Ronda to Sevilla Cycling Holiday
An Unmissable Self-Guided Cycling Tour in Andalucia
Enjoy a moderate 5-day self-guided bike tour that takes you between two of Andalucia’s most famous and beautiful towns, including a full day to explore Seville. This tour is a feast of stunning scenery, ancient history, and Spanish culture.
Our Andalucian cycling tour routes always take the less-travelled path. We avoid the easy-to-find roads in favour of more scenic, lesser-known minor roads and country tracks, to give you a truly unique experience of the real Spain.
(Prefer walking holidays? We've got you covered! Explore our Walking Tours from Ronda, Andalucia.)
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You begin in Ronda, set dramatically on a cliff above a deep river gorge which divides the town in two. Then head northwards to Sevilla, a city of stunning architecture, great food and the romance and drama of flamenco. Enjoy a final day exploring Sevilla on foot - the Alcazar Palace complex, Cathedral, Giralda Tower, narrow streets and atmospheric tapas bars
Your cycling route will take you through the beautiful unspoiled countryside and via small white villages which have barely changed in centuries. It follows a section of the ancient Roman Via Serrana route, dotted with castle remains and churches of Santiago.
Overview
START: Ronda FINISH: Sevilla
This tour can be started in Malaga, adding 2 or 3 extra days of riding. Price on request
Price From €1025 p.p. based on 2 people sharing a double or twin room with breakfast Duration 7 days 6 nights 4 cycling days Distance 158 km total 40 km daily avg ( max 38km: min 34km ) Grading Moderate - This tour has been designed to follow the 'less travelled path', cycling on a mix of quiet roads, unsurfaced roads and tracks on hybrid bikes (e-bikes also available). The route keeps riders away from traffic as far as possible. Whilst the first two days have some notable hills, as you head further north towards Sevilla the terrain becomes less mountainous and the days become easier. Availability March - June | Sep - November Choose the dates which suit you. Start on any day of the week. N.B. Supplements may apply during Easter week due to inflated accommodation prices. Ronda to Sevilla Cycling Tour Highlights
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
- Camino de Santiago churches
- Castillo de Aguzaderas - 14th Century castle remains
- Seville - Cathedral, Giralda Tower, Alcazar palace and Italica Roman ruins
Scenery & Cycling
- Ride on quiet roads and easy unsurfaced tracks, away from traffic
- Take the less-travelled routes, that tourists rarely discover
- Via Verde de la Sierra - disused railway track with tunnels and viaducts
- Sections of Via Serrano Roman way
- Excellent cycle paths throughout Seville city centre
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 Olvera
41km +530m
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.
Cycling Day 2 - Olvera to Montellano
43km +664m
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. Your hotel can recommend dining options in the village.
Cycling Day 3 - Montellano to Utrera
34km +236m
Today you join the Via Serrana, one of many Camino de Santiago that criss-cross Spain, linking isolated municipalities and offering resting places and church sanctuaries. From Montellano, this Camino crosses a flat, treeless plain that goes almost all the way to Sevilla. Stop off at the ruins of the Castillo de Aguzaderas, a 14th-century castle that was built to protect a natural water source – invaluable for crops in the long hot, dry summer months. Continue on to the town of Utrera for a visit to the grand Iglesia de Santiago and overnight in an 18th Century palace.
Cycling Day 4 - Utrera to Sevilla
40km +204m
From Utrera, your ride is flat for most of today, apart from a short, sharp hill before Alcala and an optional hill-climb up into Alcala town, to the Castillo and church for great views of the surrounding countryside. Then head back down to the river to cross over the “dragon bridge”. Quiet riverside pathways lead you to the outskirts of Sevilla and then a fantastic network of cycleways takes you right to the cathedral at the heart of the city.
Sightseeing in Sevilla
Historical sights of Sevilla
Take a well-earned rest and enjoy the magnificent city of Sevilla, richly endowed with beautiful and historic sights. The Real Alcazar Moorish Palace, Cathedral and Giralda Tower are must-sees. The Plaza Espana is a beautiful arc of stunning buildings around a bridged canal located within Maria Luisa Park. For fans of more modern sights, visit the Metropol Parasol (or giant 'Mushrooms'), located directly over some Roman remains.
If you enjoy ancient history, take a taxi or a local bike tour to the Roman ruins at Italica, the birthplace of Roman Emperors Trajan and Hadrian. Check out well-preserved public buildings, streets, and gardens, as well as private villas, many with stunning mosaic floors. Don't miss the stunning oval amphitheatre which could seat 25,000 spectators (in a city of 8,000 inhabitants) and featured as the dragon pit in dramatic scenes of Game of Thrones, Season 7. N.B. Italica is closed on Mondays. Back in Seville centre, the Archaeological Museum contains, amongst other artefacts, a number of items removed from the Italica site.
Seville is also famous for its delightful tapas bars, restaurants, and shops. You could spend a week in Sevilla and still not exhaust its charms, so your time here is sure to provide a superb finish to your cycling tour.
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
- 6 nights of accommodation on a B&B basis
- Luggage transfers
- Quality hybrid bike (or e-bike, supplement applies)
- Helmet & water bottle (or bring your own)
- Toolkit (multi-tool, chain tool and speed links, tyre levers, inner tube, pump, puncture repair aerosol)
- Overnight lock
- 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 day-by-day route notes
- Briefing meeting on arrival
- Bike collection from Seville
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**** or 3*** 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 mountain biking, 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, 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 / 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