Andalucian Cycling Experience - White Villages of Andalucia Tour, southern Spain
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'White Villages of Andalucia'
Welcome to Andalucian Cycling Experience holidays - White Villages of Andalucia Tour. Fantastic cycling in the heart of southern Spain , through beautiful white villages with picturesque and dramatic scenery.
Riding on a combination of country lanes and dirt tracks, your week's cycling meanders effortlessly through the Andalucian countryside by rivers, lakes, cork forests, the Via Verde and many beautiful white villages that are synonymous with Andalucia.
This gently paced village to village adventure starts in Jerez , famous for its sherry and flamenco, a perfect location to discover the true delights of rural Spain . We then move onto Arcos de la Frontera one of Andalucia's most dramatically positioned 'pueblos blancos' balances atop a rocky limestone ridge with its whitewashed houses and stone castle walls stopping abruptly as the sheer cliff face plunges into the valley below .
Next we glide effortlessly along the Via Verde, an old railway line, perfect for cycling, as it rolls through the breathtaking scenery of the Andalucian countryside where we see the historic, cultural and natural delights of the 'real' Andalucia.
Midweek brings us to our rest day in one of the oldest and most beautiful cities of Spain , Ronda. Situated on an impressive plateau and surrounded by mountains Ronda is famous for its spectacular gorge 'El Tajo' the cliffs are spanned by a bridge, a popular place for travellers to admire the breathtaking views.
After Ronda your tour takes you to Grazalema, a pretty mountain village, set in the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park and surrounded on three sides by mountains. Its steep cobbled streets are lined with white whitewashed houses whose window boxes bringing a splash of colour to this lively little village.
Finally we end your tour in Zahara de la Sierra, a Moorish town which was fiercely fought over by the Moors and Christians. The prominent Moorish Castle, which can be seen from miles away, towers above this stunning hilltop village which is located at the foot of a beautiful lake.
Amongst the many highlights of the trip are; the cliff top village of Acros, the beautiful Moorish castle at Zahara, the Penon Zaframagon, a craggy out crop which is the home to the largest colony of Griffon Vultures in Andalucia and last but by no means least the stunning Gorge, which splits Ronda in two.
If you require any further information call 00 (34) 952184042
Or contact us by email on andaluciancyclingexperience@yahoo.co.uk
To view pictures of this tour Click here
DEPARTURES
This tour is available all year round.
Flight Cost: £150 (approx.) from the UK Bike Hire: Included
There is no Single Person Supplement on this tour, however, if you would like a room to yourself there is a surcharge of 200GBP. This is subject to availability and should be requested upon booking.
ITINERARY
Day 1
Claire or myself will collect and transfer you from the airport to our first nights accommodation. Jerez , famous for its sherry and flemenco, is an ideal setting to start your holiday. After a group meeting and bike fitting there will be time for you to explore Jerez experiencing its beautiful architecture and cultural heritage. The evening provides you with the first opportunity to taste the regional specialities in a restaurant or tapa's bar of your choice.
Day 2
After a late breakfast the adventure begins with a tour around one of the famous sherry Bodegas in Jerez . Then onto the bikes for your first of many leisurely rides along country lanes and dirt tracks as we head towards Arcos de la Frontera. Once we arrive in Arcos there will be plenty of time to relax, unwind and explore the narrow cobbled streets of this stunning cliff top village.
Distance 35km - 22miles
Day 3
Back on the bikes we head for Bornos alongside a beautiful lake, where we pick up the 'Via Verde de la sierra' as we glide effortlessly over viaducts and through tunnels the countryside around us is rich with vegetation and our route is lined with fields of sunflowers. We arrive at our destination the Estacion de Tren at Puerto Serrano in time for afternoon tea. The Estacion has recently been renovated into a restaurant and Bed & Breakfast and is a perfect location for exploring the surrounding area or chilling out on the terrace with a glass or two of Sangria and your favourite book
Distance 30km - 19miles
Day 4
Following breakfast we ride along the 'Via Verde de la Sierra' which meanders from Puerto Serrano to Olvera. Along the route we pass through a variety of landscapes from farm land to a mountain region. Water is a common element of the landscape as the route follows the path of the two rivers of Guadalete & Guadalporcun, therefore the Mediteranean vegetation is lush. Riding along this old railway track we pass over several viaducts, the most impressive being at Coripe, and through 30 tunnels the longest of which is 990metres. Refreshments stops can be made at 3 of the 5 railway stations along the route which have been renovated into tourist information centres with cafes/restaurants. In the evening there is time to discover Olvera, with its charming town centre and beautiful hilltop church and castle.
NB: Due to local park restrictions we are not able to give vehicle support on today's ride.
Distance 36km - 23miles
Day 5
A rest day for a spot of sightseeing in Ronda, famous for its gorge, which divides the old town from the new Ronda is steeped in history with many places of interest to visit. Amongst these are, the House of the Moorish Kings from within which you can walk down inside the cliff to the bottom of the gorge. The Ramparts of Xijara, which the Arabs built to fortify the town; three of the ramparts can still be viewed today. Also, Ronda boasts the oldest and biggest bull ring in Spain where Pedro Romero created the rules of modern bullfighting, Pedro is said to have slain over 6000 bulls. For the more adventurous we can arrange various other activities for your rest day which include horseriding or hiking in the Grazalema Natural Park , Kayaking on the lake at Zahara, Paragliding and Rock Climbing
Transfer hotels to Ronda
Day 6
Back in the saddle once again, we head off along dirt tracks and quiet country lanes from Ronda to Setenil de la Bodegas. Setenil once a thriving economic centre on the 'Travellers route' between Sevilla and Ronda this picturesque white village is now famous for its cave houses and olive oil. Here we stop for lunch at, in my opinion, one of the best tapa's bars in this area which is set beneath the overhanging rock face inside a cave. In the afternoon we take a leisurely ride to the ancient Roman Ampi-theatre - Acinipo - set above Ronda la Vieja (the old Ronda), before completing our days riding. We finish by descending into a hidden valley to our nights accommodation at a Traditional Spanish Cortijo.
Distance 42km - 26miles
Day 7
On our final days riding we explore the stunning Grazalema Natural Park cycling through an enchanting cork tree forest to Grazalema, a stunning white village surrounded by three sides of mountains. Here we have an opportunity to explore the narrow streets, enjoy the beautiful views back across the route we have taken and sample a few tapa's and local hospitality. After our stop we head of to the beautiful hill top village of Zahara de la Sierra . Taking a 10km descent to the lake we can see the Moorish castle above Zahara in the distance. A gentle lakeside ride brings us to Zahara where we take time out to discover the delights of this picturesque 'pueblo blanco' (white village) and take in the breathtaking views from the hilltop Moorish Castle. The evening brings our last supper, in a restaurant overlooking the lake with the sun setting behind us, a celebratory meal to end your White Village of Andalucia Tour
Distance 45km - 28miles
Total Distance 188km - 118miles
Day 8
Time to pack those bags for the last time before we get on the road for your flights home.
GENERAL INFORMATION
WHAT THE PRICE INCLUDES
1) Accommodation (based on two people sharing)
2) All breakfasts
3) Guides, bikes and support vehicles.
4) A leader qualified in First Aid.
5) Airport transfers
6) Entrance into the Sherry Bodega (Day 2)
WHAT THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
1) Flights & charges for bringing your bike (if applicable)
2) Travel Insurance.
3) Personal clothing and equipment.
4) Any other rest day activities.
5) Evening meals.
6) Alcoholic Beverages.
INSURANCE
It is a condition of our trip that you are covered by a medical and personal accident insurance policy that includes cover for sports activities and repatriation to your home country.
SPENDING MONEY
Switch & credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard and may be used for purchasing goods, paying for food and for drawing cash. We recommend that you bring 2-300 GBP worth of Euros for the start of the trip
EQUIPMENT
We provide everything including a bike (if you prefer to bring your own bike then that's cool too), your guide(s) will of course be taking a full tool kit and a selection of spares for our bikes. If you are bringing your own bike it should be a mountain bike which is in good mechanical order. If you are not mechanically minded, we advise you to take your bike to a local bicycle dealer for a service.
VEHICLE SUPPORT
At various intervals during the day we have the security of our support vehicle for tired bikers. You are NOT required to take any extra equipment other than that you would normally take on a days riding.
FIRST AID
Your guide is a qualified First-Aider and carries a comprehensive medical kit.
E111 FORM EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD.
UK residents are able to obtain medical treatment, should it become necessary, either free or at a reduced cost when temporarily visiting an EU country by using a European Health Insurance Card.
Due to recent changes to European law, on 31 December 2005 , your existing E111 will cease to be valid, you will need a European Health Insurance Card to receive any healthcare that becomes necessary during your visit to an EEA country or Switzerland and should be used in conjunction with an appropriate insurance policy
The new card is now issued on an individual, as opposed to a family basis but you can order cards for your family members.
The application form for the new card is available from the post office or can be downloaded via the following link:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAdviceForTravellers/fs/en
AIRPORT TRANSFERS
We offer airport transfers from Jerez , Seville and Malaga
PLEASE CONTACT US FOR DETAILS OF THE VARIOUS OPTIONS PRIOR TO BOOKING TICKETS.
BOOKING THIS TRIP
Booking your place on this trip is easy, first e-mail to check the availability of places on the trip. To reserve you place on the White Village tour we will require a deposit of £100 per person.
If you book less than six weeks before departure full payment is required at the time of booking.
CONFIRMATION
On receipt of your payment, we will send you a reservation confirmation.
METHOD OF PAYMENT
We accept all major debit and credit cards. Payments can also be made by cheque or by bank transfer.
