Cycling Holidays in Southern Spain

Road Cycling in Andalucía

Rolling Hills & Undulating Terrain: Common across much of the Andalucía, offering a good mix of ascents and descents, some with technical switchbacks, perfect for building fitness and enjoying varied scenery.

Hairpin Bends & Winding Descents: Mountain roads frequently feature exciting hairpin turns on both climbs and descents, requiring good bike handling skills. Descents can be fast and exhilarating.

Fabulous road surfaces: The asphalt is second to none, especially compared to UK roads, making it perfect for road bikes. Even in terms of Europe-wide standards, this is one of the best places for smooth road surfaces. 

Low traffic: You don’t see many cars on the more rural roads and there isn’t the same training-camp mentality as in Majorca. Andalucía is much calmer, with equally incredible climbing and descending, and stunning views.

Gravel Cycling in Andalucía 

For cyclists who like a challenge, the Badlands offers a network of hard packed gravel roads, forestry tracks, fun singletrack and wide riverbeds. Most of the region is relatively dry but occasional rain can result in sections of broken and muddy trails. Good bike handling skills needed for rocky technical sections which can be steep in places. Good fitness and off-road experience recommended. 

Another benefit of gravel cycling in Andalucía is the diverse landscape. Out of the Badlands our gravel tours use a mixture of traffic-free cycleways and gravel tracks. Carriles, purpose built cycleways, are a mix of hard packed gravel tracks and asphalt. Along farm tracks, vineyards and coastal regions you’ll encounter vías verdes (former railway lines converted into trails), dirt roads, fine gravel and hard packed sandy trails.

Mountain Biking in Andalucía

Andalucía is natural mountain biking country, thanks to its diverse terrain and natural obstacles, like roots, rocks, and small drops that add to the technical challenge and enjoyment of the trails.

Rocky terrain is common feature when Mountain Biking in Andalucía, particularly in the more mountainous and arid regions. Expect rocky outcrops, loose rock gardens, and sustained rocky sections that demand attention, while Sierra Nevada has frequent narrow, exposed trails and steep, rocky, sometimes loose descents.

Especially during dry periods, trails can be characterised by a hard-packed base with a layer of loose gravel or dust on top, requiring good braking and cornering technique.

Fitness needed: A good amount of climbing so fitness needed. Mountain biking experience is important for taking on the more technical grade 4 holidays.

Andalucía’s climate makes it a great year-round cycling destination, with hot, dry summers and mild winters. The best time to go cycling in Andalucía is in spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), when temperatures are cooler and conditions ideal for long rides. Summer can be extremely hot, especially inland, so early morning rides are recommended. Coastal areas like Málaga stay milder year-round, making them popular for winter cycling as well.