Recommend me a touring destination for mid winter

[Amanda P]

Mrs Uncle Phil and I have three weeks holiday coming up. We fancy getting a bit of sunshine, but the finances probably aren't up to a southern hemisphere destination. I guess we're looking at southern Europe, maybe Morocco?

So, advise us: where can we go for some nice cycling, cheap camping, warmth and sunshine, that won't cost an arm and a leg - and where everything won't be shut for Christmas?

 

[jay clock]

I looked quite seriously at Morrocco a year or two back. The big issue is that it is dark very early, so days are short, and very cold at night.

If you are touring, it is hard to see where else. If road riding then the Canaries but three weeks on any one island will be dull. I did look seriously at a tour of the Canaries - there are ferries - and three weeks would be ok and you would see some lesser seen spots. Maybe try to do every island. It has the plus of good tourist infrastructure (if that appeals) and plenty of options of a day or two on the beach.

 

[Amanda P]

Thanks, Jay. We needn't be away all of the three weeks, and you're right about being stuck on one Canary. A bit of island-hopping could be fun, though; I'll look into it.

 

[Telemark]

Cyprus? [Have never been there, so this could be a very silly idea]

T

 

[Alun]

Southern Spain must be worth a look

 

[Blue Hills]

I think the OP needs some detailed on-the ground knowledge from folks on this. I, for instance, would recommend Sardinia, but I happen to know that you are not going to find a campsite open at this time of year.

 

[ColinJ]

Southern Spain must be worth a look

It can still get pretty cold in southern Spain in the winter! I saw snow on the mountains of the Costa Blanca in mid-March once and some of the mountain roads bore deep scrapes caused by winter snow ploughs. A friend of mine only spent one winter near Granada because it was too cold for him. He ended up on Tenerife which usually has shorts weather all winter - average daily sunlight hours and temperature there.

 

[Alun]

Majorca is a favourite for winter cycling as well, but whether it would support 3 weeks without covering the same ground twice is debateable.

 

[ColinJ]

Majorca is a favourite for winter cycling as well, but whether it would support 3 weeks without covering the same ground twice is debateable.

And you can get snow there too! Here's another report.

I don't think that was the first time it snowed there in 25 years because some people on my Costa Blanca camp in the early 2000s complained that they'd had snow on their Majorca camp the previous year!

 

[Alun]

I think that the snow there was quite unusual, judging by the reports. It's more likely at altitude though, Spain is quite a mountainous country, more so than people realize. Some peaks are over 3000m, I have seen patches of snow on Mulhacen in June. I think I would head to Spain for winter sun, especially if cost was a consideration.

 

[frank9755]

Gran Canaria is a wonderful cycling destination. It could support two weeks on its own. There is a one week tour route mapped out on one of the websites (I think it is cycling Gran Canaria. Doing that plus a week of day rides from Maspalomas would be a superb cycling holiday. Then there would probably be another week of day rides from Las Palmas.

The weather is superb, roads smooth and quiet, food excellent plus some stunning scenery. Camping is possible, but it is complicated and needs some planning ahead.

Morocco would also be good. In the south it would be warm and there are some good routes between the main towns. The winter days are shorter but i didn't find them too short, maybe 11 hours daylight in December / January. I saw campsites there but no idea what they are like. Mostly motor homes.

I'm going to Thailand and Laos in a couple of weeks time. The flight is longer and more expensive but, once I am there, I expect it to be a lot cheaper.

 

[Amanda P]

Useful thoughts, chaps, thanks.

Blue Hills is right - some local knowledge is useful to know whether campsites, b&bs, cafes etc are open during the holiday period and in mid-winter. This is the kind of thing holiday websites either wont' tell you, or lie about!

We have up to three weeks, but flights to Gran Canaria at a time to suit us could be tricky. Cyprus is looking good, and we went there once before, and had plans to go back sometime. The problem is when everyone closes down in the run-up to Christmas - if they do. They certainly do in many places, which makes nomadic survival tricky.

Any other thoughts? Greece? Israel, maybe?

 

[heinim]

Southern California (San Diego, Mojave Desert) usually mild around 18-20°C in December and January. Or Florida but it is boring flat.

 

[jay clock]

SoCal will be a bit pricey to get there, and the 18-20 degrees in the desert plummets in Dec to minus overnight, so camping less attractive. Also dark early (approx 1645 at worst)

 

[dragon72]

Cuba?