Gravel Bike Adventures
Discover the kind of deserted backroads that gravel bikers dream about; with stunning views, pretty villages and all the details taken care of for you. Come and find out why Andalucía is gravel’s best kept secret.
We’re sure you’ll find your perfect Spanish gravel bike trip within our range of centre-based holidays and point-to-point tours, with options for guided and self-guided adventures. You’ll find all the info on this page, but in summary, we offer:
Centre-based:
- Essential Sierra Nevada Gravel Bike Holidays offer quintessential gravel riding, with the Pure Mountains lodge as your basecamp. Choose between guided and self-guided options.
Point-to-point:
- The Sierra Nevada Gravel Bike Tour is a epic, guided adventure.
- The Spanish Badlands Gravel Bike Tour is an other-wordly riding experience. Choose between two riding grades and between guided and self-guided.
Essential Sierra Nevada Gravel Bike Holidays
We offer both guided and self-guided Essential Sierra Nevada Gravel Bike Holidays, based at our beautiful mountain lodge. Our Dates & Prices page shows when each type of holiday is available.
On these centre-based, ride-in, ride-out adventures, you’ll explore the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains, known as Las Alpujarras, which are criss-crossed by a wonderful network of gravel roads.
Your routes will include spectacular wilderness passes, magical forest roads, beautiful valleys and traditional villages. There will be demanding climbs and exhilarating descents. You’ll pass through a variety of micro-climates on the way. The average day is about 50km to 60km, with 1000m to 2000m of climbing. We can adjust these, if you would prefer a more or less challenging trip. Being centre-based, unlike a point-to-point bike trip, you’re not under time pressure to get to the next place and you don’t have to unpack and pack more than once!
The surfaces range from fine to chunky gravel and some tarmac/asphalt. We recommend a gravel bike with at least 40mm tyres. A good alternative is a hardtail mountain bike.
On the guided trips, our professionally-qualified guides specialise in tailoring the rides to your abilities, which they can do because of the small group size and their intimate knowledge of these mountains. Our guest to guide ratio is a maximum of four to one, which our guests love.
Itinerary
Day 1. Arrival.
Arrive Málaga airport. Transfer to the lodge accommodation. Bike assembly, with a helpful bike mechanic on hand. Briefing from your hosts and guides. Dinner at the lodge.
Day 2. Route 1.
You descend on gravel from the lodge to join the tarmac/asphalt road that takes you through the villages of Bérchules, Alcútar and Mecina Bombarón.
Then you start the main climb of the day up to the Pista Forestal and follow this gravel road around the mountains before a final descent to the farmhouse.
56km. 1500m of elevation. 20% tarmac, 80% gravel.
Day 3. Route 2.
You descend to the Cruz de Juviles on a gravel road and then follow the tarmac to the Bérchules cemetery. Then you descend to Cádiar on gravel, ride through the town and follow the rambla (dry river bed) to the village of Yátor.
Then you climb on a mixture of cement and gravel to Yégen where you take the tarmac road to Mecina Bombarón. From there you climb up to the Pista Forestal gravel road and follow this until you reach the descent to the lodge.
60km. 1940m of elevation. 30% tarmac, 70% gravel.
Day 4. Route 3.
You start with a transfer to a high gravel road, just below the mountain pass of Puerto de la Ragua (2000m).
You follow this gravel road, in and out of many beautiful valleys, before descending to the lodge.
58km. 1170m of elevation. 100% gravel.
Day 5. Route 4.
You descend to the Cruz de Juviles on a gravel road and then ride west into a small valley and climb up into the woods. Then you join the Pista Forestal gravel road and ride through several valleys until you descend all the way to the village of Mecina Bombarón.
Then you follow the road to Bérchules and climb back to the lodge.
52km. 1775m of elevation. 30% tarmac, 70% gravel.
Day 6. Departure.
An early transfer to Málaga airport.
What’s Included
- On guided trips:
- four days of professionally-guided rides, with a ratio of one guide to four riders.
- vehicle support to carry extra food and water, kit and spares and to offer a lift if needed.
- On self-guided trips:
- four days of detailed GPX routes to load onto your navigation device/phone (we can help with this), trip notes and personalised briefings.
- On all trips:
- Five nights’ accommodation at the Pure Mountains lodge.
- Delicious food. Full board: all breakfasts, picnic / packed lunches and evening meals.
- Beer and wine at the lodge, including Pure Mountains real ales.
- Málaga airport transfers (pick up 16.00, drop off 10.00).
What’s Not Included
- Flights/train to Málaga
- Bike rental
- Total Bike Care Package
- Tips
Prices are based on two people sharing a room. If you come on your own, we may allocate you a room with another guest of the same sex. You can guarantee that you will have a room to yourself by paying a 20% single room supplement.
Discounts
If you do not need airport transfers, there is a €40/£35 ‘no transfers’ discount per person.
For groups of six people, there is a discount of 60% on the price of the holiday for the group organiser. For a group of seven this rises to 70% and for eight to 80%.
Non-cyclists and 13 to 17 year olds are welcome and pay 75% of the holiday price.
Booking
Click below to see Dates & Prices. Once you’ve decided on dates, contact us to confirm availability and to ask any questions you may have. We will email you a booking form and hold your places while you book flights etc. On booking, you pay a 20% deposit. The balance is payable four weeks before arrival. If you’ve got a more general question, click the Contact Us button below.
Sierra Nevada Gravel Bike Tour
Sierra Nevada Gravel Bike Tour Highlights
Highlights of this unique, expertly-guided, high altitude, point-to-point gravel tour around the Sierra Nevada mountains include:
- Epic riding on endless gravel roads, through a variety of microclimates, with views of high plains, snowy peaks and the Mediterranean sea.
- Exploring both the north and south-facing slopes of this scarcely-visited mountain range, where you are more likely to see a flock of vultures than other riders.
- Staying in hidden white villages, where time stands still and the stars shine brightly in deep, rural darkness.
- Enjoying local food and wine.
- The jewel in the crown: conquering the other-worldly Veleta Pass, at 3269 metres above sea level.
- Riding into the captivating city of Granada, beneath the Moorish Alhambra palace.
- While you’re riding, we take care of everything else.
The Route & The Riding
This is a challenging mountain gravel route; about 80% light to chunky gravel riding and 20% quiet tarmac/asphalt roads. The total distance is 242 kilometres, with 6830 metres of climbing. The daily distances are not huge, but there is a lot of climbing and riding at high altitude. We will be in isolated, high areas. We only offer this as a guided tour, as the terrain is too remote to explore on your own. You need to be a fit, experienced cyclist. We recommend a gravel bike with at least 40mm tyres. A good alternative is a hardtail mountain bike.
Itinerary
Day 1. Arrival
Transfer from Málaga airport to La Calahorra, an intriguing village on the north side of the mountain range. We stay in a charming hotel overlooking the spectacular castle. Over dinner in the renowned restaurant, we will talk about the adventure ahead of us.
Day 2. Stage 1
From La Calahorra, we ride up into the wilderness and follow an undulating gravel road, traversing forested mountainsides, with glimpses of the endless high plains to the north. At 2100m, we crest the mountain pass of Puerto de la Ragua, which leads us to the south-facing side of the range, known since Moorish times as La Alpujarra. We descend to the pretty village of Mairena, where tonight’s accommodation is a stylish take on the traditional Spanish hotel, with a great restaurant.
Distance 55km, with 1460m of elevation.
Day 3. Stage 2
From Mairena we climb up to a spectacular gravel road at 2000m. From here, we have views of the highest peaks, the Mediterranean and, on a clear day, the Rif Mountains of Morocco. We follow this road in and out of several valleys and finish at a lovely, small hotel in the village of Bérchules. We will enjoy a hearty dinner and a few drinks on the terrace.
Distance 61km, with 1590m of elevation.
Day 4. Stage 3
A gentler day today.
We climb up through Bérchules on gravel and wind our way up to 2000m and a superb view of Mulhacén: mainland Spain’s highest peak. Then we have an exhilarating and challenging gravel descent before a lovely asphalt/tarmac ride into Trevélez: Spain’s highest village and world centre of jamón serrano. Then we take a stunning gravel road into the spectacular Poqueira valley. We stay in a charming hotel in Capileira, chosen by National Geographic as one of Spain’s most beautiful villages. An early night is advisable!
Distance 48km, with 1590m of elevation.
Day 5. Stage 4
This is the queen stage!
Today we head up from Capileira, climbing gradually on tarmac/asphalt and then gravel, into the famous lunar landscape of the Veleta pass. At 3269m, this is Europe’s highest cyclable pass. It used to be Europe’s highest driveable road, but was closed to vehicles when the area was declared a National Park in the 1990s. Crossing it by bike will be a memory to last a lifetime. We then have a truly epic tarmac descent, on quiet roads, to the valley bottom. Then we climb, briefly, to the town on Güéjar Sierra and onwards to the delightful village of Pinos Genil. From here we follow the River Genil, all the way into Granada, by way of a wonderful, gently descending, gravel cycleway.
On arrival in the centre of Granada, at the Fuente de la Ninfa in a shady park, we are rewarded with cava and tapas to ease our weary bodies and to celebrate the end of our amazing adventure.
Distance 78km, with 2190m of elevation.
Day 6. Departure
Transfer to Málaga airport.
What’s Included
- Four days of professionally-qualified guiding, with two guides per group.
- 4×4 vehicle support. Your luggage is transported in the support vehicle, which is on hand to provide water, cold drinks, spares and moral/physical support, if needed. You only need to carry a day pack.
- Accommodation in charming, rural hotels, followed by a city-centre Granada hotel.
- Full board: all breakfasts, packed lunches and evening meals, except dinner on the last night.
- Málaga airport transfers.
What’s Not Included
- Flights/train to Málaga
- Bike rental
- Evening drinks
- Tips
Prices are based on two people sharing a room. If you come on your own, we may allocate you a room with another guest of the same sex. You can guarantee that you will have a room to yourself by paying a 20% single room supplement.
Discounts
If you do not need airport transfers, there is a €40/£35 ‘no transfers’ discount per person.
Dates
The Sierra Nevada Gravel Bike Tour can run in June, September and October; there is too much snow on the Veleta pass to cross in winter and spring. To open a new tour, we need a minimum of four riders. If you have a group of four or more, please contact us to arrange dates to suit you. If you are fewer than four, contact us to register your interest and we’ll let you know when we have definite trip dates.
Spanish Badlands Gravel Bike Tour
Spanish Badlands Gravel Bike Tour Highlights
Escape the northern winter on this luminous, point-to-point gravel tour of southern Spain’s Gorafe desert and Granada Geopark. Our meticulous research and endless scouting mean that we can show you places way off the beaten track. You wouldn’t find these routes and accommodations under your own steam! Choose between Epic and Adventure grade itineraries, and between guided and self-guided tours.
Highlights include:
- Breathtaking desert badlands and mountain scenery, sculpted by nature over millennia. This other-worldy location is a UNESCO Geopark: geographical areas with sites and landscapes of international geological significance. It is also home of the venerated Badlands ultra gravel bikepacking race.
- Exploring remote, cinematic and wild landscapes.
- Unique cave-dwelling experience in Gorafe.
- Riding endless gravel roads, from valley floors to exposed ridgelines.
- While you’re riding, we take care of everything else.
The Route & The Riding
This is a circular gravel route; about 85% medium to chunky gravel and 15% quiet tarmac/asphalt. You can ride this route with a rigid gravel bike, but we recommend at least 40mm tyres. A great alternative is a hardtail mountain bike. This is a relatively low-altitude tour, which makes it ideal for autumn through to spring. You will be in remote areas, so planning is important.
We offer two itineraries: Epic and Adventure. Epic is for fit, ambitious gravel riders. Adventure is for riders who may be getting into gravel riding, or looking for a more relaxed tour, with more time to enjoy their surroundings. For both itineraries you can choose guided or self-guided.
Watch a short highlights video of the tour here.
Epic Itinerary
Day 1. Arrival
Transfer from Málaga airport to the traditional village of Gor. You’ll stay in a beautifully-restored mill on the banks of a river, at edge of the village, run by a welcoming Anglo-Spanish family. There is plenty of room to build your bike. The tour is circular, so you can leave your bike boxes/bags and rental car here.
On guided tours, we will arrange dinner. On self-guided tours, you can cook on your apartment, or eat at the local bar.
Day 2. Stage 1
You ride south-east from Gor on a beautiful, quiet tarmac road. After 10km you start to climb on a magnificent gravel track, through the forested Sierra de Baza, to a high point of just over 2000m. From here you descend for over 20km to the pretty village of Caniles. Your delightful rural hotel has a lovely restaurant.
Distance 56km. Elevation 1210m.
Day 3. Stage 2
You head north from Caniles and take a mixture of wonderful gravel and very quiet tarmac roads. Your climb to 1100m at km23 is rewarded by wonderful views of the Negratín reservoir. You then descend on a challenging gravel track, follow a river north and pass through endless olive and almond groves towards your family-run hotel on the edge of the village of Hinojares, which has a very good restaurant. There is an incredible mixture of wilderness, desert and farmscapes today with more descending than climbing, but there are some challenging climbs!
Distance 79km. Elevation 1110m.
Day 4. Stage 3
Today is an epic adventure. It typifies the wonder of gravel riding, as you mix forest and stunning desert panoramas. You leave Hinojares and head south, up and over a forested mountain range with views of the badlands canyons and ridgelines. Next, you descend to the valley floor and then enter the Gorafe desert proper. The scenery is extraordinary and, though relatively close to villages, you will feel deep in the wilderness.
Tonight you stay in the frontier-feeling village of Gorafe, which sits below an astonishing escarpment. You’ll spend the night in a lovingly-restored cave house. Dinner at one of the local bars.
Distance 60km. Elevation 1440m.
Day 5. Stage 4
The queen stage is an experience like no other. Having slept soundly in the silence of your cosy cave, you’ll ride up a stiff climb and onto a huge plateau. Soon, you enter the classic Gorafe Desert route of Los Coloraos. On this cinematic 25km loop, your ride among towering cliffs, which display a myriad of colours. After Los Coloraos, there’s an unforgettable ride, on a mixture of champagne and scrumpy gravel, through the almond groves and oak trees, back to Gor. You’ll stay in the restored mill again, which will feel like home from home!
Distance 63km. Elevation 1240m.
Day 6. Departure
Transfer to Málaga airport.
Adventure Itinerary
Day 1. Arrival
Transfer from Málaga airport to the traditional village of Gor. You’ll stay in a beautifully-restored mill on the banks of a river, at edge of the village, run by a welcoming Anglo-Spanish family. There is plenty of room to build your bike. The tour is circular, so you can leave your bike boxes/bags and rental car here.
On guided tours, we will arrange dinner. On self-guided tours, you can cook on your apartment, or eat at the local bar.
Day 2. Stage 1
You ride north from Gor on a quiet tarmac road. After 2km, you head east on gravel through the almond groves. In the village of Baúl at km12, you cross the magnificent gorge on an iron bridge and join a vía verde, a converted railway track. You follow the vía verde gently downhill all the way to km40, just beyond the cathedral city of Baza. From here you head to the pretty village of Caniles. Your delightful rural hotel has a lovely restaurant.
Distance 44km. Elevation 380m.
Day 3. Stage 2
You head north from Caniles on a mixture of wonderful gravel and very quiet tarmac roads. Yus continue pedalling through olive and almond groves towards your family-run hotel with a great restaurant, on the edge of the village of Hinojares. There is an incredible mixture of wilderness, desert and farmscapes today, with more descending than climbing.
Distance 60kms. Elevation 770m.
Day 4. Stage 3
Today is an epic adventure and typifies the wonder of gravel riding, as you mix forest and stunning desert panoramas. You leave Hinojares and head south, up and over a forested mountain range with views of the badlands canyons and ridgelines. Next, you descend to the valley floor and then enter the Gorafe desert proper. The scenery is extraordinary and, though relatively close to villages, you will feel deep in the wilderness.
Tonight you stay in the frontier-feeling village of Gorafe, which sits below an astonishing escarpment. You’ll spend the night in a lovingly-restored cave house. Dinner at one of the local bars.
Distance 58km. Elevation 1330m.
Day 5. Stage 4
This is an experience like no other. Having slept soundly in the silence of your cosy cave, you ride up a stiff climb and onto a huge plateau. Soon, you enter the classic Gorafe Desert route of Los Coloraos. On this cinematic 25km loop, you ride among towering cliffs, which display a myriad of colours. After Los Coloraos, there’s an unforgettable ride, on a mixture of champagne and scrumpy gravel, through the almond groves and oak trees, back to Gor. You’ll stay in the restored mill again, which will feel like home from home!
Distance 49km. Elevation 1000m.
Day 6. Departure
Transfer to Málaga airport.
What’s Included
- On guided trips:
- four days of professionally-guided rides.
- 4×4 vehicle support. Your luggage is transported in the support vehicle, which is on hand to provide water, cold drinks, spares and moral/physical support, if needed. You only need to carry a day pack.
- all meals and welcome drinks.
- Málaga airport transfers. If you do not need airport transfers, there is a €40/£35 ‘no transfers’ discount per person.
- On self-guided trips (minimum 2 people per booking):
- four days of detailed GPX routes to load onto your navigation device/phone (we can help with this), and a detailed dossier covering all aspects of the itinerary, including emergency contact details.
- luggage transfers from each accommodation to the next.
- accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, with recommended lunch and dinner options.
- optional, at additional cost: Málaga airport transfers on arrival and departure. Price €200 per person.
What’s Not Included
- Flights/train to Málaga
- Bike rental
- Evening drinks
- Tips
Prices are based on two people sharing a room. If you come on your own, we may allocate you a room with another guest of the same sex. You can guarantee that you will have a room to yourself by paying a 20% single room supplement.
Dates & Booking
The Spanish Badlands Gravel Bike Tour can run from September through to May (it’s too hot in June, July and August). Click below to see Dates & Prices of guided trips. To open a new guided tour, we need a minimum of four riders. If you have a group of four or more, please contact us to arrange dates to suit you. For self-guided, we can arrange a tour around dates that suit you from September to May; you just need to be a minimum of two people per booking. Self-guided price €800/£695 per person.
Once you’ve decided on dates, contact us to confirm availability and to ask any questions you may have. We will email you a booking form and hold your places while you book flights etc. On booking, you pay a 20% deposit. The balance is payable four weeks before arrival. If you’ve got a more general question, click the Contact Us button below.