Overview
An eight day, self-guided adventure cycling in the Sierra de Gredos, a mountain range in central Spain that’s home to well-known cities such Ávila, where the tour starts, and Salamanca where it ends. Cycle from mountain passes to paradors, ancient villages to magnificent viewpoints over the province of Ávila and beyond. Cycling highlights along the way include the protected landscapes of Sierra de Gredos Regional Park and Batuecas-Sierra de Francia Natural Park. This tour is also accessible by train, a journey that perfectly reveals just how open and wild these landscapes are.
- Ávila
- Sierra de Gredos Regional Park
- Las Batuecas-Sierra de Francia Natural Park
- Mountain villages of Béjar and Mogarraz
- Salamanca
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Ávila
Arrive into the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ávila, sometimes referred to as the City of Stones and Saints. This is thanks to its magnificent medieval walls that stretch for 25km and have 88 towers and also because of the city’s connection with Saint Theresa as well as its stunning cathedral.
- Accommodation: Parador de Ávila or similar in Ávila
Day 2: Ávila – Gredos | 66km
Tackle the longest and steepest cycling day starting off with Navalmoral Pass, ascending 1,514m, before descending towards the town of Navalmoral. From here stop off in the mountain villages of Burgohondo or Navatalgordo for lunch. Continue the descent to the today’s final destination in Gredos. Tonight’s accommodation was built under the rule of King Alfonso XIII, with Parador de Gredos originally used as his refuge when travelling in the region.
- Cycling for the day: 66km ↑1700m ↓1225m
- Accommodation: Parador de Gredos or similar in Gredos
Day 3: Gredos – Barco de Ávila | 61km
Today is all about the Sierra de Gredos mountain range and the central massif. Follow the route and meet the River Tormes, passing the villages of Navalperal de Tormes and La Aliseda de Tormes, keeping an eye out for the region’s mountain goats. Follow the river to arrive at El Barco de Ávila, surrounded by 12th-century walls and home to the hilltop castle of Valdecorneja. Whilst in the area, don’t miss out on trying a local favourite, the Judías de El Barco white bean.
- Cycling for the day: 61km ↑850m ↓1400m
- Accommodation: Izán Puerta de Gredos or similar in Barco de Ávila
Day 4: Barco de Ávila – Candelario | 38km
Start the day crossing Tremedal Pass and, once you reach the top, cycle back down to Becedas, an ideal stop for lunch before taking on the final leg towards Candelario. A mountain village known for its preserved traditional architecture, we recommend the Casa Chacinera Museum.
- Cycling for the day: 38km ↑1020m ↓880m
- Accommodation: El Jardín del Laurel or similar in Candelario
Day 5: Candelario – La Alberca | 61km
Cycle towards the historic town of Béjar. When passing through, be sure to catch a glimpse of El Bosque Villa and gardens. Continue towards the Sierra de Francia mountain range, with the best opportunity for lunch in Miranda del Castañar, overlooking the local castle. Cycle through Las Batuecas-Sierra de Francia Natural Park and into Mogarraz. This is an historic village with dates carved into doorways of homes, and photographs of their inhabitants from the early 1960s cast onto the walls. Mogarraz has plenty of local foods to offer along with their local wine, made from the rufete grape. Finish the day in La Alberca.
- Cycling for the day: 61km ↑1200m ↓1250m
- Accommodation: Hotel Doña Teresa or similar in La Alberca
Day 6: La Alberca – Fuentes de Béjar | 51km
Start the day by retracing yesterday’s steps back towards Cristóbal, passing through the mountainside village of Miranda del Castañar, well known for its magnificent medieval walls and gates. Continue to descend along mountainous roads to today’s final destination, the small stonemasonry town Fuentes de Béjar. Tonight’s accommodation offers some local history, being an old mansion originally owned by an Indiano – the word used to describe a Spanish emigrant who returned with fortunes and wealth.
- Cycling for the day: 51km ↑900m ↓1040m
- Accommodation: Hotel rural Villa María or similar in Fuentes de Béjar
Day 7: Fuentes de Béjar – Salamanca | 60km
A short descent along local roads leads to Guijuelo, cycling through typical dehesa landscapes which are typical of the region, which are pasture and woodland. The village is well known for its Iberian ham, so it’s a good place for a lunch stop. Continue on towards the rural villages, Pedrosillo de los Aires and Morille, following the nearby pilgrimage route, Vía de la Plata. Today’s cycling comes to a close in Salamanca, on the banks of the River Tormes. There are plenty of sights to explore here, from the oldest university in Spain to the Cathedral of Santa María and Plaza Mayor.
- Cycling for the day: 60km ↑680m ↓790m
- Accommodation: Sercotel Puerta de la Catedral or similar in Salamanca
Day 8: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs, paradors 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
- Parador de Ávila (Ávila)
- Parador de Gredos (Gredos)
- Izán Puerta de Gredos (Barco de Ávila)
- El Jardín del Laurel (Candelario)
- Hotel Doña Teresa (La Alberca)
- Hotel rural Villa María (Fuentes de Béjar)
- Sercotel Puerta de la Catedral (Salamanca)
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 on the route, lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Dinner is available either from the restaurant in your hotel or from restaurants near your hotel.
Difficulty and terrain
This is is graded moderate to strenuous, with demanding biking in areas where you cannot avoid steep and extended climbs of up to 1700m, training and bicycle experience are required. The daily distances range from 35km up to 66km (read more about difficulty grades). It is also possible to rent an electric bike on this tour.
We strongly advise you only to follow marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed route notes and maps and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from March to mid-July and September to November. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means there are no fixed dates and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
Temperatures at high altitudes are milder than other parts of Spain, with daily averages around 20C. Whilst sudden mists are can be common in the earlier hours, they usually burn off by midday. As with all mountainous areas and particularly because of the mountain’s proximity to the coast in this area, the weather can also change suddenly and there can be sudden rain showers or even snow at any time of year. To find out more about when to go, take a look at our blog: Best time to go to Spain.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended arrival airport for this tour is Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD).
By train or bus
If you are able to travel to Spain without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail with train stations in Ávila and Salamanca. For more details, see the national rail operator Renfe or use the Omio planner above.
Arrival in Ávila:
- From Madrid-Barajas Airport, you will need to take a few short subway trains through Madrid – until you arrive at Principe Pio station in Madrid. Depending on the time and day, the sequence of stops to this station can vary.
- From Madrid-Principe Pio station, take the Renfe train straight to Ávila. Trains depart frequently throughout the day and cost approximately 12eurs. Please see Renfe for more information or use the above Omio planner
Departure from Salamanca:
- From Salamanca station, you take the Renfe train back to Madrid-Principe Pio. This train runs a handful of times throughout the day and tickets cost approximately 25eurs.
- From Principe Pio, you take a series of short metro trains back to the airport terminal. Depending on the time and day, the sequence of the stops to the airport can vary. Please see Renfe for more information or use the above Omio planner
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights accommodation
- 7 breakfasts
- Luggage transfers between accommodations
- Detailed digital information pack, with GPS tracks and vouchers. On-site you will receive a printed roadbook and maps.
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches and dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- 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
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Extra nights
- Trekking bike and e-bike rental
Bike rental
We offer can offer trekking bikes and e-bikes. All bikes come with a helmet, panniers, repair kits, map holder, mobile holder, bike lock and one pump. If an additional GPS tracker is rented, this can additionally be fixed to the bike.
Sample pictures attached below, note that the exact models may differ depending on availability, but the standard will be the same.
- Bike type: MBT
- Bike model: TREK DUAL SPORT 2
- Frame: Alpha Gold Aluminum, internal cable routing, rack and fender mounts
- Brakes: C-Star BH-RS925T hydraulic disc
- Tires: Bontrager GR0 Comp
- Bike Type: Electric
- Bike model: Ortler Bozen Performance
- Motor: Bosch Model: Performance / Bottom bracket motor / 250 Watt
- Frame: Aluminium
- Battery: Bosch Power Pack 500 Wh
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.
