Malaga & Ronda Mountains Cycling Holiday
Spain FlagSpain

Malaga & Ronda Mountains

Guided Cycling Holiday

Spain FlagSpain

Malaga & Ronda Mountains
Guided Cycling Tour
Length: 7 Days
Level: Difficulty Medium to Challenging
Price: €1,520 EUR
This new guided cycling holiday explores the most beautiful mountains of southern Spain. Starting in the coastal city of Malaga, we cross the Sierra de las Nieves National Park and the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park.

Highlights include the cities of Ronda and Malaga, the historic villages of Setenil and Zahara and the cycling passes of Puerto de las Palomas and Puerto del Viento.

The roads here are perfect for cycling, with very low traffic, perfect surfaces and spectacular scenery. At the end of the day you can relax in very high quality, hand-picked hotels which reflect the region.

The riding on this holiday is similar to our very popular Mallorca: Mountains and Coast tour, and mostly tackles medium mountains with fun gradients. As well as the cycling, you will be immersed in the rich history and culture of Southern Spain, with many reminders of its Roman and Moorish past.

This holiday is fully supported and guided and there are two route options each day, making it suitable for riders of different levels. Below you can find a detailed itinerary, and click on the tabs to see more highlights, as well as all the practical information about the holiday. We also run a self-guided version of this tour.

Malaga and Ronda Cycling Map


Tour Availability


J F M A M J J A S O N D

Available Guided Dates


4th - 10th May 2026



Day 1 - Malaga

The holiday begins in the elegant coastal city of Malaga. Easily accessible, thanks to its large international airport, Malaga is a fantastic destination in its own right.

It has been inhabited for thousands of years, and echoes of this past can still clearly be seen in the Roman theatre and Moorish Alcazaba. Malaga is also the home town of Pablo Picasso and boasts an excellent museum dedicated to him.

If you prefer to relax, then you can visit one of the city's beaches or enjoy one of the many bars and restaurants situated close to the hotel.

We will fit you with the bikes and, depending on your arrival time, there is the opportunity to do a short circular ride on the edge of the city.
The historic center of Malaga
The historic center of Malaga

Day 2 - Montés de Malaga & El Chorro

The first full day in the saddle begins by quickly leaving the city and entering the Montés de Malaga Natural Park. A modest climb passes the Charco del Infierno gorge and reservoir, following roads with very little traffic.

The longer route takes a detour to climb to El Torcal - a worthy detour, to see an impressive karst landscape with spectacular rock formations.

The day ends in the charming village of El Chorro, situated at the confluence of several picturesque reservoirs, and an excellent place for relaxing.

If you would like to do something a little more adventurous, El Chorro is also on the Caminito del Rey trail - one of the most spectacular hiking routes in all of Europe. It is possible to undertake this hike in the afternoon (it is only 7km long). If you are interested, we can help you with making a reservation for this, as entrance is heavily restricted.

Cycle Routes


Shorter Route: 43km / 900m Elevation
(27 miles / 3000 ft)

Medium Route: 65km / 1300m
(41 miles / 4300 ft)

Longer Route: 82km / 1850m
(54 miles / 6200 ft)
Pass out of Malaga
Resting on a pass out of Malaga

Day 3 - Cordilleras Bética - Setenil

The ride today begins by following winding roads along the reservoir, before crossing the Cordilleras Bética mountain chain.

It is really fun riding on hilly roads with perfect surfaces and very little traffic. The open landscape is dotted with olive groves, rolling wheat fields and charming white-washed villages.

You finish in the small town of Setenil de las Bodegas, which is known for its dramatic location, perched on the edge of a cliff, with some of the houses built into the mountain side. Setenil is also home to some of the oldest wine bodegas in Spain. We will arrive in town in time for a late lunch, where you can sample some of the tasty white wines made with AlbariƱo and Verdejo grapes, as well as the full bodied reds.

Cycle Routes


Shorter Route: 63km / 1050m
(39 miles / 3450 ft)

Longer Route: 75km / 1450m
(47 miles / 4,800 ft)
Scenery in the Cordillera Bética
Scpectacular landscapes of the Cordillera Bética

Day 4 - Zahara de la Sierra

We start the day by climbing out of Setenil and soon arrive at the awe-inspiring site of Acinipo. A former Roman city, Acinipo boasts some impressive ruins of a theatre, bath complex and houses, situated on a hill with magnificent views of the Grazalema Mountains.

And that is where you will be heading next! The shorter route continues to the edge of the mountains, before following a beautiful road alongthe Zahara Reservoir to the hotel.

The longer route climbs into the heart of the mountains, arriving at Puerto de las Palomas via the El Boyar pass. From here it is a fun and exhilirating descent down to our hotel in Zahara de la Sierra.

Zahara is one of our favourite towns in all of Spain. It's idyllic location, between the mountains and a large lake, is enhanced by its incredible history. The old town is largely still intact from it's re-founding as a Moorish fortified settlement in the 13th century. Its well worth exploring the castle as well as the narrow streets, lined with small tapas bars and cafes.

Cycle Routes


Shorter Route: 41km / 800m
(26 miles / 2,600 ft)

Longer Route: 58km / 1400m
(36 miles / 4,600 ft)

Zahara de la Sierra Reservoir
Zahara de la Sierra Reservoir

Day 5 - Grazalema Mountains & Ronda

There are several route options today, depending on how your legs feel. The most direct route is short but hilly, as it follows an undulating road through the charming pueblos blancos of Montejaque and Benaojan.

The longer route traverses through the Grazalema Natural Park. Beginning with the jaw-dropping climb to Puerto de las Palomas, you then loop around the highest peaks in this part of Spain, before a long descent takes you back towards our destination of Ronda.

The medium route is a compromise of the two - allowing you to experience the specatcular scenery of the Grazalema, without clocking up too many miles in the saddle!

All rides finish in Ronda - one of the most charismatic towns in Spain. Most famous for its bridge, connecting the two halves of the city that are separated by a huge gorge, Ronda is a delight to explore. It is also a cultural center of southern Spain - a hive of tradition where you can will find flamenco, sherry, tapas and (occasionally) bull fighting.

Cycle Routes


Shorter Route: 43km / 870m
(27 miles / 3,000 ft)

Medium Route: 57km / 1,300m
(36 miles / 4,300 ft) Longer Route: 99km / 2,100m
(62 miles / 7,000 ft)

Ronda
Arriving towards Ronda

Day 6 - Sierra de las Nieves National Park

The final day in the saddle is one of the most enjoyable in terms of riding. You head into the Sierra de las Nieves National Park; known for its high peaks, rocky caves and birdlife.

As we climb to Puerto del Viento it is not uncommon to see golden eagles, vultures and the Spanish Ibex. An equally impressive descent takes you down to the town of El Burgo, before we follow more rolling roads across the Sierra de Aguas range.

The route today is long, but has considerably more descending than ascending, making it a lot of fun. The shorter ride ends with a quick transfer into Malaga, while the longer route continues all the way into the heart of the city, where we enjoy some well deserved refreshments!

Cycle Routes


Shorter Route: 70km / 1,050m
(44 miles / 3.300 ft)

Longer Route: 95km / 1,150m
(59 miles / 3,600 ft)
Nearing the final climb
Riding along beautiful and quiet roads

Day 7 - Departure or Extensions

The guided tour comes to an end after breakfast.

If you have the time, We highly recommend spending some extra days in the region to explore Malaga or some of the other nearby cities.

Popular options to extend the holiday include Granada, Seville, Cordoba and Gibraltar.

Puerto del Viento
Puerto del Viento

This multi-faceted holiday explores various mountain ranges of southern Spain, punctuated by visiting towns of breathtaking beauty.

Check out just a few of the many tour highlights in the photo album below:

Included
  • Six Nights accommodation in fine boutique hotels (see the Hotels section for more details).
  • Eleven meals: six breakfasts, & five lunches (these are typically three course meals in local restaurants - drinks inlcuded)
  • Bicycle Hire (Road, e-bike or hybrid).
  • Transfers to and from the arrival / departure point (see below for details)
  • Luggage transferred between hotels
  • Vehicle Support on the routes
  • Experienced guides (Ian and Lucia from Cycle Fiesta) riding the routes and explaining the places of interest
  • Detailed information pack
Not Included:

Bicycles
Bicycle hire is included in the cost of the holiday, and we recommend road bikes or e-bikes for this tour.

On this tour we rent full carbon road bikes. These are typically equipped with Shimano 11 or 12 speed speed groupsets with a compact chainset (50-34 teeth) and lightweight climbing wheels. They offer a great balance between speed and comfort. The exact model depends on availability, so please get in touch if you would like more information.

In addition to road bikes, we also offer e-bikes for this holiday, as well as sporty hybrids.

All of our bikes come with helmets and handlebar bags if required.

More details about our bikes can be found on our bicycles page. The exact model depends on availability, so please get in touch if you would like more information.

All of our bikes come with helmets and handlebar bags if required, as well as a Cycle Fiesta water bottle.
Road bicycles Our lightweight carbon road bikes

Difficulty Level & Roads
The shorter routes on this holiday are rated as medium to challenging difficulty, while the longer routes are generally challenging.

The routes head into the mountains each day, but the climbs in this part of Andalucia are not especially steep (average gradients are 4-7%) and so it's not too hard to settle into a comfortable rhythm and spin up at your own pace. The main challenge is the cumulative elevation gain throughout the day.

In order to enjoy the holiday it is necessary to have a reasonable level of fitness. However, because the minimum daily distances are quite low, you certainly don't have to be a regular club rider to have a great time on this tour.

The routes also have plenty of places to stop at cafes or restaurants and so this is a great cycling tour for riders that enjoy mountain scenery and steady climbs, without wanting to race them.

We hate riding alongside cars and so avoid it as much as possible! All of the rides follow quiet country lanes, where you can ride for long periods of time without seeing a single vehicle.

Find out more about our tour difficulty levels.

Arrival and Departure
Malaga is the arrival and departure point for the tour. It has a large international airport with low cost flights to many European and inter-continental destinations.

It is also connected by high speed train to Madrid.

Please contact us if you you would like some assistance in finding a suitable flight or train connections.

Frequently Asked Questions


Please browse through some of the frequently asked questions about this cycling tour. If you have any further questions, or would like any more information, please contact us and we will answer by email.


Should I ride the longer or shorter routes?

This depends entirely on you! The longer and shorter routes all start and finish at the same place, and so you can decide on any given day which you would prefer to do. There is no need to commit until the day of the ride itself.

On the longer routes you see more and are able to visit more places, while the shorter routes are more relaxing and ideal if you like to take your time and go at a slower pace.

If you would like to visit the extra towns and monuments on the longer routes, but are worried about the distances, then we recommend hiring an e-bike, which will give you more flexibility.

What is the weather like?

The weather on this tour is generally very pleasant for cycling throughout the year, with typically mild winters. July and August are the hottest months of the year, but can still be pleasant for riding compared with much of Spain, but in summer you may have to start earlier to avoid the hottest time of the day.

Rain is not common in most of the region, but is more of a possibility in the Grazalema mountains. This is typically in the form of showers, but it is important to bring at least a rain jacket as a precaution.

Can I extend the tour?

If you wish to include extra nights at the start or end of the holiday, we would be happy to organize this for you.

As well as Malaga, popular nearby cities include Granada, Seville, Cordoba and Gibraltar.

Can non-cyclists come on the trip?

Absolutely! Non-cyclists are more than welcome.

Although cycling is a big part of the holiday, we also do a lot off the bike. Usually non-cyclists ride in the support vehicle and can explore the various towns and villages along the route.

Who is leading the tour?

All of our guided tours are led personally by the founders of Cycle Fiesta - Ian & Lucia.

See our about us page for more information.

How does the cycling work on the tours?

This is a relaxed tour, and we encourage everyone to go at their own pace. It's a holiday after all, and we don't want you to feel rushed at any point.

Sometimes we ride in big group, but usually people tend to split up into smaller groups riding at different speeds and we regroup at several points throughout the day.

What do lunches consist of on this tour?

Lunches are mostly taken in high quality local restaurants and consists of traditional Spanish dishes. The menu normally has three or four options for each course (including at least one vegetarian option). We believe that experiencing the local gastronomy is a key part of any holiday and so we try to select excellent restaurants which showcase the food from the region.

Drinks are included (water, soft drinks, beer, wine) with all meals.

What is your cancellation policy?

The full cancellation policy can be found in our terms and conditions.

This includes our latest Covid policy.

Can I do this as a private guided tour?

Yes, we can run this as a private tour for groups of eight or more people. Please get in contact with us to discuss dates and any changes you would like to make to the itinerary.

Why book with us?

We are a small and independent company who are locally based, which offers several advantages:

- We have a lot personal experience of all of our tours, which have been refined over many years. We believe we are genuine experts in the regions where we run tours, and we are also close at hand to offer support and a personalized service.

- We are flexible and can tailor our itineraries to suit your requirements.

- We have low overheads. We don't spend money on advertising and don't use third party agents. We only sell our tours through this website.

By cutting out the middle man, you can be sure that more of what you pay is being spent on the important things: like hotels, equipment and other services.

- We are a registered and fully bonded tour operator in accordance with EU regulations.

Hotel Guadalmedina
Malaga Hotel
You spend two nights at this very comfortable 4-star hotel situated right on the edge of Malaga's historic center. It is well equipped and within easy walking distance of the Alcazaba and the city's main restaurant district.
Hotel La Garganta
Chorro Hotel
A high quality 3-star hotel situated overlooking the reservoir in El Chorro. The rooms are stylish and the hotel has an excellent swimming pool and fantastic views from the breakfast terrace.

The hotel is also at the southern edge of the Caminito del Rey hiking route.
El Almendral
Hotel Setenil
This boutique style hotel is located in a traditional Andalucian style 'cortijo' villa complex. It has stylish rooms, a large swimming pool and elegant grounds for relaxing.

The hotel is also situated just a short walk from the dramatic cave houses of Setenil.
Arcos de la Villa
Arcos de la Villa Hotel
A beautiful hotel built into the side of the cliff in Zahara's old town. It is just a stone's thrown from the castle and a short walk to the town's bars and restaurants.

The hotel is very popular with hikers and rooms have excellent views overlooking the Zahara Reservoir.
Hotel Maestranza
Hotel Maestranza
An elegant four-star hotel in the heart of Ronda, only 200m from the famous bridge. Large, comfortable rooms with good facilities and an excellent breakfast.
To find out more about how we select our hotels, please see our accommodation page.


Date Price (per person)¹ Single Supplement Bike Hire
4th - 10th May 2026 €1,520 EUR €340 Included
Other Dates² - - -


¹Price is based on two people sharing a double or twin room. If you would prefer to stay in a single room, the single supplement is applicable.

To reserve a place on the tour, click the button above and complete the reservation form. We will then get back to you within 24 hours to confirm the reservation, and to arrange for payment of the deposit.

For more details on the booking process, please check out our Reservations page.


²Other Dates
Groups of eight people or more contact us to arrange a private guided tour starting on any date.

Similar tours that you may be interested in:
Alhambra Palace - Granada
Spanish FlagSpain

Guided Cycling Holiday
Length: 8 Days
Level: Difficulty Easy to Medium
Price: €1,880 EUR
*Bike Hire Included

Tramuntana Mountains - Mallorca
Spanish FlagSpain

Self-Guided Cycling Holiday
Length: 7 Days
Level: Difficulty Medium to Challenging
Price: from €1,490 EUR
Rioja Vineyards
Basque Flag Spanish FlagSpain

Guided Cycling Holiday
Length: 7 Days
Level: Difficulty Easy to Medium
Price: €1,760 EUR
*Bike Hire Included

Costa Brava Beach
Catalan Flag Spanish FlagSpain

Guided Cycling Holiday
Length: 7 Days
Level: Difficulty Easy to Medium
Price: €1,780 EUR
*Bike Hire Included