A look at Saddle Skedaddle’s cycling holidays to Spain in 2022 and 2023. Trips include a guided leisure cycling holiday along the Camino de Santiago; a Basque Country to Andalucia north to south guided road cycling holiday; and a Trans Andaluz guided mountain bike holiday.
Camino de Santiago guided leisure cycling holiday
Travelled by pilgrims for more than 1,000 years, Saddle Skedaddle’s guided cycling holiday along Spain’s historic Camino de Santiago follows in the footsteps of ancient travellers. After collecting the official pilgrim’s passport to log the journey along the Camino, the cycling begins with a picturesque ride through vineyards and villages to the town of Villafranca del Bierzo. A challenging climb to the village of O’Cebriero is rewarded with stunning views and a 10km descent to the valley floor.
After cycling deep into mysterious Galicia – famous for legends of Brujeria (witchcraft) and mythology – the route reaches a long Corredoira marking 100km to Santiago.
The final climbs of the Camino follow paved roads to Monte del Gozo (Mount Joy) – so called because the long awaited sight of Santiago finally comes into view. It’s then downhill all the way to Plaza de Obradoiro, Santiago’s impressive cathedral square, which marks the final stop on the Camino de Santiago.
- Dates: 5-11 September 2022
- Price: Prices from £1,640pp. Price includes accommodation (half board), full tour service, support/luggage vehicle, and airport transfers. Flights and bike hire not included. Ryanair flies from London Stansted to Santiago-Rosalía de Castro Airport (return). Flight price approx £200pp. Bike hire from £190pp.
- How to book: skedaddle.com
Basque Country to Andalucia – north to south of Spain guided road cycling holiday
Road cycling is a tradition and part of the culture in Spain. Saddle Skedaddle’s 21-day road cycling holiday from the Basque Country in the north to Andalucia in the south gives experienced riders the chance to complete their own Vuelta a España.
Beginning in San Sebastian, the route climbs a series of small cols – the highest being Alto de Guembe (920m) – before reaching La Rioja, Spain’s famous wine producing region. Following the historic Camino de Santiago, the route visits San Millan Monastery, known as the birthplace of the Spanish language, before heading deep into the La Demanda Mountains.
The rolling landscapes and huge skies of Natural Park of Rio Riaza lead to the northern flanks of the Sierra de Guadarrama and the Unesco World Heritage Site of Ávila. The Collado de Serranillos – the highest point of the trip at 1,580m – marks the divide between north and south Spain.
Winding into the Sierras, the roads are virtually traffic free as the route passes into Andalucia, the final province of the trip. After enjoying a rest day in the city of Córdoba – the birthplace of Spanish Flamenco – the final few days in the saddle begin on the northern edge of the Parque Natural Sierras Subbéticas, which boasts towering limestone cliffs and olive groves stretching far as the eye can see.
The final ride of the trip follows rugged mountain sides to the village of Alfarnate before climbing into the Montes de Malaga. Stopping for lunch at Puerto de Leon (905m) which marks the top of the last climb, it’s then an exhilarating descent to Malaga and the Mediterranean Sea.
- Dates: 30 September-20 October 2022; 23 April-13 May 2023; 27 August-16 September 2023
- Price: Prices from £4,185pp. Price includes accommodation (half board), full tour service, support/luggage vehicle, and airport transfers. Flights and bike hire not included. EasyJet flies from London Gatwick to Bilbao (outbound) and Malaga to London Gatwick (return). Flight price approx £200pp. Bike hire from £565pp.
- How to book: skedaddle.com
Trans Andaluz guided mountain bike holiday
Saddle Skedaddle’s seven-day mountain bike holiday in Andalucía stands out as a truly remote cross country journey. Moving away from the coast and into the mountains, the route travels through two Unesco biosphere reserves and four Natural Parks.
After enjoying the fast trials in the deep valley of the Rio Grande, there’s an exhilarating singletrack descent en route to El Burgo. The challenging climb to the summit of Lifa pass offers stunning views across the white town of Ronda and the Grazalema Mountains.
The 8km stretch of mainly smooth singletrack along the riverbank to the village of Jimera de Libar, and the 10km of fast flowing trails and singletrack to the village of Estacion de Cortes that follows, is arguably one of the best stretches of singletrack in Spain.
Other highlights include a day of wilderness biking in the Alcornocales Natural Park, a choice of trails that local riders have opened up and built through the hills above Tarifa, and the fast trials through the Straits of Gibraltar Natural Park.
The final ride of the trip follows long stretches of singletrack to Isla de las Palomas – Europe’s most southerly point.
- Dates: 30 October-5 November 2022
- Price: from £1,695pp. Price includes accommodation (half board), full tour service, support/luggage vehicle, and airport transfers. Flights and bike hire not included. EasyJet flies from London Luton and a number of regional airports to Malaga (return). Flight price approx £150pp. Bike hire from £285pp.
- How to book: skedaddle.com
Image credit: Lighttrapper Photography