Overview
A week of cycling in Murcia, starting in the inland village of Bullas, a wine region where you begin your journey along one of Spain’s Via Verde routes. The first night of cycling is in the pilgrimage town of Caravaca de la Cruz, famous for its castle of Islamic origins. This is one of many places en route influenced by Islamic culture during the 800-year rule. Other sacred spots in sublime locations include Santuario Virgen de la Esperanza and Santuario de Nuestra Señora de la Fuensanta, outside the city of Murcia. This tour is reachable by rail, and there is also an option to rent e-bikes.
- Caravaca de la Cruz
- Murcia
- Calasparra
- Embalse Alfonso XIII
- Valle de Ricote
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Murcia
Welcome to Murcia. Depending on arrival time, spend the afternoon strolling through the city or head to a terrace cafe for tapas.
- Accommodation: Hotel Cetina or similar in Murcia
Day 2: Bullas – Caravaca de la Cruz | 38km
The cycling week begins with a transfer to Bullas (45mins) before following a Via Verde bike path. Along the way, stop for a wander around the hilltop village of Cehegín and enjoy a bite to eat or drink. From here, an optional loop can be added, cycling along on quiet country roads past flower farms and vegetable fields before ending the day in Caravaca de la Cruz. One of the main features of Caravaca is its castle, dating back to Islamic times.
- Accommodation: Hospedería Rural Almunia or similar in Caravaca de la Cruz
- Cycling for the day: 38km, ↑300m, ↓300m
Day 3: Circular route from Caravaca de la Cruz | 46km
Today’s circular route passes multiple Roman and Christian sanctuaries and heads through settlements from numerous different eras, from the medieval, Iberian and Roman times all the way back to the Palaeolithic Age. Begin the ride with an ascent to Archivel, before following a way-marked route through villages and farmland, eventually descending into La Encarnación. Conclude the day by following a short section of a Grandes Randonnées track back to Caravaca de la Cruz. Spend the remainder of the afternoon visiting Plaza del Arco, famous for the Moros y Cristiano statues.
- Accommodation: Hospedería Rural Almunia or similar in Caravaca de la Cruz
- Cycling for the day: 46km, ↑450m, ↓450m
Day 4: Caravaca de la Cruz – Calasparra | 43km
Today’s route begins with a steep 150m ascent followed by an wonderful, gradual descent along a section of greenway. Stop in Moratalla for lunch and explore the Castillo Fortaleza Moratalla and the town’s 16th-century church. Continuing onward, the route passes olive groves and orchards before eventually reaching Calasparra.
- Accommodation: Hospedería Rural Constitución or similar in Calasparra
- Cycling for the day: 43km, ↑450m, ↓740m
Day 5: Calasparra – Cieza | 46km
Either spend the morning visiting the sites of Calasparra or cycle an optional 13km loop to visit Santuario Virgen de la Esperanza, a sanctuary honouring Our Lady of Hope. From Calasparra, cycle through remote landscapes with views over the reservoir, Embalse Alfonso XIII, before following Río Segura past almond and apricot orchards. The final 6.5km of today’s route follows the river into Cieza.
- Accommodation: Hospedería San Sebastián or similar in Cieza
- Cycling for the day: 46km, ↑480m, ↓630m
Day 6: Cieza – Murcia | 58km
Cycle alongside waterways towards Segura, before heading into Valle de Ricote. Follow the valley’s jade-coloured river past orchards and palm trees to reach the 15th-century villages of Abarán, Blanca, Ójos and Ulea. From here, cycle along quiet lanes back to Murcia and enjoy a well-earned drink and some tapas.
- Accommodation: Hotel Cetina or similar in Murcia
- Cycling for the day: 58km, ↑200m, ↓340m
Day 7: Departure (optional loop from Murcia) | 25km
Departure after breakfast or extend your bike hire and take on an optional ascent to Santuario de Nuestra Señora de la Fuensanta, a hilltop sanctuary, home to Murcia’s patron saint. The sanctuary also has a café that serves tasty snacks and offers views over the city.
- Cycling for the day (optional): 25km, ↑90m, ↓90m
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotels
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included each day, excluding the morning of day six (in Cieza). When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can be bought from local shops or you can pre-order a packed lunch at your hotel. Dinner is available either from your accommodation or from the restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This trip is rated moderate and is suitable for intermediate cyclists as some of the days include short but challenging ascents. Daily cycling distances range between 25-58km with an average ascent of 300m (read more about difficulty grades).
We will provide detailed route notes and maps (in digital format) 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 tour is available year-round, except for Easter, 12 – 18 April 2025. The period of 28 April – 04 May 2025, when the Caravaca festivities occur, is on request only. 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.
The region of Murcia has a typical Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot summers without any heavy rain, boasting around 325 sunny days a year. In spring, the temperatures are warm enough to swim and are perfect for outdoor activities, with an average of 14C in March, 16C in April and 20C in May. Summers are hot, with an average of 24C-26C, but can go up to 33C in July and August. In autumn, temperatures start to drop to 24C in September, 19C in October and 15C in November. Autumn nights can be a little chilly. The months from December to February are still filled with clear, sunny days and low rainfall. The average daily temperatures are 10C-14C.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airports for this tour are Alicante (ALC), Murcia (RMU) and Valencia (VLC)
By train or bus
Arrival in Murcia
If you are able to travel to Spain without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail, with railway stations in Murcia, Alicante and Valencia. For more details, see the national rail operator Renfe.
There is a regular bus service from Murcia airport that runs throughout the day to the city centre (30min), taxis are also available. There is also a regular bus service from Alicante airport to Murcia (1h). For further information and timetables, please visit Alsa.
Inclusions
Included
- 6 nights in en-suite rooms
- 5 breakfasts
- Luggage transport (one piece per person up to 20kg)
- Detailed digital holiday information pack including route descriptions and maps (please note, that the information pack for this tour is digital only and will be emailed to you prior to departure. Physical documents are not able to be posted or provided on-site)
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Flights and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Breakfast in Cieza
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- 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 rental
- Extra nights
- Optional transfers to/from Murcia MJV or Alicante ALC airports
Bike rental
Both hybrid and e-bikes are available to rent on this tour. All bikes come with a repair kit, lock, pump and front and rear cycle bags with map carriers. Sample pictures attached below, note that the exact models may differ depending on availability, but the standard will be the same.
Trekking bikes
- Bike Model: Bergamont Horizon 5.0
- Bike type: Trekking
- Frame: 28″ trekking AL-6061
- Forks: Suntour NEX P28″, 63mm, coil, hydraulic lockout
- Gears: 24
- Shifters: Shimano SL-M310, 3×8-speed, rapidfire plus-shifter
- Brakes: Magura HS-11, hydraulic disc
- Tyres: Schwalbe Road Cruiser
- Weight: 16.5kg
- Sizes: 48cm, 53cm
E-bikes
- Model: Ecobike Elegance Plus
- Type: Electric Bike
- Wheels: 26″, 29″
- Gears: 7 gears
- Brakes: V-brake
- Battery: 15mAh – 75km (eco mode)
- Size: M-L
Spain’s legal requirement for personal information
Please note: in December 2024, the Spanish government introduced a new law making it a legal obligation for all visitors to Spain to share personal details with their accommodations and car rental companies. Consequently, as we book your accommodation for you, we are obliged to pass these on to our local partners on the ground. After booking your holiday, we will send you a form to complete requesting all the legally-required information, including: name, nationality, gender, passport number, DOB, address, phone numbers and email address. This applies to all travellers aged 14 and over. If you are travelling with people under 14 years old, you need to declare your relationship to them. We apologise for any inconvenience. For more information, see here.
