MALLORCA: MOUNTAINS & COAST
Self-Guided Cycling Holiday
On this tour you will explore the beauty of the island. You will ride the best known routes, including Cap de Formentor and Sa Calobra, and also discover some less well known, but equally stunning rides.
This holiday is not solely about the cycling though. As well as riding memorable coastal and mountain routes each day, you will also visit hidden coves and quiet beaches. You will stay in four different historic villages, which house Roman ruins, Medieval castles, tightly packed old towns and much more. And you will have plenty of opportunity to enjoy the fine Mallorcan cuisine, replacing some of those calories burnt on the ride!
The tour is mostly in the mountains of Mallorca, but we believe it is still accessible to a wide range of riders. We provide two route options each day, with further optional extensions available, and so you can cycle as much, or as little as you like. Below you can find a detailed itinerary, and click on the tabs to see more highlights, as well as all the practical information about the holiday.
You may also be interested in our Guided and Supported cycling holiday to Mallorca.
Day 1 - Alcudia
Alcudia is one of the oldest towns on the island having been founded by Phoenician colonists 2,500 years ago. It was then conquered by the Romans in the 2nd century BCE as part of their attempts to eradicate piracy in the Mediterranean. And the remains of the Roman town can still be visited today, on the edge of the city.
You can also explore the tightly packed old town, hemmed in by the 14th century Medieval walls and imposing city gates. Depending on your arrival time, there is also the possibility of doing a short ride along the scenic Cap d'Alcudia peninsula.
Medieval Gate in Alcudia
Day 2 - Cap de Formentor
The long and undulating road to the Cap offers incredible views to really enjoy the cycling. Depending on the time of year you go, there is a good chance of being passed by groups of professional cyclists doing training rides on this route.
We don't recommend trying to keep up with them, but rather take your time to enjoy the coastal views; the charming lighthouse on the end of the peninsula also makes for a great coffee stop.
The longer route continues along country lanes, lined with dry-stone walls, and passes through the town of Pollensa, before returning to your hotel in Alcudia.
Cycle Routes
Shorter Route: 57km / 1,050m Elevation
(35 miles / 3400 ft)
Longer Route:
74km / 1,300m
(45 miles / 4250 ft)
Cap de Formentor
Day 3 - Sa Calobra & Tramuntana Mountains
On the way you will pass the 13th century sanctuary at Lluc, a stunning building which is well worth looking around. The route then continues with the optional dramatic descent to Sa Calobra - whose tight hairpin bends are probably the most photographed road in Mallorca.
Having descended down to the beautiful cove at the bottom, the only way out is to climb back up. This is one of the most challenging climbs in Mallorca with 700m of climbing, but it is well worth it, with rewarding views the entire way.
From the top, there is a short rolling section, before a long downhill to your hotel, in the pretty village of Selva.
Cycle Routes
Shorter Route: 44km / 900m
(27 miles / 3000 ft)
Medium Route 73km / 1,350m
(27 miles / 4,350 ft)
Longer Route: 86km / 1,900m
(54 miles / 6200 ft)
A wild Mallorcan goat admiring the switchbacks of Sa Calobra
Day 4 - Picturesque Mountain Villages & Port de Sóller
The UNESCO World Heritage listed village of Orient is interesting to explore, before a fun descent takes you back down to the valley. The shorter route finishes by climbing the dizzying hairpin bends of the Coll de Sóller and heading to your hotel in Port de Sóller.
Port de Sóller is one of Mallorca's most charming coastal towns and has an historic center full of character. Here you can walk along the splendid boulevard or relax on one of the fine beaches.
The longer route climbs to Puig Major, which is the highest road climb in Mallorca, and a good challenge for riders of all levels.
Cycle Routes
Shorter Route: 54km / 950m
(33 miles / 3150 ft)
Longer Route: 86km / 1,800m
(53 miles / 5900 ft)
Port de Sóller
Day 5 - Deia, Valldemossa & Banyalbufar
Next up you tackle the modest climb to Can Costa, whose gentle gradients you might not even notice, given the distracting nature of the panoramic views over mountains and coast. The small town of Valldemossa makes for a nice coffee stop. It is known for its 14th century Royal Charterhouse, that was the one-time home of the composer Frederic Chopin.
After refuelling in Valldemossa, the route continues along the beautiful coastal road, heading south to your hotel in the village of Banyalbufar. Banyalbufar is a traditional Mallorcan mountain village, perched on a steep hillside overlooking the Mediterranean; it is an incredibly scenic spot for relaxing on the terrace, or taking a dip in the sea.
Cycle Routes
Shorter Route:39km / 900m
(25 miles / 3000 ft)
Longer Route: 60km / 1,500m
(38 miles / 4900 ft)
UNESCO World Heritage listed terraces of Banyalbufar
Day 6 - South Tramuntana Circle
The climbs on the route are modest and short, including Galilea and Es Grau. While the longer route includes the climb of Sobremunt - sometimes referred to as the hardest climb in Mallorca.
Back at the hotel in Banyalbufar you can visit one of several excellent restaurants in the town, while savouring a great day on the bike.
Cycle Routes
Shorter Route: 62km / 1,250m
(39 miles / 4600 ft)
Longer Route: 75km / 1,800m
(46 miles / 6900 ft)
South Tramuntana Coastal Road
Day 7 - Departure
Popular options include spending time in the island's capital - Palma, or spending time relaxing on the beaches of one of the coastal towns.
If you prefer not to extend your stay, we will transfer you to Palma airport in time for your onward journey.
To find out more information about this holiday; including practical information, prices, dates and more tour highlights; return to the top of the page and click on the various tabs.
Palma de Mallorca - The Castle and Marina
Check out just some of the many highlights in our photo album below:
Included
- ✔ Six Nights Accommodation (see the Hotels section for more details)
- ✔ Continental breakfast each day at the hotel
- ✔ Transfers to and from the arrival / departure point (see below for details)
- ✔ Luggage transferred between hotels
- ✔ GPS tracks and mobile app, so that you can follow the routes stress free
- ✔ Detailed information pack
Not Included:
- ❌ Bicycle Hire (Optional extra €200 - see below for details)
- ❌ Flights
- ❌ Tour Extensions (optional extra)
- ❌ Travel Insurance
- ❌ Tourist Tax. This charge of around €1-2 per night must be paid directly by the traveller in -all hotels on Mallorca.
Bicycles
We can provide road bikes, hybrids or e-bikes for this holiday. If you plan to do the longer rides then we generally recommend road bikes to cover the distance more comfortably.
On this tour we rent full carbon road bikes. These are equipped with Shimano Ultegra 11 speed groupset with a compact chainset (50-34 teeth), rim or disc brakes and lightweight climbing wheels. They offer a great balance between speed and comfort. The exact model depends on availability, so please get in touch if you would like more information.
Bikes with electronic shifting (Di2), and aero wheels can be supplied upon request.
In addition to road bikes, we also rent two different kinds of e-bike for this holiday: road bike style with drop handlebars and a shorter battery life, and hybrid style e-bikes with a more upright position, flat handlebars and a longer battery life.
We can also provide sporty hybrid bikes, if you prefer a more upright position, but don't need any battery asistance.
All of our bikes come with helmets and handlebar bags if required.
Difficulty Level & Roads
The routes head into the mountains each day, but the climbs in Mallorca are not especially steep (average gradients are 4-7%) and so it's not too hard to settle into a comfortable rhythm and spin up at your own pace.
In order to enjoy the holiday it is necessary to have a reasonable level of fitness. However, because the minimum daily distances are quite low, you certainly don't have to be a regular club rider to have a great time on this tour.
The routes also have plenty of places to stop at cafes or restaurants and so this is a great cycling tour for riders that enjoy mountain scenery and steady climbs, without wanting to race them.
If you would like a more leisurely cycling tour to Mallorca, you may be interested in our Villages of Mallorca Cycling Holiday.
Find out more about our tour difficulty levels.
Arrival and Departure
It is easy to find low cost flights to here from most European countries throughout the year.
We will pick you up from here at the start of the tour and drop you off at the end. We can also collect you and drop you off anywhere else in Mallorca - just let us know where before the holiday starts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please browse through some of the frequently asked questions about this cycling tour. If you have any further questions, or would like any more information, please contact us and we will answer by email.
Should I do the longer or shorter routes?
This depends entirely on you! The longer and shorter routes all start and finish at the same place, and so you can decide on any given day which you would prefer to do. There is no need to commit until the day of the ride itself.
On the longer routes you see more and are able to visit more places, while the shorter routes are more relaxing and ideal if you like to take your time and go at a slower pace.
If you would like to visit the extra towns and monuments on the longer routes, but are worried about the distances, then we recommend hiring an e-bike, which will give you more flexibility.
What is the weather like?
Mallorca has a fully deserved reputation for fine weather throughout the year. Rain is uncommon and it is more likely to be sunny there than almost anywhere else in Europe.
The best temperatures for cycling are from March to June and September to November. During these months daytime temperatures tend to be between 20°C (60°F) and 25°C (77°F), which we believe is pretty much perfect cycling weather!
It is also possible to do this tour in July and August. Daytime temperatures above 30°C (85°F) are not uncommon, so make sure to bring plenty of sunscreen and some electrolytes.
Winter is the most popular time for professionals to train on the island. With daytime temperatures averaging around 15°C (59°F), it's not exactly t-shirt weather, but it is
still pleasant for riding.
Can I extend the tour?
Yes, we would be happy to arrange any tour extensions for you. The most popular option is to spend extra nights in Palma.
Can I do this as a private guided tour?
Yes, we can run this as a private tour for groups of six or more people.
Please contact us to arrange dates and disuss the itinerary.
Why book with us?
We are a small and independent company who are locally based, which offers several advantages:
• We have a lot personal experience of all of our tours, which have been refined over many years. We believe we are genuine experts in the regions where we run tours, and are close at hand to offer support and a personalized service.
• We have low overheads. We don't spend money on advertising and don't use third party agents.
We only sell our tours through this website. By cutting out the middle man, you can be sure that more of what you pay is
being spent on the important things: like hotels, equipment and other services.
• We are flexible and can tailor our itineraries to suit your requirements.
• We are a registered and fully bonded tour operator in accordance with EU regulations.
What is your cancellation policy?
The full cancellation policy can be found in our terms and conditions.
Where can I find more information about the region?
Check out some of our more indpeth articles looking more generally at cycling in Mallorca, and also at the history and culture of the island.
Hotel Ara
Hotel Can Cota
Hotel Marina
Hotel Sa Coma
Starting Date | Price (per person)¹ | Single Supplement | Bike Hire | |
---|---|---|---|---|
All Other Months | €1,420 EUR | €520 EUR | €200 EUR | |
July & August | €1,670 EUR | €600 EUR | €200 EUR |
To reserve a place on the tour, click the button above and complete the reservation form. We will then get back to you within 24 hours to confirm the reservation, and to arrange for payment of the deposit.
For more details on the booking process, please check out our Reservations page.