Overview
A six day adventure cycling the Costa Blanca, based in Jalón, an inland village in the Marina Alta Valley, but just 20km from the coast. It’s the perfect quiet base for our self-guided cycling holidays in Costa Blanca with cols and calas, valleys and vineyards on the doorstep. Cycling highlights include Coll de Rates and Puerto de Bèrnia, and Parque Natural del Montgó, a protected massif rising sharply behind the coast. And as the coast always calls in the Alicante region, Cala Granadella and Cala del Moraig are two popular coastal stops. This tour has cycling options that cater for different levels of cyclists, and e-bikes are also available.
- Jávea
- Cala Granadella
- Coll de Rates
- Puerto de Bèrnia
- Parque Natural del Montgó
- Castell de Guadallest
- Calp
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Jalón
Arrive in Jalón, a small market town set among vineyards and almond orchards in the Marina Alta Valley. Known for its Saturday market and long history of wine-making, Jalón makes an easy base for the days ahead. If you have time after checking in, we recommend a wander through the old quarter or find a terrace looking out over the valley.
- Accommodation: Casa Mistela or similar in Jalón
Day 2: Marina Alta | 55/81.5/151km
- Option one (55km ↑1,110m ↓1,110m): cycle to Benissa, a hilltop town with a distinctive blue-tiled church tower, then continue to Moraira, an old fishing port with an elegant seafront promenade. The route continues to Cala del Moraig, a sheltered cove at the foot of Benitachell cliffs with a sea cave at its northern end, then through Teulada, before finishing back in Jalón.
- Option two (81.5km ↑1,190 ↓1,190m): head to Moraira following the coast out to Cabo de la Nao, which is the easternmost point of Alicante. The route continues to Cala Granadella, one of the most visited coves on the Costa Blanca and a good spot for a swim. The day ends inland at Gata de Gorgos, long associated with wickerwork and craft workshops before returning back to your accommodation.
- Option three (151km ↑2,580m ↓2,580m): climb Puerto de Bèrnia and then head to the coast at Cabo de la Nao before cycling through Jávea, a town split between its old quarter and working port. The trail continues up through Parque Natural del Montgó, a protected massif rising sharply behind the coast, then on to Dénia. The return path takes you inland via Castell de Castells and Puerto de Sa Creuta before the final climb over Coll de Rates that leads down into Jalón.
Day 3: Coast and cols ride | 119/126km
- Option one (119km ↑1,590m ↓1,590m): cycle down La Fustera and continue to Moraira and around the coast to Cala Granadella. The bike ride continues through Jávea and up to Dénia, a larger town known for its castle and marina, before cycling through the Marjal wetlands then back to base.
- Option two (126km ↑2,070m ↓2,070m): set off to Benissa and cycle down La Fustera before reaching Calp, which is dominated by the Peñón de Ifach rock. The route continues to Callosa d’en Sarria and on to Castell de Guadalest, a hilltop fortress village above a reservoir, before climbing up and over Puerto de Confrides to Castell de Castells and finishing in Jalón.
Day 4: Inland valleys and villages | 70/83/121km
- Option one (70km ↑1,150m ↓1,150m): cycle towards Fleix, a small village in the Vall de Laguart, before continuing into Vall de Gallinera, which is dominated by cherry orchards and hamlets. The route continues to Pego, then through Orba before returning back to Jalón.
- Option two (83km ↑1,630 ↓1,630m): climb up Coll de Rates, one of the area’s most popular cycling climbs, before dropping to Tárbena, a small village with Moorish heritage. The route continues through La Nucia and Calp, finishing with the climb over Puerto de Bèrnia.
- Option three (121km ↑2,570m ↓2,570m): head up to Puerto de Bèrnia then down to Calp before heading inland through Callosa d’en Sarria. The route reaches the Embalse de Guadalest, a turquoise reservoir below the Sierra de Aitana peaks — and continues through Polop before finishing with a final climb over Coll de Rates.
Day 5: Jalón Valley | 60/84km
- Option one (60km ↑1,060m ↓1,060m): climb up Puerto de Bèrnia before continuing down to Calp on the coast. The route then follows the road up La Fustera before finishing back in Jalón.
- Option two (84km ↑1,670m ↓1,670m): cycle south to Calp before turning inland through Callosa d’en Sarria. Loop through the small village of Bolulla, then finish climbing up Coll de Rates before heading back to your accommodation.
Day 6: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour is in traditional guesthouse. It has been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including its location, warm hospitality, fine local food and commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotel
- Casa Mistela (Jalón)
Hotel is subject to availability. In the event of being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide you with the exact accommodation details upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Dinner is available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated moderate/strenuous and is suitable for experienced cyclists. Depending on the route of your choice, daily distances vary between 55 and 150km with daily elevation gains ranging from 1,000m to 2,600m. An excellent level of fitness is required for this tour and it is most suited to those who partake in road cycling all year, in all conditions, and regularly cycle over 100km in a day (read more about difficulty grades). Renting an E-bike is also possible, which will make the cycling experience more leisurely.
We strongly advise you only to follow marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain
We will provide you with detailed route notes and maps and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available all year round, from January until the end of December. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
Please note supplements may apply on certain dates during major holidays, such as Easter, Christmas and New Year.
The best time to cycle in the Costa Blanca region is spring (green landscape, flowers) and autumn (mild weather). During the summer months it may become too hot and crowded.
The climate in this region of Alicante is Mediterranean, characterised by hot, humid summers and mild winters. The most comfortable conditions for cycling are typically found in spring and autumn, when temperatures are moderate. During summer, particularly in July and certainly August, daytime highs often exceed 30C, so it’s advisable to carefully plan the rides to avoid the peak heat.
To find out more about when to go, take a look at our blog, the Best time to go to Spain blog.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
The recommended airports for this tour is Aeropuerto Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández (ALC).
By train or bus
- From Alicante Airport, take the L525a bus (Les Marines-Alacant regional service) operated by Alsa (1h 55mins – five stops) to Dénia Bus Station where you can take the L3 bus service to Jalón/Xaló operated by Autocares Carrio (1h 10mins – 14 stops). For more information, use the Omio planner above
- From Alicante, take the L525a bus operated by Alsa (1h 35mins – four stops) to Dénia Bus Station where you can take the L3 bus service to Jalón/Xaló operated by Autocares Carrio (1h 10mins – 14 stops). For more information, use the Omio planner above
- Private transfers from and to Alicante or Alicante Airport can be arranged at the start and at end of the tour
Inclusions
Included
- 5 nights accommodation
- 5 breakfasts
- Daily baggage transfers (one piece per person, max 15kg)
- Tour materials: detailed roadbook including maps (digital format), a navigation app for smartphones, and GPS tracks
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- International flights and land transfers
- Lunches and dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Optional bike insurance if available
- Additional travel-related changes in the programme due to bad weather
- Entrance fees for attractions and museums
- Personal expenses
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers
- Bike and e-bike rental
- Bike insurance
- Private transfers from and to Alicante or Alicante Airport can be arranged at the start and at end of the tour
- Extra nights before and at the end of the tour can be booked on request
Bike rental
Choose from high quality standard road bike or e-road bike. The following bikes are available to rent on this tour:
Standard road bike
- Model: Wilier Garda or equivalent
- Frame: carbon frame and fork
- Brakes: disc brakes
- Transmission: Shimano 105, 12-speed 11/34 cassette
- Weight: approx. 8,9kg
Premium road bike
- Model: Wilier Cento 10 SL or equivalent
- Frame: carbon frame and fork
- Brakes: disc brakes
- Transmission: Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset or equivalent, 12 speeds, 50/34 crankset and 11/28-30-32 cassette
- Weight: approx. 7,6kg
Electric road bike
- Model: Willer Garda Hybrid or equivalent
- Frame: carbon frame and fork
- Battery: 250 Wh battery (expandable to 500 Wh at an extra charge)
- Brakes: disc brakes
- Transmission: Shimano 105 Di2 groupset or equivalent, 12 speeds, 50/34 crankset and 11/32-34 cassette
- Weight: approx. 12,0kg
Sample pictures shown above. Note that the exact models may differ depending on availability, but the standard will be the same.
Details (apply to all models):
- Phone and GPS holder: please bring a phone holder specific to your device, as this will be crucial for your tour
- Helmet: note that helmets are not included. If you don’t bring your own, you can rent one
- Repair kit includes hand pump, patches, multi-tool, one inner tube, tyre levers
- Two bottle holders (except for e-bike with additional 250 Wh battery, on which only one can be placed)
- Pedals: our rental bikes come without pedals. You can either bring your own pedals or specify your needs and you can rent a choice of three types of pedals at an extra charge: Look KEO easy, Shimano SPD-SL or Shimano SPD
- Saddle: our rental bikes come with comfortable road bike saddles. You can, of course, bring your own for improved comfort
- E-bikes are always delivered with a 100% charged battery and the charger is always included
Please indicate your choice of model and pedals as well as your height (if possible, also frame size) when filling out the booking form.
