With each click of the castanets, you feel it - from flamenco to fiestas, gazpacho to tapas, bodegas to bullrings - the essence of Spain lies squarely in the heart of Andalucía. In this long-ago Moorish stronghold, every romantic sultan's palace, striking cathedral and brilliantly whitewashed village has captivating stories to tell. We'll take you deep inside and reveal their secrets. Biking in Andalucía with Backroads - quintessentially wonderful!
Days 1-2 Pedal back in time, tracing the classic route of Los Pueblos Blancos
Rendezvous in vibrant Sevilla Spin through the countryside, passing through Zahara de la Sierra, a pueblo blanco that was once a Moorish outpost Rolling pine-clad hills in the Grazalema mountains (a favorite haunt of local cyclists) serve up some challenging climbs - and heavenly views Get to know the ancient capital of Ronda Perched on a high plateau and sliced in half by a sheer vertical gorge, the town's setting is spectacular!
Day 3 Authentic Andalusian cuisine - mouthwatering tapas, gazpacho and world-class olive oils
Dramatic cliffs and sweeping vistas lead to the rugged canyon of El Chorro, a mecca for local outdoor lovers Savor breezes perfumed by orange and lemon trees as you take in views of the Guadalhorce River below The well-preserved village of Antequera, surrounded be a sea of olive trees, is sure to delight you when lit up at night.
Days 4-6 Relax at unique hotels, from a former convent to a marvelous Moorish-inspired palace
Fantastically eroded limestone rock formations are yours to admire in the National Park Los Torcales Spend time off your bike and get a close-up look at these 150-million-year-old geologic wonders Pedal past olive trees as far as the eye can see on your way to whitewashed lakeside villages.
Trip Highlights
- Pedal back in time, tracing the classic route of Los Pueblos Blancos
- Authentic Andalusian cuisine - mouthwatering tapas, gazpacho and world-class olive oils
- Relax at unique hotels, from a former convent to a marvelous Moorish-inspired palace
- Explore Sevilla and Granada, our dazzling gateway cities
- Experience a captivating mix of ancient cultures
Casual & Premiere Inns
Hotel Catalonia Reina Victoria (2 nights): With a dramatic setting above the El Tajo Gorge, this newly renovated hotel offers unrivaled access to local attractions and is surrounded by pine forest and gardens. (pool, spa)
Hotel Convento La Magdalena (1 night): This former 16th-century convent is famous for its frescoes, which were recently discovered and still undergoing restoration. (spa, pool)
Barceló La Bobadilla (2 nights): You may never want to leave this splendid palace, beautifully set amid a sea of olive groves. (pool, spa)
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of
interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one
day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat
from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each
day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 20 | 1500 | ||||||||
| 2 | 19* | 1500 | 25* | 2900 | 52 | 4200 | ||||
| 63 | 5600 | |||||||||
| 3 | 20* | 900 | 36* | 2000 | 52* | 3700 | ||||
| 60 | 4000 | |||||||||
| 4 | 23* | 2200 | 52 | 3800 | ||||||
| 57 | 4800 | |||||||||
| 5 | 27* | 1900 | 43 | 3100 | 51 | 4000 | ||||
| 6 | 19 | 700 | ||||||||
There is less than 5% of riding on hard-packed dirt on this trip. Since the overwhelming majority of the trip is paved, we've elected to use standard road bike tires on our titanium road bikes. Most guests find this to be the right answer. If you prefer to skip the dirt, a shuttle is always a possibility.
* Includes a shuttle
2013 Dates & Pricing*
CLASSIC TRIPS
- 6/2-7 Price: $3598 pp dbl. occ., (+ $580 for sgl. occ.)
- 9/8-13 Price: $3498 pp dbl. occ., (+ $580 for sgl. occ.)
- 9/15-20 Price: $3498 pp dbl. occ., (+ $580 for sgl. occ.)
- 9/22-27 Price: $3298 pp dbl. occ., (+ $580 for sgl. occ.)
- 9/29-10/4 Price: $3498 pp dbl. occ., (+ $580 for sgl. occ.)
- 10/6-11 Price: $3498 pp dbl. occ., (+ $580 for sgl. occ.)
- 10/13-18 Price: $3598 pp dbl. occ., (+ $580 for sgl. occ.)
- 10/20-25 Price: $3598 pp dbl. occ., (+ $580 for sgl. occ.)
*Prices may change. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.
Guest Trip Reviews
So many of the characteristics that we equate with "quintessential" Spain - like tapas, sherry and gazpacho, flamenco music and dance, elaborate Moorish architecture and romantic white-washed villages - were born in Andalucia. We're excited to offer this new trip that captures all the cultural richness, history and flavor of the region!- Trip Development Coordinator, Europe