Following your arrival flight, you will be met and transferred to the historical town of Ronda. Surrounded by impressive mountain ranges, Ronda is dramatically perched on the side of the El Tajo gorge, a truly stunning setting for the start of your tour!

Flight times permitting, you may have time to explore Ronda. The old town across the Puente Nuevo is a beautiful example of Moorish architecture. Cobbled streets wind like a labyrinth between the imposing white walls of palaces and grand residences, clinging to sandstone cliffs. You can visit the museum of the infamous bandoleros, follow the history of bullfighting at Ronda’s bullring, or simply relax on one of Ronda’s café terraces and watch the world go by in true Andaluz style.

This evening we’ll have a chance to meet your guides & fellow cyclists and have a welcome briefing and bike fitting before heading out to one of Ronda’s great eateries.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1090 Metres Approx.

Our cycling journey will begin with a descent out of Ronda, into the deep Guadiaro Valley. Following the Guadiaro River downstream, we’ll drop deeper down to the Cueva del Gato (Cat’s Cave) where we can stop for a coffee break, or a swim in the cooling pools that are fed from the cave. We’ll then make our first climb of the week, to the stunningly-situated white village of Montejaque.

Cycling past the Hundidero cave entrance, in an impressive fault in the limestone, we begin an undulating climb into the heart of the awesome Grazalema mountain range. Rising over 1600 metres, with bright jagged limestone peaks and oak and Spanish fir forests, it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful parts of the week! A twisting road, that threads through an enchanting cork oak forest, will take us the village of Grazalema itself; a terrific sight of tiled roofs and white-washed buildings nestled beneath the Penon Grande and San Cristobal peaks. The village is famous for its hand-woven woollen blankets and goats cheese and its restaurants dish up tasty mountain fare.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1290 Metres Approx.

Our second day in the saddle begins with a steady climb up to the Boyar Pass. At over 1000m high, the views are terrific down into the Tavizna valley. The only way to go from here is down and what a descent it is! We’ll drop over a thousand metres, passing the small village of Benamahoma, through the Albarracin range, to the small town of El Bosque.

After resting from the exhilarating descent, we’ll cycle over rolling farmland, heading to the Guadalcacin Reservoir where we’ll reach the pretty village of Algar. The remainder of the day’s journey now heads north west through beautiful, rolling countryside, winding past the waters’ edge until reaching our destination of Arcos de la Frontera, balanced precariously on top of a limestone cliff. We’ll have one more climb to our accommodation, where we’ll be rewarded with dramatic views across the Bornos Lake and a celebratory cerveza!

Arcos’ maze-like, ancient Moorish medina is a delight to wander around, with monuments, idyllic squares and many a cave-like bar to sip sherry and listen to flamenco!

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1055 Metres Approx.

Today starts with a descent away from Arcos, through undulating, country lanes, as we pass proud, flowering agave plants and palms to reach the dam of the vast Guadalcacin Reservoir, teeming with birdlife. Our route skirts the edge of the Alcornocales Natural Park, comprising the largest cork oak forest in Europe and abundant wildlife.

Gentle, rolling hills then take us to the white-washed town of Alcala de los Gazules and as the road climbs it gives great views of the Picacho and Aljibe peaks and down towards Jerez. Alcala, spills down the hillside and is impressively topped by the church of San Jorge, built on the sight of a mosque.

Alcala has numerous inviting cafes and restaurants serving traditional cuisine, such as game from the surrounding forests, and is ideally placed for a relaxing lunch. A sweeping descent will take us into the rolling farmlands of La Janda, passing the huge Barbate reservoir and numerous farms. Soon we arrive at our destination, a beautifully restored ‘Cortijo andaluz’ serving fabulous local dishes.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 630 Metres Approx.

After breakfast we’ll set out on a shorter, more gentle ride, as we descend out of the La Janda farmlands. The route meanders past tiny villages, including the beautifully named Cantarranas (Singing Frogs), along olive-lined lanes.

Vejer, our destination for the day, comes into view way before we arrive, perched high on the now ubiquitous hill, the whitest and most beautifully-restored of the ‘Pueblos Blancos’. Before arriving, the route winds its way through low hills passing the organic Etu winery and the famed il Forno pizzeria before taking a winding descent to the valley floor.

Now, for the last climb up to Vejer, along the Corredera with fantastic views back to the Alcornocales and down to the coast before arriving in the beautiful, palm-filled Plaza Espana, where we will stay. Vejer is a joy to take an evening stroll around, topped by a 10th-century castle, with plentiful tapas bars and boutique shops.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 375 Metres Approx.

Our final day of riding takes us on a long descent down to the coast at the tuna fishing town of Barbate. Several towns along the coast fish prize Bluefin tuna using the sustainable Almadraba method, which was originally developed by the ancient Phoenicians using fixed nets.

The route then climbs into Las Brenas pine forest, where pine nuts are harvested, arriving at el Palomar de Brena, a hotel in an interesting building that claims to house the largest dove cot in the world.

We’ll then take a fabulous descent out of the pines with incredible views out over the Atlantic and onto Cape Trafalgar where Nelson defeated the combined forces of the French and Spanish in 1805. Passing the Cape, we’ll ride alongside the famed surfing beach of El Palmar, lined with cool cafés, before arriving into Conil, illuminated on the hillside above a pristine sweep of fine, white sand, in time for celebratory sundowners.

• Meals: Breakfast

Unfortunately, it’s time to leave this beautiful region and fly home. Depending on flight times, you may have time to spend the morning exploring the narrow alleyways of Conil or even a last chance for a dip in the ocean before we transfer you back to the airport for your flight home.