Gems of Andalucía Guided Cycle Tour: Seville, Córdoba & Granada

Heart of Andalucian Passion.

Meet your tour leader at 7:00 PM at your centrally located hotel for a welcome meeting and an easy guided walk through Barrio Santa Cruz, Seville's atmospheric historic quarter of narrow lanes, hidden courtyards and lively plazas.

If you arrive earlier in the day, make the most of your time in Seville by exploring its magnificent landmarks, including the Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tower and the spectacular Royal Alcazar.

This evening, get to know your fellow cyclists over an included welcome dinner, enjoying your first taste of Andalusian cuisine before your cycling adventure begins.

Accommodation: Handpicked central hotel in Seville (or similar).

Roman Gates and Franciscan Monasteries.

Terrain: Easy / Mostly flat

After breakfast, a short minibus transfer takes you beyond Seville's traffic to Carmona, one of Andalucia's oldest towns, with Roman and Moorish heritage woven into its medieval streets. Take time to explore its historic gates and atmospheric old quarter before meeting your bikes and setting off into the countryside.

Ride along quiet back roads through the fertile Guadalquivir Valley, passing fields of citrus, cotton and sunflowers as the landscape opens into peaceful rural Andalucia. The route offers a wonderful contrast to Seville's grand monuments, revealing the agricultural heartland that has sustained the region for centuries.

Your destination is Palma del Río, where you'll stay in a beautifully restored 16th-century Franciscan monastery. Set within tranquil gardens and complete with a swimming pool, it's the perfect place to unwind after your ride.

Later, join your tour leader for a guided evening walk through Palma del Río, discovering its historic fortress and heritage before enjoying dinner at the monastery.

Poppies, Castles, and the Great Mezquita.

Terrain: Easy to Moderate, with gentle hills in the second half.

Leave Palma del Río behind and ride through the fertile countryside of the Guadalquivir Valley, where fields of wild poppies, cotton and avocado groves create a colourful Andalusian landscape. Quiet rural roads lead you towards the dramatic Castle of Almodóvar del Río, perched high above the surrounding countryside and seemingly lifted straight from a medieval storybook.

Continue towards Córdoba, once the dazzling capital of the Moorish Western world and one of medieval Europe's greatest cities. After arriving, set out with your guide to explore the atmospheric Jewish Quarter, wandering through narrow whitewashed lanes and flower-filled courtyards decorated with traditional Andalusian ceramics.

Your cultural highlight awaits at the magnificent Mezquita-Cathedral, Córdoba's extraordinary 9th-century mosque transformed into a Christian cathedral. Its forest of red-and-white arches and layered history provide a remarkable glimpse into the civilizations that have shaped Andalucía.

Accommodation: Handpicked central hotel in Córdoba (or similar).

Subbética Mountains & Cold-Pressed Olive Oils.

Terrain: Moderate to Challenging, with varied terrain and rewarding climbs.

Leave Córdoba behind and head into the spectacular landscapes of the Sierras Subbéticas, where limestone peaks, dense green forests and endless olive groves replace the open plains of the Guadalquivir Valley.

Ride through the peaceful countryside towards Castro del Río, stopping for lunch in a shady park before continuing to Baena, one of Andalucía's most important olive-growing regions and a true capital of Spanish olive oil.

Here, go behind the scenes with a private visit to the family-run Núñez Prado olive oil mill, where you'll discover how organically grown olives are transformed into exceptional cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil. Enjoy a tasting and learn about the traditions that have shaped olive cultivation in the region for generations.

From Baena, the landscape becomes increasingly dramatic as you climb towards Zuheros, one of Andalucia's most spectacular Pueblos Blancos. Clinging to the side of a rugged limestone cliff beneath its medieval castle, the village offers a memorable finish to a rewarding day in the saddle.

Accommodation: Hotel or historic guesthouse in Zuheros (or similar).

A Pueblos Blancos Sanctuary.

Enjoy a relaxed day in Zuheros, one of Andalucia's most beautiful white villages, dramatically set against the limestone cliffs of the Subbética.

Take time to explore the ruins of the Moorish castle, wander the quiet cobbled lanes, or head out for a short walk or ride through the surrounding Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park. For something a little different, join an optional guided visit to the Cueva de los Murciélagos (Cave of the Bats), one of the area's most fascinating natural attractions.

Later, settle in for a leisurely meal at a local plaza restaurant and enjoy the views across the village towards the hilltop fortress.

Accommodation: Hotel or historic guesthouse in Zuheros.

The Via Verde Olive Oil Rail-Trail.

Terrain: Moderate — mostly gentle gradients, with regular rolling hills and a final climb into Alcalá la Real.

Leave Zuheros behind and join the Via Verde, a former 19th-century railway line now transformed into a peaceful cycling route through the heart of Andalucia's olive country.

Follow gentle gradients through the silver-green olive groves of Jaén Province, where the landscape seems to stretch endlessly across the hills. The riding becomes more undulating as you approach Alcalá la Real, with a final climb into town and, on clear days, your first distant views of the Sierra Nevada rising on the horizon.

After arriving, take time to explore the imposing Fortaleza de la Mota, the magnificent Moorish fortress that crowns the hill above Alcalá la Real and offers sweeping views across the surrounding countryside.

An included dinner is served this evening.

Accommodation: Hotel in Alcalá la Real.

Sierra Nevada Valleys to the Alhambra.

Terrain: Moderate — longer climbs with steady gradients, followed by a rewarding descent towards Granada.

Ride through high mountain valleys framed by rocky cliffs, almond groves and tranquil reservoirs as you continue south towards Granada. The route includes several sustained climbs, rewarded with expansive views across the rugged Andalusian countryside.

Pause for a lakeside picnic lunch, with the option for a refreshing swim, before beginning the descent into the fertile Vega de Granada. As you approach the city, enjoy unforgettable views of the Alhambra Palace set against the dramatic backdrop of the Sierra Nevada.

This evening, join your guide for a walk through the atmospheric Albaicín, Granada's historic Moorish quarter. Wander its maze of narrow lanes and whitewashed houses before reaching one of the district's famous viewpoints, where the Alhambra glows above the city after dark.

Accommodation: Handpicked central hotel in Granada.