Following your arrival into Malaga airport you will be transferred as a group to your first hotel in Granada (approx. 1 hour 45 minutes)

Granada is almost unrivalled for its beauty, architecture and the setting isn’t bad either! Set at the foot of the imposing Sierra Nevada, with the Alhambra towering above it, it is a truly unforgettable city. In this legendary city, renowned for its amazing Moorish architecture, you can take a tour of the World Heritage-listed Alhambra and Generalife Gardens, one of Andalucia’s special highlights. In the mosaic-tiled and landscaped gardens of the Alhambra, discover the culture and history of Spain’s Moorish rulers and admire their exotic architectural legacy.

As evening arrives you could watch a Zambra flamenco show in Granada’s Roma quarter, Sacramonte. We’d recommend a traditional evening tapas tour of Granada, probably one of the best ways to see the city and the people who live there.

A visit to the Alhambra is not included in the trip and to fully appreciate this magnificent building and the city we recommend that you arrive into Granada a day or two early.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 800 Metres Approx.

After breakfast your Skedaddle guide will meet you at your first hotel to brief the group about the trip and to set up your hire bikes. Then a quick ride in the support vehicle will whisk us out of the city centre to the peace of the Andalucian countryside. Once on the bike, the back lanes thread a trail past impressive rock formations towards the Sierra Subbetica. Today’s riding is a heady mix of classic Andalucian culture; from parched craggy sierras and olive and almond groves to white-washed villages.

After lunch the route takes us deeper into this stunning sierra, whose dramatic peaks are home to southern Spain’s largest breeding colony of the majestic griffon vulture, as well as Bonnelli’s and Booted eagles. Priego is perched on an escarpment overlooking the rolling mountainsides. Much of the city’s grandeur is due to the booming silk production in the 18th century.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 490 Metres Approx.

Today is a gentler day, giving our legs a rest after a hilly first day on the bike. The route will take us around to the northern edge of the Sierras Subbetica. The trail leads us through the rustic town of Luque, notable for its medieval castle, Albenzaide, as well as its parochial church at the Plaza de Espana. Here marks the ideal spot to stop for a coffee.

The gentle trail soon leads us to the pretty village of Zuheros with its 9th-century, Moorish castle perched on a limestone crag, proudly guarding the fertile lands below. The village is engulfed by magnificent limestone cliffs which seemingly contort themselves into wonderful shapes, and will be our home for the night.

Today’s relatively short ride should leave us with some time to spend the afternoon, depending on opening hours you may have a chance to visit the Cueva de los Murcielagos, a bat cave with fascinating paintings, prehistoric skeletons and geological formations. Alternatively you can spend the afternoon visiting an organic oil press in Baena.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 560 Metres Approx.

From Zuheros we’ll pick up the Via Verde del Aceite, a cycle way which drops through olive groves to Baena. The intoxicating scent of olive pressing fills the air, and if we‘re lucky we may see some olive pressing in action! Baena is at the centre of the olive oil industry and we’ll likely see some hand pickers labouring over ancient trees, as well as modern pneumatic shakers harvesting the fruit with ease. Leaving Baena behind, it’ll become ever clearer that we‘re in northern Andalucia, with olive groves lining the roads and horizons – it’s an incredible sight. No wonder Spain is the undisputed leader in olive oil production as they have 2.4 million hectares dedicated to it, producing over 1 million tonnes of oil annually! The road threads through villages and past farms to our accommodation for the evening, an old olive farm which has been renovated into a hotel, an ideal place to relax in the late afternoon sunshine.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 370 Metres Approx.

Today we’ll cycle village to village on back lanes, before reaching the mighty Guadalquivir River; its name means great valley in Arabic and it is the main artery for Andalucia.

We enter the city of Cordoba over the impressive Roman Bridge; this short, gentle day in the saddle means we have plenty of time to have a wander around one of the true wonders of Andalucia, Cordoba’s Mezquita. Discover the city’s mix of Jewish and Arab culture and admire Cordoba’s medieval architecture, with its white-washed courtyards, winding alleys and leafy squares.

After a late-afternoon siesta the group can head out for an early evening dinner in one of the famous ‘Patios de Cordoba’ and why not top off the evening with the delights of a traditional Flamenco show?

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 390 Metres Approx.

Today we’ll set off on another of Andalucia’s Vias Verdes, the cycle way of La Campina, which takes us on a leisurely ride through crops and rolling hills, filled with spring flowers. The area was once known as the ‘bread basket’ of the whole Roman Empire and wheat is still grown here today.

We will roll on to Ecija, nicknamed the frying pan of Spain due to being one of the hottest places in Spain in the summer. It’s a town famously known for its eleven towers and fifteen bell towers. It’s a relaxing place to stay the night, with plenty of good restaurants serving delicious, Andalucian delicacies.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 550 Metres Approx.

This is the longest day on paper but one with few hills, as we will weave our way down the vast Guadalquivir valley. The dark hills of the Sierra Morena offer great vistas to the north, while our pedals keep turning for the last full day in the saddle.

The route is punctuated by various settlements, the most notable being Fuentes de Andalucia, which has an ethnographic museum celebrating remains of humans found over 200,000 years ago.

Deserted lanes and fields full of swaying wheat will lead us on to the enchanting small town of Carmona, once a Roman stronghold in Iberia. The Moors put their stamp on it by making it almost impregnable with vast walls. The town holds many monuments waiting to be discovered.

Carmona has a proud culinary tradition and is infamous for salmorejo, partridge, cured ham and snails. Enjoy!

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 100 Metres Approx.

After breakfast we have a short cycle through open countryside to Brenes, where we will jump on the train to the great city of Seville, the seductive capital of the South.

Your afternoon can be spent on a fully guided, informative city bike tour that takes you through the most interesting places of Triana, the old historic center, the María Luisa Park, Plaza de España, the classic and the modern Seville.

You can take a stroll around the old quarter of Seville taking in the UNESCO World Heritage sights of the Cathedral and the towering Giralda, or the breathtaking Alcazaba palace and its gardens. In the evening, you’ll have chance to wander with the locals along the riverside, visit one of the city’s legendary bars or experience the drama and passion of flamenco at a Seville flamenco show (cost not included). The lively Barrio de Santa Cruz is a great place to head for a fun evening sampling the best tapas in Seville’s fantastic evening atmosphere.

Seville is a captivating city which you would never do justice in half a day, so to discover it at your own pace we’d recommend an extension at the end of your trip. Please get in touch if we can help you with any extra nights.

• Meals: Breakfast

Following breakfast you will be transferred to Malaga airport for your flights home (approx. 2 hours 30 minutes).