U3A Denia

Back row l to r: Graham, Richard and Chris. Front row l to r: Cazzie, Ginny and Liz

Our aim is to provide our membership with a wide choice of value for money trips to suit all pockets, bearing in mind the rising cost of transport and food. As well as being friendly and fun, we endeavour to make our trips educational/cultural in line with the U3A ethos of continued learning and sharing experiences.

These are the trips we've organised for you for 2025:

6 June - Day trip to Elche with lunch in a four star hotel. This is a repeat of the very successful trip we took a couple of years ago when we had more people on the waiting list than we were able to take on the trip! (Ginny). The trip is fully booked.

18-25 September - Eight day trip by train to Asturias, based half board in a four star hotel in Gijon, visiting all the main sights, including an underground mining museum, a cheese factory and a cider house - with tastings! (Graham). The trip is fully booked.

We will advertise the following trips later in the year:

October - Day trip to the famous foodie festival in Ayora, near Valencia, which is dedicated to the world of honey, with lunch. This is a new trip for us (Cazzie & Richard).

December - Sightseeing/Christmas shopping trip to Valencia (Cazzie and Richard).

23-27 December - Five days, full board break in Hotel Kaktus, Albir. We’ve been here twice before and it’s so good that we’re going again! (Ginny & Chris).

A day trip with a very special lunch.

Dating back to the 5th century BC, the city of Elche boasts two UNESCO World Heritage Sites - El Palmeral, the most northerly palm grove in Europe, and Misteri d’Elx, a religious play dating back to medieval times. Elche is also famous for being the city where half of all Spanish leather shoes are made and is a world leader in footwear manufacture.

We’ll stop on the way for a comfort and coffee break, then pick up our guide on arrival, who will take us on a 45 minute walking tour of the city centre.

After a coffee break, they will then accompany us to Huerto del Cura Garden, the jewel in the crown of Elche's historic palm grove, El Palmeral. This tranquil palm tree grove has walking paths, waterfalls and wildlife. All the walking on this trip is on the flat and suitable for Walkers and electric trolleys.

Our special lunch will be in the beautiful four star Hotel Jardin Milenio.

Here’s the menu:

Selection of starters to share:
- Iberian terrine with quince jelly and sesame crumble
- Cod brandade and confit peppers with black olive mayonnaise
- Croquettes with Iberian ham
- Octopus fritters with green chilli pepper mayonnaise

Main course to choose:

- Cod loin in potato crust with sun-dried tomato concassé and basil aioli
- Pork tenderloin with pear compote, cocoa streusel and miso sauce
- Vegetarian option

Postre:

Chocolate and nougat duo with vanilla ice-cream scoop

Bodega:

- Vino blanco Raimat Clamor (Albariño/Chardonnay/Sauvignon Blanc)
- Vino Tinto Ábalos Crianza (Rioja)
- beers, soft soft drinks, water
- coffee or herbal tea

At around 4pm, we’ll board the coach and depart for Denia.

Price for 40 - 49 people - €60 per person
50 - 55 people - €56 per person

The price includes the coach, English-speaking local guide, entrance to Huerto de Cura, our special lunch, and group basic travel insurance.

Book now to secure your place as this will be a very popular trip. Last time we took this trip we had as many on the waiting list as we had on the trip so - be on the trip, not the waiting list!

You cannot book online, so please contact Ginny: travel@u3adenia.com with
- the name(s) of travellers
- where you would like to be picked up:
Denia New Marina
McDonald’s
ALSA bus stop in Ondar
- your choice of main course.
- any food allergies
- your mobile phone number

WITHOUT ALL THIS INFORMATION, I CANNOT BOOK YOUR PLACE.

Remember that you, and any traveling companions, must be fully paid up (2025) members of U3A Denia to travel with us. We will check!

Please read our Terms & Conditions before booking. https://u3adenia.com/pages/travel_terms.php

Pick up time from:
New Marina Denia - 08.30
McDonalds Denia - 08.45
Mas y Mas Ondara - ALSA bus stop 9am

Green Spain - following the cheese and cider route

Facing the Bay of Biscay and home to the Picos de Europa mountain range, Asturias is a place of unspoilt beaches, forests, lush vegetation and majestic peaks. It’s the most important mining and metallurgical region in Spain and famous for cider, cheese and other dairy products. We’ll be following the cheese and cider route to see how these products are made, visit an underground mine and also take in the many sights this beautiful area has to offer.

Day one
Our holiday begins with a coach trip to Valencia, where we’ll pick up a direct train to Gijon. We’ll arrive early evening at Hotel Silken Ciudad, the base for our holiday, in time for dinner.

Dinner the first night will be our only evening meal there. We’ll be staying bed and breakfast for the rest of our holiday so that we can experience the delights of Gijon’s vibrant tapas bar and restaurant scene in the evenings.

Day two
After breakfast we’ll board our coach for a guided tour of Gijon. The largest city in Asturias, it is the epicentre of cider culture in the region.

Free time for lunch

In the afternoon we will board a mining train, and take a trip along the banks of the Samuño River before going into the depths of the earth to visit the mine and ecomuseum.


Day three
Today we’ll visit Ribadeo on the Galician border and walk around the town to see the Indian influence in the bourgeois architecture.

We’ll travel on to Playa de las Catedrales with its spectacular rock arches sculpted by the force of the sea.

Free time for lunch, then we’ll visit Cudillero, which has an amphitheatre - unique in Asturias - because it isn’t a Roman ruin, but a colourful collection of houses built in the shape of a horseshoe.


Day four
After breakfast we’ll travel to Covadonga, a stunning little town set amongst the mountains of the Picos de Europa. We continue on to Cangas de Onís, the first capital of the Kingdom of Spain, on the banks of the Rio Sella and its famous Roman bridge.

Free time for lunch, then we drive to Ribadesella.

Its historic quarter has been declared Property of Cultural Interest. The historic 13th century town offers an interesting mix of mediaeval town and modernist architecture in addition to an outstanding beach area. The town is also known for its prehistoric Cave of Tito Bustillo.

After that, we’ll visit a cider house to see how it’s made and learn how to pour and drink cider the traditional way - and sample the product!

Day five
Free day. Do as you please, go where you wish or just relax in the hotel. It has a free spa and jacuzzi for guests.

Day six
This morning we’ll be visiting a cheese factory to see how the famous Cabrales cheese is processed and aged in natural caves - with tastings, of course!

After lunch we’ll travel to Llanes, a fishing village with an impressive historic centre which has been declared an Historic-Artistic Site.

Day seven
After breakfast we have a guided visit to Oviedo, the capital of Asturias. Afterwards, there is free time to have lunch before we travel to Luanco, a fishing village that, in its day, was one of the most important whaling ports in the Bay of Biscay.

Day eight
Breakfast, check out, then board our train back to Valencia where a coach will be waiting to take us back to Denia, arriving late afternoon.

Price
€1088 per person in a double room
€466 single supplement

THIS TRIP IS NOW FULLY BOOKED

Pick up time from:
New Marina Denia - tba
McDonalds Denia - tba
Mas y Mas Ondara - tba