Malaga to Sevilla
Self-guided MTB Tour Spain
XC MTB Tour in Andalucia from the Costa del Sol to the vibrant city of Sevilla
Take an epic, self-guided mountain bike tour through western Andalucia, from the coastal beaches of Malaga, up into the mountains of Ronda, through the Grazalema Natural Park, and continuing northwards, across open plains to the historic city of Seville.
You will pass through small white villages and witness the changing character and landscape from the coast, through mountains, and finish in the city. Every day of this week-long mountain bike tour offers something special.
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On this MTB tour, you will cycle through beautiful and unspoiled countryside, maximizing the amount of off-road riding and experiencing the variety of natural trails that crisscross this region. We have designed this route to include a mix of single- and double-track, unsurfaced tracks and some sections of connecting country roads. Daily distances allow you to cover plenty of ground with a mix of easier riding, some more technical sections, and some days with notable climbs, but nothing that should trouble any reasonably competent mountain biker.
Looking for a shorter, day-length experience? Browse our full selection of Day Tours and Activities in Spain.
Overview
START: Malaga FINISH: Sevilla
Price From €1185 p.p. based on 2 people sharing a double or twin room with breakfast Duration 7 days 6 nights 5 riding days Distance 314 km total 56km daily avg ( max 69km - min 51km ) Difficulty Moderate to Challenging - route includes a daily average ascent of 869 metres. Riding is mainly on unsurfaced tracks and quiet roads with some extended sections of technical single track. Competent MTB skills are required for some sections. 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. Malaga to Sevilla Mountain Bike Tour Highlights
Riding Highlights
- Remote Mountain Biking Trails
- Natural Trails and Single Track
- Changing landscapes every day
- Outstanding routes through Natural Parks
- Riding on dusty trails in the Mediterranean sun
Experiences
- El Chorro gorge
- Ronda 'City of Dreams' and 'Puente Nuevo'
- Grazalema Natural Park
- Popular White Villages of Andalucia
- Sevilla - Cathedral, Real Alcazar, Giralda Tower, Plaza Espana
Itinerary
Arrival Day in Malaga
Extra sightseeing days can be added on request
Check in to your hotel and enjoy an evening near the beach of the Mediterranean Sea or go sightseeing in Malaga. Briefing and bike set-up will take place on the following morning.
Riding Day 1 - Malaga to El Chorro
66km +854m
Following the coastline for a couple of kilometres, you head inland on cycleways and assorted tracks. These largely follow the Guadalhorce river, via the villages of Cerralba, Pizarra and Alora. At Alora you will climb up to the castle overwatching the village, giving great views of where you have just ridden. You will see the landscape change dramatically, from arable farmland up into rocky, limestone mountains where you will spend the night at el Chorro, overlooking the Rio Guadalhorce’s exit through El Chorro gorge and the hanging, cliffside walkway of the Caminito del Rey.
Riding Day 2 - El Chorro to Ronda
69km +1274m
Riding out of the valley of el Chorro you have dramatic views of the high peaks surrounding you. From Ardales you gain even more height into a region of pine forests and hillside olive groves. On the way, you pass the ruins of Castillo de Turon. A rewarding descent takes you from the forests and into olive territory where you will pass more white villages hidden away. The day finishes with smaller dirt trails through oak forests, double track and single-track into Ronda.
Riding Day 3 - Ronda to Zahara de la Sierra
51km +1104m
Leaving Ronda from the cliff edge you are treated to fantastic views up to the main bridge (Puente Nuevo) which spans the river gorge. An ascent up into the mountains opposite Ronda takes you into the Grazalema Natural Park and to the village of Montejaque, hidden in a nook of the mountain. Continue riding through the heart of the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, riding through cork and holm oak woodland with some sections of singletrack and rocky trails. Stop for lunch in the village of Grazalema, before descending out of the mountains to ride along the edge of Zahara lake and then up to the beautiful village of Zahara de la Sierra.
Riding Day 4 - Zahara to El Coronil
65km +955m
Ride down out of the village and follow an undulating route through open farmland and into pine forests which lead to remote trails through another mountain range which you will pass over. Next, the valley of the Rio Guadalete is where you will join the Via Verde, a disused railway line, now a cycleway, with tunnels and viaducts. Continue on through Coripe and Montellano villages where the landscape changes to rolling hills. You pass the ruins of Castillo de las Aguzaderas, unusually located on flat plains and built to protect a valuable water source. From here you will ride through open farmlands before you finish in the very small village of El Coronil.
Riding Day 5 - El Coronil to Sevilla
63km +449m
On this day you ride towards the extensive arable plains which have fed Seville province for centuries. Passing through Utrera and eventually, through the town of Alcalá de Guadaira, your route takes you up into the higher levels of the old town of Alcalá to pass the walled castle and church for some great views. Descending from the castle, you will join a path which follows the Rio Guadaira, to the “dragon bridge” where you will cross and rejoin the river path which takes you to the outskirts of Seville. A fantastic network of cycleways takes you past the Plaza España and then right to the cathedral in the centre of the city, close to your accommodation for the final two nights.
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 Hardtail MTB
- Helmet & water bottle (or bring your own camelbak or bottle)
- 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
- Luggage transfers
- We operate locally to Ronda so support is always close at hand if needed
- Briefing meeting at start
- Bike collection at finish
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 where possible 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?
Our Mountain Bike Tours are designed to maximise off-road riding through changing landscapes, on a mixture of single-track paths, double-track, forest tracks, cycleways and occasional linking sections of quiet roads. The single-track is not groomed for mountain biking, so the technical requirements vary through each section. Check the individual tour Itinerary for more details. You will sometimes be riding in remote areas.
HOW FIT DO I NEED TO BE?
Our Mountain Bike Tours are graded from ‘Moderate’ to ‘Challenging’, with daily distances of 40-70km, depending on the specific tour. They are designed for cross-country mountain bikers who have reasonable off-road biking skills and good fitness. To ensure the maximum time off-road, there are notable climbs and technical sections in every tour. 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 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