Andalusia is unlike anything else in the world. This enchanting region is sitting in the south of Spain and it’s known for its sun-kissed landscapes, quiet country lanes, timeless pueblos blancos (white villages), and fantastic food. The vibe here is just immaculate, and over 8 days, we’ll use our bikes to discover its rich history and gorgeous views. We will pedal through olive groves and learn about Moorish architecture and Roman ruins; we will earn spectacular panoramas and savor jamón ibérico with a selection of wines and sherries. This is so much more than just a cycling tour—it’s an exploration, a feast for the senses, and an unforgettable journey through one of Europe’s most captivating regions!
Unique culture and traditions of Andalusia are discovered with every turn of our bikes
Ronda is one of the most unique town on Earth—it was built on a rocky outcrop and it’s split in half by deep river gorge
Challenge yourself on mountain routes passing by olive and orange groves, leading to enchanting white villages
Join us for a guided road cycling holiday in the Spanish region of Andalucia! This 8-day tour explores the captivating Los Pueblos Blancos areas, where we'll pedal through rugged Mediterranean landscapes tamed by rich culture and heritage of the region. We'll ride through olive groves, enjoy traditional cuisine, and explore charming white towns and villages. Expert guides, authentic accommodation, support vehicle, and most meals are included, providing an unforgettable experience for cycling enthusiasts looking to discover the beauty of Andalucia.
You’ll be met at Malaga airport and transferred as a group to our first night’s accommodation in Pizarra in the Guadalhorce valley. Pizarra is a small town that lies at the foot of Sierra del Hacho. The community is still largely farming based, and so far remains untouched by the expansion of Malaga.
Pizarra is famed for its palace, Palacio de los Condes de Puerto-Hermoso, built in the 19th century and it played a pivotal role in the Spanish-Moroccan war. The Museo Municipal de Pizarra is another site to see—it contains an impressive array of archaeological artifacts from across the ages, including Roman and Moorish. We will have time to unpack and unwind before our first evening dinner together as a group. We’ll build bikes on arrival and make sure that everything is fully functioning. This is also the time for anyone renting to be fitted to their rental bike.
Accommodation: Hotel or guesthouse
After a relaxing breakfast, we’ll pack our bags and leave them at reception, after which we will set off on our Andalucian adventure! We’ll ride up the Guadalhorce valley, passing the dramatic cliff of El Chorro and the deep blue waters of Ardales before meandering up the Turon valley to the white village of El Burgo, which is on the edge of the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park.
Accommodation: Hotel or guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Distance: 33 miles / 54 km
Elevation gain: 1,150 m / 3,773 ft
After a delicious breakfast, we have a beautiful ride in store! Today’s route will take us through the Sierra de las Nieves and over the Vibora pass. As we drop down through lofty pines, there will be great views to the east before we pass through the castle-topped villages of Teba and Cañete. Tonight’s accommodation is in the village of Setenil de las Bodegas, famous for the dwellings that are built into the rock overhangs above the Rio Guadalporcun.
Accommodation: Hotel or guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Distance: 47 miles / 75 km
Elevation gain: 1,350 m / 4,430 ft
After gliding past vineyards of Ronda below the saw-toothed limestone peaks of Grazalema Natural Park, the route takes us along the shores of the deep blue Zahara-Gastor reservoir to the picturesque white village of Zahara de la Sierra. Dominated by its magnificent castle, it’s a great place for a breather and maybe a spot of lunch. The climb to get here is probably the climb of the week, both in elevation gain and views that unfold, but we’ll take it steady. There will be great vistas over the reservoir and across to the conical Penon del Gastor mountain.
Around halfway up the road, we will pass a viewpoint that looks down into the Garganta Verde, a deep gorge cut into the limestone by Rio Verde. It’s often possible to see huge groups of griffon vultures soaring beside the canyon’s cliffs! The top of the climb will bring us to Puerto de las Palomas (Pass of the Doves), and we’ll take a well-deserved celebratory rest to admire our efforts. Approaching the village of Grazalema, from above we’ll be in for a terrific sight of pan-tiled roofs and whitewashed buildings nestled beneath the Penon Grande and San Cristobal peaks. The village is famous for its hand-woven woolen blankets and delicious food.
Accommodation: Hotel or guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Distance: 30 miles / 48 km
Elevation gain: 1,500 m / 4,920 ft
An easy morning is ahead of us today as there’s no need to pack—the day’s loop ride will return us to Grazalema. The day begins with a steady climb up to the Boyar Pass that stands at over 1,000 m. Views are terrific down into the Tavizna valley and across to the deep defile of Salto del Cabrero.
The only way to go from here is down; and wow, what a descent! We’ll drop over a thousand meters (3,300 ft), passing the small village of Benamahoma, through the Albarracin range covered in pines, to the small town of El Bosque. There’s plenty more beautiful rocky scenery on this afternoon’s route through holm oak and cork forests, then skirting the beautiful white towns of Ubrique, and then Benaocaz before returning to Grazalema for a well-deserved rest.
Accommodation: Hotel or guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Distance: 39 miles / 56 km
Elevation gain: 1,350 m / 4,430 ft
Today, we head to the surreal town of Ronda, perched on the top of the El Tajo canyon. Our first leg of the day takes us east out of Grazalema, and soon we’ll be zipping past Montejaque snugly tucked into the rocky sierra beneath the symbolic El Hacho mountain. The biggest climb of the day begins after the pretty village of Jimera de Libar, but there’s plenty of time to take the climb at a steady pace. At the top we will continue onto Juzcar. There’s one more climb today through Los Riscos, an area of weather-sculpted rock formations that lead us out of the Genal valley to the edge of the Natural Park of Las Nieves.
Following this, there will be a rewarding descent to beautiful Ronda and our accommodation for the night. Ronda is a delightful town to spend a night and wander the medieval cobbled lanes in search of the perfect bar or restaurant. Visit the museum of the infamous bandoleros; follow the history of bullfighting at Ronda’s elegant bullring, or take the chance to relax on one of Ronda’s café terraces and watch the world go by in true Andalus style. The old town across the Puente Nuevo is a beautiful example of Moorish architecture and the views are gorgeous down into the Tajo gorge and the surrounding mountains.
Accommodation: Hotel or guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Distance: 57 miles / 91 km
Elevation gain: 2,150 m / 7,055 ft
The final ride of the trip takes us across the northernmost edge of the Sierra de las Nieves National Park and then down to revisit the white town of El Burgo. We can take our pick of pueblos blancos for a relaxing break with a gentle mix of great village stops alongside viewpoints over the national park. Returning to Pizarra tonight, there will be time to enjoy a celebratory cerveza or vino tinto. Felizidades!
Accommodation: Hotel or guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Distance: 42 miles / 57 km
Elevation gain: 1,100 m / 3,610 ft
Hopefully, before setting off from the hotel, we will have time to spend the morning exploring the town and enjoying a last café con leche before our short journey back to Malaga for onward journey home.
Meals: Breakfast
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
For this Andalucia guided cycling trip, you have to be reasonably fit. This adventure is suitable for cyclists who regularly ride at weekends and have no problem staying on their bike for several hours at a time. You should be comfortable with an occasional challenging climb and have good control of your bike and feel confident in your skills to ascend and descend safely. That said, this Andalucia guided tour is most suitable for cyclists who are looking forward to the social aspect of cycling and experiencing the culture and cuisine as much as to the actual cycling.
For day-by-day distances and elevation gains, please check out the itinerary, but in general, you’ll be riding between 30-57 miles (48-91 km) per day, with elevation gains ranging from 1,100 m (3,610 ft) to 2,150 m (7,055 ft).
Keep in mind that you will regularly take breaks. Your guide will always be by your side, monitor your technique, push you to give your maximum, and potentially even change the route if it gets too strenuous for your group.
Here’s what you’ll need:
You’ll get a chance to discuss the clothing and personal equipment with your guide prior to your adventure. Even though this adventure takes place in fall/winter, day temperatures in Andalucia are usually mild and there’s usually very little rainfall. However, you will have to be prepared for various weather conditions.
Bike rentals aren’t included in the price of the trip, but are available for an additional fee. E-bike rental is not offered at the moment.
Yes, you can! Rental bikes will typically be a Giant Defy Advanced 2 or Giant Liv Avail Advanced 2 (for those preferring a women’s specific geometry), or equivalent, with a carbon frame and hydraulic disc brakes. You can add bike rentals to your booking upon checkout.
All bikes have good quality components, and come equipped with two bottle cages and water bottle, a seat post bag containing: puncture repair kit, multitool, inner tube and pump. Please note that your bike will come with flat pedals as standard, so bring your own if you use clip-in pedals.
Your guides can also include a helmet, which should be requested at the time of booking.
Straying away from impersonable chain hotels, the accommodation you can expect during this cycling adventure in Andalucia always comes with a unique touch (and traditional Spanish breakfasts!) You’ll stay at handpicked family-run hotels and guesthouses overflowing with charm and homey atmosphere, usually in small white towns and villages—worlds away from crowded coastal resorts. Lodging is based on double occupancy in en suite rooms, but you can opt for single rooms for an additional fee.
Group sizes and prices:
Cycling in Andalucia can be arranged for bigger and for private groups with the choice of custom dates. Contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has riders under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The starting point of your Andalucia cycling holidays is Pizarra. To get there, it’s best to fly into Malaga Airport. You will meet your Andalucia cycling guide and fellow cyclists upon arrival. You will then be transferred to Pizarra.
Group airport transfers are included in the cost of your tour and both the arrival and return transfer from/back to Malaga Airport will be coordinated with the group flight schedule.
Your guides will provide you with details of suitable flight schedules as soon as flight timetables become available. Please check with your guides before making any travel arrangements to ensure they have reached the minimum number required to guarantee your holiday!
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, we partnered up with Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their insurance packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s insurance. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
A non-refundable $250 deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 2 months (60 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.
If you need to cancel the trip, please contact us in writing. If you wish to transfer a booking to another person, please write to us at least seven (7) days before your trip. Administration charges may arise.
