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Bicycle Tours Since 1972

Experience Plus - Bicycle Tours since 1972
Cycling Andalucia
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Bicycle Tours in Spain: Cycling Andalucia

Enjoy the best of Andalucia on this eleven-day journey through the heart of the region beginning in Seville. Come early and enjoy Seville, then we stay two nights each in Córdoba and Úbeda and end in Granada. Our journey takes us through traditional villages, vast olive groves, and the historic villages of Úbeda and Baeza.

Day 1: Arrive Seville, Andalucia

We start our bicycle tour of Andalucia in Sevilla where you can see the Giralda Bell Tower

Highlights: Fit bicycles and meet your tour leaders and fellow travellers

We gather today in Seville and will fit bicycles later this afternoon. We highly recommend you come in a few days earlier to enjoy this beautiful city, capitol of Andalucia. If you have time this afternoon, be sure to visit the Giralda, the famous bell tower built by the Moors and later restored. Also, don't miss Seville's Cathedral, where Christopher Columbus is buried, and which by some standards is the largest in Europe! After introductions and a glass of sherry or juice, we'll take an informal walking tour through downtown Seville. We celebrate the beginning of our tour with a special dinner together this evening and experience some signature dishes of the region.

Lodging: Hotel NH Plaza de las Armas

Day 2: Seville to Constantina

Bulls

Highlights: Foothills of the Sierra Morena, cork trees, bulls and a Andalucian White Village

Our route takes us into the foothills of the Sierra Morena mountains, and past cork tree groves with bulls grazing under them. This is a challenging first day, but our destination today is worth it. Feel like you've walked back in time as you walk around Constantina's old town with low white washed houses and beautiful mountains in the background. Dinner together this evening. Total mileage: 78 km (49 miles).

Lodging: Hotel Rural Casa Grande

Day 3: Constantina to Córdoba

Constantinato Córdoba

Highlights: Museums and history of Córdoba, walk around this beautiful city

Take your time today and enjoy our ride to Córdoba, as we'll have a rest day tomorrow to visit this wonderful city. Córdoba's heritage includes its Roman origins and its role as one of the earliest Islamic cities in Spain. Settled by immigrants from Damascus by 719 AD, Córdoba thrived for three centuries under the Damascus Caliphate. Dinner on your own tonight. Distance: 113 km (70 miles).

Lodging: NH Amistad Cordoba

Day 4: Free day in Córdoba,

Highlights: visit the Mezquita

Enjoy a free day today in Córdoba, one of the oldest cities in Spain, or choose to do an optional loop ride in the morning. You may wish to tour the Mezquita of Córdoba, enjoy a walk around the old Jewish Quarter, or stroll Córdoba's whitewashed neighborhoods with flower filled patios. Dinner on your own.

Lodging: NH Amistad Cordoba

Day 5: Into the Olive Groves, Córdoba to Baena

Highlights: Hills of Andalucia, tasting and a visit to an olive press in Baena,

Today we pedal over hills and through olive groves into the heart of the province of Córdoba. This region produces some of the world's finest olive oils. We'll organize a tasting and visit to a family run and owned organic olive press today. Dinner together this evening. Distance: 68 km (42 miles).

Lodging: La Casa Grande

Day 6: Rolling Hills of Andalucia, Baena to Jaén

Highlights: Jaén and its olive groves, stay and dine in a Moorish Castle

Enjoy vistas of olive groves as far as the eye can see in one of Europe's largest olive growing regions - (some estimate there are over 150 million olive trees in this province!) with a backdrop of the beautiful Sierra Morena mountain range. This afternoon enjoy the vistas from the hotel, a restored Moorish Castle. Dinner together in the grand dining room of the castle. Distance: 70 km (44 miles).

Lodging: Hotel Parador de Jaen

Day 7: Úbeda

Gaspacho Andaluz

Highlights: Renaissance town of Úbeda

Our ride today takes us through the beautiful countryside from Jaén to the monumental city of Úbeda. Our destination for the next two days, Úbeda was a wealthy Renaissance town and it retains that character to this day in the old quarter. Don't foget to join the locals for a café con leche at an outdoor cafe. Dinner together this evening. Distance: 70 km (44 miles).

Lodging: Hotel Maria de Molina

Day 8: Rest day in Úbeda, with optional ride

Highlights: Discover the UNESCO sites of Renaissance Architecture of Úbeda and Baeza with an enjoyable ride into the hills

This is a free day to enjoy beautiful Úbeda. We offer a visit including an artist's demonstration at a famous local ceramics studio. The rest of the day is yours to walk through the historic Renaissance district or consider cycling into the hills to Baeza, another prominent Renaissnace town. The ensemble of Renaissance monuments of Úbeda and Baeza is on UNESCO's list of World Heritage sites and should not be missed. Distance: 28 km (17 miles) - more for those who want.

Lodging: Hotel Maria de Molina

Day 9: Úbeda to Guadix

Highlights: Ride towards the Sierra Nevada, the cave dwelling neighborhood

We head south today on our way to Guadix towards the hills of the Sierra Nevada. Enjoy a change of scenery as we enter the "southwest" of Spain. We'll cross the Sierra Magina on our route and then head down towards the clay formations of Guadix. It is easy to see how for the past 500 years most houses of the villages in this valley were built as caves inside clay mounds. View the historical monuments and join us on a walking tour of the cave quarters neighborhood. Dinner together this evening. Distance: 112 km (70 miles).

Lodging: Hotel Comercio

Day 10: Bicycle to Granada

Inside Alhambra

Highlights: Views of the Sierra Nevada, Guided tour of the Alhambra

Today we ride to Granada in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Enjoy a fun downhill stretch as we pedal past fields of asparagus and tobacco as the olives and grapes give way to more diverse crops. Our destination is the glorious city of Granada, home of the Alhambra (the 13th and 14th century complex of buildings representing the finest example of Moorish architecture left in Spain). On the way we'll pass by the famous village of Purullena, known for its ceramics. We'll have a final dinner together this evening after taking a guided tour of the Alhambra. Distance: 57 km (35 miles).

Lodging: Hotel Hesperia Granada

Day 11: Farewell

Highlights:

Our adventure ends after breakfast together this morning. If you decide to spend more time in Granada you can explore the beautiful old quarter of town and the tea houses. Granada is known for its tapas. Whatever you do, Buen viaje!
  • Highlights
    Granada, Andalucian Villages, Córdoba, Úbeda, Sevilla
  • Includes
    "The Usual" plus... Use of a quality 27-30 speed bicycle; 11 days, 10 nights accommodation, 7 dinners with wine & 10 breakfasts
  • Countries
    Spain
  • Begin/End
    Seville/Granada
  • Arrive/Depart
    Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) or Seville Airport (SVQ) / Granada Airport (GRX), Seville or Madrid
  • Total Distance
    717 - 732 km (448 - 457.5 miles)
  • Daily Distance
    28 - 113 km (17.5 - 71 miles)
  • What to Expect
    Great rides on rural roads, traditional villages, vast olive groves that produce some of the finest olive oil in the world.
  • Rating
    401
    Rolling hills every day. Half of the riding days will also have two to three steady climbs of 3 miles or more.
  • Notes
  • Terms
    Terms & Conditions
Dates Price Single
Supplement*		 Notes Next
Step
Oct 05 - 15, 2013 $4500 $600 Confirmed Departure Book It
*We are happy to match solo travelers who would like to share a room with someone of the same gender. If no match exists, due to hotel pricing, we will charge 50% of the single supplement rate. This fee will be collected at the time of the final payment. If a roommate assignment is available this fee will be refunded at the conclusion of the tour.
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Click on the "pins" for details about each day's highlights.

Map Key

Green pinStart
Yellow pinCity (on route)
Red pinEnd
Other city dotCity (not part of route, provided for reference)
Really great trip, impressed with the hotels and meals. Leaders were outstanding! I was surprised how majestic and beautiful Spain was - my first visit, but not my last!
Joan K., Palatine, IL
Great tour. Planning on doing Camino de Santiago bicycle tour across northern Spain in August next year.
Bob L., Fort Collins, CO
It was wonderful.
Chuck and Jacque W., San Luis Obispo, CA
This was a wonderfully conceived trip... the cycling was great; the lodgings were wonderful; the new bicycles were a real treat... a great trip!
Ed R., Palmyra, PA
This was a wonderful trip! Beautiful area of the world to bike. The marriage of Islamic and Christian cultures and architectures was fascinating. Food was excellent. Tour leaders were superb. And...the local people were incredibly friendly.
James B.
Incline Village, NV
Our favorite bike touring company! Chalk arrows (really sets XPlus apart), amount/level of biking, limited van shuttles, enthusiasm, knowledge and teamwork of leaders. Also, food and wine and local "feel" of trips. These are some of the things we really value.
Deena B.
Incline Village, NV
[My favorite part?] Miles and miles (or kilometers) of great cycling on rural roads! Topped off by great dinners with the group.
Gregg M.
Littleton, CO
[My favorite parts were] The Moorish buildings of Cordoba and Granada, and the foothills of the Sierra Morena (great countryside and roads)
Richard R.
Charles Town, WV
You are loved, and most appreciated for such trips of such quality.
George & Jane N.
Columbus, IN
We have always loved the ExperiencePlus! trips on a Bicycle. Great food, wine and hotels, also a good bike to ride all those hills. We are forever grateful for such a wonderful sojourn in other countries.
George & Jane N.
Columbus, IN
I loved the people and the tours in town -olive oil factory, pottery, alhambra etc
Ivy D.
Denver, CO
Great touring company! the hat cambio is a great idea to force your clients to reach out to others ... My tour was nearly perfect. I loved the trip. I couldn't pick a single moment [ that was best ].
Diane C.
Boulder, CO
[My favorite part was ]the scenery in the last 40Km from Ubeda to Guadix. Overall, the trip exceeded my expectations. The diversity of towns and scenery was very pleasing. The accommodations and meals were excellent. The guides were tirelessly patient and informative.
Sara G.
Portland, OR
Loreto, Maria Elena and Claudio were just wonderful leaders! They were so competent, helpful and knowledgeable. Really, they are what made the trip so enjoyable. It was hard to pick just one [ favorite part]. There were many. I loved riding through the Sierra Nevada on the last day with fall color and beautiful scenery. I think the Mezquita was the most unique cultural sight. I enjoyed all aspects of this tour. It was another wonderfully planned and executed Experience Plus! tour.
Linda M.
Livermore, CA
These have been my favorite vacations ever! [ My favorite part was ]the biking to one interesting town after another. Regional food was great. Local guides for tours were great.
Jack I.
Boulder, CO