Mountain Bike Adventures
Essential Sierra Nevada Mountain Bike Holidays
The Riding
Our Essential Sierra Nevada guided mountain bike holidays combine the best of trail riding, enduro and backcountry adventure. They are designed for enthusiastic mountain bikers, who enjoy challenging climbs and thrilling descents. The Sierra Nevada is a wilderness: a deserted and raw MTB paradise. There is endless singletrack, from the fast and flowy to the steep and rocky.
The routes vary, depending on the make-up of the group, the weather, and the time of year. We have a huge range of altitude, from 2200 metre mountain tops to 700 metre valley floors. You’ll pass through a variety of micro-climates on the way.
We cycle from the front door of the lodge (at 1650 metres) straight onto the best Sierra Nevada trails. We finish the day much lower and transfer back up to the lodge in the 4WD support vehicle, so you don’t have to ride uphill at the end of the day. Keen climbers usually have the option to ride this, though the lure of cake and beer seems to be stronger.
Riding days run from 10.00 to around 16.00. Being a centre-based bike vacation, unlike a point-to-point bike tour, you’re not under time pressure to get to the next place. The average day is about 30km in length, with 800m of climbing and 1700m of descending. See below for a typical itinerary.
The Guides
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.
4WD Vehicle Support
As well as peace of mind, the back-up vehicle provides an en-route tea break service, proper picnic lunch, full toolbox, spares and a lift if you need it. It’s also somewhere to put your fleece, windproof, big camera and so on, leaving you to ride with only the bare minimum. The vehicle is unobtrusive, but never too far away.
Please contact us if you’d like to talk about any element of our mountain bike tours.
We also offer day rides, if you are staying in the area.
Watch these four short videos of some of our most popular trails: The Valley of Death, La Ruta Medieval, Into the Woods and The Yátor Ridge Ride. For The Yátor Ridge Ride, move your cursor around to get a 360º feel of this mellow, fast and flowy route.
Typical Mountain Bike Holiday Itinerary
DAY 1. Arrival
Arrive Málaga airport. Transfer to the lodge accommodation and welcome drinks. Bike assembly, with a helpful bike mechanic on hand. Briefing from your hosts and guides. Dinner at the lodge.
DAY 2. Perfect MTB Flow Trails
DAY 2. Perfect MTB Flow Trails
We start every day with a hearty breakfast on the terrace, with views of the surrounding mountains.
After breakfast, we set off from the lodge on flowy singletrack before climbing, on wilderness doubletrack, to a ridge at 2000m. From here we can see the snowy peak of Mulhacén (3482m) and the Mediterranean Sea.
Next, we swoop down an amazing singletrack MTB trail; first through the forest, then into the rockier Mediterranean shrubland. This popular trail will have you shouting for joy!
We stop for a picnic lunch in the pine forest, above the village of Juviles.
Fully refuelled, we wind our way down through the beautiful village of Juviles, which is famous for serrano ham and its Moorish fort. Then on into the valley and on a stunning mixture of natural and manicured singletrack and through the pretty white villages of Tímar and Lobras.
At the ride’s end we get a ride (or you can cycle if you prefer!) back to the lodge for homemade cake, tea and beer.
Distance 30km; climbing 900m; descending 1300m.
Dinner at the lodge.
DAY 3. Mountain Bike Into the Wilds
DAY 3. Mountain Bike Into the Wilds
We travel eastwards today, with a short transfer to begin the day, followed by a gradual but sustained climb towards the high point of the day and picnic lunch.
From there, we descend into the Bérchules valley via spectacular forest singletrack, followed by an ancient, cobbled mule trail which takes us to our destination: our local village of Bérchules, which is famous for its New Year celebrations…in August!
Again, there is an uplift back to the lodge for refreshments; or you can cycle back if you prefer.
Distance 25km; climbing 600m; descending 900m.
Dinner at the lodge.
DAY 4. The Queen Stage
DAY 4. The Queen Stage
This is an epic ride, which is often referred to by guests as their “best mountain bike ride ever”. It is, however, a physical challenge.
We start from the lodge at 1650m and climb on doubletrack to a plateau at 2300m. It feels like the top of the world! Here we have a well-earned sandwich, soak up the incredible views, and prepare for the huge descent to come.
We descend on high-altitude singletrack that calls for all our focus, before dropping into the forest for a wonderous, flowy, singletrack adventure back to the lodge.
Distance 30km; climbing 900m; descending 900m.
You can choose to combine cake and beer with a revitalising massage this afternoon (at extra cost).
Dinner at the lodge.
DAY 5. Bike to Spain's Highest Village
DAY 5. Bike to Spain’s Highest Village
Today we ride west to Trevélez: home of the world–famous jamón serrano and Spain’s highest village. It sits in a spectacular valley and is known throughout Spain.
The ride there includes an almost endless section of beautiful, flowing singletrack, with some more technical sections. We then have a sustained doubletrack climb into the forest, above the village, to our picnic lunch.
From there we ride an old cowherders’ route that follows a series of gullies, through mixed forest, all the way down to the village of Busquístar. From here we get a lift back to the lodge for more cake.
Distance 25km; climbing 600m; descending 800m.
Pack bikes. Last night dinner at the lodge.
DAY 6. Departure
DAY 6. Departure
An early transfer to Málaga airport after tea, coffee and a light breakfast.
The Package
What’s Included
- Four days of pofessionally-qualified guiding.
- 4×4 vehicle support.
- Five nights’ acccommodation at the Pure Mountains lodge.
- Delicious food. Full board: all breakfasts, picnic 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, €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-riders and 13 to 17 year olds are welcome and pay 75% of the holiday price.
Booking
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.
Top Tips
Mountain Bike Holiday Kit List
If bringing your own bike: We recommend tubeless tyres, to avoid pinch flats and sidewall cuts. Tyres have to cope with Sierra Nevada’s...
Bringing Your Own Bike on Holiday
Your bike will need to be a high-quality, full-suspension bike. A hardtail will be a struggle, unless you’re an expert hardtail...
Total Bike Care Packages
Total Bike Care Packages allow you to relax at the end your ride, knowing that your bike is in expert hands. After each day’s riding, you...
Cycling Holiday Insurance
Mountain biking/gravel riding is a potentially risky activity. Your safety is our priority, but accidents do happen. We insist that:• You...
