Majorca by bike and boat from island to island

Our newest tour takes us to the probably best-known and most popular group of islands in Europe. In the company of the motor yacht Saman Explorer and her friendly crew we become familiar with the Balearic Islands by way of the sea.
Our tour guides accompany us on bicycle tours to the most beautiful spots and the most im-pressive sites. Passing medieval fortresses, remote villages and white-washed windmills, we bicycle through the fascinating landscape of the archipelago, stopping at beaches with entic-ingly clear water or at cozy tapas bars with a rich choice of Spanish specialities.

Saman Explorer motor yacht This proud and well-equipped motor yacht was launched in Safaga (Egypt) in 2006. Until 2009 it served as a diving ship and is equipped with a low platform at the stern. This not only makes it easy getting in and out of the water but also fascilitates getting on board and loading and unloading the bicycles.

 

Course of the Tour - 1st day Sun: Majorca Island arrival
Check-in on the Saman Explorer starts at 14.00. We can then spend the day in Port d’Andratx, a port that over time has turned from a pure fishing village into one of the most favored addresses for nu-merous residents. The close neighborhood of fancy yachts and traditional fishing boats is one of the special charms of this port. The tour begins with a first communal dinner.

Day 2 Mon: Majorca Island and Ibiza Island biking distance approx. 34 km/21 miles
After breakfast begins our first bicycle tour, which takes us in a great circle via Peguera and the fertile region around Andratx back to Port d’Andratx. We spend the afternoon on the ship, sailing on a fairly long cruise to Santa Eularia on Ibiza, which is considered one of the most beautiful vacation spots on the island.
Once there, we have time for a refreshing swim on one of the three local sand beaches or for a stroll along the so-called Rambla ( originally this meant a riverbed used as a road). You spend the night in the harbour of Santa Eularia des Rin.

Day 3 Tue: Ibiza Island biking distance approx. 57 km/35 miles (B,Dinner)
Today’s bike tour takes us after breakfast first to San Carles de Paralta, once the hub of the hippy movement on Ibiza, which even today retains some of its alternative charm. We continue through the agricultural centre of the island with the read earth characteristic for Ibiza. We have a long break for swimming at the beach of Benirras, before biking to San Miguel for lunch. The church, dating to the early 14th century, is one of the oldest on the island.
We carry on through the hilly north to Santa Gertrudis, which is considered Ibiza’s most beautiful town and whose tapa bars are known on the whole island. Do not miss out on tasting some of the special-ties before rolling downhill for the last kilometers to Ibiza Town, the vibrant centre of the island. We spend the night in the harbor of Ibiza Town..

Day 4 Wed: Formentera Island and Cabrera Island (biking distance approx. 52 km / 32 mi.) (B, L, D)
The ship leaves the port of Ibiza already before breakfast and takes us in a short time to La Savina on the island of Formentera. This is the smallest of the Balearic Islands and retains much of its original charm. The destination of today’s bike tour is El Pilar and the lighthouse La Mola, where a commemo-rative plaque remembers Jules Verne, who mentions it in one of his novels. Behind the lighthouse, the cliffs fall off steeply for 140 m down to the sea, and it is said that in good weather conditions one can see as far as Africa from here.
In the afternoon, the Saman Explorer takes us for the night to Cabrera, a small, almost uninhabited archipelago south of Majorca. It is a national park today and a refuge for a number of rare bird spe-cies.

Day 5 Thu: Majorca Island and Minorca Island (biking distance approx. 35 km/22 miles (B, D)
In the morning, the tour continues by ship to Portochristo, a small port on Majorca. After riding a first stretch a long the coast, we then turn inland towards Arta.
Arta fascinates immediately through its self-contained appearance crowned by the medieval fortifica-tion walls of the pilgrimage church of Sant Salvador. After a stroll through the lanes of this small town, we continue on to Capdepera, where the fortress and the walkable fortification walls are well worth a visit. We meet up with the ship in the harbor of Capdepera. From there we cross over to Minorca, to Ciutadella, which is picturesquely situated at a deep bay.

Day 6 Fri: Minorca Island and Majorca Island (biking distance approx. 46 km/29 mi.) (B, D)
Today, we bicycle with your our guide right across the island of Minorca, which is protected by UNESCO as a bio-sphere reservation. Especially in spring, the island is covered by a carpet of Pop-pies, Marguerites, Hyacinths and Gladiolas. Via Ferreries and Es Marcadal, we bicycle to Mao, the pulsating civic centre of the island, located at one of the most picturesque natural harbors in the Medi-terranean. The following cruise takes us back to Majorca, where we spend the night at Portochristo which, especially at night, delights with its quiet, relaxed atmosphere.

Day 7 Sat: Majorca Island (biking distance approx. 35 km/22 miles (B, L, D)
It is only a skip and a jump to get in the morning from Portochristo to Cuevas del Drach, the „dragon caves“. They are one of the most extensive cave systems in Europe and have become known mainly for their subterranean lake on which hourly performances of classical pieces take place. Passing the cozy little town of Felanitx, the last bike trip of this tour ends in the port of Portocolom, named after Christopher Columbus. The ship then takes us back to Port d’Andratx, where during dinner we say goodbye to your crew and tour guides.

Day 8 Sun: Departure
After breakfast participants make their own way home.

Alterations: We reserve the right to make changes to the planned route due to changing wind and weather condi-tions, and where required by organizational necessities.


Bringing Children: We believe that only children in a good physical condition and of a minimum age of 10 and previous bicycle tour experience are able to master the bike-tours on their own strength. Please note that the minimum height for the bikes we provide is 1,40 m (4.6 ft.)

Accommodation

Saman motor yacht

 

Catering
The cook on board is a member of the crew and prepares the breakfast and two warm meals a day. The full board starts with the lunch on the arrival day and ends with the breakfast on the departure day.

Dates & Prices 2010

05.09. - 12.09.10	1190 Prices per person
12.09. - 19.09.10	1190
19.09. - 26.09.10	1190
10.10. - 17.10.10	1190
17.10. - 24.10.10	1190
24.10. - 31.10.10	1190
31.10. - 07.11.10	1190 All Saints
07.10. - 14.11.10	1090
14.11. - 21.11.10	1090
21.11. - 28.11.10	1090
28.11. - 05.12.10	1090
05.10. - 12.12.10	1090
12.12. - 19.12.10	1090
19.12. - 26.12.10	1090
26.12. - 02.01.11	1090 New Year's Day

Minimum participants: 12
Maximum participants:22

	Boat accommodation	Double cabin below deck
	Days/nights	8 days/7 nights
	Included services	8-day-trip on a two-masted motor yacht with a crew of four 7 nights on a motor yacht in a double cabin with shower/WC 4 x half-board and 3 x full-board on the ship Guided or individual cycle tours with itinerary Bed linen and towels Rental 21-speed trekking bicycle with bicycle bag Overview-maps for the daily tours on board Collective return transfer from Palma Airport to Port d'Andratx (included only on embarkation and disembarkation day, otherwise on request) Entries to museums and archaeological sites (group visits only) English-speaking tour guide
	Additional optional services	Supplement for above deck cabin: 50 Euro A ½ double cabin ca be booked Single cabin, additional charge: 50 % of the base price of the tour Electric bicycle: 100 Euro / week, only limited number
	With children	Bringing Children: We believe that only children in a good physical condition and of a minimum age of 10 and previous bicycle tour experience are able to master the bike-tours on their own strength. Please note that the minimum height for the bikes we provide is 1,40 m (4.6 ft.)
	Difficulty level	The bike routes have a length of 35 to 60 km and lead through hilly areas. The bike tours reach eleva-tions up to 250 m. Some uphill stretches are included. The roads are mostly asphalted. You can al-ways choose to skip a bike tour and spend the time sunbathing on the ship instead. Bike helmets are required on all cycle tours.
	Additional costs	Beverages on board (tally sheet; to be paid to the captain) Lunches or dinners on land Tips for crew and tour-guides
	Reductions	Eary booking discount 5% valid until end of january 2010 Children under 18 sharing a cabin:-25% 3rd persona sharing cabin:-50% regardless of age, and do not charge the above-deck surcharge
	Airport	A flight is the fastest, easiest and most economic way to get to Majorca Palma de Mallorca airport is situated approx. half an hour from Port d'Andratx The collecting transfer between airport Palma and boat is included into the tour price as long as it takes place at embarkation day and disembarkation day