Excellent - Gran Canaria was definitely the most challenging tour that Mark and I have done but the only tour (so far) that we left feeling we could have done more, so we'll be back for the same week next year with a 34 on the back!
Gran Canaria has earned its reputation as a top winter road cycling destination for professionals and amateurs alike. Its fantastic climate, quality roads, challenging climbs, and striking landscape make it the perfect location to escape the winter and build your physical strength at the start of the cycling season. This superb road cycling holiday follows our Classic flexible pace format with route options daily, offering plenty of miles and elevation, but you choose the intensity! Every day there are 'easier' routes that allow you to skip some of the steeper climbs - perfect for those wanting a more relaxed winter cycling experience, whilst still making the most of the fantastic terrain. For those wanting to push themselves further, there are tougher routes each day that will really test your mettle!
This itinerary encompasses the whole island, which isn't possible on most other tours on offer that only cover routes in the south. You'll experience wonderful cycling through lush valleys filled with banana plantations, through remote villages, rugged massifs and canyons, and stunning coastal cliffs. The 'Valley of The Tears', Pico de las Nieves, and the nature reserve of Roque Nublo are just a few of the climbs and rides you can explore. During this fabulous, fully supported cycling tour you'll stay in superb 4* hotels, all of them exceptional and which offer a level of luxury not common on most of our tours. The Parador, for example, is well-known as the pros' base while training on Gran Canaria. All four hotels have excellent facilities so at the end of the day, you have the opportunity to fully relax after a tough day in the saddle.
Due to local regulations, our Canarian cycling tours operate slightly differently from our other European road cycling holidays. We hire the support vehicles locally and then kit them out with all the Marmot essentials to provide you with the unique level of support we offer. We're unable to take our fleet of hire bikes to the island so instead we can put you in touch with our Gran Canaria bike rental partner if you don't want to bring your own. You will, of course, receive the same exceptional support from two super-skilled, encouraging (and fun!) Marmot guides on the road, there to support YOU and to help you have an incredible cycling holiday.
For the latest travel advice from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
We hope you’ll have sunshine and perfect cycling temperatures during your holiday, but obviously it’s the one aspect of your trip over which we have no control! Weather in the mountains of Gran Canaria can be changeable, and sometimes extreme. You’re likely to encounter a range of conditions and temperatures during your trip. You should bring warm and waterproof layers to protect you from the cold and rain. This is particularly important for the long descents that you’ll encounter on this trip.
This Classic, flexible-pace holiday itinerary offers a lot of flexibility, with a Classic and a Challenge route available each day (and sometimes an additional easier route too - see the trip description on the webpage for details of the route options available each day). Have a look at the daily stats of distance and climbing on the trip webpage. Although we move on most days, the distance and altitude gain between hotels are manageable for most people who road-cycle regularly. Please get in touch if you’d like further guidance.
This trip is set across four superb 4* hotels with amazing food, stunning views, beautiful pools and spa facilities, allowing for a more luxurious hotel environment compared to our summer itineraries.We have selected the hotels for their location and for their customer service towards cyclists. You will be sharing a twin room with another client (of the same gender) unless you book a single room for a supplement (contact [email protected] for availability). Each hotel has a garage/locked room to ensure that your bike has a comfortable night too.
All the hotels have WiFi but it is not always reliable! Some only have WiFi in reception as opposed to in individual rooms. Also, WiFi can be slower in the evenings when many riders choose to upload their routes to Strava, stretching the bandwidth.
We move on most nights of this trip, so opportunities to use hotel laundry facilities (where they exist) are limited. However, we can help dry your hand-washed kit, so consider bringing some hand-wash detergent with you.
The hotels and restaurants we use can cater for most dietary needs and allergies if we know what these are well in advance. Each day, your guides will also double-check with the kitchen, to ensure they have something suitable planned for you.
You can let us know about any special dietary requirements on the booking form or via email. Please note that we request you stick to your dietary preference for the entire trip, as it’s very complicated for the hotels (and guides) if an individual has dietary requirements for some meals and not for others.
Your day will typically start with breakfast from around 08:30 with set off time at around 09:45 to 10:15. Lunch is typically served in restaurants and cafes from 14:00 to 16:00. Depending on which route you choose each day, you’ll be back at the hotel any time between 14:00 and 18:30. Dinner is usually served at 20:30. Your guides may occasionally need to adjust these timings depending on the needs of the group or the weather conditions.
Our holidays are cycling holidays (with an emphasis on cycling!), but you are welcome to have a lift in our vans during the day if you need one, for example if you’re injured, exhausted, or unsure about riding in challenging weather conditions. If you become ill or injured and are not planning to ride for the whole day (or if you would just like a day off the bike!) on a day when we move on to the next hotel, then we will normally recommend that you take a taxi directly to the next hotel. This will give you the maximum possible time to rest and recover at the hotel, or to enjoy other activities off the bike.
If you have rim brakes on your carbon wheels then we definitely do NOT recommend you bring them on this holiday - this is because we have witnessed several cases of sudden and catastrophic delamination of these wheels on descents. Take a look at our blog about this issue.
If you’re bringing your own bike, then please also bring:
bike lights
a pump
tyre levers
inner tubes
brake pads
a chain link
a spare rear derailleur hanger.
Tools for bike assembly are not required as Marmot Tours has them available for you to use on arrival (including a torque wrench). See FAQS for more detail.
If you are a non-EU national, to enter the EU you will need a passport issued within the last 10 years, that is also valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave the EU.
Residents of many countries can enter the EU for short stays without a visa. From 2027, all non-EU visitors to the EU will require an ETIAS electronic travel authorisation.
Travel insurance is essential for all Marmot Tours holidays and anyone without insurance is not able to take part in the tour.
We are pleased to offer some tempting discounts off the basic trip cost (not including extras such as single rooms or bike hire):
Please note that there is a maximum 10% discount on any holiday.
We offer included transfers from Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) to our start hotel in San Agustín at several times throughout the day, with a journey time of just 30 min.
The 4* Gloria Palace San Agustín is a wonderful hotel to spend the first two nights of your cycling holiday. It's within walking distance of the beach, boasts two beautiful swimming pools and a spa (extra charges apply). The hotel even hosts a hire bike centre, with an excellent range of bikes to suit all budgets. This is a great additional service if you don't want to bring your own bike, but we advise booking in advance.
You'll have time to assemble your bikes before we gather in the early evening. Our two guides will brief you on the week ahead and how the holiday will work. This will also give you a chance to meet your fellow riders, before enjoying a fantastic dinner.
You'll start your week of cycling on the CG-60 climb out of Maspalomas, the most cycled road on the island. It's a beautiful ride through an ever-changing landscape on gloriously smooth tarmac. After 27km of generally uphill pedaling over the Alto de Fataga (927m), you reach the town of San Bartolomé de Tirajana - the perfect time for a coffee, some cake, and a decision!
Those wanting more can tackle the extra climb to the viewpoint at Cruz Grande (1236m). All routes then descend back to the coast on a spectacular road cut into the side of the Barranco (canyon) de Tirajana.
Part way down the descent, the Challenge route detours on a fabulous loop, taking in the Alto de Cañadillas (824m) via Agüimes.
All routes finish with a relatively flat 20km ride to the sumptuous surroundings of the Gloria Palace for a second night. Time for a dip in the pool, maybe?
Classic : 68 KM with 1300m ascent [ride profile]
Harder : 80 KM with 1860m ascent [ride profile]
Challenge : 118 KM with 2550m ascent [ride profile]
Alternative : 115 KM with 1800m ascent
You start today by cycling along the coast to Santa Agueda, where we head inland and climb gently up the Barranco de Arguinequin. This is a wide and arid valley, apart from a narrow strip where you'll see citrus trees and prickly pear cacti thriving. The cycling gets more challenging after Las Filipinas, so the detour to the cafe/restaurant in Soria is a good pitstop.
Next up is the Risco Grande / Paso de Tauro (911m) climb, with a few short, sharp sections. Rest assured that this single-lane road has glorious views to distract you from the challenge! Our destination is the luxurious Hotel Cordial Mogán Playa , which is located in the idyllic seaside town of Puerto de Mogán. Those wanting to relax and appreciate the facilities can head straight to the hotel, but there are extra cycling options available for those wanting more of a challenge.
The first detours north from the coast and takes you on a classic loop up the Ayagaures Valley and over Alto de Pedro Gonzalez (489m). The second option is near the end of the day, when you can head up the GC605 climb to the cafe in Ayacata (1317m). We know you'll love the mind-blowing descent to the coast from here!
Classic : 64 KM with 1190m ascent [ride profile]
Harder : 89 KM with 1610m ascent [ride profile]
Challenge : 119 KM with 2210m ascent [ride profile]
The west of Gran Canaria is strikingly different from the rest of the island. Its volcanic landscape has been sculpted by erosion, leaving some deep valleys and imposing cliffs. You'll start the day by climbing to Degollada de la Aldea / Mirador de San Nicolás (673m) where you'll be rewarded with a fantastic view. This is followed by a descent to the unspoilt coastal village of Los Caserones for lunch on the beach. This is the start of the well-known GC-200 clifftop road that partially collapsed into the sea a few years ago. An amazing cycle-friendly tunnel has replaced most of it, but you can still ride up to the Mirador del Balcón (350m) for a taste of what the road used to be like.
From here, our Classic Route heads to the charming port town of Agaeta, our destination for the night.
As always there are a few options today. From La Aldea de San Nicolás, head inland up the spectacular narrow gorge of the 'Valley of the Reservoirs' to the Mirador del Molino (510m). From here, you can catch a glimpse of the 'Valley of the Tears' to mentally prepare yourself for day 6! The other option can be tagged on to the end of the day. It's a beautiful ride up the remote Valley of Agaete through orange groves, coffee plantations, and vineyards to El Sao (516m) at the foot of the impressive cliffs of Tamadaba.
Easier : 65 KM with 1460m ascent [ride profile]
Classic : 71 KM with 1670m ascent [ride profile]
Harder : 90 KM with 2220m ascent [ride profile]
Challenge : 123 KM with 2930m ascent [ride profile]
The north of Gran Canaria is lush and verdant. The lower flanks of the mountains are covered in banana plantations, but these give way to terraced fields and villages, and then pine forests clinging on to the cinder-covered mountainsides. Our destination today is the Parador de Cruz de Tejeda hotel, at 1560m, and it’s a truly fabulous place to spend two nights, with wonderful facilities.
There are many infamous 'leg-breaking' roads of the 'Medianias' in the north of the island, but we've chosen the gentlest way to gain altitude, and your ride can always be punctuated by stopping at any of the many local tavernas. En route to the summit, we pass through Cruz de Tejeda, so you may wish to retire to the hotel's hydrothermal pool - with a spectacular view! However, the Pico de las Nieves (1930m) is a truly magical place with extensive views of the island and beyond to Tenerife, so it is well worth the effort.
The Challenge route adds a classic loop down to Ayacata, then over El Aserrador (1345m) before climbing back up to the Cruz de Tejeda (1560m) from the southeast.
Whichever route you choose, you'll be rewarded with superb accommodation and facilities at the Parador when you finish pedalling for the day. How about a well-deserved dip in the pool?
Classic : 41 KM with 1820m ascent [ride profile]
Harder : 58 KM with 2340m ascent [ride profile]
Challenge : 83 KM with 2910m ascent [ride profile]
Optional extra "Tejeda Loop" : 12 KM with 400m ascent [ride profile]
The Pico de las Nieves (1930m) from Telde is one of the toughest road cycling climbs on Gran Canaria. It's 24km long and gains 1690m, which is hard enough, but it also includes a brutal 5km 10% section, with some bits ramping up to 14%! This certainly makes for an epic Challenge route! The base of the climb is reached by a wonderful descent via San Mateo and Valsequillo, so it's not all bad!
We appreciate that this type of 'fun' is not for everyone, so we've made sure the other routes on offer are especially pleasant and explore the picturesque mountainous heartland of the island (included on the day 4 Challenge route). Both routes start by descending to Tejeda over El Aserrador (1345m) to the delightful cafe in Ayacata. From here, you take on the Pico de las Nieves (1930m) on the popular GC-600, passing through the Nature Reserve of Roque Nublo - a massive volcanic rock chimney that is the symbol of Gran Canaria.
After enjoying the view, you can head directly back to the Parador to chill out for a second night, cycling via the Mirador Degollada de Becerra. Alternatively, explore a bit more of the north of the island and take on the upper part of the CG-15 climb or the beautiful Tejeda Loop.
Easier : 42 KM with 1090m ascent [ride profile]
Classic : 50 KM with 1370m ascent [ride profile]
Challenge : 78 KM with 2300m ascent [ride profile]
It's your final day of cycling and today is an absolute corker! Whichever route you choose, you're sure to arrive back at the fabulous Gloria Palace San Agustín having had an unforgettable day!
You'll start with a fast descent, before picking up a balcony road past Artenara, which has constant views of the rugged volcanic landscape. You'll then enjoy a thrilling descent into the Aldea canyon. Wow - what a ride! This takes you to the base of the aptly named 'Valley of The Tears' (VOTT). This wild and remote climb is renowned for its punishing gradients (averaging 12%, with some sections over 20%) and ranks highly in the list of must-do cycling climbs in Europe. Rest assured that if you find it too much, you can always catch a lift in one of our support vehicles.
You will eventually head over El Aserrador (1345m) back to Ayacata for a hearty lunch. Here, those on the Challenge route have a decision to make, as there is still one ascent of the Pico de las Nieves (1930m) that needs to be tackled - the GC-600 past Roque Nublo. For those who don't fancy the VOTT, our (unsupported) easier route takes you via the Cruz de Los Llanos (1723m) to Ayacata.
From Ayacata, all routes head to Cruz Grande (1236m) and back to San Bartolome de Tirajana. Here, you'll pick up the GC-60 and enjoy descending the wonderful road you first climbed six glorious days ago. Once back at the Gloria Palace, you can relax, enjoy the facilities, and partake in the obligatory post-mortem of the day's ride, while celebrating a fantastic week's cycling!
Easier : 52 KM with 570m ascent [ride profile]
Classic : 80 KM with 1550m ascent [ride profile]
Challenge : 103 KM with 2220m ascent [ride profile]
Sadly, your fabulous week on Gran Canaria is at an end, even though your legs might thank you! We'll drop you back to Gran Canaria airport (LPA) for your return flight (journey time under 1 hr), no doubt with great memories and stories to share.
We hope you’ll have sunshine and perfect cycling temperatures during your holiday, but obviously it’s the one aspect of your trip over which we have no control! Weather in the mountains of Gran Canaria can be changeable, and sometimes extreme. You’re likely to encounter a range of conditions and temperatures during your trip. You should bring warm and waterproof layers to protect you from the cold and rain. This is particularly important for the long descents that you’ll encounter on this trip.
This Classic, flexible-pace holiday itinerary offers a lot of flexibility, with a Classic and a Challenge route available each day (and sometimes an additional easier route too - see the trip description on the webpage for details of the route options available each day). Have a look at the daily stats of distance and climbing on the trip webpage. Although we move on most days, the distance and altitude gain between hotels are manageable for most people who road-cycle regularly. Please get in touch if you’d like further guidance.
This trip is set across four superb 4* hotels with amazing food, stunning views, beautiful pools and spa facilities, allowing for a more luxurious hotel environment compared to our summer itineraries.We have selected the hotels for their location and for their customer service towards cyclists. You will be sharing a twin room with another client (of the same gender) unless you book a single room for a supplement (contact [email protected] for availability). Each hotel has a garage/locked room to ensure that your bike has a comfortable night too.
All the hotels have WiFi but it is not always reliable! Some only have WiFi in reception as opposed to in individual rooms. Also, WiFi can be slower in the evenings when many riders choose to upload their routes to Strava, stretching the bandwidth.
We move on most nights of this trip, so opportunities to use hotel laundry facilities (where they exist) are limited. However, we can help dry your hand-washed kit, so consider bringing some hand-wash detergent with you.
The hotels and restaurants we use can cater for most dietary needs and allergies if we know what these are well in advance. Each day, your guides will also double-check with the kitchen, to ensure they have something suitable planned for you.
You can let us know about any special dietary requirements on the booking form or via email. Please note that we request you stick to your dietary preference for the entire trip, as it’s very complicated for the hotels (and guides) if an individual has dietary requirements for some meals and not for others.
Your day will typically start with breakfast from around 08:30 with set off time at around 09:45 to 10:15. Lunch is typically served in restaurants and cafes from 14:00 to 16:00. Depending on which route you choose each day, you’ll be back at the hotel any time between 14:00 and 18:30. Dinner is usually served at 20:30. Your guides may occasionally need to adjust these timings depending on the needs of the group or the weather conditions.
Our holidays are cycling holidays (with an emphasis on cycling!), but you are welcome to have a lift in our vans during the day if you need one, for example if you’re injured, exhausted, or unsure about riding in challenging weather conditions. If you become ill or injured and are not planning to ride for the whole day (or if you would just like a day off the bike!) on a day when we move on to the next hotel, then we will normally recommend that you take a taxi directly to the next hotel. This will give you the maximum possible time to rest and recover at the hotel, or to enjoy other activities off the bike.
If you have rim brakes on your carbon wheels then we definitely do NOT recommend you bring them on this holiday - this is because we have witnessed several cases of sudden and catastrophic delamination of these wheels on descents. Take a look at our blog about this issue.
If you’re bringing your own bike, then please also bring:
bike lights
a pump
tyre levers
inner tubes
brake pads
a chain link
a spare rear derailleur hanger.
Tools for bike assembly are not required as Marmot Tours has them available for you to use on arrival (including a torque wrench). See FAQS for more detail.
If you are a non-EU national, to enter the EU you will need a passport issued within the last 10 years, that is also valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave the EU.
Residents of many countries can enter the EU for short stays without a visa. From 2027, all non-EU visitors to the EU will require an ETIAS electronic travel authorisation.
Travel insurance is essential for all Marmot Tours holidays and anyone without insurance is not able to take part in the tour.