Highlights
- Cycling between 3 of the most magnificent cities in Andalucia
- Riding through rolling sierras and olive groves
- Making use of the Vias Verdes
- Exploring the architectural wonders of Granada
- Visiting Cordoba – the birth place of Spanish Flamenco
- Celebrating your trip in the capital of the south, Seville
Itinerary
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: 795 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.
Show Profile- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
- Ascent: 500 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.
Show Profile- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
- Ascent: 535 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.
Show Profile- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
- Ascent: 375 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?
Show Profile- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
- Ascent: 480 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.
Show Profile- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
- Ascent: 515 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!
Show Profile- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
- Ascent: 90 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.
Show Profile- Meals: Breakfast
Following breakfast you will be transferred to Malaga airport for your flights home (approx. 2 hours 30 minutes).
Understanding Profiles
Use these profiles to see:
- Distance in Km (horizontal axis)
- Ascent / Descent in metres (vertical axis)
Click 'see gradient' to see:
- Distance in Km (horizontal axis)
- % Gradient (vertical axis)
Please check the scales on both graphs, and both axes as they both may differ from day to day.
White vertical lines indicate unpaved sections or slightly rougher terrain. Using both graphs, alongside the grading and terrain information provided, will give you a full picture of how flat, bumpy or steep the climbing on your particular tour is going to be. Please keep in mind this is an indicative guide and GPS units and software produce different statistical information.
Gallery
The Cycling
Terrain
During the trip you will ride on a variety of surfaces, including back lanes, cyclepaths and some hard-packed gravel / dirt tracks. Be prepared for a hilly start to the week, with some steeper climbs (particularly the first 2 days). Things do even out after you reach Cordoba (day 5).
70% of the time the roads are shared with vehicle traffic, which are most busy when entering and leaving the cities. You’ll also be able to enjoy some traffic-free routes throughout the week! Either electric or hybrid bikes are recommended for this tour (not suitable for road bikes). For a boost up some of those hills earlier in the week you may want to consider opting for an e-bike (or joining the e-bike only departures). There are some bumpy sections along the way, so we’d recommend being comfortable handling an e-bike (or whichever bike you opt for) on varying, sometimes loose, terrain. Please note – E-bikes are generally heavier than hybrid bikes, and they’ll need to be carried on and off the train on day 8 of the itinerary. If opting for an e-bike on a standard departure, please note that the pace of riding will be set by the hybrid riders.
If you are interested in riding an electric bike on this holiday please click here for more information.
Leisure Cycling Grade
Distances generally between 20-45 miles / 32-72 kms per day
For the leisure cyclist with a good level of physical fitness
May include some steeper, cheeky climbs
Possibly sections of varying terrain (eg. forest tracks, gravel paths etc).
Our grading guidelines have been carefully created based on our many years of cycling experience, as well as customer feedback from our trips. Of course, if you're still struggling to figure out where you fit on the scale, do feel free to give us a quick call and we'll be more than happy to help!
For more information about our grading system click here.
Is this suitable for you?
Although you may not cycle everyday, you do keep yourself relatively fit and maybe enjoy an afternoon out on your bike at the weekend. Your preference is perhaps for flatter terrain but you don’t mind tackling some hills, and the occasional steep climb if you can take it at your own pace. For those happy to tackle some ups and downs, and possibly some sections of varying terrain (eg. forest tracks, gravel paths etc) we’d recommend our grade 3 trips. We’d generally expect those on a Grade 3 trip to have a decent level of physical fitness and be comfortable with some longer days in the saddle.
For more information about the grading of this holiday in particular, please check out the terrain section which will give you some specifics of what to expect on this tour.
Dates & Prices
Secure Your Holiday With A Deposit
Book now with a $500 deposit and nothing more to pay until 60 days before departure. Choose a date to start your booking and see all prices, including bike hire and single room supplements.
Late Availability
We want you to know which tours are coming up soon, so you don’t miss out! If a trip has this symbol beside it, it means you don’t have long to snap up your place.
SAVE ON 2025 EARLY SEASON ESCAPES! Book before 17 November 2024 to get $200 off your tour departing on 01/04/2025. Apply the promo code FYR2025 when you book. Your discount will be applied once your booking is confirmed.Whats Included
A) Accommodation (shared twin / double en suite rooms) in a mixture of 2*, 3* and 4* hotels
B) Meals as per the itinerary (B-Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
C) Full tour service, including English-speaking Skedaddle guides
D) Unless stated, at least one leader qualified in first aid
E) Support vehicle, for tired bikers and luggage transfers
F) GPX files available on request
G) Guided tour in Seville (day 8)
H) Airport transfers on scheduled arrival and departure days from Malaga airport (AGP)
I) Financial Protection through ABTOT
What's not Included
A) Bike rental (available if required)
B) Flights and charges for travelling with your bike (if applicable)
C) Meals not stated in the itinerary
D) Single room (available if required)
E) Travel insurance
F) Personal clothing and equipment
G) Personal expenditure (souvenirs, bar bills, hotel facilities etc)
H) Entrance fees to museums and other attractions en route
I) Entrance fees to the Alhambra in Granada, the Mezquita in Cordoba and the Catedral in Seville
J) Airport transfers on days other than the scheduled arrival / departure days
Private Departures
Are you keen to only travel with your family or friends? Struggling to find the right date? Well, we can organise a private departure for this tour and tailor aspects to suit your group's specific needs. Contact our friendly team and we'll help you turn your dream into reality.
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Reviews
Veronica, Cheshire, UKEveryone had a wonderful experience!Great cycling, fitted the grade perfectly. Excellent guides, great group. The whole experience worked well from the first meeting/briefing to final departure. All 3 guides gave excellent service throughout the holiday. All were very friendly and welcoming while being very professional. Guiding was superb, and done at the right pace to suit the fitness level of the group. Refreshments and lunches were the best yet – thanks to the chef.
Service in arranging and booking the holiday, including extensions was handled very efficiently. Accommodation was clean, comfortable and interesting. Lunches were superb, an absolute delight. The guides shared the lunch time catering – all were fantastic!
The bikes chosen were perfect for the road and track surfaces we cycled on. Comfortable saddle. Good gear range.
There was some range of cycling experience within the group and this was handled expertly so that everyone had a wonderful experience and no one felt under stress or held back. Superb. The whole organisation of the trip ran smoothly and efficiently in a very friendly manner. I loved all days.
Have recommended Skedaddle holidays to numerous people.
Martyn, Cheshire, UKI wish it were longer...This holiday scored high marks in every area, however I just wish it could have gone on for a few more days, even a second week – it was that good! . All the guides did a very good job.
Fred, Lancashire, UKSkedaddle will always be my first port of callLunches were the usual Skedaddle picnics which are always excellent. Our guides took us to some fantastic restaurants for dinner where they helped us to order a range of tapas starters and main courses as some places didn’t have English menus… Sabine and Jeff did a great job of guiding us and went above and beyond the call of duty.