Cycle Southern Spain - Murcia
Experience Overview
On this cycling adventure in southern Spain we discover Murcia's whitewashed villages and Moorish towers, endless orchards, ancient irrigation channels and layers of history. Murcia enjoys mild winters, a semi-arid climate and averages more than 320 days of sun per year.
Peaceful cycling - Ride on scenic and quiet backroads and cycle paths through varied landscapes
White-washed villages - typical Spanish villages in the Ricote Valley with Moorish roots
Tapas y Vino - Reward yourself with and refuel on delicious Spanish food and wine.
Highlights
Peaceful cycling - Ride on scenic and quiet backroads and cycle paths|Caravaca de la Cruz - Visit one of the Catholic world's 5 holy cities|White-washed villages - typical Spanish villages in the Ricote Valley with Moorish roots
Trip Details
Product Code: 20364
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: BusBicycle
Guide Language: English
Tour Operator:
Explore Worldwide
Supplier Code: CMU
Starts: Spain
Finishes: Spain
Duration: 7 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
- Explore Tour Leader
- Driver(s)
Accommodation
- Hesperia Murcia Centro
- Hospederia del Carmen
- Hospederia Rural Constitucion
- Hotel San Sebastian
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $0 ($0 /day)
Itinerary
Our tour starts in Murcia, a bustling university town packed with culture. Murcia sits in a fertile plain surrounded by mountains. Sites include Murcia cathedral, the Bishop's Palace and Church of San Nicolas de Bari. The Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 8pm for the welcome meeting followed by the chance to go out for dinner for those interested. There are no other included activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Murcia at any time. If you would like to receive an airport transfer today, you will need to arrive into Region de Murcia International Airport (RMU) which is approximately 30 minutes away. If you prefer to fly into Alicante airport there is a regular bus service from the airport to Murcia bus station by Alsa (departs every 2 hours, journey takes 1 hour) (https://www.alicante-airport.net/bus.php). Alternatively if you wish to purchase a private transfer from Alicante airport please enquire with our sales team but please note that this needs to be booked at least 20 days before departure. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, there is an optional self-guided ride today to the Fuensanta Sanctuary. The hotel will be able to give instructions to make your way to the bike rental shop to meet the Leader, where you will be fitted with a bike for the week ahead, as well as route notes to follow for the ride today. Anybody that doesn't ride today will be given their bike tomorrow morning and will have time to make any necessary adjustments. Please note there is a charge for this optional ride and you pay the bike rental office directly. We recommend you start this at 3pm latest from November to February or 4pm in other months. Later this evening you can meet your fellow travellers properly at the briefing and first group dinner. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 18 kilometres/11.19 miles (Total 100 metres/328 feet ascent and descent)(optional).
We drive out from Murcia after breakfast and after 45 mins we reach the town of Bullas where we start our ride on the gently graded via verde del noroeste cycle path (a converted railway track). Those that didn't ride yesterday will be given and fitted with their bike this morning. The cycle path leads all the way to Caravaca but we leave it mid-section to ride on quiet country roads up to the hilltop town and interesting old quarter of Cehegin and along the river Argos. We return to the cycle path and on to Caravaca de la Cruz where we spend the next 3 nights. 1 of the world's 5 Holy Cities according to the Vatican (the others are Rome, Jerusalem, Santiago de Compostela and Santo Toribio in the Lebanon), Caravaca de la Cruz becomes busier with Catholic pilgrims during a Holy Year (every 7 years). Pilgrims can obtain Eternal Forgiveness in the Holy Year by visiting the church. Fully embracing the religious significance of this town, we enjoy a comfortable stay in a 16th century monastery, completely restored and surrounded by peaceful gardens only accessible to those staying there. The twin share en suite rooms are bright and airy and have modern facilities like wi-fi and air conditioning. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 39 kilometres/24.20 miles (300 metres/984 feet total accumulated ascent and descent).
On today's ride we discover the nature, beauty and history of the area surrounding Caravaca. Cycling past irrigation channels and elm groves, the route takes us from fountain to fountain passing sites with the remains of Paleolithic, Iberian, Roman and Medieval settlements. The day starts with an ascent of 400 metres/1312 feet spread over 16.5 km/10.30 miles to reach the Celtiberian village of Archivel. Then we pick up a waymarked route - 'Itinerario Ecoturístico Archivel-La Encarnación' - that leads us past tiny villages downhill to La Encarnación and eventually back to Caravaca. The final section of around 10 km/6.20 miles is along an unsurfaced track that takes us to our hotel in Caravaca. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 45 kilometres/28 miles (450 metres/1476 feet total accumulated ascent and descent).
We leave Caravaca this morning after breakfast and cycle to Calasparra. As with yesterday, a lot of the ascent is tackled in the morning with 2 steep ascents of note (150m/492 feet each), after which the route is mainly downhill to Calasparra. We plan to arrive into Moratalla around lunchtime and allow some free time to explore its steep, narrow lanes and 15th-century Christian fortress featuring the 'Torre del Homenaje' (a reconstruction of a Moorish fortress) and 16th-century church of Santa María de la Asunción. On the next section of the ride after leaving Moratalla the countryside becomes more barren, with huge groves of olive trees, almond trees and farmed fields. Wherever you find a bit of water and a river nearby, the orchards and vegetable gardens reappear, as do the rice paddies as you near Calasparra. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 44 kilometres/27.30 miles (450 metres/1476 feet total accumulated ascent and 740 metres/2428 feet descent).
This morning we ride out to the 'Virgen de la Esperanza Sanctuary' (Our Lady of Hope), the patron saint of Calasparra whose 12th century shrine is a cave carved into the rock face over the banks of the Segura river. From here our cycle ride heads on to Cieza and along the way we will encounter very few villages, riding on peaceful country roads, with views to the surrounding hills and past the Alfonso XIII Reservoir. As we return to the Segura river the landscape turns into a patchwork of almond and apricot orchards, a symphony in shades of pink with springtime blossom. Known locally as La Floracion, the spring blossom is best in the countryside surrounding Cieza. The bloom usually runs from mid-Feb to late March. The final 6.5 km/4 miles follows a quiet road along the river to reach the lively town of Cieza. It is possible to shorten the ride today by 13km/8 miles if you do not visit the Esperanza Sanctuary. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 46 kilometres/28.60 miles (480 metres/1575 feet total accumulated ascent and 630 metres/2067 feet descent).
The Segura River and ancient irrigation channels will mark our way from the pleasant town of Cieza to Archena. The scenery changes today as we ride in the Ricote Valley whose arid slopes contrast with the oasis-like orchards studded with palm trees fed by the river. We pass villages, such as Abaran, Blanca, Ojos and Ulea that were Murcia's last Moorish stronghold in the 15th century. From Archena we follow roads through some industrial areas and busy small towns before a peaceful final section of via verde cycle path for 12km/7.40 miles along the banks of the Segura river back into Murcia. Around 10% of today's route is on unpaved surfaces. Tonight we can reflect on and celebrate the week with a final supper in Murcia. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 57 kilometres/35.40 miles (200 metres/656 feet total accumulated ascent and 340 metres/1116 feet descent).
The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Murcia. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive an airport transfer today, you need to depart from Region de Murcia International Airport (RMU) which is approximately 30 minutes away.
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Tour Operator
Explore Worldwide
A prominent adventure travel company with over four decades of experience, this business that offers a comprehensive array of unique and thrilling experiences worldwide. Catering to various interests, they provide small group journeys, walking and cycling trips, solo holidays, and family adventures.
In Business Since 1981
Reviews
Anonymous - Traveled, May 2025
Miquel, the Spanish leader was excellent - he went above what was expected in meeting everyone's needs. He gave us an authentic local experience with Spanish food, including arranging a paella. Most days, after arriving in towns, he also arranged interesting excursions between 6 - 8 pm. There were some interesting museums & even an underground church, which were generally free. The area wasn't overly scenic, with one day being a highlight but a nice introduction to southern Spain. Be wary of some hotel showers as some were very slippery & dangerous.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/16/2025
Jill - Traveled, May 2025
This was a fabulous trip. The cycling was excellent with bikes that were perfect for the conditions, although heavier than I'm used to at home, We cycled on beautiful traffic free cycleways, small roads with virtually no traffic and bigger roads with very little traffic. We were in the mountains so inevitably there were hills but they were mainly short. The scenery was spectacular, as were the wildflowers. Our guide, Miguel, was excellent. This area is off the beaten track for tourists so unless you speak good Spanish you need Miguel! We ate really well as we mainly left the ordering of food to Miguel. Every meal was a delight of local food. The places that we stayed and those that we visited were all interesting so it felt as though we really made the most of a 6 day trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/17/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, May 2025
Our guide, Miguel was excellent. He took care of everyone and safety was a top priority.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/16/2025
Trevor - Traveled, May 2025
One of my favourite holidays. Great local food, our Explore Leader, never failed to find an excellent, family run restaurant, cafe or bar serving great, inexpensive local dishes. Safe, easy cycling on quiet roads or paths through beautiful farming countryside. Lovely accomodation in busy little towns, every evening started with a visit to a very interesting local museum. Highlights were the monastery, the sanctuary, the working waterwheels in the Ricote Valley and the group's last meal at Los Toneles in Murcia.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/16/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, May 2025
Great routes, fantastic ride leader. Loved the stay in the monastery especially.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/17/2025
Bruce - Traveled, April 2025
Miguel Angel, our tour leader was amazing... We had a mix of riders and he made sure our itinerary worked for everyone. He was also very good at explaining the historical context of all the beautiful places we rode through. We could not have had a better tour leader. Spring time is a beautiful time of year for a bike tour in Murcia. Would highly recommend!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/13/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, April 2025
A big thank you to Miguel . One day the trip has been cancelled because of a yellow warning with rain. Miguel has managed the day visiting some lovely museums , park and we have also eaten in some very good bakery and restaurants. Thanks Miguel for a wonderful gastronomic holiday. The team was also perfect, we had so much fun.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/17/2025
Callum - Traveled, March 2025
We really enjoyed the cycling tour of Murcia. Our guide Miguel Angel was first class and good humoured. While the weather let us down one day (severe weather warning), Miguel quickly organised a range of activities to keep us all entertained and amused. The roads we cycled on were generally very quiet and well paved.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/08/2025
Lisa - Traveled, March 2025
Miguel is an excellent guide and couldn’t have done anymore for us. We had a yellow weather warning and so were unable to cycle for one day. Miguel made sure we still had an eventful day showing us the sights and translating for us at museums.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/10/2025
Colin - Traveled, October 2024
Tour lived up to all our expectations, with no issues and good company.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/12/2024
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