SpainMalaga & Ronda Mountains
Guided Cycling Holiday
Spain
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.
Day 1 - Malaga
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
Day 2 - Montés de Malaga & El Chorro
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)
Resting on a pass out of Malaga
Day 3 - Cordilleras Bética - Setenil
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)
Scpectacular landscapes of the Cordillera Bética
Day 4 - Zahara de la Sierra
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
Day 5 - Grazalema Mountains & Ronda
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)
Arriving towards Ronda
Day 6 - Sierra de las Nieves National Park
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)
Riding along beautiful and quiet roads
Day 7 - Departure or Extensions
Check out just a few of the many tour highlights in the photo album below:
Malaga Ancient Monuments
Malaga is perhaps best known for its beaches and for being the gateway to the Costa del Sol. However, it is also a city with thousands of years of history; exemplified by the Roman theatre and Moorish Alcazaba.
Taking a break!
It's not all about cycling! There is plenty of time on this holiday for relaxation and exploring the beautiful towns and villages.
Scenic Pass
Admiring the scenery on the quiet climb out of Malaga
Cycling out of Grazalema
The highest village in the eponymous Grazalema Mountains.
White Villages
You will visit many of Spain's iconic Pueblos Blancos.
Puerto El Boyar
One of the highest passes on this holiday.
Zahara Castle
You can explore Zahara's historic castle and old town, which was built as a fortified Moorish settlement in the early Medieval period.
Puerto del Viento
A spectacular climb outside Ronda. There are breathtaking views on both the climb and the descent.
Cordilleras Bética
The distinctive rock formations of the Cordilleras Bética
Caminito del Rey
There is the option to hike this world famous trail, starting from El Chorro.
Birdspotting
The region is home to very diverse birdlife. Griffin vultures, golden eagles and peregrine falcons are among the birds of play often spotted.
Quiet Roads
The roads are generally extremely well surfaced and very quiet on this tour.
Patio Garden
A common feature of the boutique hotels and restaurants in Andalucia.
Ronda Old Town
The narrow cobbled streets take you back to the Middle Ages, when Ronda was an important city linking the Moorish empire on both sides of the Mediterranean.
Ronda Mountains
Above the clouds in the mountains outside Ronda.
A Lake in the Grazalema Mountains
The limestone peaks here are particularly dramatic.
Grazalema Village
A beautiful mid-ride coffee or lunch stop
Hundidero
This dramatic cave complex is a short diversion on the ride into Ronda.
Montejaque
Another charming village we pass through on the fifth day of the holiday.
Ronda Bridge
This impressive bridge connects the two sides of Ronda - divided by a deep gorge and sheer cliffs.
Ronda Cliff
Another view of the spectacular natural setting of Ronda.
Zahara Reservoir
We ride along the huge reservoir on the third day.
Zahara Church
Looking down from our hotel towards the church in Zahara de la Sierra
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:
- ❌ Flights
- ❌ Tour Extensions (optional extra)
- ❌ Travel Insurance
Bicycles
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.
Difficulty Level & Roads
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
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
Hotel La Garganta
The hotel is also at the southern edge of the Caminito del Rey hiking route.
El Almendral
The hotel is also situated just a short walk from the dramatic cave houses of Setenil.
Arcos de la Villa
The hotel is very popular with hikers and rooms have excellent views overlooking the Zahara Reservoir.
Hotel Maestranza
| Date | Price (per person)¹ | Single Supplement | Bike Hire | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th - 10th May 2026 | €1,520 EUR | €340 | Included | |
| Other Dates² | - | - | - |
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.




