Cycle Southern Spain - Murcia

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 a complimentary 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 (Total 100 metres ascent and descent)(optional).

We drive out from Murcia after breakfast on the only vehicle transfer of the holiday, other than getting to and from the airport. 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 two nights. One of the world's five 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 seven 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 (300 metres 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 spread over 16.5 km 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 is along an unsurfaced track that takes us to our hotel in Caravaca. This evening you can enjoy a stroll on the Plaza del Arco square along with the locals and there should be the option to take taxis out to a local restaurant. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 45 kilometres (450 metres total accumulated ascent and descent).