You’ll be met on arrival and transferred to your first night’s accommodation in the hill-top white village of Medina Sidonia. Considered as the oldest city in Europe, this elevated natural fort was founded by the Phoenicians. Today it’s a fascinating labyrinth of narrow lanes and whitewash, topped by a Roman archaeological complex.

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.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,700 Metres Approx.

Today marks the start of our adventure and we start with a route which heads straight into Los Alcornocales Natural Park, with forested rolling hills as far as the eye can see. This ‘Mediterranean Jungle’ is the largest cork oak forest in Europe and has been described as Europe’s last real wilderness area, so we may well see wild boar and deer with griffon vultures and a variety of eagles soaring on thermals overhead.

The road climbs past the peaks of Picacho and Aljibe before undulating on high ground offering great views down towards Jerez.

From the pass we’ll take a long sweeping undulating ridge road through stone pines and cork oaks, with glimpses of vast limestone peaks to our north. The route descends down through the lush Hozgarganta river valley on an almost traffic free road that drops then climbs and then descends dramatically down to the village of El Colmenar, a cork-cutters village hidden in the park next to the Guadiaro River.

Our accommodation for the evening is a beautiful ‘casa rural’, nestled by the river. This peaceful home from home is made up of a series of traditional village houses and is beautifully organic with rooms and terraces on many different levels.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,450 Metres Approx.

After a lovingly prepared breakfast of freshly baked bread, home-made jams and juices we’ll take on the first challenge of the day, with the climb out of the valley and up to Gaucin, a stunning medieval white village topped by a 13th century castle. The village sits high on a ridge almost a thousand metres above the Mediterranean and commands views in every direction across the sierras.

The road that leaves Gaucin is a beauty. Staying high on the ridge that divides the deep valleys of the Genal and Gaudiaro rivers, the road twists and winds its way through the Serrania de Ronda mountains, passing numerous picturesque villages of Moorish origin, each with a cluster of bars and restaurants for refreshments.

During the afternoon the route will take us through some fantastic mountain scenery, before turning onto a local road linking the most beautiful white villages in the Serrania.

Accommodation for the night is at Juzcar in a beautifully preserved village inn. At present Juzcar is an incredible sight since being used as a film set in 2011 as the Smurf’s hometown! If you have the energy before dinner, a walk to the mid 18th century tin factory is well worth a visit.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,100 Metres Approx.

The day begins as we head into the sun, past Los Riscos, an area of amazing weather sculptured rock formations as we take on a satisfying climb out of the Genal valley, to the edge of the Natural Park of Las Nieves (the snows!). We will pass numerous white villages surrounded by hillsides cloaked with chestnut trees, a feast for the eyes as the leaves take on their autumn colours.

Climbing higher we ride into the mountainsides of shattered limestone and complex cliffs as the road snakes a beautiful thread across the hillsides.

The village of Pujerra is a pretty stop for our picnic lunch in the square before a fast traverse and final climb through a limestone gorge.

Continuing on our way we’ll pass wheat fields, pine forest and craggy mountainsides, until we take a thrilling descent down through vineyards and to beautiful Ronda and our accommodation for the night. It’s 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 your chance to relax on one of Ronda’s café terraces and watch the world go by in true Andaluz style. The old town across the Puente Nuevo is a beautiful example of Moorish architecture and the views are awesome down into the Tajo gorge and the surrounding mountains.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,750 Metres Approx.

Today we’ll head into the heart of the awesome Grazalema, which is undoubtedly one of the most attractive parts of the tour and makes for an amazing day on the bike.

Our day begins by descending into the Gaudiaro river valley, passing the huge Cueva del Gata cave mouth and climbing up a narrow valley past olive and almond groves. After a short climb through farmland we’ve a beautiful descent to the shores of the Zahara-Gastor reservoir. The road along the waters’ edge will take us to the beautiful hillside white village of Zahara de la Sierra, dominated by its magnificent castle.

The climb to come is probably the climb of the week; both in height gain and the views that unfold with each pedal stroke. At the half way point, we pass a viewpoint that looks down into the Garganta Verde, or Green Canyon, a stunning deep gorge cut into the limestone by the Rio Verde. It’s often possible to see huge groups of griffon vultures soaring beside the canyon’s cliffs here. The top of the climb will bring us to Puerto de las Palomas and a well deserved rest. From this lofty vantage point we’ll be able to make out the pan-tiled roofs and white washed buildings of our resting place for the night Grazalema, which nestles below the peaks of Penon Grande and San Cristobal.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,000 Metres Approx.

The final day of riding begins with a steady climb up to the Boyar Pass that stands at over 1,000m. Views are terrific down into the valley and across to the Salto del Cabrero.

The only way to go from here is down; and wow, what a descent. In all we’ll drop over a thousand metres, passing the small village of Benamahoma, through the Albarracin range covered in pines, to the small town of El Bosque.

After resting from your descent we’ll head out over rolling farmland of olives and cereals, through bursts of cork oak to the Guadalcacin Reservoir where lies the pretty village of Algar.

Our route now heads north west through some beautiful rolling countryside, winding past the waters’ edge until reaching your final destination of Arcos de la Frontera. One of Andalucia’s most dramatically positioned pueblos blancos (white villages), Arcos balances atop a rocky limestone ridge, its whitewashed houses and stone castle walls stopping abruptly as a sheer cliff face plunges down to the fertile valley of the river Guadalete below. Declared a national historic-artistic monument in 1962 in recognition of its exceptional architecture and impressive location, the old town is a tangled labyrinth of cobbled streets that lead up to a sandstone castle, the Castillo de los Arcos. As you’d expect from such a spectacular vantage point, there are exhilarating views over the town and the rolling plain below.

As Arcos is perched on the top of a huge cliff, we’ll have one more climb before we all sit admiring the dramatic views across the Bornos lake with a celebratory cerveza!

• Meals: Breakfast

We have an early departure from the hotel but we hope you have a little time to enjoy a last café con leche before your journey back to Malaga and onward travel.