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Andalusia—a captivating region that enchants from the very first pedal stroke. Its natural, cultural, and historical treasures are as diverse as they are breathtaking. Inspired by this richness, we’ve crafted an epic gravel adventure that captures the essence of this singular land. This traverse takes you first from the Mediterranean views of the Costa del Sol to the majestic heights of the Sierra Nevada. You’ll climb to the summit of Pico Veleta, the highest paved road in Europe, and explore Andalusia’s architectural heritage—from charming whitewashed villages to the imposing Alhambra of Granada. From there, we uncover the raw beauty of Andalusia's iconic badlands: the legendary Tabernas Desert, famously featured in cinematic classics like The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Lawrence of Arabia, and Indiana Jones. Along the way, you’ll savor the region’s traditional flavors, with local dishes that enrich the experience. The journey culminates in the breathtaking landscapes of Cabo de Gata Natural Park, where wild, untouched beaches provide the perfect finale to this extraordinary gravel adventure, leaving you with unforgettable memories—and flavors—from this stunning region.
Some of our Gravel trips offer different levels of difficulty, from 1 to 3. When variants are available, details (distance and altitude gain) can be viewed in the day by day details of the “programme” tab.
In the case of tours with variants, regardless of the level you choose, accommodation is always in the same location (except some rare exceptions, clearly stated in the description). This allows you to choose the most suitable level on a day-to-day basis.
Arrival in Malaga and transfer to the hotel in Rincon de la Victoria. Briefing on the tour.
Vamonos! We begin our incredible journey on the shores of the Mediterranean, in Rincon de la Victoria. The roads and tracks that take us to Alhama de Granada, in the neighbouring province, run along the banks of the Pantano de La Vinuela, which supplies water to a large part of the region known as Axarquia. Our route will also take us along the old railway line where the famous ‘Cochinita’, a steam train that is legendary in the region. The many avocado and mango trees on the coast are followed by olive and almond trees on the climb up to Zafarraya. If we're lucky, we might even spot a chameleon crossing the road! Although rare, this animal, the emblem of the region, is seen from time to time... After crossing the impressive ‘boquete de Zafarraya’, a long plateau mainly used for market gardening, we will begin the final climb of the day, which will take us to the charming spa town of Alhama de Granada.
Today's objective is to reach Granada. Our route will take us through ‘los tajos’ (gorges) del rio Cacin, with its famous Roman bridge (built, as its name does not indicate, in the 20th century) lost in the middle of nowhere, the beautiful reservoir of los Bermejales, and fields of olive and almond trees, which we will cross on lovely rolling tracks with the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada on the horizon. Once we arrive in Granada, we can choose between enjoying the city and its historical treasures (a visit to the Alhambra must be booked in advance!), its culture (with the unmissable Albaicin district and its flamenco shows) and, of course, its gastronomy (Granada's tapas bars are among the last to preserve the model: a random tapa for each glass).
And here we are. The jewel of the tour. The queen stage that will take us to the (cycling) summit of Europe at an altitude of almost 3,400m. It's a stage that will take us through beautiful forest tracks in the heart of the Sierra Nevada, and finally to Capileira, a typical white village in the Alpujarras that is regularly cited as one of the most beautiful in Spain! Let's leave it at that. Let the magic happen. It may be a physically demanding day, but it's sure to be an unforgettable one!
After a good night's rest, we're back on the road, heading east. On the programme, we'll be crossing the Alpujarras by road and forest tracks, including a crossing that will take us to Trévelez, the highest village in Spain and famous for its PDO ham, and on to Laroles and its many chestnut trees.
¡Adios Granada.... Bienvenida Almeria! On this 6th day, we're leaving the Granadina province, which has offered us so much in terms of scenery and emotions, and which has put our muscles and brakes to the test!
And action! The penultimate stage of our trip will take us to the Tabernas Desert, 30km north of Almeria, the natural setting for cult films such as ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’, ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, ‘A Fistful of Dollars’ and ‘Indiana Jones’! We'll cycle through the arid and absolutely incredible badland landscapes that have shaped the history of cinema and where the remains of western villages such as Fort Bravo still stand. It's a timeless stage that will undoubtedly remain one of our fondest memories of this trip!
La ultima! For this final stage, we'll be crossing the Cabo de Gata nature park. Of volcanic origin, this park is no less than the largest land-sea nature reserve on the entire Mediterranean coastline. But before reaching the crystal-clear waters facing the ruins of the bateria de San Ramon, we'll have to leave the Tabernas desert and take the magnificent via verde Lucainena. A beautiful finish! After a final picnic by the waterside, we'll take a transfer back to La Fabriquilla beach... time to reminisce about the countless magical moments of this holiday... and take a little nap... before who knows... perhaps setting off to discover Malaga's nightlife!
Bye bye Malaga, it's already the end of our trip.End of services after breakfast or transfer to the airport.
Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.
Make sure to check our France Bike Trips media gallery in order to get a feel for this trip and this destination.
After your trip with us, you also have the opportunity to create your own album with your impressions. We would be happy to do the work for you - all you have to do is send us your photos.
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