Andalusia (Southern Spain)
Road Cycling Holidays in Spain
- Cycle the best parts of Andalusia including El Torcal de Antequera, Puerto de las Palomas, and El Chorro
- Spend three nights in the beautiful and historic town of Ronda
- Perfect cycling climate with early and late-season sun
- Cheap and regular flights between Malaga and UK regional airports and beyond
- Comfortable and friendly 3* hotels with experience catering to cyclists
- Excellent support from two expert, fun guides with two of our customised support vans, focused on making your holiday the very best it can be
Days on the bike
Not cheap, but you definitely get what you pay for and I wouldn't think of doing this kind of holiday with any other company.
D Clarkson
Introduction
Showcased by the Vuelta d’Espana every August, Andalusia (Andalucía in Spanish) has to be one of the best places in Europe to ride a road bike. The scenery is varied, the roads well surfaced and there are a multitude of beautiful climbs to experience. On this cycling holiday, we explore the province of Málaga, home to several Natural Parks, as well as the geological sculptures of El Torcal de Antequera, the gravity-defying walkway of El Chorro, and the beautiful Moorish hill town of Ronda, where you’ll spend three nights.
This is a Marmot Classic style holiday so you’ll have a choice of routes daily, you can cycle at your own pace and stop when you like, giving you the ultimate flexibility throughout the week. There will be around 20 riders on the tour, which usually means three to four smaller groups form naturally, made up of riders with similar aspirations and fitness levels to one another. This means that nobody feels held up, or as if they are holding up other cyclists. With exceptional support from our two expert guides and fully kitted-out support vehicles, it’s our goal that you have the best possible cycling experience, one that you’ll never forget!
With an abundance of flights from Europe and beyond, the perfect climate for cycling in the shoulder months of the summer, great hotels, and mouth-watering Andalusian cuisine, there are very few reasons not to come on this road cycling holiday in Spain!
It’s important to us that you book the correct road cycling holiday for you, so do download and read the Trip Notes for all you need to know about how this holiday works: food, accommodation, travel, and so on…
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
Departure Dates & Prices
2024
Discount Information
We are pleased to offer some tempting discounts off the basic trip cost (not including extras such as single rooms or bike hire):
- Book & pay your deposit more than 6 months in advance of the start of your holiday for our 5% early bookers discount
- Get a group of 10+ people together for a 7.5% group discount and, as the group organiser, receive a £150 voucher for your next holiday
- Be rewarded for your loyalty by receiving a 10% discount from your 3rd Marmot trip onwards
Please note that there is a maximum 10% discount on any holiday.
Map
Itinerary
Day 0: Arrival day
We offer included airport transfers (a journey of 30 min) at scheduled times during the day from Málaga AGP airport to our start hotel, which is within walking distance of the historic town centre.
Full travel advice (essential reading before booking your flights) can be found in our Trip Notes.
Check-in, assemble bikes and share a hearty meal in preparation for the adventure ahead! Those of you on early flights may want to head out on the bikes to explore the Costa del Sol.
Day 1: Málaga to Loja through the Montes de Málaga Natural Park
The mountains of the Montes de Málaga Natural Park rise sharply to the north of the city. This is our playground for today! We start by climbing the Puerto del León (940m) on a spectacular road, which even does a couple of ‘loop-the-loops’ to gain altitude. The views are breath-taking and the sparse forest a delight.
Our Classic route continues on quiet roads over the Puerto de los Alazores (1028m) through an interesting landscape to our hotel, which commands dramatic views over the town of Loja.
The ride can be made longer and more challenging by taking on the appropriately named Puerto del Sol (1080m).
Classic route: 80km with 1700m ascent [ride profile]
Harder route: 100km with 2200m ascent [ride profile]
Challenge route: 118km with 2700m ascent [ride profile]
Day 2: Loja to El Chorro via El Torcal de Antequera
Our destination today is El Chorro, and a characterful hotel with a truly spectacular view from the swimming pool!
We start by undulating through olive groves to the historic town of Antequera. The wind-carved geology of El Torcal de Antequera dominates the horizon, and this is the main focus of your ride. The Passo de El Torcal de Antequera (955m) can be reached quite easily, but it is the final 4km to El Torcal de Antequera (1215m) that gives this climb its reputation. From here, we continue around the base of the mighty mountain through a delightful landscape. For those wanting a more leisurely ride, then there is an Easier route that passes around the Northern flanks, so it has less climbing.
We finish the day on a great little road through Valle de Abdalajis before descending steeply to El Chorro. Here you can relax by the pool or take the Challenge route and cycle past the lakes to the Mirador Tajo Encantada / Alto de la Mesa (603m) for a great view.
Easier route: 76km with 960m ascent [ride profile]
Classic route: 102km with 1700m ascent [ride profile]
Harder route: 109km with 1970m ascent [ride profile]
Challenge route: 128km with 2400m ascent [ride profile]
Day 3: El Chorro to Ronda
The Caminito del Rey is a walkway pinned along the steep walls of a narrow gorge in El Chorro – it has in the past held the title of most dangerous path in Europe! It is certainly no place to take a road bike, but we start the day looking up at this masterpiece of engineering.
Our destination is the historic and beautiful town of Ronda (where we stay in a town centre hotel for the next 3 nights) and we take a slightly obscure route over the stunning Puerto del Viento (1078m) to get there.
As always, there are extra options for those wanting more of a challenge. Starting the day by nipping up to the Mirador Tajo Encantada / Alto de la Mesa (603m) is a good option, as is detouring over the Puerto de los Martínez (713m) and Puerto de las Abejas (823m).
Classic route: 79km with 1600m ascent [ride profile]
Harder route: 89km with 1930m ascent [ride profile]
Challenge route: 111km with 2300m ascent [ride profile]
Day 4: Day ride from Ronda - Puerto de Encinas Borrachas
You have the choice of taking today as a rest day to explore the many beautiful and historic sights of Ronda.
Options galore, we head over the Alto de Benaoján (707m) on smooth surfaces linking together picture-perfect whitewashed villages. Here you can choose to head back to Ronda over the Puerto de Encinas Borrachas (1029m) with spectacular views, or detour further over the Puerto del Espino (780m) and the Cañada del Real Tesoro (625m). For those wanting that bit more, the Sendero El Pimpollar (700m) is a tempting addition!
Tonight’s dinner is not included so you can explore the many fine restaurants in town.
Easier route: 50km with 1200m ascent [ride profile]
Classic route: 77km with 1660m ascent [ride profile]
Challenge route: 104km with 2300m ascent [ride profile]
Day 5: Day ride from Ronda - Puerto de las Palomas
The Parque Natural de la Sierra de Grazalema to the west of Ronda is a total delight for a road cyclist looking for a good day out on the bike. Heading over the Puerto de Montejaque (714m) we enjoy a wonderful descent to the base of the challenging but spectacular climb to the Puerto de las Palomas (1189m). Here you have the option of returning to Ronda or looping down to the cork tree plantations and back over the Puerto del Boyar (1111m) – certainly a challenging optional extra!
Whatever you decide to do – you are bound to be happy today!
Classic route: 84km with 1600m ascent [ride profile]
Challenge route: 139km with 2900m ascent [ride profile]
Day 6: Ronda to Mijas
Bidding farewell to Ronda, we skirt the eastern edge of the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park. Our route takes in the Puerto El Saltillo (885m) and the rural plains to the Puerto del Aire (950m). This is all beautiful cycling country!
From El Burgo, we continue south over the Puerto de las Abejas (823m), heading to the Mediterranean. We finish our tour of Andalusia with a glorious traverse around the base of the Sierra de Mijas to our hotel for the evening.
Those choosing the challenge route, however, must first take on the savage gradients of the Antena Mirador Benalmadena (920m) – the views are worth it!
Easier route: 85km with 1500m ascent [ride profile]
Classic route: 104km with 1800m ascent [ride profile]
Challenge route: 118km with 2300m ascent [ride profile]
Day 7: Departure day
All good things must come to an end. We offer transfers back to Málaga AGP airport throughout the morning (30 min transfer).
For those of you on the later transfers, there is plenty to be done in Mijas and the hotel swimming pool has a particularly nice view!
Trip Album
