Road bike Spain
The Andalusian Traverse
From sun-drenched sierras to the roof of Europe: a breathtaking road bike journey through the heart of AndalusiaRef CR96
Alternating between mountain landscapes that are sometimes arid, sometimes covered in oak forests or olive groves. From time to time, as a reward for one of our climbs, a panorama opens up over the Mediterranean and the north coast of Africa. This cycle route also takes us on a tour of the "white villages", with their gleaming facades contrasting with the blue of the sky. We spend two nights in Granada, not only to enjoy this superb city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but also to set off for the Sierra Nevada, where we make the mythical ascent of Pico Veleta. At 3398m, it is the highest point on the highest motorable road in Europe! After this unforgettable moment, we discover the beautiful Alpujarras region, skirting the Sierra Nevada via its southern foothills, before a final plunge towards the sea.
Highlights
- A beautiful road bike tour of the whole of Andalusia
- Climb the Pico Veleta (3398m) on Europe's highest passable road
- One of Spain's most beautiful regions by bike
- The beautiful white villages of the Alpujarras, contrasting with the surrounding arid mountains
Description
Comments
- In April, there is no guarantee that the road to Pico Veleta will be cleared of snow all the way to the top. This varies greatly from year to year.
Levels
Some of our tours are available in several different levels, from 1 to 3. When variations are available, you will find details (distance and altitude difference) in the tour programme, day by day.
In the case of tours with variations, whichever one you choose, the accommodation is the same (with a few rare exceptions clearly stated in the description). So, each morning, you can choose the one that suits you best.
See photos and videos of this trip
Make sure to check our France Bike Trips media gallery in order to get a feel for this trip and this destination.
After your trip with us, you also have the opportunity to create your own album with your impressions. We would be happy to do the work for you - all you have to do is send us your photos.
Don't miss new albums in our online gallery with our email notifications! As soon as a new photo or video album is published, you will receive a short e-mail from us. To subscribe, click on "Be notified of new albums" in the media gallery.
Dates and price
Dates
| From 19/09/2026 to 27/09/2026 | 9 days | 1545 € | Confirmed |
| From 03/10/2026 to 11/10/2026 | 9 days | 1545 € | Full |
| From 17/10/2026 to 25/10/2026 | 9 days | 1545 € | Available |
Costs and services
The price includes:
- 8 nights accommodation in 2* hotels in double/twin rooms with en-suite facilities
- 8 breakfasts
- 7 picnic lunches
- 6 dinners (3 to 4 course menu)
- Support vehicle
- Daily baggage transfers
- Carefully designed itineraries on 2 levels of difficulty
- Our navigation app for smartphones, a detailed road book including maps (digital format) and GPS tracks
What is not included:
- International flights
- Lunch and dinner on the first and last day in Malaga
- Your transfer to the meeting place
- Bike rental
- All services mentioned in extensions
- Insurance, assistance
- Drinks at the accommodation
- Visits to museums, monuments and sites
- Additional travel related to changes in the programme due to bad weather
- All personal expenses
- Everything not mentioned under “the price includes".
Available extra services
(prices per person)
| Single room accommodation (8 nights) | 280 € /  |
Road bike rental: see below
Bike rental
You can rent the following road bike for this trip, including delivery and pick-up.
| Standard road bike Carbon frame and fork, Shimano 105 Di2, 12-speed cassette (11x34), disc brakes, Orbea Orca model or equivalent |
350 € / |
Your bike will be delivered to you on site.
Rental bike equipment (for all models):
- Repair kit included
- 2 bottle holders
- Helmets and water bottles: not included
- Pedals: Our rental bikes come without pedals. You can either bring your own pedals or specify your needs.
Please indicate your choice of model and pedals as well as your height when filling out your booking form.
You will receive your chosen model from the tour leader on the first day of your tour. He will carry out an inventory of the bike with you, as well as a second inventory at the end of the tour.
Bike “consumables" (tyres, tubes, brake pads, cables) are included in the rental price. Only parts and components that are broken due to a crash and/or misuse will be charged. In the event of bike loss or theft, a fixed fee will be charged (2200 € for the Standard model, 3590 € for the Premium and Electric models and 5700 € for the Super light model).
Vélorizons cycling jersey
A cycling jersey to our taste.
A timeless road cycling jersey produced in France, inspired by our team and our road cycling trips. High quality, made in France by a Savoy company and with a feel-good character for long days in the saddle. Offered at a great price.
Features
- High-quality SIRTECH + LYCRA textiles
- 3 pockets, one with a central zip + 1 side pocket
- Full front zip
- Half-high cycling collar
- Short raglan sleeves in Lycra with seamless ends
- Gripper at the hem
Available sizes (EU sizing): XXS bis XL
Cut: Slim fit, unisex
Price: see above
Order and further information by e-Mail or ask our leaders while on tour.
Private groups & custom tours
You are a group of friends, a family, a company or a cycling club and you would like to organise a private cycling tour on the dates of your choice. This option is available for guided and self-guided tours.
- If you are interested in one of the tours presented on our website, we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in your group.
- If you are interested in a custom version of one of our tours, with specific requirements (tour duration, accommodation type, vehicle assistance, airport transfers, bike rental, etc.), we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in the group and the group's specific requirements.
For more information or to receive a quote, please contact us by phone at +33 458 140 435 or by email at info@france-bike-trips.com.
Travel insurance
It is important to be correctly insured when embarking on a cycling holiday. We recommend checking the details of your travel insurance (if you have one) and, if necessary, subscribing to our contract below. Please note that France Bike Trips is simply an intermediary between you and the insurance company.
You can choose between these travel insurance contracts while completing your booking form:
- I subscribe to the "comprehensive multi-risk" insurance cover (4.5%), minimum premium of 15 €:
This contract covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage, holiday interruption and cancellation. To see the full contract, click here. - I purchase the "cancellation only" insurance cover (2.5%), minimum premium of 10 €:
This policy covers cancellation only. To see the full contract, click here. - I purchase the "repatriation & assistance" insurance cover (1.6%), minimum premium of 10 €:
This policy covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage and holiday interruption. To see the full contract, click here.
Recommendation: |
Booking procedure & cancellation policy
How to book
In order to make a booking please fill in the online booking form on the "booking" page of your chosen tour. At the end of the booking process you will be transferred to our bank's secure payment page in order to pay a 30 % deposit.
Last minute booking
All self-guided bookings made within 21 days of tour departure will incur a surcharge of 15 € per person.
Expert advice
- Unsure which tour to book?
- Interested in a custom version of one of our tours?
- Not sure if a particular tour is suitable for your riding style?
A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm (French time) by phone - +33 458 140 435 or by mail - info@france-bike-trips.com.
Tour confirmation
In order to confirm our guided tours, we need to reach a minimum number of participants (usually 5 persons are necessary). Therefore booking a guided tour does not necessarily mean the tour is confirmed. In the unlikely event that we are unable to confirm your chosen tour, we will offer you the opportunity (no less than 21 days before departure) of switching to another (confirmed) tour, or receiving a full refund.
Self-guided or custom tours: We confirm bookings of self-guided tours and custom tours directly after booking.
In both cases, please await our final booking confirmation before making any travel arrangements.
Balance payment
Tour balance payment must be made no less than 30 days before tour departure. Your travel documents will be sent to you once we have received your balance payment. Road books and maps will be sent to you 3 weeks before departure.
Cancellation
In the event that you are obliged to cancel your tour France Bike Trips will reimburse the entire sum paid for the tour, minus the following cancellation charges:
- More than 60 days before departure: 5 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
- Between 60 and 31 days before departure: 15 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
- Between 30 and 21 days: 30 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
- Between 20 and 14 days: 50 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
- Between 13 and 7 days: 70 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
- Less than 7 days before departure: 100 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
Full details of our sales conditions are available here
The typical daily schedule
During riding you carry only your day pack. All your luggage is transported each day by the support vehicle.
After breakfast, the support vehicle driver will pack your luggage in the van, distribute cereal/energy bars, and announce the time slot for lunch. The driver can also hand out picnics to any participants who do not wish to stop at the designated picnic lunch stop.
Once all the participants have passed the picnic stop, the driver transports your luggage directly to the following nights accommodation, before returning to wait at the foot of the last climb of the day. He is then available to help any members of the group in difficulty or who encounter a mechanical problem. You'll usually meet the van driver several times during the day, offering the opportunity to fill up with water, change clothing, etc.
Each participant is free to ride at his or her own pace, using the road book and GPS route to navigate during the day. However, the driver is equipped with a mobile phone, and can be reached at any time during the day if a particpant encounters a problem. The driver is also available throughout the trip to provide information and advice.
Your navigation
You will receive an email 2 weeks before departure, containing all the information necessary for your upcoming tour, including the following navigation tools:
Our dedicated smartphone app
Follow your route with comfort and ease! Thanks to the Velorizons navigation app, download the full trip itinerary to your smartphone, view route maps and profiles, access the list of booked accommodation, services and useful contacts, and use the integrated route guidance (visual and vocal) for navigation.
►See the mobile app presentation video
To benefit fully from the app navigation system, we strongly recommend attaching your smartphone to the bicycle handlebar using a dedicated mount. An example can be viewed here.
| Operating system | Android | Apple | Windows Phone | Blackberry |
| Compatibility | Version 8.0 minimum | iOS 8.0 minimum. iPhone compatible, iPad compatible if GPS equipped | Non compatible | Non compatible |
A detailed Road Book
Your tour road book will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The road book contains:
- Full colour maps with highlighted routes,
- Step-by-step route description,
- Route profiles
GPS tracks
Tour GPS tracks will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The tracks are in .gpx format, compatible with all GPS devices/apps.
Accommodation
We favour comfortable accommodation with warm hospitality.
Our standard price is based on 2* hotels and comfortable guesthouses with double rooms and en-suite facilities.
For private groups and self-guided trips it is possible to customise the accommodation (upgrade) depending on availability.
Food
This trip is fully catered (breakfast, lunch and dinner included). We pay very careful attention to the quality and the variety of your meals. Fresh and local products will be served wherever possible. This trip is also an opportunity to discover the local gastronomy and regional products - l'art de la table!
Please note: If you have any food intolerances, please inform us in the comments field on the booking form.
- Continental breakfasts taken at the accommodation
- Simple cereal/muesli bars and dried fruit are distributed in the morning before the start of the stage. You must bring your own specific energy bars and isodrinks, if desired.
- Hearty dinners (3 to 4 courses, with local dishes)
For lunch, our tour leader will offer you a picnic stop along the route. Our picnics combine a rich salad based on carbohydrates and fresh vegetables with cold meats and cheese, fresh fruit and bread (wherever possible from local producers) as well as sweet and savoury snacks. If you do not want to stop for lunch, we can offer the following options:
- Our tour leader provides you with a picnic to carry along in a small backpack or a handlebar bag. It contains an individual salad (carbohydrate and vegetable based salad), cold meats, cheese and fruits
- "Racing food" for weight weenies and those "allergic" to backpacks: energy bars, dried fruit
- Feel free to stop and eat when and where you want (restaurant, bakery, grocery store...)
Health
We strongly recommend having a medical check-up before your holiday.
Our / Your state of mind
- A "group" tour: If you join a guided tour, you will be part of a group for several days. This is a superb opportunity to meet new people and share some magical moments. However, a group tour requires that each person show friendliness, openness and mutual respect for their fellow travellers.
- An "adventure" tour: despite the most careful preparation, adventure tours can present unforeseen events. Accepting these risks will help you enjoy your trip to the full, in the knowledge that your guide, our local partners and the entire France Bike Trips team will offer you the most suitable solutions to any given situation.
Bike and plane / train
If you decide to bring your own bike, be aware that transporting a bike by plane or train is no longer an issue. However a few simple guidelines help to optimise the transport and avoid potential damages that could occur.
Your bike must be transported in a designated bike bag (standard size 120x90cm). This maximal size allows you to travel with your bike as "hand luggage" in any high-speed trains.
It is very important that you protect your bike in the bag. After having deflated the tires, removed the wheels (by removing the quick release mechanisms), pedals and rear derailleur (which is left hanging on the chain), we recommend you wrap your bike inside the bag in a sheet of dense foam (thickness of 3 to 5 cm). A piece of cardboard or rigid plastic positioned between the foam and the inside of the cover can be beneficial to provide more rigidity.
Once folded up the bike bag will take up very little space and will be transported by the assistance vehicle during your tour.
Bike bags are available directly from France Bike Trips at a cost of 70 euros, plus postage.
Your equipment
Personal equipment to bring:
Luggage
All your luggage must be distributed in two bags: a backpack and a travel bag:
1/ Backpack (or saddlebag)
This is the bag or saddlebag (saddle or handelbar) you use every day while cycling, if you choose to take a picnic lunch (see paragraph "Food"). This bag should not be too large (up to 20 litres).
It will contain: a picnic for lunch, snack food, camera, waterproof and extra clothing and sunglasses, ...
2/ Travel bag
This is the bag that will be transported from one accommodation to the next by vehicle. It will contain all the belongings you will not use during the day. You will find it at the accommodation in the evening (or sometimes for lunch).
List of equipment to pack:
For your head
- A cap or other head protection against the sun
- A hat or sweat band
- A bike helmet
For your upper body
- Two cycling jerseys or technical t-shirts (made of synthetic or natural breathable fabrics)
- A warm shirt or sweatshirt
- A fleece
- A waterproof jacket
For your legs
- Two good quality cycling shorts with chamois (avoid triathlon shorts)
- A pair of warm cycling tights or leg warmers
- Trousers
- Casual short
For your feet
- A pair of biking shoes (we recommend mtb shoes in which you can walk or hike-a-bike short steeper sections)
- A pair of shoes suitable for the evening
- Sandals (not compulsory, but nice for warm evenings...)
- Sport socks.
For your gavel bike
- A gear ratio suitable for gravel and steep climbs (2-speed subcompact front, e.g. 30/46 or 28/44 and a 11/34 cassette or 1-speed, e.g. 42 chainring and an 11/42 cassette). We warmly recommend a gear ratio of less than 1 between small chainring and large sprocket. If in doubt, consult your local bike shop.
- Gravel tyres with a minimum width of 40 mm (unless otherwise stated in the tour description): The volume is decisive, a more aggressive profile on the flanks and rear tyre is desirable on loose ground (e.g. model WTB Riddler or Schwalbe G-One).
- 2 spare tubes and if possible a spare tire
- Puncture repair kit
- Spare brake pads (except if you start with new pads)
- A rear derailleur cable
- Chain lube
- A pump
- A multitool
Other
- A pair of bike specific gloves
- A bike lock
- A headlamp with batteries
- A pair of spare laces
- A toiletry kit and towel
- A swimsuit
- 2 bike bottles 75 cl (or camelbak)
- A pocket knife
- A few plastic bags to protect your belonging
- A needle and thread
- A small individual pharmacy: sunscreen (face and lips); band aids + double skin (Compeed); Immodium; pain killers, earplugs, other personal medication.
