Menorca and Mallorca
Menorca:
Timeless and unspoilt
Golden sand beaches, sparkling azure bays and turquoise seas
Rich cultural history: prehistoric settlements, fortresses, castles
Fabulous flora: sea lavender, golden asphodels, serapia orchids
There is a sense of peace and timelessness on Menorca – a tiny island that few people realise has more beaches than Mallorca and Ibiza combined, is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and has the greatest concentration of prehistoric sites anywhere in western Europe.
As the island is the least developed of the Balearics, you don't have to try too hard to escape the crowds, and all along your route orchids, asphodels and poppies dance in the breeze alongside some of the loveliest coastal trails in the Mediterranean.
Mallorca:
Most people only know Mallorca as a destination for Mediterranean beach holidays. Yet its beauty has long attracted writers, musicians and artists. The beautiful monastery of Valldemossa was once home to Chopin and George Sand, and you can still see the piano on which he composed his Preludes, in the suite where the lovers stayed. We're pleased to offer a new bicycle trip to Mallorca, "Heart of Mallorca Cycling"; easy cycling through olive groves, almond orchards, cornfields and verdant vineyards.
Spiritually this is a Catalan island with strong affinities with the Languedoc in France with which it once shared a monarch. And, in country areas, you’ll still find local speaking Mallorquín, a mixture of French, Spanish and Arabic.
On the west coast, the landscape is extraordinarily varied. Beaches have given way to a succession of rocky coves, cut out of dramatic often sheer cliffs, and a strip of mountains, the Tramuntana (960-1,445m), runs more or less parallel to the coastline, with many of its peaks less than 2 km from the sea. The air is heavy with the scent of wild thyme, wild garlic, and rosemary that grows as garriga on the mountain slopes.
Walking
Coastal Trails of MenorcaCycling
Guided Walking Tours