcome meeting
  
• GPS tracks

• rental bike (21-gear touring bike) - € 100,-
• E-Bike - € 190,-
  
• surcharge for half board - € 170,- (only Cat. A)

Cat. A: Comfortable 3*** and 4**** hotels and one Parador hotel. Half board on request bookable.

Cat. B: Comfortable 2** and 3*** hotels (Occasionally 4****), charming rural houses or farmstays and high grade B&Bs. No half board possible.

Arrival by plane: Airport Alicante or Valencia.

From Airport Alicante take a taxi to the hotel. Or take the Bus from Airport to Alicante City centre. 
From Airport Valencia by train from Valencia (Estacio del Nord) to Alicante MAinstation (approx.. 2 hours, about € 25,- per person)

Recommended train rides:
The train rides which are mentioned in the description, are to be paid by yourself (ticket purchase in the train; about € 3,- per person; bike transport is for free).

Heightdifference Alicante to Valencia (8 days) 

Day 2:  Alacant – Altea/Calp 50 km: Heightdifference: 170 meters positive (accumulated).

Day 3:  Altea/Calp – Xàbia 35 km: Heightdifference: 420 meters positive (accumulated).

Day 4:  Xàbia – Denia.  25 km: Heightdifference: 170 meters positive (accumulated).

Day 5:  Denia – Gandia.  40 km: Heightdifference: 160 meters positive (accumulated).

Day 6:  Gandia – Cullera.  29/46 Km: Heightdifference: 90 meters positive (accumulated 29 km) // Heightdifference: 120 metters positive (accumulated 46 km.

Day 7:  Cullera – València. 42 / 52 Km: Heightdifference: 80 meters positive (accumulated 42 km) // Heightdifference: 95 metters positive (accumulated 52 km).

Please note that individual requests for changes to the itinerary or the omission of the last overnight stay in Valencia are not possible. The itinerary offered must be adhered to as advertised. Additional nights can be booked in Alicante or Valencia on request.

2 persons

The tour is possible every Sunday from 14.01.-23.06. and 01.09.-15.12.2025.

No arrival in period 30.06.-31.08.2024!