Spain
Andaluzia Bike Tour
The Spanish adventure
7 days / 6 nights
Level 3-4
Price 4.400€
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
✓ Ride through the “white villages” and medieval towns, including Medina Sidonia and Ronda
✓ Taste Sherry in the cellars of a prestigious producer
✓ Stay overnight in a selection of charming hotels including the Antequera Parador
✓ Ride Sierra de Las Nieves and Grazalema phenomenal roads
DRINK
Sherry and a selection of Spanish wines, local craft beers and try Tinto de Verano
EAT
Sample local jamon ibérico, Spanish tortilla, gazpacho, highest quality artisanal olive oil and tapas.
PRE-TRIP RECOMMENDATION
At your own pace and preference discover Seville, unique and cosmopolitan, full of history and lively culture.
Settled in the vast plains of the Guadalquivir river, not far from the ocean, Romans and Moors gave it monumental beauty and centuries later the city gained exclusive trade with the new world.
The wealth of such trade materialized in palaces and churches, bridges and fortresses, it commissioned the talent and inspiration of Murillo, Zurbaran and Velasquez, among many others.
In this city, birthplace of the (now) classic guitar, men and women court through dance, like flamboyant flamingos, in the unique Flamenco dance. And even if you do not manage to meet Carmen, a buggy stroll in the tender Sevillian night will certainly make you travel in time.
TOUR ITINERARY
DAY 1
SHERRY TASTE AND TRANSFER TO THE ATLANTIC COAST
Welcome to Spain!
Meet your guides at your hotel in Seville , and after a transfer to Jerez de la Frontera, home of the best Sherry, the secrets of this generous wine will be revealed to us during the visit to the cellar of Tio Pepe.
A light, colorful and delicious tapas lunch in Jerez’ old neighborhood, grants the energy for our warm-up loop ride out of our hotel in Vejer.
- Meals: Picnic Lunch / Dinner
- Destinations: Jerez de La Frontera, Vejer de La Frontera
- Accomplished: 22 km ride, elevation gain: 420 meters
- Accommodations: Hotel Casas de Califa
DAY 2
FROM THE TUNA TO THE BULL FARMERS
Before hopping on our bikes we will drive you to the Trafalgar lighthouse (the namesake of the naval battle) and fishing harbour where, since Roman days, the labyrinth net “almadravas” still catch robust tuna fish on their migration to the Mediterranean.
Cork oak trees and rolling hills are today’s terrain as we head north to the picturesque villages of Medina-Sidonia and Arcos de La Frontera.
The farms along our way are home to the brave and wild Toro, the famous bulls that became a national symbol of Spain. Visit a country estate, watch a demonstration of Andalusian horsemanship and see what life is like for cattle and bull farmers.
- Meals: Breakfast/ Picnic Lunch / Dinner
- Destinations: Medina Sidonia, Arcos de La Frontera
- Accomplished: 60km ride, elevation gain 860 meters
- Accommodations: Hotel La Casa Grande
DAY 3
GRAZALEMA NATURAL PARK
Expect the unexpected, if you are a good traveler!
Grazalema natural park is a fine example of that. Collecting the humid ocean breeze, Grazalema mountain range has one of the highest precipitation of the entire country, and as a result the nature and landscape are in great contrast with what one would expect along the Mediterranean.
We will be riding these serpentine mountain roads, sometimes resembling wide bike lanes which have been vertically dropped on to the hills, making us feel like a 12 year old cyclist having fun.
- Meals: Breakfast/ Picnic Lunch / dinner
- Destinations: Zahara de La Sierra, Ronda
- Accomplished: 58km ride, elevation gain 1520 meters
- Accommodations: Hotel Ronda Catalonia
DAY 4
RONDA LOOP RIDE
When the famous german poet , Rainer Maria Rilke, wrote:
“I have sought everywhere the city of my dreams, and I have finally found it in Ronda” and “Nothing is more startling in Spain than this wild and mountainous city.” he could not have guessed that others like Ernest Hemingway and Orson Wells would be as fascinated by this city as he was.
Now it is your turn to discover Ronda and a passion for it. Today is an optional riding day, join us for a ride to Setenil, where we will see houses built literally on the rocks and taste the local chorizo, known as the best in the region.
- Meals: Breakfast/ Picnic Lunch
- Destinations: Setenil de Las Bodegas, Ronda
- Accomplished: 48km ride, elevation gain 990 meters
- Accommodations: Hotel Ronda Catalonia
DAY 5
SIERRA DE LAS NIEVES
Today’s ride includes a section along the Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO Sierra de las Nieves, home to the indigenous and rare Pinsapo pine trees.
Be prepared for 46 km of pure joy. After crossing the Puerto del Viento let the gravity gently take you to the Forest Guard sightseeing spot and further down to the Medieval white village of El Burgo.
Very little traffic and a perfectly designed road takes us to Ardales, the lunch place for today before the transfer to Antequera and our Parador.
Rich farmlands are spread out in the valley below, irrigated by the Guadalhorce river. For centuries, this has been one of Andalucia´s most fertile areas. The town and valley are overlooked by an enormous crag of limestone 880 meters high called La Peña de los Enamorados, or “The Lovers Leap”. The name comes from a local legend about an impossible love affair between a young Christian man from Antequera and a beautiful Moorish girl from nearby Archidona.
In the afternoon we will visit a local Olive oil producer and taste their fabulous olive oil. And time permitting, before dinner we´ll take you on a stroll in the old Antequera and stop to buy the traditional pastries still baked and sold by the Carmelite nuns!
- Meals: Breakfast/ Dinner
- Destinations: El Burgo, Antequera
- Accomplished: 46km ride, elevation gain 807 meters
- Accommodations: Parador de Antequera
DAY 6
CONQUER GRANADA!
Find yourself among farm roads and small villages where agriculture and olive oil production are part of everyday life.
We’ll meet José Aguilera and learn how they have been producing prized olive oil for 4 generations, after joining them for an olive oil tasting and lunch we’ll transfer to the compelling city of Granada, named after the Mediterranean, ruby-colored, pomegranate, and like the fruit of so many grains, its beauties are countless.
The Moors, from northern Africa, literally re-civilized Iberia for over seven centuries and Granada was their capital. It was once the head of a strong Califat, where gardens, fountains and Moorish palaces go hand in hand with monumental churches and old school tapas bars.
The tall gates of the Alhambra are now wide open to peacefully welcome us and the sweet revelation of its treasures.
After visiting the Alhambra, the best in Andalucia gastronomy awaits us at our farewell dinner.
- Meals: Breakfast/ Dinner
- Destinations: Granada
- Accomplished: 37km ride, elevation gain 650 meters
- Accommodations: Hotel Palacio Los Patos
DAY 7
GOODBYE GRANADA!
Say goodbye to Granada before we transfer back to Seville, where your guides will bid you farewell.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Destinations: Granada, Seville
TOUR ITINERARY MAP
ARRIVAL DETAILS:
Airport City: Seville, Spain
Pick-Up Location: At your Hotel in Seville, Spain
DEPARTURE DETAILS:
Airport City: Seville, Spain
Drop-Off Location: Seville airport, Spain
Drop-Off Time: 10am
INCLUSIONS + DETAILS
ACCOMMODATION
✓ 6 nights in Hotel
✓ A luxury hotel in the heart of Vejer’s medieval quarter, a traditionally kept manor house from the 1700 ́s that reveal the true character of the region, a recently refurbished Parador and a 19th century palace in Granada.
✓ Luggage transfers
*if a given hotel has no availability we will select an alternative as similar as possible to the hotel listed on the programme
MEALS
✓ Daily breakfasts, nutritious snacks
✓ 5 gourmet dinners at our favorite local restaurants
✓ 5 delicious picnics/lunches including a selection of local products
✓ Carefully selected wine or beer with every meal
ACTIVITIES
✓ Activities as outlined in the tour itinerary
✓ Entrance fees to historic sites, museums, parks, and all other events
✓ Gratuities for restaurants and hotel service
GEAR
✓ High quality bicycle selection
✓ Bike helmet
✓ Complimentary Olive Cycling t-shirt, water bottle
SUPPORT
✓ Experienced local bilingual guides with vast knowledge of the country and the region
✓ Support vehicle that follows the day’s route, distributes water and snacks, and offers lifts when you need a break from the saddle
✓ Pick-up and drop-off before and after your tour from predetermined meeting points
✓ Daily bike maintenance
NOT INCLUDED
✓ Flights / personal expenses / Tips
✓ Bikes
BIKES
Cube Attain C62 SLX ( Adds €200 )
Van Rysel Road E-Bike 250W ( Adds €340)
Corratec E-Bike E Power CX6 600W ( Adds €250)
TOUR GUIDES
Gonçalo Ramalho
Vitor Pinho
Why choose to ride in ANDALUZIA
In the days of the Renaissance, Columbus and Magellan’s expeditions set sail out of Andalucia.
They found “new worlds” and Seville, for the following centuries, became a gateway to the American continent.
Once again Andalucia could live the splendour of those days when Cordoba was the largest and most advanced European city, the days of magnificent palaces, inspired poets, enlightened men of science, and tolerance blessing the coexistence of Christians, Moors and Jews.
Come and discover this European land of contrast, in the vibrant green of rice fields, the unexpected white crown of dramatic mountain peaks, the wetlands, first and last home of migrating Afro/European birds, the rolling hills and their olive tree mantle, the immaculate white hamlets, the quiet rural roads and the seas upon which Ulysses sailed.
PRICING + DATES + AVAILABILITY
| DATE | PRICE | AVAILABILITY |
| 19 – 25 April | 4.400€ | Available |
| 20 – 26 May | 4.400€ | Booked out |
| 13 – 19 September | 4.400€ | Booked out |
| 18 – 24 October | 4.400€ | Available |
Single Supplement: 900€
Difficulty Level: 3, 4. Requires minimum fitness (e-bikes) or reasonable fitness (traditional bikes), some longer climbs.