Your email will not be communicated to any third party or company outside France Bike Trips / Velorizons. You may receive occasional emails from France Bike Trips, with the possibility to unsubscribe at any time. CNIL (French National Commission for Data Protection and Liberties)
Please type in your search terms.
You can prefix chosen words with the '+' sign to make them mandatory, or with the '-' sign to avoid results containing this word from appearing, e.g. west +nepal -canada
A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.
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.
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.
Individual arrival in Malaga. We will be happy to advise you on how to get there.
Airport transfer possible. Meeting with the group and the tour guide for dinner, briefing on the tour and overnight stay at the hotel.
Transfer by vehicle to Torreguadiaro along the Costa del Sol. The "sunshine coast" lives up to its name, with an average of 320 days of sunshine a year! A godsend for cyclists... After a transfer of around 1 hour 15 minutes, we reached the starting point of our tour of Andalusia by road bike: the port and beach of Torreguadiaro. What a symbol! We'll be touching Mediterranean waters again in seven days' time, to celebrate the success of our Trans Andalucia!
We mount our bikes in the shade of the palm trees and head inland. We enter the valley of the Rio Guadiaro, riding through orange groves. The valley gradually narrows, giving way to Mediterranean scrubland and grey marl. After around thirty kilometres on an upward slope (ideal for warming up!), the serious stuff begins. We gain altitude and fly to the first superb white village typical of this part of the Andalusian mountains: Gaucin. At the foot of its castle, this Moorish-style village clings to the mountain and offers a breathtaking view of the Cristellina mountain range. Here we are in the heart of the Andalusian mountains, which stretch as far as the eye can see, covered in oak, pine and Mediterranean vegetation. After a rollercoaster ride, we reach one of the most beautiful villages on Andalusia's famous "white villages route". Among the many historic buildings, don't miss the impressive eighteenth-century "new bridge" and the bullring, considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world (!). Overnight in a hotel or hostel in Ronda.
This morning, we continue to ride through the mountains of the Sierra de Ronda. We then plunge down towards the Rio Turon, to begin an aesthetic route that weaves its way between the different sierras (de Las Nieves, Cabrilla, Alcaparain, Banos, Llana, ....). The route takes in well-marked mountains full of character, with many views of pretty, remote villages. Pass through the large white villages of El Burgo and Ardalès, strangely built around a rock. There are many historic monuments here... After skirting the shores of Lake Guadalteba, we climb back up to the village of Antequera. This big village with its white houses is one of the lungs of Andalusia. We settle in for the night, surrounded by mountains.
Shortly after setting off, we pass the entrance to El Torcal Park. Its karstic formations have been used as the backdrop for several science fiction films, which says a lot about their strangeness... We then enter the most arid zone of our journey. An almost lunar mineral landscape, with a rollercoaster ride through some typical Andalusian villages. Night on the outskirts of Zafarraya.
We've lightened the schedule so that we can arrive in Granada in the early afternoon, leaving us plenty of time to visit this city of exceptional heritage, history and atmosphere. The must-see Alhambra and its palaces, the old quarters of the Albaicin, with their narrow, sloping streets lined with white houses, the Alcaiceria souk, the historic centre, etc. This day is also a chance to recuperate and prepare for the following day, when we will be climbing the Sierra Nevada, whose peaks can be seen against the backdrop of the city's skyline.
A simply unforgettable day in the life of a cyclist and pass hunter: climbing the highest tarmac road in Europe! The climb is long, around 50 km, but never very steep. As the kilometres go by, the vegetation becomes rarer and rarer until it is completely absent. Once you reach the pass, the last kilometre to Pico Veleta is on a track, but it's well worth the effort: the view from the ridge is simply sumptuous. Just above us is Mulhacen, Spain's highest peak at 3482 metres. All that's left now is to coast down to Granada, where we can celebrate this great moment in style... Night in the same accommodation.
Today's route takes us around the western and southern flanks of the Sierra Nevada massif. After the first part of the route, a gentle rollercoaster ride through landscapes that are sometimes mineral, sometimes covered in Mediterranean vegetation, we reach the famous Alpujarras region, which was the kingdom of the Moors for over 800 years. The hilltop villages have made this surprisingly fertile region famous, with its many fruit trees such as lemons, oranges, figs, apples and chestnuts. The terraced cultivation is a beautiful sight, braving the steep slopes. After passing through a number of villages, each more beautiful than the last, including Lanjaron (under the eye of the ruins of its castle), Pampaneira and Busquistar, we reach Trevélez. Its white terraced houses look like staircases built against the mountain. At 1746 m, it is the highest village in Spain. Quite a symbol for our last night in the mountains...
A few more rollercoasters to enjoy the Alpujarras and its villages clinging to the flanks of the Sierra Nevada (Bérchules, Ugijar, Cherin...). Gradually, we descend towards the sea alongside the Río de Urgijar, which cuts a deep, green furrow through the Sierra. Arrival at La Mamola, where we celebrate the success of our Trans Andalusia!
Transfer by vehicle to Malaga (approx. 2 hours), where we spend our last night.
Individual departure after breakfast. Airport transfer possible.
Distance and altitude difference are given for information only.
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.
This tour has not yet received any reviews.
