Hilltop Villages of Andalucia

Self-Guided Leisure Cycling Tour in Spain

This self-guided leisure cycling tour explores the picturesque countryside of western Andalucia, riding on fabulous mountain roads to visit some of the most attractive hilltop white villages of the region - Ronda, Montejaque, Grazalema, Zahara de la Sierra, Olvera and (at the bottom of a river valley) Setenil de las Bodegas.

The route is mainly on quiet roads with very little traffic and drivers in this region are very considerate to cyclists. 

The riding is at a moderate level, with daily distances of around 40km over 4 days. Whilst there are hills to tackle every day, this is a perfectly doable road cycling tour for the enthusiastic cyclist who is neither mountain-fit nor wants to spend hours in the saddle over many days. This tour combines cycling on smooth, twisting mountain roads through stunning landscapes with attractive village locations for your overnight stays.

Book Your Tour Now

Book Your Tour Now

Overview

 

START:  Ronda     FINISH:  Ronda

Price	From €755 p.p. based on 2 people sharing a double or twin room with breakfast
Duration	6 days	5 nights	4 cycling days
Distance	167km total	42km daily avg     ( max 45km - min 37km )
Difficulty	Moderate - an all-road route that doesn't use any tracks (like the other leisure tours). Includes hill climbs every day but they are kept to a minimum (for this area!) with plenty of scenic touring in between. The total tour ascent is 4267m, and the daily average ascent is 1067m.
Availability	March - June | Sep - November  Choose the dates which suit you. Start on any day of the week. Note: Supplements may apply during Easter week due to inflated accommodation prices.

 

Andalucian Villages Cycling Tour Highlights 

Culture & History Ronda 'City of Dreams' - Puente Nuevo bridge and 120m gorge Hilltop white villages of Montejaque, Grazalema, Zahara de la Sierra, Olvera Setenil de las Bodegas, Cavehouse village	Scenery & Cycling Ride on quiet roads and easy unsurfaced tracks, away from traffic Grazalema Natural Park Spectacular scenery and amazing vistas at every turn -  limestone mountains, forested hills and river valleys Cueva del Gato - waterfall and crystal clear water pool Amazing vistas at every turn Stunning mountain ascents and descents, incl. Puerto del Boyar

Itinerary

 

Arrival Day in Ronda

Extra sightseeing days can be added on request

Check in to your hotel and enjoy the sights and sounds of the beautiful clifftop town of Ronda. Briefing and bike set-up will take place on your first evening.

 

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.

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 on 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.

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 will regularly spot sections of the Via Verde below you - 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.

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 on 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.

Departure Day

Extra sightseeing days can be added on request

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

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

We hope to see you again in the future.

What's Included

 

WHAT'S INCLUDED   5 nights accommodation on a B&B basis  Luggage transfers Quality hybrid bike (or e-bike, supplement applies) Optional seat-post rear bag and/or handlebar bag for your daily needs (we recommend travelling light) Toolkit (multi-tool, chain tool and speed links, tyre levers, inner tube, pump, puncture repair aerosol) Overnight lock Helmet & water bottle (or bring your own) Route GPS (phone App with daily routes, profiles and maps, no Data-usage required) or GPX files Handlebar phone mount (normally 1 per couple/family) Annotated route maps  Briefing Pack, incl tips, advice and day-by-day route notes Briefing meeting on arrival   See our suggested KIT LIST for road cycling holidays in Spain.

ACCOMMODATION Your tour goes through a mix of large and small towns and more rural areas, so the accommodation style and standard will vary greatly. In the larger towns, we usually book 4-star or 3-star hotels; outside of these, you will stay in countryside haciendas, boutique B&Bs or traditional-style village hotels. All rooms have en-suite facilities. Our selections are based on clean and comfortable accommodation (if sometimes quite simple), friendly owners and staff, a warm welcome, bike storage and sometimes a swimming pool too.

ROUTE NAVIGATION For self-guided cycling, we provide a GPS application on your mobile phone.  We give free access to the application which can be used in offline mode for each day's ride.  The app. shows maps and the route in great detail. We supply a quality phone holder on the bike to keep your phone safe. We also provide a large-scale, annotated map, designed specifically for your tour by Hike and Bike, giving you a perspective of where you are at all times.

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 hybrid 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 e.g. water, snacks, 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 webpage. 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 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 / 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 which 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