WILDER: Bikepacking Andalusia
27 April - 4th May 2024
TRIP MINIMUM NUMBER HAS BEEN MET - GUARANTEED TO RUN!!
Ride from Granada to Almeria, from the Spanish badlands to it’s beaches on a true Andalusian gravel adventure. This is the first in our series of WILDER trips. Bigger days, more climbing, wilder terrain, but a bit more luxury at night to make it all worth while. Ready for the next step in your adventures? This could be the one.
Inspired by the iconic Badlands race, this week long trip will showcase the incredible diversity and wild landscape of this special corner of Andalucia. Meeting in Malaga, but starting our ride in the Moorish mountain city of Granada, we’ll ride through colourful canyons, below snow-capped peaks, through high forests, along arid desert ramblas, and finally join the coast for some dreamy coastal riding through the Cabo de Gata national park to the beaches of Almeria.
This is the first of our WILDER series. Bikepacking trips in wild landscapes that go that little bit further. Longer days, bigger climbs, more thrilling descents, wilder terrain, more solitutde, and even more memories to be made. With average daily mileage of 70+km, 70% off-road terrain, and a mix off all types of terrain, this a trip well suited to experienced gravel riders who love long days in the saddle. Our days will be wild, but our evenings will be anything but. Comfy hotels, great local food, and even the odd swimming pool.
Ready to come over to the WILDER side?
Price: £1250
Can’t make this date but keen to join in the future? Register your interest here and we’ll let you know about new dates
What’s included?
Sisters in the Wild hosts and guides
Your hosts will be an all female Sisters in the Wild team, led by British Cycling leaders who’ve spent weeks riding trails in the area to find the best routes for our adventure. There’ll be a minimum of one leader per 8 riders, with a support vehicle and mechanic on hand for well timed refreshments, mechanical support, and to help in case of issues.
Accommodation
Seven nights accommodation included, in 3*, 4* and boutique hotels. Most nights will be twin room basis, with one night in a triple room. Several hotels have pools.
Transfers/Storage
Transfer from our meeting point in Malaga to our trip start point in Granada for you and your bike bag. We may utilise trains/buses for a smoother journey.
Storage of your bike bag and extra luggage whilst we are on the trip.
Food
Breakfast: Breakfast included everyday
Dinners: Six of seven dinners included. A mix of dining at our hotels, dinners in the towns, and a pizza buffet.
Lunch/snacks: Not included. We’ll make sure you know where you can pick up food on the ride.
Access to our gear library
Ortlieb bikepacking bag loan if you need it
Hammerhead navigation device loan if you need it
Ride Routes
Each participant will be provided with a specially curated collection of routes and route briefings via Komoot, and a free map bundle to access/navigate them. Though there will be SITW guides out on the routes, it is important for this trip that you are comfortable with navigating yourself on gravel routes.
Key things not included:
A bike, helmet, and your own tools/spares
Lunches and snacks
Travel & public liability insurance (mandatory)
Transfers from the airport to Malaga at the beginning, and transfer to the airport from Malaga at the end.
Itinerary
-
Distance/Elevation: 5km/150m
Sleep: Granada, Hotel Alixeres
https://www.hotelalixares.com/en/
Breakfast/Dinner: Not included/Included
Today we’ll meet you in Malaga near the central train station, and collect your bike bags for transfer to Granada. The group will transfer to Granada by train/bus (TBD), with time before dinner for building bikes and a quick test ride. We’ll share dinner together and talk about the plan for the week, before a good nights sleep ready for the ride to begin!
-
Distance/Elevation: 60km/1400m
Sleep: Guadix, Hotel Mulhacen
https://www.hotelmulhacen.com
Breakfast/Dinner: Included/Included
Today we ride straight out of the city, with the iconic Alhambra palace to our side. We’ll join the locals riding through the General Life park, and soon we’re out into the hills. A gorgeous climb through pine forest will reward us with views of the Sierra Nevada, before the landscape changes drastically as we arrive to the small city of Guadix, where vast canyons suddenly appear. We’ll make Guadix our home for the next two nights, with some time to explore it’s lively streets in the evening.
-
Distance/Elevation: 90km/1200m
Sleep: Guadix, Hotel Mulhacen
https://www.hotelmulhacen.com
Breakfast/Dinner: Included/Not included
Today is an incredible loop ride that will throw out some challenges! There’s the option to make this loop shorter or longer too.
We head straight towards the Giraffe desert, home to the iconic classic badlands scenery of multi coloured towers of sandy rock and dry river beds that weave through them. There’s some chunky terrain today, a thrilling descent and a fun climb back out of the canyon. We’ll feel miles away from anyone as we explore this vast wilderness, Europes only true desert.
-
Distance/Elevation: 75km/1800m
Sleep: Hueneja, Hotel Molin de Enmedio
www.hotelmolinodeenmedio.com
Breakfast/Dinner: Included/Included
We’ll have a big and early breakfast today as we prepare for one of our biggest climbing days!
From Guadix, we turn towards thhe Sierra Nevada, and will spend much of our day climbing into it, then staying high as we skirt around its northern flanks. We’ll be up at almost 2000m today, with views down to the plains below us, before final thrilling descent to one of the jewels of our week - the boutique hotel of Molina de Enmedio, nestled in the forest above the town of Hueneja. Dinner together in the hotel’s sought after restaurant awaits us, and a celebration of a big day.
-
Distance/Elevation: 100km/950m
Sleep: Tabernas, Jardin del Desierto
http://www.jardindeldesierto.com
Breakfast/Dinner: Included/Included
Today we head to the Tabernas desert, home to many a Wild West film set, and the only true desert in Europe.
Though the miles are big today, many of the first ones will be fast and smooth, as we enjoy some smooth tarmac (with a bit of gravel thrown in!) to reach the edge of the desert after 40km.
From here the scenery changes drastically. We’ll climb into the desert over bone-dry hills, and down a wide ramblas (dry river bed) that provides local farmers with space and nutrients to grow on it.
We’ll stop for well earned cafe con leche and Gador, riding through orange trees before we explore our second ramblas of the day. Here we’ll be picking our way through narrower gorges, with towering Wild West scenery all around. It’s easy to imagine turning a corner to be greeted by a shoot out! Time dependent, you may even have a chance to pop into Fort Bravo - still home to many of the old Western film sets.
We’ll gradually climb up to our home for the night in Tabernas, with time to wash off the desert dirt and enjoy a dinner together.
-
Distance/Elevation: 76km/1400m
Sleep: Cortijo el Paraiso. Inland from La Isleta
https://www.cortijoelparaiso.es
Breakfast/Dinner: Included/Included
Today we head to the coast! But first, we climb,
We leave Tabernas, with some smooth flat riding to get us to the base of our climb up and over the Sierra Alhamilla. The switch back climb has a kind gradient, with opportunity to grab some shade as we near the top, and an optional out and back to the classic view point at the top of Colativi, at 1390m. Our descent to the pretty Andalusian town of Nijar is beautiful and wild, with some testing gravel sections to keep you on your toes!
We’ll stop for refreshments in Nijar, before continuing on to our home for the night, just inland from the coast at La Isleta. The scenery changes dramatically once again. First as we get a glimpse of what this region is known for - agriculture, and the vast areas of poly-tunnels that looked like lakes from our viewpoint. Soon we’re in Indiana Jones territory, still home to the Gold Mines and red rock that were used as a film set.
Once checked in to our hotel, there’s a chance to ride the two miles to the lovely village of La Isleta, for a dip in the Mediterranean and a relaxed pizza dinner.
-
Distance/Elevation: 60km/600m
Sleep: Almeria, Torreluz
https://www.torreluz.com/en
Breakfast/Dinner: Included/Included
Our final day! We spend much of the day skirting the coast, through Cabo de Gato national park. A couple fof short sharp climbs bring us over headlands, with stunning views down to the ocean, before we join the flat and sandy tracks that follow the beaches through the park, with a few chances to grab coffee and ice cream on the way. It’s a ride to savour, with plenty of opportunities to dip in the ocean.
We finish our ride on cycle paths that take us all the way into Almeria, via it’s long sandy beach and many bars with a cold beer waiting to celebrate with.
Tonight, we’ll have a chance to share Tapas and dinner together in town, and to soak up the experience of weekend in a vibrant Spanish city. No riding tomorrow - so go enjoy!
-
We’ll say our farewells over breakfast, and leave you with some recommendations for more riding if you want them.
Bikes can be packed up at the hotel, with a special storage room and tools available.
Our hotel can help arrange taxis to Almeria airport for onward travel, or there is a public bus available that goes to Malaga and Malaga airport (4 hours)
FAQ
-
You can secure your spot by paying a non-refundable £300 deposit via Ticket Tailor. Will will confirm once the minimum trip number has been reached. Please do not book your flights until this point.
We’ll then ask for the remaining balance to be paid 60 days before the trip by bank transfer. If you cancel between 60 days and 28 days, you’ll get 50% back. Cancellation within 28 days is non-refundable, but you can transfer your booking to another person should you find one. View the full booking terms and conditions here.
-
Our cycling trip starts in Granada and ends in Almeria.
A transfer from Malaga train station (a short train/bus ride from the airport) to our first night hotel in Granada is included in the ticket price.
We recommend booking your outward flight to Malaga, and return flight from Almeria. Both are well served by budget airlines.
We will confirm exact meeting times in Malaga when we reach minimum numbers, but expect it to be around lunch time.
-
This is the second of our WILDER series. Bikepacking trips in wild landscapes that go that little bit further. Longer days, bigger climbs, more thrilling descents, wilder terrain, more solitutde, and even more memories to be made. With average daily mileage of 70+km, 70% off-road terrain, and a mix off all types of trails, this a trip well suited to experienced gravel riders who love long days in the saddle and some embrace some chunkier gravel terrain.
Item description
-
This area of Spain has an incredible network of gravel roads and trails. We’ll experience a real mix as we move from Granada to the coast.
We’ll have plenty of stretches of well maintained forest gravel roads, but these can be steep and loose/rougher in places, and have steep downhill sections that require skilled handling. Days will range from 60 to 100km, with many days of over 1500m climbing and descending.
Unique to the area, we’ll spend time riding through dry riverbeds, which can be sandy and slow going in places.
On some days, the tracks will be more technical, with features such as washed out channels, larger rubble and rocks , or clay. Whilst the area is relatively arid, periods of rain can cause clay tracks to become unrideable, and walking your bike may be needed.
Amongst the off-road sections, we’ll also have some smooth tarmac riding, where we’ll enjoy a chance to make some quick miles or elevation!
-
We recommend a hardtail MTB, or a gravel bike with minimum tyre width of 42mm tyres. A good gearing ratio will help you with the climbs, especially as you’ll be carrying your bikepacking bags!
-
Bike hire is available locally with https://www.sierranevada.cc/bike-rental who offer gravel and hardtail MTBs.
There is a fee for collection from Almeria which can be spread across all people renting.
-
There is one riding option per day, and we will ride between our accommodation each day, with rides between 60km 100km with between 900 and 1860m of ascending. Add in around 80% gravel:tarmac, and some challenging terrain, and these can feel like big days. A good level of stamina is required.
We suggest that you are comfortable riding 50+ miles in a day in hilly terrain, for multiple days. You should be confident and experienced riding on mixed gravel/off-road terrain, and comfortable with long climbs and long gravel-descents. There are some sandy sections, and the gravel roads can be loose and rocky in places.
Feel free to drop us an email if you have any questions on the riding and level of experience we’d recommend.
-
We encourage riders to feel that they have the freedom to ride at their own pace. There will be SITW guides out on the routes who may move back and forth amongst the group, and a support vehicle at checkpoints each day. We will also share cafe stops and lunch recommendations each day, for regrouping on the ride.
Whilst riders are welcome to ride with our guides, and we will have a group leaving time each day, it is important for this trip that you are comfortable with navigating yourself using a navigation device. There will be checkpoints each day, and guides and/or support vehicles will be sweeping the rides to support any issues.
-
You’ll need to carry everything you need for the week on your bike. But with no camping, awe’ll encourage you to pack light! We’ll send a full kit list out a couple of months before, and help you to get ruthless with your packing on the trip!
The the key things are:
Bikepacking bags (available to loan - add when booking)
Navigation device (available to loan - add when booking)
Waterproof jacket
Clothes to cycle in
Clothes for evening
Swimming stuff
Lightweight towel
Bike
Helmet
Spares and tools for your bike
Bike lights
-
Description text goes here
-
Check your airlines bike carriage policy. Some airlines will allow them as part of their checked in baggage allowance, Most require a bike to be added as a specific piece of Sports Luggage, but often you get a higher weight allowance. Usually costs in the region of £40 -£50.
-
Breakfast will be at our hotels, and will mostly be a continental style buffet.
Dinners will be at our hotels, or at local restaurants. Most restaurants don’t open until 8/8:30, so dinners can run a little later than they might in the UK!
We will pass on dietary requirements given at booking. This part of Spain can be a tricky place for Gluten Free/ Vegans, and you may find choices in some parts of the route can be limited.
Lunches are not included, but we will recommend our favourite cafes and villages en route to pick up supplies.
-
It is mandatory that you get personal travel/health insurance for this trip, that includes off road cycling as an allowable activity. You must also have 3rd party liability cycling insurance. For the later, we recommend getting as part of Cycling UK’s membership
-
Bike bags and extra luggage can be left at the start of the trip, and we will arrange transfer of them to meet us in Almeria for the end of our trip.
-
Yes! Grandad is a lovely city to spend a day or two. You can meet us directly at our starting hotel on the afternoon of day 1 of the trip.