The Serrania de Ronda Self-Guided Cycling Tour

Prefer walking holidays? Explore our Self‑Guided Walking Tours from Ronda.

Overview

 

START: Ronda

FINISH: Ronda

• This tour can be started in Malaga, adding 2 or 3 extra days of riding — price on request

Price	From €995 p.p. based on 2 people sharing a double or twin room with breakfast
Duration	7 days	6 nights	5 cycling days
Distance	196 km total	39 km daily avg (max 56 km : min 34 km)
Grading	Moderate – This tour has been designed to follow the ;less-travlled path', using a mix of quiet roads, unsurfaced roads and tracks on trekking bikes or gravel bikes (e-bikes also available). The route keeps riders away from traffic as far as possible. Low Road -  Our regular route for this cycling tour is called the "Low Road". It circumnavigates the mountains of the Sierra de Grazalema avoiding a 20km ascent on day 4. High Road -  For those who would like to cross the mountains on day 4 the "High Road" route is the alternative option.  The ride crosses over the Sierra de Grazalema, starting with a long ascent up to the Puerto de el Boyar (1103m elevation) and then continuing up to the summit of the Puerto de las Palomas (1357 elevation), it is a 20km climb offering amazing mountain views and rewards with a fantastic descent.
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 — Serrania de Ronda

Culture & History Ronda 'City of Dreams' – Puente Nuevo bridge and 120m gorge Setenil de las Bodegas – village of the cave house Olvera – twin‑towered church and Arab fortress Roman Salt Pans – witness the salt production of Iptuci White Villages – visit a multitude of white villages, all different and charmed in their own ways

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 viaducts Spectacular scenery – amazing vistas at every turn in natural parks, high mountains, forested hills and river valleys Cueva del Gato – waterfall and crystal clear water pool

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 Olvera

41km +429m

From Ronda, you cycle northwards, past vineyards and olive groves. Lunch in Setenil de las Bodegas, under huge overhanging limestone cliffs. Ancient "cave houses" built into the rock form the basis of many village houses, shops, and cafes. Cycle on through limestone gorge and farmland, up into Torre Alhaquime village, with great views across to Olvera's striking skyline of Arab fortress and twin-towered Renaissance church. A final section through the olives brings you to your overnight accommodation in a traditional Andalucian-style hotel.

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Cycling Day 2 - Olvera to Montellano

43km +665m

Today, you ride along the Via Verde de la Sierra, a disused railway line through the mountains and olive groves, with long tunnels (automatic lighting), viaducts, and a griffon vulture colony, perched high up on the rocks above the track. Lunch at one of the old station buildings before climbing up into the hills and onto the village of Montellano. You will stay in the village, with plenty of local dining options.

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Cycling Day 3 - Montellano to El Bosque

51km + 579m

Ride through farmland, passing through olive, sunflower, and cotton fields. Lunch in the small village of Prado del Rey - lots of little tapas bars and cafes close to the picturesque village square. Ride on past an area of natural inland salt deposits, Las Salinas de Iptuci, managed as salt flats since Roman times and where 300 tonnes of salt are still produced every year. Overnight in El Bosque in a traditional village hotel; an old mill wheel and fountain on the village square provide a lovely spot for dinner.

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Cycling Day 4 - El Bosque to Montecorto (2 options available)

 

Option 1 - Low Road

33km +685m

Cycle out of the village beside a small stream and then into the oak forests of the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. Fantastic scenery with dramatic limestone mountains all around. Lunch can be taken up in the village of Zahara de la Sierra or stay down by the beautiful blue lake with views across to the village, topped by a Moorish tower. Continue along an undulating road around the lake's edge to your spa Cortijo accommodation overlooking the lake. A table will be reserved for you for dinner in the hotel restaurant. Spa treatments can be pre-booked for you on request.

 

Option 2 - High Road

43km +1393m

From El Bosque, you will ride into the heart of the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park.  The first part of the ride ascends steadily for 15km to the Puerto de el Boyar pass at 1103m elevation.  From the pass, a short descent brings you to the final ascent for 3km, bringing you to the summit at the Puerto de las Palomas at 1357m elevation.  From her,e you have amazing views across the Serrania to the North and South.  The road down the mountain to Zahara de la Sierra is a 12 km stretch of riding heaven, ascending with hairpin turns which seem to cross over each other as you look down the mountain.

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Cycling Day 5 - Montecorto to Ronda

33km +840m

The day begins with a climb up into the hills to the Puerto de Montejaque via vineyards and open countryside. A short descent is followed by a twisting climb up through the cork oak forest and past an abandoned dam to Montejaque village. Take a break in the picturesque village plaza before enjoying a fast descent down to the Cueva del Gato (Cat Cave), so-called because of the shape of the cave in the rockface. This is a local beauty spot with a year-round waterfall that cascades from the cave mouth into a crystal clear, blue pool of water. From here, it is a gradual climb back up to Ronda to finish your cycling.

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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 6 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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