 Day 1 Transfer to Segovia.
Today you will be collected from your arrival point in Madrid and transfered to Segovia where you will spend the next two nights.
Day 2 Circular ride from Segovia 25 or 42 miles.
Today you have two optional round rides from Segovia. The shorter ride takes you to the Palacio de La Granja de San Ildefonso, the magnificent 18th century palace built by Felipe V as a summer residence. The longer ride will take you to visit the picturesque village of Turégano with its fine fortified church and castle.
Day 3 Segovia to
Arévalo 37 or 50 miles.
This ride takes you west across the Castilian plains towards the town of Arévalo. The Sierra de Guadarrama (the range of mountains to the north of Madrid) is left behind you. The route combines small sleepy villages, immense horizons, pine forests and the fine castle of Coca. You finally arrive in the medieval town of Arévalo, famous for its mudéjar architecture, castle, the medieval Plaza de la Villa, and last but not least, cochinillo, the tender suckling pig so popular in this part of Spain.
Day 4 Arévalo to
Ávila 35 or 64 miles.
From Arévalo, you begin to head south again towards the mountains of the Sistema Central. You will reach the historical town of Madrigal de las Altas Torres, birthplace of Isabel La Católica. The route takes you through untouched Castilian villages across the fertile plains until you finally reach the city of Ávila, the highest provincial capital of Spain, surrounded by its magnificently preserved walls. Here you can enjoy an evening stroll around the historical centre and enjoy the marvellous tapas.
Day 5 Ávila to
Pedro Bernardo 53 miles.
Today you will cross the Sierra de Gredos, the mountain range separating the two Castiles. Beautiful dramatic scenery, where vultures soar over the rocky landscape. Olive trees and cherry blossom decorate the valleys. A support vehicle is on hand should anyone need a “push”. Finally you will arrive at the charming village of Pedro Bernardo with its endless views over La Mancha.
Day 6 Pedro Bernardo to
Talavera de la Reina
25 or 50 miles.
From Pedro Bernardo you descend towards the Talavera and the valley of the River Tajo. Picturesque roads wind through superb forests and isolated villages. Finally you will arrive at the ancient Muslim city of Talavera de la Reina, famous throughout Spain for its ceramics. Talavera is where the route meets the River Tagus, along which you will cycle on the last leg of your trip towards Toledo.
 Day 7 Talavera de la Reina to
Toledo
52 miles.
From Talavera, you cycle alongside the Tagus, the longest river in the Iberian Peninsula at 1038 km (650 miles). As you follow the river you see vineyards and the picturesque river castle at Malpica de Tajo. Before reaching Toledo, you make a slight detour to see the Barrancas de Burujón, the sides of the valley moulded into fantastic shapes by the erosion of the wind and water. Finally you reach the marvellous city of Toledo and enjoy the rest of the day visiting its many treasures.
Day 8 Transfer from Toledo to departure point.
It is the last day, so time to swap contact details with your fellow cyclists, now friends, and make your way to the departure point.
Please note that differing arrival times may require some degree of customer flexibility |
Freedom Holiday
A chance to explore Central Spain. Castile is home to some of the most beautiful and monumental cities in Europe and this trip gives you the chance to see three of the most famous; Segovia, Ávila and Toledo. These cities are steeped in history and have kept their historical centres intact over the centuries. Sights range from the magnificent Roman aqueduct in Segovia to the impressive city walls of the fortified city of Ávila to the end of the trip in the city of Toledo, where Jewish, Christian and Muslim cultures have all left their mark. Rivalling the spectacle of these cities are the landscapes, ranging from the endless horizons of the plains of Castile to the dramatic beauty of the Sierra de Gredos mountains as you cross from Castilla y León to Castilla La Mancha. A great variety for a week’s cycling. You can also extend your trip with a stay in Madrid, Spain’s vibrant and exciting capital.
This tour has the benefit of a support vehicle throughout, making it possible to offer short and longer route options most days.