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Andalucia is a large autonomous region of hills, rivers and farmland bordering Spain’s southern coast. It was under Moorish rule from the 8th-15th centuries, a legacy that shows in its architecture, including such landmarks as the Alcázar castle in Seville, the capital city, as well as Córdoba’s Mezquita Mosque-Cathedral and Granada’s Alhambra palace
Andalucia is one of Spain’s best kept secrets in terms of cycling, roads are smooth and quiet with winter temperatures ranging between 16- 22, it makes for a wonderful winter cycling location. The region offers undulating coastal roads, challenging mountain climbs and stunning vistas. All of which are synonymous with a Cycle Retreats Holiday.
All holidays include transfers to and from airports but they are at set times.
If you can’t make the transfer time you can have a private transfer, but like bike hire is paid at the end of the holiday.
Today is a small ride around the wonderful area Ronda where you can begin to get you bearings. The wonderfully quiet rolling roads are perfect to ease you into the first day and to ensure the bikes are set up correctly and ready to go for the following day.
This ride takes us along smooth quiet roads to the “blue village” of Júzcar, famous for being used in a Smurf movie in 2011. We continue on from the blue village and cycle through the range of mountains known as Serranía de Ronda, set between Ronda and the Mediterranean Sea and dotted with white villages and some spectacular views. There is also another option to add in a second loop which heads out to Cartajima and Pujerra to add a little more to the route taking in a few more climbs.
This routes heads in a northerly direction through some secluded quiet rolling roads towards our destination town of Olvera. The historical town of Olvera is a paradise in the heart of the Pueblos Blancos. A hillside of whitewashed houses and alleys erected between olive groves and crowned by an exuberant monumental complex and castle. A great point to stop and enjoy the wonderful views and lunch. We continue in a anti clockwise loop enjoying the rolling countryside before heading back to the Retreat.
We start with the climb of Puerto del Viento (Pass of the Wind – 1190m), which is not too difficult from this side. You’ll reach the white village of El Burgo, a mountainous town dominated by the limestone outcrops of the surrounding mountains of the Serrania de Ronda. The bizarre rock formations of El Torrecilla (1900m) and its surrounding ‘parque natural’ overlook the town and provide the source for the Río Turón that runs through it. The views here are spectacular and worth a stop to take it all it. Now it’s time to head north to Serrato on some beautifully quiet roads where we take in a café stop before heading south back to th e Retreat.
Today is a beautiful loop to the west and north of Ronda where we take in some smooth rolling rolls with 4 lovely climbs which reward us with some spectacular views along the way. We meander north to the beautiful village of Setenil de las Bodegas, a beautiful town in the mountains of Cadiz that is part of the so-called “Route of the White Village” In addition to having a beautiful location, in the canyon of the Trejo River, Setenil de las Bodegas has a unique difference with the rest of the towns of this famous route and that is that a good part of its houses have been “built” under a rock ledge that make it one of the most original and most beautiful villages to see in Spain. A great way to round off the week of cycling.
Today you take on the most famous climb of the area Puerto de Las Palomas. This climb is just breathtaking. You’ll start by riding across the top of the ridge from Ronda before you take the road to Grazalema and head toward the white village of Zahara skirting along the southwestern edge of the Zahara el Gastor lake. This beautiful white hill town is where we stop for a coffee break before commencing the stunning climb of Puerto de las Palomas; After the 13km climb through the beautifully rocky mountain terrain we descend down to the vibrant town of Grazalema for lunch before we head back to Ronda through the beautiful Sierra Gazalema.
Feel free to bring your own bike, but if you don’t want the stress of transporting your pride and joy, we have it covered. Our hire bikes are all fully carbon with Shimano 105 or Ultegra Di2 group set.
The bikes are not included in the price of the trip.
What’s included:
Bike Hire is available at an additional cost, please enquire at time of booking
A transfers from the airport is included in your holiday at a designated time. If you can’t make this transfer time and need a private transfer we can help to arrange this for you, please see the costing below
| ANDALUCIA RETREAT | |
| Arrival Airport | Malaga |
| Arrival Day | Saturday |
| Arrival Time | 12.30 noon |
| Transfer Time | 1 hour 20 mins |
| Departure Airport | Malaga |
| Departing Day | Saturday |
| Time Departing Retreat | 8.00 am |
| Transfer Time | 1 hour 20 mins |
| Private transfer Cost | €150 |
