Hilltop Villages of Andalucia Leisure Cycling Tour

Are you looking for a single-day experience? Browse our Cycling Day Tours from Ronda.

Overview

 

START: Ronda

FINISH: Ronda

This tour can be started in Malaga or Granada, adding 3 or 5 extra days of riding — price on request

Price	From €795 p.p. based on 2 people sharing a double or twin room with breakfast
Duration	6 days	5 nights	4 cycling days
Distance	167 km total	42 km daily avg (max 45 km : min 37 km)
Grading	Moderate – This tour follows the ‘less travelled path’, cycling on mostly quiet roads, with a few sections of unsurfaced tracks, suitable for trekking bikes and gravel bikes (e‑bikes also available). As the name suggests, most days finish with an ascent into a white village, the total tour ascent is 4267m, and the daily average ascent is 1067m.
Availability	March to June | Sep to November Choose the dates which suit you. Start any day of the week. Supplements may apply during Easter week due to accommodation pricing.

 

Spanish Cycling Tour Highlights — Hilltop Villages 

Culture & History Ronda 'City of Dreams' – Puente Nuevo bridge and 120m gorge Grazalema Natural Park & Village – a beautiful protected area and mountain top village Zahara de la Sierra – white village sitting atop a rocky peak with views to the lake below Olvera – twin‑towered church and Arab fortress overlooking the Serrania de Ronda Setenil de las Bodegas – cavehouses are built into the limestone walls of this deep valley Acinipo – The site of a Roman town atop a hill with the remains of an amphitheatre and views of the Grazalema NP

Scenery & Cycling Low Traffic riding – ride on quiet roads and easy unsurfaced tracks, away from traffic Take less-travelled routes – tourists rarely discover Via Verde de la Sierra – disused railway with tunnels and Cueva del Gato  – popular swimming place with a waterfall and crystal clear waters coming from the cave White Villages – giving a real taste of Andalucian life Excellent cycling – through cork oak forests, mountain passes, remote villages and popular points of interest

Itinerary

 

Arrival Day in Ronda

Check in to your hotel and enjoy the sights and sounds of the beautiful clifftop town of Ronda. 

 

 

 

• Extra sightseeing days can be added on request

• Welcome meeting and bike setup usually take place the evening before your first ride

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Cycling Day 1 - Ronda to Grazalema

42km +888m

Riding out from Ronda, you will be in the countryside in no time at all, cycling past vineyards, arable fields, and small streams and on to a local beauty spot, the Cueva del Gato (“Cat Cave”). Take a look at the waterfall and crystal clear pool below before the day’s main climb up through the villages of Benaojan and Montejaque. Continue on past an abandoned dam, set into a rocky valley, and then you will be riding on a superb, twisting downhill section through cork oak forests. You exit the forest briefly and then rejoin it for a further 10km. This quiet stretch of road undulates through the forest and then opens out to give fantastic views of Grazalema village, set high in the mountains with even higher mountains all around. A final 2km climb takes you up into the village for the night.

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Cycling Day 2 - Grazalema to Zahara de la Sierra

44km +956m

Today’s ride begins with a short, steep little climb out of Grazalema before you ride down a steady 12km descent. In the opposite direction, this is a tough climb known locally as “The Beast” – enjoy the knowledge that you are doing the descent, rather than the climb. The route then takes you through the rural countryside, via El Bosque and the pretty village of Prado del Rey (an excellent lunch stop). Undulating countryside leads you to Zahara de la Sierra, a striking village set on a small rocky outcrop above the clear blue waters of a reservoir, topped by the remains of an Arab fortress. Overnight in this charming village – and if your legs are feeling up to it, take a walk up the hill to the remains of the Arab fortress.

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Cycling Day 3 - Zahara de la Sierra to Olvera

37km +872m

A lovely, steady day, with no tricky or steep climbs, just constant “ups-and-downs” throughout to give you a good workout. You head north from Zahara into “olive country" - acres of dusty green trees in regimented lines stretching as far as the eye can see; even the steepest slopes are cultivated to make the most of the available land between the limestone hills. You will pass through the sleepy village of La Muela and then join a section of the Via Verde de la Sierra - a cycle route along the path of a disused railway line developed to help transport the olive crops to the coast, but never actually used. You finish with a steady 10km climb up into the village of Olvera; another Arab fortress at the top of the village is worth a visit on foot before you enjoy a relaxing evening.

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Cycling Day 4 - Olvera to Ronda

45km +1069m

A nice, easy downhill to start the day as you drop down to river level and then begin a steady 19km of climbing. You ride through the village of Setenil (a good refreshment stop, with cafes and restaurants built into huge overhanging limestone cliffs), on to tiny Venta de Leche and then continue up to Acinipo. This is a small detour to visit the remains of a Roman town built high on an escarpment, with a part-restored amphitheatre. Walk up the slope above the amphitheatre seats for fantastic views across to the Grazalema Valley. From Acinipo, you have a stunning 12km descent before the final climb up to Ronda for your final night.

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Departure Day

Check out of your hotel and have a safe trip home or to your next destination.

 

 

 

• Extra sightseeing days can be added on request. 

• We can provide transfers to your next destination or the airports of Sevilla or Malaga. POA

Included

 

What's Included 5 nights of accommodation on a B&B basis Luggage transfers Quality trekking bike (this tour is suitable for gravel bikes or e‑bikes — supplement applies) Helmet & water bottle (or bring your own) Toolkit (multi‑tool, chain tool, tyre levers, inner tube, pump, puncture repair aerosol) Overnight lock Route GPS app (offline) or GPX files Handlebar phone mount Annotated route maps Briefing Pack with day‑by‑day notes Briefing meeting on arrival Bike collection from final destination of the tour Trekking bikes available in ladies' and mens frames.

Accommodation Your tour includes a mix of 4**** and 3*** hotels in larger towns, plus countryside haciendas, boutique B&Bs and traditional village hotels. All rooms have en‑suite facilities. We prioritise clean, comfortable stays with friendly owners, secure bike storage and, where possible, swimming pools.

 

Route Navigation For self-guided biking, we provide a GPS app for your phone, which works fully offline for each day's ride. The app shows detailed maps, route profiles and turn‑by‑turn navigation. A quality phone holder is supplied with your bike. You also receive a large‑scale annotated map designed specifically for your tour.   Local Support You’re never on your own. As soon as you arrive in Spain, we add you to a dedicated WhatsApp group so communication is quick and effortless throughout your trip. We also meet you at the start of your tour to walk you through everything you need to know, make sure your navigation app is set up correctly, and confirm you’re fully comfortable using it. Our team is based right here in Ronda, close to all the touring areas, so if anything unexpected comes up, we’re nearby and ready to help.

FAQs

 

 Is There A Lot Of Traffic On The Route?

All our Leisure Cycling Tours are designed to follow the ‘less travelled path’. The route avoids traffic as much as possible, cycling on a mix of quiet country roads and unsurfaced tracks. It is not off-road mountain biking, so is perfect for cyclists on our trekking bikes (or e-bikes) who are keen to explore the countryside. Drivers in Andalucia are generally very considerate to cyclists.

 How Fit Do I Need To Be?

All our Leisure Cycling Tours are graded at a ‘Moderate’ level with daily distances from 20–55km, depending on the specific tour. There are hills in every tour but we keep daily distances manageable, particularly on days with more hills. These tours are designed for leisure cyclists who are reasonably fit and happy to be on a bike for 3–5 hours a day. Check the individual tour itinerary for a daily breakdown of distance and ascent.

 What’s The Weather Like?

Our cycling tours run from March through to November, with the best cycling weather from March to June and from September to November. Most routes are also possible during the summer months but we recommend an earlier start to beat the main heat of the day, and don’t forget to carry plenty of water.

 What Happens To My Luggage?

We transfer all your main luggage for you. We provide a rear seat trunk bag or small side pannier and a handlebar bag (per couple) to carry a few essential items with you each day such as water, snacks, and sunscreen, but we recommend you travel light.

 How Do I Navigate Each Day?

Navigation on this tour is very easy with our phone app, RidewithGPS. We provide personalised daily routes from door‑to‑door of each day’s accommodation. The app shows maps and daily routes in great detail, with distances and route profiles, so you always know what is coming up. The app is used in offline mode so you do not need to use data on your phone and can still navigate in areas where there is no phone signal.

 What Happens If I Have A Puncture Or Problem With My Bike?

On this self‑guided tour, we provide all the necessary kit on your bikes for you to fix your own flat tyres or deal with minor mechanical issues (e.g. broken chain). If you do not know how, ask a bike mechanic at home to show you before your holiday or check our Bike Repair notes at the bottom of every web page. If you need our assistance, you can call us on the number provided and we will help as much as possible on the phone; we may be able to attend to minor mechanical issues but this may be subject to a charge. In the case of a more major mechanical issue, we will come to repair the bike or bring a replacement.

 What Meals Are Included?

All accommodation includes breakfast (unless specifically stated). Lunch and dinner are not included, so you are free to eat when and where you wish. We mark up your map with suggested lunch locations. Your hosts can recommend dining options, or sometimes they will serve dinner – this information will be included in your daily route notes.

 Is This Tour Available With A Guide Or Support?

We can offer a guided version of this tour with qualified guides and support vehicles or a semi‑supported version with a support vehicle and driver/mechanic. There is a minimum requirement of 6 people to be able to provide this service. Please do not hesitate to enquire about price and availability.

 What If I Need To Cancel Or Change My Booking?

If you need to cancel or change the dates of a booking, we have a scaled set of charges based on the work already completed and any costs already incurred that we cannot get back. If you re‑book a holiday with us within 12 months of a cancellation which has incurred charges, we will credit up to 50% of the retained amount to the new holiday. Our full cancellation policy can be found here.

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