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Make your own way to Seville. We recommend arriving early or arranging extra nights to ensure you spend as much time as possible in this magical city of international fame. Its culture, history and folklore make this an exceptional tourist destination. Legend tells us that the city was founded by Hercules and its origins are linked with the Tartessian civilisation. Now it is the capital of the Andalucian region and most widely known for its ornate Alcázar castle complex, built during the Moorish Almohad dynasty, and its 18th Century Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza bullring. The Gothic cathedral is home to the tomb of Christopher Columbus and a famous belltower; the Giralda. The birthplace of Flamenco is generally accepted to be this area of Andalucia, and Seville is the perfect place to enjoy an evening show alongside your traditional cuisine.
Leave the city using its extensive network of cycle tracks. Head north-east to reach a dedicated cycle route on a good dirt road beside the river Guadaíra. Cycle amongst flat landscapes of cereals and sunflower plantations, you will pass several small towns before you reach the historic walled town of Carmona, which boasts several churches, palaces, and an imposing Arab fortress. There are some sections of rough dirt track on this day.
Distance in Km: 50
Distance in Miles: 31
Leaving picturesque Carmona you ride south, a delightful route along quaint country lanes overlooked by sunflowers and olive groves. Today's ride takes you through several small, traditional towns where you can enjoy a refreshing drink in one of the many bars along your route. Finish in the small town of Montellano with its pink marble buildings and natural monuments; perfect for an evening of relaxation.
Distance in Km: 68
Distance in Miles: 42
From Montellano you can see the mountains of Grazalema far in the distance. Today you will experience some hills, but not mountains, as the cycle takes you into pristine Mediterranean forest. Most of the cycling is along very quiet country roads, except for a section (about 8km) along a 'Via Verde' (a disused railway line now used as a cycle lane). You will cycle past the typically Andalucian town of Puerto Serrano; a good place to stop for lunch. You end in Arcos de la Frontera; one of Andalucia's most dramatically positioned pueblos blancos (white villages).
Distance in Km: 60
Distance in Miles: 37
From Arcos you pedal across undulating terrain, following the river Guadalete downstream along quiet country roads. Mediterranean woodland and agricultural land characterise the landscape. There are many small villages to stop along the way for a welcome break! The town of Jerez holds worldwide acclaim for its sherry and brandy production, but is equally famous for its fine horses and Flamenco music and dance.
Distance in Km: 56
Distance in Miles: 35
Heading south today, you reach the sea and the ancient city of Cádiz. The ride will take you into the stunning small town of El Puerto de Santa Maria, where there are many restaurants tempting you with the fish catch of the day. Cádiz is the oldest city in western Europe, with monuments such as the grandiose structure of the Cathedral Nueva, and the red brick building of the Gran Teatro, along with the stunning beaches are enough to encourage any visitor to fall in love with it. Your ride will end along the beach cycle paths, and lead you to your last Parador for one final night of luxury.
Distance in Km: 62
Distance in Miles: 38
You trip ends after breakfast in Cádiz. If you have time it is possible to arrange additional nights here, or there are regular trains back to Seville taking around 1h 35mins, where you can also arrange additional nights.
* 6 nights premium hotels with en suite facilities, most with pools
(seasonal)
* 5 days cycling with luggage transfers
* Undulating cycling - 82% paved, 18% unpaved (some rough tracks)
* Self-guided holiday. Min. age 14 yrs
All breakfasts included.
Food is a hugely important part of southern Spain and a key part of
Andalucian life is eating out. Dishes will comprise of some of the best
locally grown produce. Olives, almonds, lemons and oranges are used in
cooking, or in refreshing salads. Along the coastline you can be sure of
fresh seafood and fish and the Serrano ham is a speciality from the mountain
villages. Tapas originated in Andalucia, and in many places you will often
receive small snacks served free with your drinks in a bar.
Typical Andalucian dishes include; Gambas al Ajillo (prawns in garlic and
chilli oil), Paella/arroz, Coquinas (clams) served with garlic, parsley and
white wine, Calamares (squid), Tortilla Espanola, and churros (strips of deep
fried dough) which are often eaten with hot chocolate, perfect in the early
hours after a night out!
For this trip there is the possibility to upgrade to half board. Please see
the 'extra expenses' section for more information.
* 6 nights premium hotels with en suite facilities, most with pools
(seasonal)
* 5 days cycling with luggage transfers
* Undulating cycling - 82% paved, 18% unpaved (some rough tracks)
* Self-guided holiday. Min. age 14 yrs
*Cycling conditions*
This is a self-guided cycling trip for those who like to cycle independently,
but with back up to take out the hard work and planning. We arrange your
accommodations, provide you with a map and route notes so that you can cycle
at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next.
*Activity Level*: 3 (Moderate)
Please see the introductory pages of the cycling holidays brochure or our
website for more important information on classification and grading.
*Average daily ride*: 59km (37 miles).
*No. of days cycling*: 5
*Terrain & route*: Undulating cycling with some smaller climbs. The majority
of the cycle routes are on paved roads but there are some section of dirt
road and some short sections of rough dirt tracks, on which care needs to be
taken.
*Vehicle Support:* A representative will be there to meet you, make sure the
bikes are all set up and will be on call throughout the trip should you need.
It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we
make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked. Where
possible we stick to cycle tracks and quiet roads to make the journeys as
pleasant as possible, however, on occasion we have to use busier routes.
As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There may
be others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised
together. The route notes contain an emergency assistance telephone number
should you need it and in emergencies, the local representative is normally
able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge
for this service.
*Families*
Self-guided cycling holidays are a perfect option for families as they offer
the freedom for you to take your holiday at your own pace. You can stop as
and when you want and need, at the cafes and restaurants that suit your
family and the sites that interest you. As a guide we have suggested that 14
years is the minimum age for this trip, but as it is self-guided and you will
be leading your own family we will ultimately leave this decision up to you.
The daily distances are all published in the trip notes along with a
description of each days cycling so you have a good idea of what to expect.
On this trip, children should be expected to ride on roads with traffic. If
you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact one of our
experts. The principle idea is that these holidays can be as flexible as you
like, with logistical support but no group or leader to dictate the daily
activities.
Paradors & Hotels
On this trip you will stay in 3 different Paradors. A Parador is defined as
'luxury accommodation in a traditional building' and Andalucia is an
excellent place to experience some truly stunning accommodation. Highlights
include an impressive Arabic castle from the 14th Century in Carmona, an
historic noble house in the centre of Arcos and a 19th Century palace in the
centre of Jerez. In Seville and Cadiz the centrally located hotels are
4-star, and in Montellano you spend the night in an authentic Andalucian
hacienda surrounded by almond and olive groves. Most of the accommodation
have pools, but please be aware that these are open on a seasonal basis.
All prices are based on 2 persons sharing, so if there is an odd number of
people travelling in your party or you are travelling alone, there will be a
compulsory supplement for a single room for the tour duration. For a solo
traveller there is an additional charge to cover transfer costs.
Historic Noble House in Arcos de la
As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. Your
luggage is transferred and route notes and maps are provided. The route notes
contain an emergency assistance telephone number (operating between 0830 and
2000hrs). In emergency, the local representative is normally able to dispatch
a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.
All breakfasts included.
Food is a hugely important part of southern Spain and a key part of
Andalucian life is eating out. Dishes will comprise of some of the best
locally grown produce. Olives, almonds, lemons and oranges are used in
cooking, or in refreshing salads. Along the coastline you can be sure of
fresh seafood and fish and the Serrano ham is a speciality from the mountain
villages. Tapas originated in Andalucia, and in many places you will often
receive small snacks served free with your drinks in a bar.
Typical Andalucian dishes include; Gambas al Ajillo (prawns in garlic and
chilli oil), Paella/arroz, Coquinas (clams) served with garlic, parsley and
white wine, Calamares (squid), Tortilla Espanola, and churros (strips of deep
fried dough) which are often eaten with hot chocolate, perfect in the early
hours after a night out!
For this trip there is the possibility to upgrade to half board. Please see
the 'extra expenses' section for more information.
Your luggage is transported from hotel to hotel for you.
*Travelling land only: 7 days starting in Seville and ending in Cadiz*
Your trip normally starts at our hotel in Seville on the afternoon of Day 1
of the itinerary. Details of how to reach the start hotel are confirmed in
the Final Joining Instructions.
Full joining instructions including route notes, hotel list, map and local
emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining
Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure,
or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
*Flights from the UK*
There are direct flights to Seville with Easyjet and Ryanair, or it is easy
to take a flight to Malaga or Madrid and take advantage of the high speed
train service to Seville. To return, you can take a flight from Jerez
(Ryanair) or use the train to reach Malaga or Madrid airport.
Airport transfers are not included in this trip.
To reach the start hotel you can take the Seville urban transport line
between the airport and Plaza de Armas, in the city centre (with stops at
convenient points, including the Santa Justa rail and AVE station). The
journey takes about 35 minutes.
Ending in Cadiz, your nearest airport is Jerez, but this is only served by a
handful of airlines (including Ryanair). For more options, you can use the
high speed train to reach Malaga or Madrid airports.
Spring generally enjoys pleasant daytime temperatures (12-23ºC) and a little
cooler in the evenings. There is the chance of some rain, which then offers
views of beautiful spring flowers. Summer months are hot and dry with daytime
temperatures of around 21-35ºC, dropping to between 17 and 25ºC at night.
Autumn brings cooler weather although it is still fairly dry. The possibility
of rain is more likely in winter months but temperatures stay mild in the
daytime, becoming cooler after sunset.
Spring generally enjoys pleasant daytime temperatures (12-23ºC) and a little
cooler in the evenings. There is the chance of some rain, which then offers
views of beautiful spring flowers. Summer months are hot and dry with daytime
temperatures of around 21-35ºC, dropping to between 17 and 25ºC at night.
July and August are especially hot and if you choose to travel in these
months it is better to start your cycling as early as possible to avoid the
midday heat. Autumn brings cooler weather although it is still fairly dry.
The possibility of rain is more likely in winter months but temperatures stay
mild in the daytime, becoming cooler after sunset.
*Self-Guided Hire Bikes*
The local hire bikes are 27-speed Hybrid bikes and are supplied with:
- 1 front bar bag with a plastic folder for your route notes and maps - 1 per
2 people (if you are travelling together)
- 1 set of rear panniers
- 1 bike lock per 2 people
- 1 repair kit per 2 people, which includes 1 spare inner tube and a pump,
plus a lock
- Front and rear lights
Seat and handlebar heights will have been set up in advance from the heights
you have given us on booking. However, when you receive your bike there will
be the opportunity to test and adjust. Electronic bikes are available for
this trip, please request one as early as possible as they are subject to
availability. Helmets can be requested if you wish, but please be aware we
can never guarantee the quality of these so we do recommend bringing your
own.
We recommend you bring the following items:
Normal daily clothes
Padded cycling shorts
Cycling gloves
Water bottles
Breathable cycling top
Cycling helmet (compulsory on this trip)
A couple of warm layers
Sunglasses, sun cream and sunhat
Stiff-soled shoes suitable for cycling
Waterproofs and long cycling trousers
For earlier departures you may need some warmer layers
Mobile phone with roaming capabilities
* *
*Bike Repairs*
As you are riding unaccompanied, it is wise to know at least how to repair or
change an inner tube before setting off on your bike! Please visit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QSjw0iDs98&t=3s [1] for a comprehensive
guide on fixing a puncture.
The bikes are serviced before being rented out so there should be no problems
- however, there are emergency numbers provided in the Route Notes for more
complex problems.
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QSjw0iDs98&t=3s
For the meals not included we recommend that you allow €8-15 for lunch.
Dinners can range between €15-30 depending on the style of restaurant.
Suggestions of where to eat are made in the route notes.
It is possible to upgrade to a half-board package for all nights on this
trip. Generally this involves a 3 course dinner, without drinks. This is
usually taken either at the hotel, or at a nearby restaurant.
* Travel insurance
* Single accommodation (available on request) Compulsory supplement
* Visas or vaccinations
* Arrival & departure transfers when making a land only booking (available
for a supplement)
Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.