Overview
A seven day, self-guided Andalucían adventure, cycling from Granada to Ronda on a long-distance trail known as the Ruta de los Almorávides, a trade route dating back to the 11th century. Topping and tailing with two iconic and great cities, Granada and Ronda, you cover 242km, with some serious natural and cultural highlights along the way. To name but a few, start off with the Alhambra de Granada, then explore the Alhama mountains on a disused railway line, the karst limestone El Torcal de Antequera nature reserve and the Caminito Del Rey, a walkway across the canyon, Desfiladero de los Gaitanes. There is an option to rent e-bikes on this tour, as well as traditional hybrid bikes.
- Granada
- Alhambra
- Caminito del Rey
- Sierra de las Nieves National Park
- Conjunto Arqueológico Dólmenes de Antequera
- Ronda
If you plan to visit the Alhambra, it does book up quite far in advance, so we recommend you book as early as possible at the official booking office. You also need to present ID in order to gain entry.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Granada
Arrival in Granada where you also collect your bike. Take some time to stroll around the cathedral and old silk market, explore the Alhambra and its old neighbourhoods, or simply enjoy a few drinks and tapas.
- Accommodation: Hotel Monjas del Carmen or similar in Granada
Day 2: Granada – Alhama de Granada | 55km
Start the day cycling through small villages on the way to Alhama de Granada. A town famous for its thermal baths, which can be enjoyed at the Balneario Alhama de Granada (payable locally). During the Muslim era, the town was called Al-hama, which means the bath, as it’s long been known for the healing virtues of its thermal waters.
- Cycling for the day: 55km, ↑920m
- Accommodation: La Seguiriya or similar in Alhama de Granada
Day 3: Alhama de Granada – Riogordo | 40km
Cycle to Boquete de Zafarraya, a mountain pass in the Alhama mountain range which marks the boundary between the provinces of Málaga and Granada, before continuing to the Axarquía region. Follow a disused railway line through the mountains before arriving at your rural ecolodge and home for the night near Riogordo.
- Cycling for the day: 40km, ↑530m or 49km (tarmacked route)
- Accommodation: Casa Paz y Más or similar in Riogordo
Day 4: Riogordo – Antequera | 39km
Spend the morning discovering the small villages of the Axarquía region. After an off-road climb, arrive at El Torcal de Antequera, a karst limestone nature reserve. From here, head down to Antequera, approaching this ancient town by its oldest access route, past white-washed houses and Peña de los Enamorados (Lover’s Rock).
- Cycling for the day: 39km, ↑820m or 52km (tarmacked route)
- Accommodation: Hotel Infante or similar in Antequera
Day 5: Antequera – El Chorro | 32-42km
Spend some time in the morning exploring Antequera. We recommend Alcazaba, Real Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor and Conjunto Arqueológico Dólmenes de Antequera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with megalithic monuments. Afterwards, head to El Chorro, a small village next to Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, a canyon created by the Guadalhorce River where there is the option to walk the Caminito Del Rey, a suspended walkway through the gorge (payable locally, booking required). Spend the night in a converted factory dating back to 1827, completely renovated to provide all of the amenities and comfort of a modern hotel, complete with restaurant and swimming pool.
- Cycling for the day: 32km, ↑820m or 42km, ↑1,025m (if staying in Posada del Conde instead of La Garganta)
- Accommodation: La Garganta or similar in El Chorro
*To ensure there is time to complete the Caminito del Rey, it is important to reach the accommodation before 15:00 or book an extra night in El Chorro. Pre-booking required, the path is closed on Mondays and in the case of bad weather. This hike is not suitable for those with vertigo.
Day 6: El Chorro – Ronda | 58-61km
Today’s route heads through lunar landscapes to the villages of Ardales and El Burgo, before climbing to Puerto de los Vientos, a mountain pass of 1,190m, and then crossing Sierra de las Nieves National Park. End the day with a descent into Ronda for your final night. Whilst here we recommend a visit to Puente Nuevo, the iconic bridge towering 120m above the canyon floor.
- Cycling for the day: 61km, ↑1,190m ↓810, or 58km (route from Posada de Conde)
- Accommodation: Alavera de los Baños or similar in Ronda
Day 7: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned hotels and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotels
- Hotel Monjas del Carmen (Granada)
- La Seguiriya (Alhama de Granada)
- Casa Paz y Más (Riogordo)
- Hotel Infante (Antequera)
- La Garganta (El Chorro)
- Alavera de los Baños (Ronda)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Dinner is available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This cycling holiday is graded as moderate and is suitable for regular cyclists with a good fitness level (read more about difficulty grades). Daily rides range from 35-61km with a hillier profile and cumulative climbs of 500-700m.
We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from January to November. See Dates and Times button on the right hand side for more details. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, meaning you can start your trip on any available date during the season.
The best time to visit the region is spring (May and June) and autumn (September to November) when the weather is warm and pleasant. The temperatures in July and August can be too high for cyclists to enjoy the holiday.
This trip is not available to book on the following dates:
27/03/2026-04/04/2026
28/04/2026-02/05/2026
09/10/2026-11/10/2026
See our blog post Best times to go to Spain.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended arrival airports for this tour are Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) and Federico García Lorca Granada Airport (GRX).
By train or bus
- Arrival in Granada: from Málaga or Granada airport there are regular buses to the centre of Granada. Private transfers are available on request.
- Departure from Ronda: Granada, Málaga and other major cities are reachable by rail, for more information visit Renfe or use the Omio planner above.
- If you are able to travel to Spain without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail, with train stations in both Granada and Ronda. For more details, see the national rail operator, Renfe or use the Omio planner above.
Inclusions
Included
- 6 nights accommodation in en-suite rooms
- 6 breakfasts
- Luggage transfers on all cycling days
- Digital and paper documentation including route descriptions, detailed maps and GPS tracks
- Welcome briefing from our local representative
- 24/7 Phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Bike and e-bike rental
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on the spot)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- We regret that this tour is not open to solo travellers
- Extra nights in Ronda and Granada or in between
- Hotel upgrades in Granada, Antequera and Ronda
- Bike and e-bike rental
- Caminito del Rey entrance and shuttle bus (pre-booking required, non-refundable)
- Caminito del Rey guided visit (pre-booking required, non-refundable)
Bike rental
Cannondale mountain bikes and Step-through e-bikes are available to rent on this tour. All bicycles are equipped with a handlebar bag, water bottle, km counter, panniers, lock and for every two bikes, a multifunctional tool, repair kit and pump. Helmets are included.
Sample pictures attached below, please note that the exact models may differ depending on availability, but the standard will be the same.
Cannondale hybrid bike
- Frame: New Trail SmartForm C2 Alloy
- Gearbox: Shimano Deore M6000 1×10-speed
- Brakes: Shimano M315 hydro disc
Step-through e-bike
- Frame: alloy
- Gearbox: Derailleur 11-speed
- Brakes: Hydraulic disc brake
Spain’s legal requirement for personal information
Please note: in December 2024, the Spanish government introduced a new law making it a legal obligation for all visitors to Spain to share personal details with their accommodations and car rental companies. Consequently, as we book your accommodation for you, we are obliged to pass these on to our local partners on the ground. After booking your holiday, we will send you a form to complete requesting all the legally-required information, including: name, nationality, gender, passport number, DOB, address, phone numbers and email address. This applies to all travellers aged 14 and over. If you are travelling with people under 14 years old, you need to declare your relationship to them. We apologise for any inconvenience. For more information, see here.
