On Via Verdes in the inland of the Costa Blanca
Distance: 45 - 75 km average per day Altitude meters: 500 - 800 altitude meters per day on average
In the southeast of Spain, between Alicante and Valencia, you’ll find a mountainous area that’s perfect for cycling. During this bike tour Alicante to Valencia you will encounter rolling valleys, glorious cols with panoramic views over the Mediterranean Sea, and of course the so-called ‘Via Verdes’.
These former railway lines which have been transformed into cycling tracks will take you through tunnels and along viaducts, cutting straight through the mountains and over valleys. At the start of the week you will cycle through a quiet region where you’ll see a lot of almond and olive trees, and the occasional small village. In the second half of the week you will cycle through and alongside vast orange orchards. The two last stages of the journey will take you along the Mediterranean Sea and the lagoon of the ‘Parque Natural de L’Albufera’. Here you can cool off in the sea. The weather of the Spanish Costa Blanca is pleasant even in winter. The final destination is Valencia, the third-largest city in Spain, where you will have plenty of time to visit this wonderful city.
If you are arriving by plane you will be welcomed at the airport in Alicante by our local agent. You will then be transferred by minibus to Castalla (+/- 30 min). It is also possible to cycle from the airport. A beautiful route will take you from the airport along the Via Verdes to Castalla. Please let us know upon booking.
After just a couple of kilometres you will begin the ascent to Puerto de Onil (1,036 m), after no more than 5km you will have climbed 670 m to this height. You will cycle through an area full of the natural beauty of pine trees and fields of lavender and sunflowers. After a long descent (9%) you will arrive at Banyeres de Mariola, the highest village in the province of Alicante. The shortest route (50 km) will then take you back to Castalla via Puerto de Biar (810 m). The great appeal of Biar is its breathtaking landscapes.
If you take the long distance route 95km then the ascent to the Sierra de Solana still awaits via the CV 657 (996m). The heights you will reach on these routes are 700m and 1,200m respectively.
You will first cycle, enjoying a lovely view, along the valley of the ‘Foia de Castalla’ to Tibi. From Tibi it will be a steep climb to Alto de Tibi (710m) and then along a beautiful mountain ridge where you’ll have a view of the sea to Xixona, a town famous for its nougat (turrón). Some factories that produce this delicacy are open to visits on weekdays. After Xixona it’s another 15 kilometres, gently ascending, to La Torre de les Maçanes. This trip covers around 650 vertical meters.
From La Torre de les Maçanes you will travel, via Port de Benifallim (1010 m), to Benifallim, a village of around 100 inhabitants. The villages following this are also sparsely populated, often with even fewer inhabitants, but these villages are worth a visit; it is as if time has stood still here. After Benifallim we will journey via Gorga, Benimassot, Tollos, Beniaia and Alcalá to ‘Val de Gallinera’. The lush Gallinera Valley has been cultivated since Arabic times and the slopes are still lined with neat stone terraces full of shady orchards and olive groves. The valley is scattered with old, small villages, their shared Arabic history reflected in their names. Benissiva nestles in this valley. In these villages you will encounter numerous steep slopes, so be careful here. Today we will cover nearly 950 vertical metres.
From Benissiva you will make your descent to the Mediterranean Sea. It is in Forna that you will first start to see the vast orange orchards. As you pass through the orchards you will descend further to Oliva. The wonderful old Oliva’s historical streets bear witness to numerous ‘fiestas’, celebrated throughout the whole year: the Falles Fiesta in March, the Moors and Christians festival in July and Setmana Santa (Holy Week). People can be seen strolling down the Paseig, eating tapas, drinking coffee or wine and just relaxing with family and friends. Oliva has a Mediterranean, subtropical climate, with more than 230 days of the year above 20°C. The winters are mild and moderate, while the summers are hot and dry. Just outside of Oliva you will join another Via Verde. This Via Verde connects the coastal areas of Oliva and Gandia via 7 kilometres of cycle paths through the Valencian orange orchards. Here the aroma of orange blossoms is all around. You will cycle along the beach of Gandia via Xeraco to Cullera. Cullera is at the heart of the orange-growing culture and is intersected by the Jucar (Xucar), a river that is of great importance for the irrigation of the rice fields that are situated all around Cullera. The height difference today is only 380 meters.
After a brief ascent you will cycle past the small watchtower from which you have a glorious view out over the ‘Costa Azahar’, the Orange Blossom Coast. After around 17km you will cycle through the Albufera nature reserve, a protected natural area located in the immediate surroundings of Valencia. The park has an area of more than 20,000 hectares and is home to a great biodiversity. There are more than 250 species of birds in the reserve. There is a large freshwater lake in the nature reserve, separated from the Mediterranean Sea by a long stretch of dunes. A large percentage of the rice grown in Spain is cultivated here. The last stretch of the journey will take you on a cycle path to Valencia.
A visit to Valencia, “Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias”, the city of arts and sciences. Valencia lies at the mouth of the Río Turia on a fertile plain, the Huerta. The province of Valencia is therefore a rich horticultural region with plantations of oranges, cotton, lemons, olives, almonds, pomegranates and white mulberry trees for silkworm rearing. The town has no less than 86 museums and many art galleries. In the Museo de Bellas Artes there are 2,000 paintings and sculptures on display dating from the 19th century back to antiquity. The Museo Domingo Fletcher has a unique collection of inscriptions from the Stone Age. In stark contrast to this is the futuristic Museum of Arts and Sciences and the Oceanográfic.
Transfer to the airport and departure.
Alicante to Valencia
From the Sierra d'Aitana you cycle to the coast to Valencia.The last 2 stages will go through the land of the orange. This tour is certainly anything but flat for the first stages. There is also the possibility to rent an E-bike. The hinterland of the coast is perfect for cycling and surprisingly quiet. Wearing a bicycle helmet is mandatory in Spain.
Prices in 2025
Supplements:
Reservation costs € 25,- per booking
Contribution Dutch Guarantee Fund € 5,- per person (Insolvency Protection)
Pric per person in a double room
Surcharge single room € 255,-
Bike rental
Included
Not included
Special details
Arrival information
If you arrive by plane, our local agent and owner of Casa Camaleon welcomes you at the Airport of Alicante (if you booed the transfer). He’ll drive you by minibus to Castalla (+/- 30 min). It is also possible to cycle from the airport to Castalla. If you want to cycle, please let us know upon booking so Petro will bring the bikes with him. A beautiful route will take you from the airport along the Via Verdes to Castalla. Please let us know upon booking. At the end of your tour you get a transfer to the airport of Valencia (VLC).
If you booked a rental bike they will be ready at the first accommodation or at the airport in case you decided to cycle from the airport to your first accommodation. Together with the bike you receive a repair kit, pump and panniers. The bikes are equipped with an odometer, and panniers.
Please note that the listed hotels are only hotel samples and subject to change. You will find your definite hotel in the hotel list, which you receive after booking/before departure.
Casa Camaleón is a personal guesthouse on the outskirts of Castalla with a view of the beautifully restored castle. You can choose from a double bed or two single beds. Each room has a private bathroom. You can also relax on the veranda or with a chair in front of your own guesthouse.
El Capricho de la Portuguesa is a small hotel in Benialli, in the Gallinera Valley, and offers charming rooms, a spa and a café. The rooms feature an elegant design with pleasant pastel-colored finishes, beamed ceilings and antique furniture. They are air-conditioned.
Hotel Sester is a family hotel situated in a beautiful garden. The simple rooms economically equipped with private bathroom and sometimes a balcony. The restaurant serves Spanish cuisine.
Hotel Sicania is located on the beach. It has 116 rooms, restaurant and an outdoor pool.
Sol Playa is located on Playa de las Arenas beach. The rooms are air-conditioned and have satellite TV. Some have sea views. Bus and tram stops are a 5-minute walk away, allowing easy access to the city center.
If you have ordered a rental bike, you will receive it on arrival in Alicante in exchange for your bicycle voucher.
In addition to the Merida, we offer sporty cyclists the option of renting a Merida road bike with carbon frame. The Meridas are rented without pedals, so don't forget to bring your own pedals. It is also possible to rent an E-bike or Mountain bike.
You are responsible for your rental bike in case of damage or theft. If the damage to a rental bike is caused by you and is not due to normal wear and tear or manufacturing defects, you are responsible for the costs.
For the same reason, we advise you to always lock your bike when visiting sights or at a terrace.
Package and Accommodation
This tour includes 7 hotel overnights in a 2 person room with shower/bath and lavatory. In the first hotel you will be welcomed with a welcome drink and tapas. Breakfast is included from day 2 – day 8. On day 3, 4, 5 and 6 your luggage will be transported while you cycle to your next hotel. The roadbook will be ready at the first hotel. In case of problems during the tour you can contact our local agent. He is also the owner of Casa Cameleon, the first guesthouse during this tour.
During this tour you stay at the following accommodations:
Currency
As in other European countries the euro is the local currency in Spain. Normally credit cards and international bank cards can be used without problems.
Arrival information
If you arrive by plane, our local agent and owner of Casa Camaleon welcomes you at the Airport of Alicante (if you booked the transfer). He’ll drive you by minibus to Castalla (+/- 30 min). It is also possible to cycle from the airport to Castalla. If you want to cycle, please let us know upon booking so Petro will bring the bikes with him. A beautiful route will take you from the airport along the Via Verdes to Castalla. Please let us know upon booking. At the end of your tour you get a transfer to the airport of Valencia (VLC).
The bike
For a successful cycling holiday it is necessary to have a good bike. If you bring your own bicycle check it carefully before departure. Pay special attention to tires, brakes and gears. Always bring a repair kit with you while you go cycling. When you bring your own bike, keep in mind that this tour leads you through hilly terrain so your bike needa at least 24 gears.
Luggage transfer
This package includes the transport of your luggage on day 3, 4, 5 and 6. We’ll ask you friendly but urgent to keep in mind to respect our luggage transport rules. You may offer 2 pieces of luggage with a maximum weight of 20 kg. Per piece the maximum weight is 15 kg.
Luggage items that weight more then 15 kg. may be refused by our transportation company!
The luggage transfer takes place between 9 am and 16 pm. Take care your luggage will be at the right location and ready for transport before 9 am. In most cases the luggage collecting point will be at the reception desk but please ask your host to ensure you leave it at the right place. Normally your luggage will be at the next accommodation before or at least at 16 pm.
Clothing
Keep in mind that a helmet is obligatory in Spain! So except for the fact that wearing a helmet contributes to your own safety you avoid a ticket. Another important traffic rule in spain is the absolute precedence for pedestrians crossing a zebra. Local traffic will already stop when a pedestrian approaches a zebra crossing.
During your tour we advise to wear a cycling jersey which absorbs and drains off sweat. Depending on your bike we advise to wear cycle trousers with a seat pad. Furthermore: a helmet, sunglasses and a camera. We’re looking forward to see the pics you took on the way.
Routedescription
The route description consists of 5 stages and 1 round tour. The distances vary from 35 to 85 kilometres. Please take into account that some sights may not be open on certain days. If there are any errors in the descriptions please inform so we can correct these for future guests. The kilometres indicated in the route descriptions are an approximate value. On request we can send you the GPS-tracks of this tour.