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Slow Lane Magazine, May 2019
Insights and stories from across Europe and beyond
  • favourite (but oft-forgotten) festivals
  • Nepal's secret valley
  • boutique beauty in Drôme Provençale
  • carving out a future in southern Italy
  • Inntravellers' Tales – our new writing competition
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From the Plain to the ‘Wild Coast’

Mallorca's rolling plain & the original Costa Brava
 
Experience the quiet face of Mallorca as you cycle self-guided, while your luggage is transported, through richly varied rural landscapes. En route to the unspoiled norh-east coast, enjoy the delicious local cuisine and relax in accommodation of character, all with a pool.
From the Plain to the ‘Wild Coast’. 6 nights
From the Plain to the ‘Wild Coast’. 6 nights
 

Holiday information

 

A cycling holiday on Mallorca

South of the Tramuntana Sierra lies Es Pla, the profoundly rural and gently undulating central plain of Mallorca. Its fertile red soil contrasts sharply with the deep green of the carob trees and the pale almond blossom which lights up the area each spring. Hundreds of small farmsteads, dotted about the plain, are connected by a network of tracks and lanes. These are perfect for two-wheeled meanderings, as you make your way gradually towards the dramatic headlands and quiet coves of the north-east coast of the island.
This highly praised route leads you from the fertile central plain to the more undulating north-eastern corner of the island where the coast is the original ‘Costa Brava’ lined with secret bays and rocky coves. You cycle through ravishing landscapes along quiet country lanes and stay in a converted town house and two country estates of very high quality along the way. With two nights at each, you can spend your 'free' days following our circuits or just relaxing by the pool – the choice is entirely yours!
 
Gallery
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.

    The almond groves are in blossom in February and early March, a time which also sees many spring flowers starting to appear.


     
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 14 14 15 17 21 25 28 28 26 22 18 15
    mm 72 59 61 63 41 20 12 32 67 106 97 84
  • Arrival in Sineu
    Night 1: at San Joan Capó (the first of two nights here).
    As your first night's accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of cycling.
  • Circular route from Sineu: 33km
    Start your holiday with this delightful circular route which takes you along country lanes lined with dry-stone walls and a profusion of wildflowers, passing through villages with houses of golden stone and green painted shutters.

    Explore Sineu
    Alternatively, for a leisurely day, you may like to enjoy a stroll around Sineu in the morning (it is one of the oldest settlements on Mallorca and the site of a beautiful Gothic church and a renowned farmers' market every Wednesday) and then spend the afternoon by the pool.
    On the route around Sineu
  • Sineu to Sos Ferres: 37km
    Today's route reveals one of Mallorca's most delightful landscapes – the quiet agricultural heart far from the tourist bustle. From Sineu you head south-east, through Petra, a small town with a quaint church and a small museum devoted to its most famous son, who played an important role in the Spanish conquest of Latin America. Leaving Petra, the scenery begins to change as you rise gently from the lowlands, gaining views over the distant coast. You descend into an attractive, fertile valley before rising once more to the plateau and the Sos Ferres d'en Morey in Manacor for two nights.
    The route from Sineu to Sos Ferres
  • Circular route from Sos Ferres: 36km; shorter option: 26km
    This is a delightful circular route through almond groves and past typical Mallorca fincas (farmsteads). It starts by winding across a fertile plain, with a choice of a shorter or longer route to reach the small town of Sant Llorenç, well placed for lunch. From here, the route rises steadily through changing scenery – the almond groves which characterise the plateau give way to a limestone landscape grazed by sheep – before descending back to Sos Ferres.
    Views on the route around Sos Ferres
  • Sos Ferres to Capdepera: 27km
    This is the hilliest ride, though no ascent is severe. You head through almond groves and the limestone hills of the Llevant Sierra, descending onto the fertile plain that surrounds the dramatic hill-top town of Artà. Take time to explore – the views from the fortified sanctuary which crowns the town stretch for miles. Beyond Artà is one of the island's most important archaeological sites, which again you have time to visit before winding through farmland via the remarkable castellated hill-town of Capdepera to your next hotel, the Cases de Son Barbassa, for your final two nights.
    The route from Sos Ferres to Capdepera
  • Choice of routes from Capdepera: 18km or 21km

    You have a day to explore Mallorca's very own 'Costa Brava' ('Wild Coast') of dramatic coves and rocky bays; take your pick of our two suggested routes.

    Circular route via Cala Mesquida: 18km
    This cycle ride takes you to the sandy, pine-fringed coves and white beaches of Cala Mesquida, Cala Torta and Cala Agulla along the north-eastern coast. (From here, you could also choose to enjoy a leisurely walk along a delightful coastal path before climbing up to the fabulous viewpoint and old watchtower of Talaia de San Jaumell.)

    Circular route via the caves of Artà: 21km
    This, our second suggestion, visits the glorious bay where the caves of Artà are sunk into the cliff-face. This is a fascinating network of caverns with weird and wonderful stalactites and stalagmites that you can explore, while classical music and a light show add to the atmosphere (pay locally).
    Cala Mesquida on the route around Capdepera
 

Accommodation

You stay in a comfortable town-house hotel and two exceptional agroturismos.
 

Extend your stay

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter.
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NB: this should be used as a guide only. Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in significant variation by the time you come to pay.

  • 6 nights: 16 March - 30 June 2019 & 01 September - 31 October 2019

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    16 - 29 March £1075 £370
    30 March - 26 May £1155 £410
    27 May - 24 June £1185 £410
    1 September - 15 October £1185 £410
    16 - 25 October £1095 £375
    3rd & 4th person discount -£80
    Single traveller supplement £80

    Includes accommodation, meals, bike hire, luggage transfers and any other services integral to the holiday as described, plus cycling notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Electric bikes available: add £68 per person

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Can Joan Capó
    Suite: 16 Mar - 30 Jun 2019 £25
    Suite: 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2019 £25
    Terrace: 16 Mar - 30 Jun 2019 £13
    Terrace: 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2019 £13
    Sos Ferres d'en Morey
    Junior suite: 16 Mar - 31 Mar 2019 £22
    Junior suite: 01 Apr - 30 Jun 2019 £28
    Junior suite: 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2019 £28
    Senior suite: 16 Mar - 31 Mar 2019 £38
    Senior suite: 01 Apr - 30 Jun 2019 £48
    Senior suite: 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2019 £48
    Cases de Son Barbassa
    Junior suite with terrace: 16 Mar - 30 Jun 2019 £30
    Junior suite with terrace: 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2019 £30
    Suite: 16 Mar - 30 Jun 2019 £30
    Suite: 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2019 £30
    Superior with terrace: 16 Mar - 30 Jun 2019 £15
    Superior with terrace: 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2019 £15

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Prices include an extra day’s hire of a standard bike. If you are upgrading to an e-bike, add a further £13pp per day.
    Cases de Son Barbassa (with dinner) Double room Single room
    16 Mar - 24 Mar 2019 £150 £190
    25 Mar - 31 May 2019 £178 £233
    01 Jun - 30 Jun 2019 £190 £245
    01 Sep - 30 Sep 2019 £190 £245
    01 Oct - 20 Oct 2019 £178 £233
    21 Oct - 31 Oct 2019 £150 £190
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Palma

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  you may need to fly to an airport not listed. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Aberdeen - Palma TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Belfast Intl. - Palma easyJet,  jet2,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Palma Flybe,  jet2,  Ryanair,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Bournemouth - Palma Ryanair,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Palma easyJet,  Ryanair,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Cardiff - Palma Thomas Cook,  TUI,  Vueling 
    Outward route Airline
    Doncaster Sheffield - Palma Flybe,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Nottingham East Midlands - Palma jet2,  Ryanair,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Palma British Airways,  easyJet,  jet2,  Ryanair,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Exeter - Palma Flybe,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Palma easyJet,  jet2,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow Prestwick - Palma Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Humberside - Palma TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Palma jet2,  Ryanair,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Liverpool - Palma easyJet,  Ryanair,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    London City - Palma British Airways 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Palma British Airways,  easyJet,  Norwegian,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Palma British Airways 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Palma easyJet,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    London Southend - Palma easyJet,  Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Palma British Airways,  easyJet,  jet2,  Ryanair,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Palma easyJet,  jet2,  Ryanair,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Palma easyJet,  jet2,  Ryanair,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Norwich - Palma Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Southampton - Palma Flybe,  TUI 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  you may need to fly to an airport not listed. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you. We charge £30 per person for our flight booking service (£50 for India and Nepal). Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Palma

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    direct taxi Palma airport to hotel (0h40) £24 flexible
    rail Palma to Sineu (0h50) pay locally 1800
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    direct taxi hotel to Palma airport (1h15) £48 flexible
What's included
  • 6 nights
  • 4 dinners
    6 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • route notes and maps
  • high-quality bicycle
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 9 reviews
  • Mrs C Acton-Browne
    Altrincham
    19 April 2019

    Most enjoyable cycling mainly off main roads which I suspect could be a bit busy in the summer. Excellent accommodation, route notes and interesting sights to see, especially at Capdepera. (Entrance fee increased for renovation).

  • Eric & Sheila
    27 September 2018

    The accommodation on this holiday was very good. The fincas were beautiful and the hosts were very welcoming and helpful. The food at the fincas was excellent. eBikes are good choice for this tour for those who are not looking for a challenge. Care needs to be taken cycling on the rough tracks that are encountered on the routes daily.

  • Ms C Hargreaves
    Shipley
    09 September 2018

    The holiday was delightful - a wonderful mix of exercise, lovely environment and fabulous accommodation. We had a query when booking about accommodation at the middle hotel and ended up with a fantastic room thank you. One observation - the two main beaches were packed and a bit of a shock to the system! After tootling on country roads we were expecting a quieter beach experience but not sure that's possible in September. We had a quick swim and headed back to our lovely hotel.

  • Anon
    12 May 2018

    A wonderful holiday, beautiful scenery, varied itinerary and individual good quality hotels with pools. Highly recommended.

  • Mrs EM Thomas
    Lewes
    06 October 2017

    How wonderful to experience such a lovely first cycling holiday with Inntravel in our seventies!

  • Mrs S Friendship
    Yelverton
    09 September 2017

    We thoroughly enjoyed cycling the country lanes in Mallorca, enjoying beautiful views of olive and almond trees, and watermelons and butternut squash in the fields. We felt very well looked after in all of our hotels .

     

     

  • Anon
    07 June 2017

    Beware some of the hills are hard going and go on for considerable climbs. Take plenty of water and snacks as some of the stopping places don't always have supermarkets that are open. The choice and quality of hotels is exceptional. All have their own character and Sos Ferres d'en Morey and Cases de son Barbassa were exceptional.

  • Mrs MH Goodall
    Isle Of Skye
    14 May 2017

    The routes took us through lovely quiet backwaters that we would never have found on our own, well planned places to stop, beautiful accommodation with excellent facilities, food and service.

  • anon
    26 March 2017

    Cycling these routes in Majorca in Spring was a delight! All the hotels were comfortable and well equipped. The food was really good. We had a great time, thank you.
 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help.
  • For adults, our chosen bike rental shop will provide you with a city trekking bike with 21 gears (grip shift system); a waterproof map case on handlebars; panniers/saddlebags; puncture repair kit; and a lock. Electric bikes are available as an upgrade (see price panel), subject to availability, and must be requested at the time of booking. The bike shop also has a limited number of tandems.
    For children, we will be happy to arrange hire of children’s bikes (20”, 24” or 26” mountain bikes). Child seats are available free of charge.
    Helmets are provided with the bikes – they are obligatory on public highways in Spain.
  • Helmets are a legal requirement on public roads in Spain, and as such are included free of charge with your bike.
  • Yes, we will provide GPX tracks for this holiday prior to departure so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. (We also provide maps and our tried-and-tested route notes.)
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from hotel to hotel, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. On mornings when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation so that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.
  • You do need to make sure you’re covered, because it’s you who is responsible for any damage to or loss of the bike during the holiday. You should always lock it (preferably to an immovable object) and remove any easy-to-steal accessories when leaving it unattended. The travel insurance policy that we offer covers you for loss and damage (provided you’ve locked or stored it appropriately). If you are arranging your own insurance, but it doesn’t cover bikes, we can provide bike-only cover for £19 per person. More details >
  • We can book a wide range of airlines and routes from the UK. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. For Europe and Morocco, there’s a £30 booking fee per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). For India and Nepal, the booking fee is £50 per person. More information on flights >
  • Absolutely! We are experts in tailored rail travel. Making use of sleeper trains or stopovers in cities along the route, we can get you from London to virtually anywhere in mainland Europe. We can even make arrangements to Mallorca, Sicily and Norway with a combination of ferries and rail. Please contact Abi to discuss your plans.
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to buy our policy (if you live outside Europe you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK and EU residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Spain, but not a visa (if you are travelling after 31 October 2019, see the Brexit question below for more information). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found through the following NHS link: www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advice/ You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). UK citizens should also obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) by applying at a Post Office or at www.ehic.org.uk. The EHIC allows reciprocal health care but should not be seen as a substitute for travel insurance. EHICs may cease to be valid in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
  • (Castilian) Spanish is one of several official languages; in Catalonia, for example, Catalan has equal status. The currency is the Euro. Spanish time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • Even in the event of a no-deal Brexit, it’s been confirmed that flights will continue as normal and that you won’t need a visa to go on holiday (the limit on stays is 90 days). What you will need if there’s no deal is a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of your arrival (extra months added because you renewed your passport early do not count) and adequate travel insurance to cover you for accidents and illness in case reciprocal health deals are suspended. If you are driving while on holiday, you will probably need an International Driving Permit (plus a Green Card if you are taking your own car to Europe). More information >
  • The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.
    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
Last fetch time is : 7/18/2019 10:08:10 PM