Eurovelo 8: from Elche to Valencia

Elche - Alicante, 40kms and 150 meters of positive elevation gain. After a nutritious breakfast, our first stage will take us to Alicante through a gentle route, ideal to warm up. It's worth enjoying the scenery, as this area is notably arid, providing a unique cycling experience. Palms and fruit plantations will accompany you on your way. Once in Alicante, we strongly recommend taking a stroll through the port and Postiguet Beach while admiring the majesty of Santa Bárbara Castle.

Alicante - Castalla, 50kms and 800 meters of positive elevation gain. Today, we face the most challenging day of our route as we leave the coast to venture into the interior of the peninsula. We'll do this by following the Vía Verde del Maigmó, a route built to connect Alcoy with Alicante. The landscape will change radically as we progress among pine trees, enjoying impressive engineering works such as the Forn del Vidre viaducts (140m) or the astonishing Palomaret (200m).

Castalla - Alcoy, 35kms and 200 meters of positive elevation gain. After a nutritious breakfast, in this stage, we'll enjoy a smooth ride that will take us to Alcoy. We'll have the opportunity to cycle along the Carrascal de la Fuente Roja Natural Park, with its beautiful Mediterranean landscape, as we recharge for the next stage.

Alcoy - Gandía, 55kms and 150 meters of positive elevation gain. Today, we'll return to the coast and glimpse the sea once again. Our destination will be Gandía, which we'll reach after cycling along the Serpis River, enjoying a pleasant meandering route through the valleys once covered by the railway to Villalonga. In Gandía, we highly recommend trying its famous Fideuá to complete your experience in this beautiful place.

Gandía - Cullera, 35kms and 50 meters of positive elevation gain. After enjoying breakfast in Gandía, today, we'll embark on a beautiful route that will take us through wetlands, orange plantations, and other fruit trees until we reach the first rice fields of the La Albufera Natural Park. Our arrival in Cullera will be marked by the imposing presence of a large stone mass, with its castle on top, and the extensive and beautiful beach that stretches at its feet.

Cullera - Valencia, 60kms and 100 meters of positive elevation gain. Today marks the last day of cycling, and you'll be surprised to do so while traversing wetlands and rice fields along the Mediterranean Sea. Moreover, you'll do it along the best beaches in southern Valencia, immersed in the natural park and surrounded by dunes that protect these spectacular coasts. Our arrival in Valencia will be grand, as we will enter directly into the City of Arts and Sciences, providing us with the first contact with this wonderful city.

Return home. Farewell after breakfast.