I’ll soon be off on a biketour of southeast Spain.
Current problem: I may have to limit my trip to 12 riding days (to my surprise, my medical specialisation interview will be in-person, not Zoom-based, for the first time in 5 years). Also, flights are filling up fast so I may have to buy my return flight already, contrary to my original plans for a very disorganised return, to avoid paying 400+ euros for a one-way back to Scandinavia.
My original plan (3 weeks): Land in Barcelona, paved roads to Valencia, then gravelly exploration towards Malaga along e.g. the Altravesur (1400 km):
[https://bikepacking.com/routes/altravesur-bikepacking-route/](https://bikepacking.com/routes/altravesur-bikepacking-route/)
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However, the duration dropping from 3 to 2 weeks makes me think that a return from Alicante would be more appropriate, i.e. exploring the space between Barcelona-Alicante and flying out from Alicante.
There are apparently plenty good trails, paved and not, around this region: eg this gravel route goes just around Valencia (Vinaros to Xativa) h[ttps://bikepacking.com/plog/spains-burrally/](https://bikepacking.com/plog/spains-burrally/)
Then this trail continues on to Orihuela:
[https://en.caminodelcid.org/routes/defending-the-south-cycling-554618/](https://en.caminodelcid.org/routes/defending-the-south-cycling-554618/)
From where a return to Alicante would be easy.
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I’m guessing i’ll be doing at least 80 km/day, at most 120 if good conditions+paved roads. But is it too ambitious/rushed to stick with my original plan of returning from Malaga? I do obviously have the option of train travel for some sections, apparently local trains are OK w bikes. But looking at the map, a tour of Barca-Alicante is watered-down compared to my original plans.
Thanks a bunch for your input.
by AffectionateFox2921