Andalusia: Badlands to Beaches
Andalusia Badlands
8-Day Gravel Adventure from Granada to Almeria
Inspired by the iconic Badlands race, this week-long gravel adventure showcases the incredible diversity and wild landscape of this special corner of Andalusia. Starting in the Moorish mountain city of Granada, we journey through colourful canyons, below snow-capped peaks, through high forests, and along arid desert ramblas before joining the coast for dreamy riding through the Cabo de Gata national park to the beaches of Almeria.
This was 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 solitude, and even more memories to be made. With average daily distances of 70+km, 70% off-road gravel riding, and a mix of all types of terrain, this trip suits experienced gravel cyclists who love long days in the saddle exploring remote routes. Days are wild and adventurous, but nights bring comfort in local guesthouses and hotels, with a touch of luxury to start in Granada.
Highlights
✔ Experience incredible terrain diversity - ride from mountains to desert to sea
✔ One of our favourite routes with the most gravel riding %
✔ Kick off with a bit of luxury in gorgeous Granada
✔ Wild riding with a chance to enjoy Spanish cafe culture every day
✔ Explore an unfrequented area of Spain
Day-by-Day Itinerary: Granada to Almeria
Start Point: Granada, Alhambra
End Point: Almeria
On this point-to-point adventure, we hop between vibrant Spanish cities and little visited towns, giving us a unique insight into this beautiful corner of Europe. We begin in beautiful Granada, on the doorstep of the Morrish Alhambra and head to the badlands of the otherworldly Guadix desert, before climbing through the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
The daily mileage on this trip is one of our biggest, and means the scenery changes every day, as we move into the ramblas of the Tabernas desert (the driest place in Europe!) and head towards the wild west landscapes that bring us to the coast. Our final day sees us riding right along the beautiful Mediterranean coastline, with lots of spots to swim. We finish in cosmopolitan Almeria, joining locals for a weekend on the beach and dinner al fresco in the city.
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Sleep: Granada, Hotel Alixeres or similar (4*)
Meals: D
Today you can make your way to our hotel in Granada, and check in from 2pm. Our team will be around from 3pm to help you rebuild your bikes, and you’ll have time to enjoy the hotel’s pool, or explore the town before a quick optional shakedown 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!
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Sleep: Guadix, Hotel Mulhacen
https://www.hotelmulhacen.com
Meals: B, D
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.
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Sleep: Guadix, Hotel Mulhacen (2*) or similar
Meals: B
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 Gorafe 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, Europe’s only true desert.
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Sleep: Fiñana (Rural Houses)
Meals: B, D
We’ll have a big and early breakfast today as we prepare for one of our biggest climbing days!
From Guadix, we turn towards the 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 1800m today, with incredible views down to the plains below us, before a final thrilling descent to one the town of Hueneja nestled in the foothills of the Sierras. and onto Fiñana. Tonight we’ll stay in a Casa Rurale, a pair of traditional rural homes where we’ll prepare a simple dinner (and hopefully enjoy it al fresco!).
Time to eat, sleep, and get ready for another big day!
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Sleep: Tabernas, 2* Hotel
Meals: B, D
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.
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Sleep: Hostal in San Jose
Meals: N/A
Today is a big day!
As breakfast isn't included, this is a chance to share an early coffee and pastry with the locals.
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. We start with a glimpse of what this region is known for - agriculture, and the vast areas of poly-tunnels that looked like lakes from our viewpoint. Then, we’re in Indiana Jones territory, still home to the Gold Mines and red rock that were used as a film set.
We’re staying in the coastal town of San Jose this evening. You will be on your own for dinner on this night, but San Jose is a fun coastal village to explore and eat out in and cheers to the big day!
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Sleep: 4* Hotel in Almeria
Meals: B
Our final riding day! After a relaxed start to the day, we’ll spend much of the day skirting the coast, through Cabo de Gato national park. A couple of 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 its long sandy beach and many bars with a cold beer waiting to help us celebrate.
Tonight, we’ll have a chance to share dinner together in town, and to soak up the experience of weekend in a vibrant Spanish city. No riding tomorrow - so go enjoy!
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Meals: B
We’ll say our farewells over breakfast.
Bikes can be packed up at the hotel, with a special storage room and tools available.
The hotel can help arrange taxis to Almeria airport for onward travel, or there is a public ALSA bus to Malaga and Malaga airport (4 hours) from the city bus station. These buses have space for around 5 packed bikes, with bike tickets available to pre-book.
Returning to Granada: For riders who flew into Granada, ALSA also operates a direct bus service from Almeria to Granada, taking around 2 hours, making it an easy return journey. We'd recommend booking in advance via alsa.es. Please note it's worth checking with ALSA directly regarding space for packed bikes on this route.
What's Included?
Included ✓
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Our trip will be hosted by our British Cycling and First Aid qualified Sisters in the Wild guides, who between them have a tonne of experience of riding in this area.
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Seven nights accommodation included in a mix of simple guesthouses, rural houses and 3*/ 4* hotels.
Single supplement is available.
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Navigation devices can be added to your booking, and we'll have them ready for you on day one.
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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.
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B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
Not Included ✗
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Lunch and snacks are not included. We’ll make sure you know where you can pick up food on the ride.
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Riders can bring their own bike, or hire in Andalucia (see Bike Hire section for details).
Riders should carry simple tools/spare for their bike in case of bike issues. Our guide team can help you use them!
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Flights, transfers and all travel to our start point in Granada and from our end point in Almeria is not included.
Our trip finishes at our hotel in Almeria, and we’ll arrange for bike bags to be transferred to meet us in Almeria.
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Travel insurance that allows multi day cycling as an activity, and covers medical emergency, repatriation, cancellation and public liability is mandatory for all SITW trips and is not included.
Spain is in the EU and Schengen zone, and most travellers do not require a visa. If you require a visa to travel, this will not be included.
View Dates & Book
| Date | Days | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 April to 1 May '27 | 8 | £1395 | Book |
| Start Date | End Date | Days | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 April 2027 | 1 May 2027 | 8 | £1395 p.p. | Book Now! |
Questions about the trip or want to be kept in the loop on future dates?
Booking Info
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Click on your preferred trip date to be directed to our secure booking partner WeTravel who will process and manage your booking.
£300 deposit to secure your spot
Full balance due 60 days before the trip
💡 Tip: We recommend paying with bank details to avoid card processing fees.
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Single Supplement: £300
Hammerhead Karoo Navigation Devices: £10
All add-ons can be selected at booking or added later.
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⚠️ Important: This trip requires a minimum of 6 participants to run.
Please do not book your travel until we've confirmed the trip is running.
Your deposit is fully refundable until we confirm this number has been met.
You will see a guaranteed badge next to those dates we have already guaranteed to run.
Reviews
We’ve rated this trip as a 4/5 challenge level. This trip is a part 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 solitude, 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 embrace some chunkier gravel terrain. Take a look at our highlight reel on Instagram for more about our last trip!
About The Riding
Challenge Level
Terrain
The riding on this trip is around 70% off-road, predominantly on double track trails, of mixed quality, with some single-track trails in sections. We’ll have plenty of stretches of well maintained forest gravel roads, but also some trails that can be steep and looser/rougher in places. There are some long and occasionally steep downhill stretches that vary in quality in places (e.g. washed out, rockier) and require confidence in descending on off-road terrain.
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 some bits of walking your bike may be needed. Overall, the route is 99% rideable by confident gravel riders.
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!
Climbing
There is a fair amount of climbing on this trip, offset with a couple of flatter/downhill days. Our days of significant climbing tend to feature one or two big climbs, with some undulating around it. Most of our our significant climbs are on off-road terrain and tend to have steady gradients, though there are some steeper sections.
Daily Distances
Our daily distances are between 60km and 90km averaging around 70km per day. On some days, there are shortcut options that cut some distance and/or climbing. Komoot suggests an average moving time per day of around 7 hours in the saddle.
Remoteness & Weather
Whilst the scenery is stunning and we’ll often be alone on the road or trails for hours at a time, this route has well spaced opportunities to hit a cafe or bar at least once on most days, and most of the route is accessible by vehicles. There’s one day where we’ll need to carry all of our supplies (food and water) for the whole ride.
Accommodation & Food
Accommodation
We'll be moving between accommodation throughout the trip, on this point to point adventure. Seven nights accommodation included in a mix of simple but comfortable local guesthouses, casas ruruales (rural holiday homes), and 3/4* and boutique hotels. We choose our accommodations for their location, which means our nights at the start and end of the trip will give you a dash of luxury, and those in between will be simple but comfortable affairs. Single supplements are available.
Luggage transfer is included as standard—your bags travel with the support vehicle each day so you can focus entirely on the riding.
Food
Breakfasts will be a mix of hotel style buffets and on days where we stay in smaller towns, a more typical Spanish style breakfast of tostada and tortilla in a local cafe.
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! Where possible, we try to bring this time earlier!
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. You may wish to bring extra supplies from home for lunches that we can keep in the support vehicle.
Lunches are not included, but we will recommend our favourite cafes and villages en route to pick up supplies.
Support Style
Our SITW Bikepacking trips aim to strike the perfect balance of freedom and support. Riders are free to ride the routes at their own pace or with the guide and group. Regardless, our team will be out on the routes to support and cheerlead.
Guiding
Depending on our group size, we’ll have one or two SITW guides out on the bike, moving back and forth amongst the group and sweeping more remote sections. Our guides are qualified first aiders and experienced mechanics and can help troubleshoot issues on the trail. Riders should equipped with their own navigation and not rely on following a guide for directions. Each participant will be provided with a specially curated collection of routes and route briefings via Komoot, to enable self supported navigation.
Support
In addition to the bike based guides, this trip has a SITW guide in a support vehicle to assist the group in case of issues (mechanicals, injury etc). This should not not be viewed as a shuttle option, but will meet us at key points along the route to check in, make sure we have what we need, and provide assistance where needed. The SITW team will likely switch between bikes and vehicle.
Bikes & Bike Hire
Bike hire is not included as standard on this trip, so riders are welcome to bring their own bike or hire locally. There’ll be space to rebuild the bikes at our starting hotel. We arrange storage of bike boxes whilst on the trip, with delivery to the end of our trip.
Recommended Bike
A gravel bike with minimum 42mm tyres with a decent amount of grip, or a hardtail MTB are both sound choices for this trip. All bikes should be in safe working condition for the trip, and we’d highly recommend a basic service before the trip to minimise the risk of issues during it. If you are newer to off-road riding, a hardtail can be a good choice for building confidence on the off-road sections, though may feel slower on the tarmac sections. A good gearing ratio will help you with the climbs. We would recommend avoiding tan wall tyres if possible - we’ve seen these be more likely to rip in the rugged terrain.
Bike Hire
Bike hire is available in Granada with Cycle Sierra Nevada who offer gravel and hardtail MTBs for rental. They can deliver to our start hotel in Granada and collect from Almeria at the end for a fee. This fee can be shared between riders - feel free to drop us a message and we can link you in with others who are hiring or potentially even help you with drop off.
Read our Complete Guide To Bikes On Sisters in the Wild Adventures for tips on travelling with your bike, recommended spares, and more.
FAQs
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Please do not book your travel until we have confirmed the minimum trip number has been met.
Our cycling trip starts in Granada and ends in Almeria. We will meet you at our starting hotel in Granada.
We recommend booking your outward flight to either Malaga or Granada. Malaga is well served by budget airlines and has direct buses (ALSA) and trains (Renfe) to Granada with bike spaces available. Granada Airport (GRX) is also an option—a number of European cities fly direct, and from the UK both BA and Iberia operate connecting flights. A taxi from Granada Airport to the hotel takes around 25 minutes and costs approximately €28.
The trip finishes in Almeria, which has its own airport. Farewells are shared over breakfast, and bikes can be packed up at the hotel using a dedicated storage room with tools available.
The hotel can help arrange taxis to Almeria airport for onward travel, or there is a public ALSA bus to Malaga and Malaga airport (4 hours) from the city bus station. These buses have space for around 5 packed bikes, with bike tickets available to pre-book.
Returning to Granada: For riders who flew into Granada, ALSA also operates a direct bus service from Almeria to Granada, taking around 2 hours, making it an easy return journey. We'd recommend booking in advance via alsa.es. Please note it's worth checking with ALSA directly regarding space for packed bikes on this route.
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Malaga, Granada and Almeria are served by trains. In Spain, there are special rules about which trains you can take bikes on:
ALSA is the bus service that serves the region, and most services have the ability to book bikes on, in a bag or box.
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We’’ll share a detailed packing list as part of our Trip Guide.
No camping gear is required for this trip and luggage transfer is included.
Bike Stuff
The basics
Off-road bike and Helmet
Navigation device (available to loan from us)
Bike lights (just in case!) and headtorch (optional)
A secure bike lock for overnight (can be stored in support van)
Lightweight lock for the rides
Capacity to carry at least 1.5 litres of water.
A small rucksack (10 litres) to carry what you need on the bike for the day
Basic first aid kit for your rides
Bike tools/spares to carry
Spare tube and patches
Small pump
Tubeless plugs/spare sealant if running tubeless tyres
Multitool with what you need for your bike e.g. allen keys, chain breaker
Chain quick link (these are specific for your bike)
Spare derailleur hanger (specific to your bike.) This website can help you find the one you need for your bike
Brake pads (specific for your bike)
Small amount of chain oil
A few zip ties/bits of duct tape & electrical tape wrapped around your pump are always useful!
Personal Stuff
Travel insurance that covers off-road cycle touring/theft
Passport
Any personal medication needed
Mini toiletries (travel toothpaste, toothbrush etc)
Battery pack/cables to keep phone and nav device charged
Cash/card
Earplugs....just in case!
Lightweight towel for swims
Sun cream/SPF lipbalm
Electrolytes (optional but recommended)
Clothing
Clothing is a great place to slim down your packing list and get ruthless! However, this should be balanced with keeping safe and warm and dry if we have poor weather. Generally we could expect some very hot and sunny days, with the possibility of rain/thunderstorms.
Consider how you can double up uses of clothes for day/evening/sleeping, and embrace a bit of dirtbag spirit!
There's a chance to do laundry on day 5, and sinks available on every other night. Showers are available every day.
Cycling clothes
We recommend 2 sets that you can wash/swap through the week, plus a warm layer set.
Comfy shorts and quick dry t-shirts or cycling top
Shoes. We recommend only using clip in shoes/pedals if you’re already confident off-road riding.
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof trousers (optional)
Extra layers in case of poor weather, especially on downhills (e.g., leggings, long gloves, mid layer, windbreaker)
Cycling gloves (optional)
Glasses (optional but recommended - downhill bugs and gravel dust)
Socks
Cycling cap/hat to keep the sun off your face
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We’ll have a max group size of 16, minimum group size of 6 to run.
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We will help to pass any dietary requirements to places that we eat, Unfortunately it may not always be possible for them to accommodate due to their limited ingredients and menus. We’ll try to work with you to find solutions.
You can let us know any dietary requirements at time of booking. If you have serious allergies, please email us before booking on hello@sistersinthewild.com. -
In order to make the most of the riding on offer, we’d suggest that you are comfortable riding 45+ miles in a day in hilly off-road terrain, for a few days on the run. Riding a loaded bike takes a little more effort, so we’d recommend trying some practice rides of 50 miles + with some weight/luggage on your bike. You should be comfortable with off-road climbing and descending.
Feel free to drop us an email hello@sistersinthewild.com if you have any questions on this.
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Yes, you can book directly with our starting/ending hotel if you wish to stay earlier/late. We’ll share our hotel info once the trip is confirmed.
If you need to arrive late, that’s also fine, and the shakedown ride can be skipped. Ideally we’d have you join in time for the rider briefing on the evening of day 1, but we can fill you in.
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Late spring and early autumn in the region generally sees warm/hot days and cooler nights. We start higher in the hills around Granada, where evenings will likely be cooler, dropping down to the coast at Almeria.
There are often seasonal variations, so we recommend checking the latest weather forecast in the few days before
Come prepared for heat, but also for potential rain and cooler temperatures at higher elevations on the ride as we will be climbing close to 2000m at times.
Some of the riding days will be exposed with little shade, and some large distances/climbs between resupply.
Temperatures can feel very hot in the desert areas.
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Spain is in the EU Schengen Zone and most travellers do not require a visa. Please check the specific visa requirements for your country.
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Bike boxes/extra bags can be left at the start of the trip and we will meet them again at the end.