Bike Tour in Andalusia - Historical Villages and Jerez Wine Country
Known for the vibrant Andalucian lifestyle of tapas, sherry wine and bulls, Andalucia is much more than that. Here you'll find beautiful landscapes of farmland and natural parks to explore, as you'll be riding by quiet backroads along the olive oil groves, cork oak trees and vineyards with the backdrop of the mountains in the distance.
This 7 day bike tour is perfect for road cycling or e-bike enthusiasts that want to explore Spain's country side. Andalucía's countryside and Natural Parks offer breathtaking landscapes to ride, in quiet back roads along the olive oil groves, cork oak trees and vineyards. You'll start your ride from Córdoba - where you'll get to visit the Mosque Cathedral, Alcazar and other unique examples of Mudejár architecture, cycling down south until you reach the majestic and beautiful Ronda. Explore the quaint and unique "Pueblos Blancos" of Zuheros, Iznajár, Setenil de Las Bodegas or Grazalema, white washed villages perched on top of the hills, reflecting the sun and dominating the plains. In the Subbética and Grazalema Natural Parks, you'll ride by pristine back roads and marvel at breathtaking landscapes and have the opportunity to stop for coffee in lovely cafes in mountainous villages for tapas or cañas and experience in the local culture. To top this, you'll be able to enjoy the region's hospitality in a mix of carefully selected hotels from the sophistication of some of the city hotels, the rural farmhouses and manor houses that let you experience the rural living with all the comforts, to the historical buildings and palaces located in some very special places now converted in to modern hotels.
We did the self-guided tour of Andalucía and had a perfect experience! My wife & I (visiting from US) needed a ...
Transfer from Córdoba Airport or meet at our hotel in the historical city of Córdoba (transfer from Lisbon, Sevilla or Madrid can also be arranged). Meet our local guides for your tour briefing and bike setup, and then enjoy a free afternoon to visit the spectacular monuments of Córdoba like the UNESCO world heritage sites of the Mosque-Cathedral, the city's roman bridge or the Christian Monarch's Alcazar - take your time to marvel at the details of Moorish/Andalusian architecture, culture and gastronomy in the historical city center on foot - Cordoba is the only city in the world boasting 4 UNESCO world heritage distinctions.
Hotel – H10 Palacio Colomera or Hospes Palacio del Bailio ("premium" option)
Breakfast at your hotel. Start of the ride, leaving Córdoba by the roman bridge and towards south, towards the white washed village of Zuheros, across this area known as the Olive Oil Route. Leaving Córdoba, you'll be quickly find yourself in the countryside, first engulfed in fields full of grain and then, once you get closer to the Natural Park of the Subbética mountain range, by endless olive tree groves. You'll be using back roads all the way to the mountain village of Zuheros, considered by many one of the most beautiful village of Spain, that conserves the traditional architecture of white houses with ochre roofs so traditional of Moorish/Andalusian heritage. Take your time to visit the Moorish castle and marvel at the stunning view of the village.
Hotel Zuhaira or Hacienda Minerva ("premium" option)
Breakfast at your hotel. Today you'll be leaving Zuheros and riding all day within the Natural Park of the Subbética mountain range - part of the UNESCO World Geopark network. Cycling down south, you'll ride alongisde the moorish castles of Luque and Carcabuey, by pristine back roads, always accompanied by Olive groves and dramatic views of the "Picos". A truly epic ride, that'll lead you to Iznájar - a "pueblo blanco" situated on top of a huge rocky outcropping overlooking the the largest reservoir in the whole of Andalucía, which is frequented throughout the warm season as a beach. Enjoy your afternoon strolling by Iznájar's Castle and views over the Embalse.
Hotel – Casa Las Tinajas ( superior room) or La Bobadilla ("premium" option, only available in guided tours)
Breakfast at your hotel. Today you'll be leaving Iznájar and climbing alongside the south side of reservoir for the first 10km. After reaching the top of the climb and after a fun descent, you'll find yourself back in the countryside of Andalucía, cycling in a plateau, towards Antequera. The castle and Santa María Basilica can be found at the top of the Antequera - in the historic centre you'll also find Nájera Palace (18th century), the Catalinas Convent and the palace of the Marquises of La Peña, in Mudejar and Renaissance style. The Dolmen sites of Viera and Menga, both UNESCO world heritage sites, are also worth a visit in Antequera's outskirts.
Hotel – Parador de Antequera or La Fuente del Sol ("premium" option)
Breakfast at your hotel. Today you'll have a majestic ride towards Ronda - definitely one for the books. Leaving Antequera, you'll quickly get to the winding roads alongside the Guadalhorce reservoir, that will lead you to the famous Caminito de Rey walking trail. The roads along the dam are magnificent, carved on the hills and mountains - a true roller coaster, where you'll be riding up and down most of the time until you reach Ardales. From there, you'll be riding towards El Burgo, where you'll cycle upwards to Sierra de Las Nieves Natural Park - one of most memorable sections of the tour. You'll soon arrive in Ronda - known for its cliffside location and a deep canyon that carries the Guadalevín River and divides the town. Ronda's historical center is majestic and beautiful, and truly worth exploring for the two days you'll be staying here.
Hotel – Parador de Ronda or Hotel Catalonia Ronda ("premium" option)
Breakfast at your hotel. Today, you get to choose between a few rides in the Natural Park of Grazalema mountain range, depending on which challenge you want to tackle, or enjoy a rest day in Ronda. You can choose to go on a shorter loop to Setenil de Las Bodegas, to the north of Ronda, and visit this picturesque village, a "Pueblo Blanco" built below huge rocks - perfect for a coffee stop. Or you can choose to ride up to another "pueble blanco", Zahara de La Sierra, and tackle the epic mountain pass of Puerto de Las Palomas, the highest point of Grazalema natural park - a true cycling monument - and enjoy the downhill back to picturesque Grazalema, before riding back to Ronda. The outskirts of Ronda make for a truly special ride.
Hotel – Parador de Ronda or Hotel Catalonia Ronda ("premium" option)
Breakfast at your hotel. At the scheduled time transfer to Ronda train station (transfer from Lisbon, Sevilla or Madrid can also be arranged).
/ I ride my bike an average of 100 kilometres or more per week and enjoy a fast paced ride for an extended period of time. I love to train, improve and be challenged by other riders. I enjoy all riding experiences, from big climbs to long, technical descents, especially the ones that allow me to push my limits and make long lasting memories.
You’ll get to ride in a peloton along with your peers but also challenge them on the long climbs. Lead the pack and take on the special extra-challenges we have in store for you – try to keep up with our guides as you go for the extra mile just before your well deserved rest and massage at the hotel!
Our guides and support vans will provide you with nutrition and hydration along all our guided tours so that you can better enjoy your ride.
Ricardo "El capitán" Costa is the"roadie" in charge of designing this tour. Having ridden all over the world, from Malaysia to the USA, it is in Portugal that he found some of the best rides in the planet. Ricardo has picked some of the best roads in the region, that will introduce you to his favorite vineyards, coffee stops, viewpoints, hotels and other secret spots.
