Get ready for a full immersion into the Andalucían way of life! Circumnavigating the Sierra Nevada of Spain you’ll climb high to the whitewashed villages of the Alpujarra mountains. Descend on rocky, ancient mule tracks, baked hard by the Spanish sun. Pedal through the desert ‘Badlands’ and stay in caves.
Every day will be punctuated with excellent local food and drink, and your guide will crown your adventure by street riding through Old Town Granada and a locals’ tapas tour.
To find out if this advanced MTB tour in Andalucía, Spain is right for you, read more on the skill and fitness levels required.
The itinerary for our incredible mountain bike tour Spain MTB has been designed to flow perfectly, maximising your time on the best trails in the most spectacular spots in the South Island, whilst minimising time in the van.
£2,520 GBP / $3,402 USD / €3,024 EUR per person (ex. flights, based on two sharing a room)
*Single supplement is only applicable if you are travelling solo and do not wish to share a room with another rider of the same sex. If you’re happy to do that, you need not add the supplement.
We want you to have the best experience in Andalucía, Spain, so it’s important to be sure that this is the perfect MTB tour, with the right level of challenge, for you.
You’re a very experienced mountain biker, riding at least three times a week through the season and comfortable on: steep, loose singletrack descents; long, tough climbs; technical rocky descents; switchbacks; and forested singletrack. Read more on our advanced skill level.
Does this sound like you? Your vacation time is precious and we want to be absolutely sure that you’re making the most of it, by finding the perfect adventure for you. Be honest with yourself, if this adventure isn’t right for you, we have other tours that may well be a better fit for your mountain biking experience and ability.
Please note: The skill level required reflects an overall rating for the trails on the trip but you should expect to find sections and obstacles that push your ability levels.
Skill level: Advanced
Fitness level: 6/7
Typical trails you’ll be riding
Training for your Andalucían MTB adventure in Spain
To get the most out of your mountain bike tour in Spain you should plan plenty of training in advance of your tour.
The ideal bike for the Spanish trails is a good quality full-suspension mountain bike with 29” or 27.5” wheels, dropper seat post, and 130mm -150mm of travel front and rear. Ideal tyres for Spain are… [example in modal]
You must travel to Spain with your own bike, and have some handy tips on how to do this. When travelling with your own bike, you must ensure that it has been properly serviced before the trip.
We only run small group mountain bike tours to ensure that everyone has the best experience possible, and we can take a maximum of seven riders in each group. The minimum number of people we require to run this mountain bike tour in Spain is four.
Our mountain bike tour in Spain caters for a wide age range; typically between 30- and 60-years-old. Regardless of age, you must have the appropriate level of physical fitness and mountain biking skills to participate in this adventure. Please refer to clause 14 of our terms and conditions of booking to find more information on rider age.
This mountain bike tour Spain is a guided mountain biking tour, ideal for advanced mountain bikers. Riding here, in the Sierra Nevada and coast of Andalucía you’ll experience some long climbs and rocky descents.
The trails here are generally very dry and loose, with most climbing done on double track and descents on technical and, in places, flowing singletrack.
The distances we cover each day range from 30km to 50km, in accordance with the difficulty of the terrain.
Each evening your guides will chat with you about the following day’s mountain biking and give you an idea of the sorts of trails you can look forward to. If there’s anything you feel anxious about, your guides will be happy to discuss it with you.
No, you only need to carry a 16-litre back pack with you whilst riding. We have your large kit bags transferred to your next accommodation as required, and have it ready and waiting for your arrival.
Your guide will be very happy to give you some bike skills help during your trip to help improve your confidence and your enjoyment of your mountain bike adventure in Spain.
If there is a section that you would prefer not to ride, then you can simply hop off your bike and walk. You won’t be the only one to walk certain sections and it’s not a competition in biking ability; it’s a mountain bike holiday!
Your mountain bike guides are local to Andalucía and experienced professionals who have a real passion for mountain biking and for the culture and landscape of Spain.
Your safety is their number one priority, closely followed by your enjoyment of your adventure. They will always be on-hand to answer any questions or requests you may have throughout your trip.
On this mountain bike tour Spain you will be staying in a diverse range of wonderful accommodation. From small family-run hotels in mountain villages, to organic farm stays and even luxury caves.
The accommodation we have chosen reflects the culture and traditions of the Sierra Nevada and Granada area, and you’ll receive the warmest of welcomes in each and every one.
Breakfast is included each day, and lunch and dinner will be at your own expense. You should budget around 50€ per day for meals and snacks.
A good quality full suspension mountain bike with 130mm – 150mm travel front and rear will be ideal for this mountain bike tour in Spain.
The terrain you will be riding is rough in places and you will feel more comfortable on a full suspension bike for the duration of the trip. There can be thorns on the trails in Spain so we recommend that you bring tubeless tyres or tyres with thicker walls and extra thick inner tubes.
Read the full kit list to find out what you need to pack for your European mountain bike tour in Spain.
Yes, there are laundry facilities at your accommodations.
Unfortunately not. We are working hard to provide each and every customer who rides with us an unparalleled mountain bike experience in every destination we ride. This takes years of experience, riding and planning to get right, and a drone adds a very real danger to the group’s riding experience and health & safety.
Málaga Airport is well-served by international airlines, including: British Airways, Lufthansa, Delta and EasyJet, and you can also connect via Madrid and Barcelona with American Airlines, United Airlines and Iberia.
Here are some tips and video on how to pack your bike for travel.
Visas
It is your responsibility to find out the visa and passport requirements to enter Spain from your country. You can find these details on the Spanish tourism website.
Arrival and departure details
Your mountain bike tour Spain will start on day 1 at Málaga Airport or your H+I recommended hotel. Your guide and/or driver will meet you in the arrivals area of Málaga Airport, or the hotel lobby and he/she will be holding an H+I Adventures sign.
The trip will end back at Málaga Airport on day 8.
We would ask you to arrive at Málaga no later than 12 noon on the first day, and to arrange flights home no earlier than 14:00, if possible.
Ideally, you should arrive in Málaga the day before the tour start date, to allow for any flight/ luggage delays, and we have created this handy guide to spending 24 hours in Málaga before the start of our mountain bike tour Spain.
On arrival we will transfer you by private shuttle to our first location in Dilar, about 90 minutes’ drive from the airport, and close to the Sierra Nevada National Park.
Our local mountain bike guides in Spain are of the very highest standard. They are qualified in first-aid, and have the knowledge and experience to lead a group safely around the Sierra Nevada and Alpujarra of Andalucía.
Our guides have years of experience in the saddle on the Spanish trails and will be able to enhance your holiday with facts and fables on local history, flora and fauna. They’re also genuinely nice people and will do their best to make sure that everyone in the group has a great time.
One of the things that sets this mountain bike tour Spain apart from other tours is the quality and individuality of the accommodation we use. We understand that when you’ve had a big day in the saddle in the Sierra Nevada, you want a warm welcome, hot shower and a comfortable place to relax and unwind – because that’s exactly what we’re looking for too.
The majority of accommodation that we use on our mountain bike tour Spain is family-owned and operated hotels, guest lodges and even comfortable caves. We’ve spent time researching these areas extensively to select the most comfortable and authentic accommodation in the region, and we have carefully planned the itinerary to incorporate these.
Another highlight of our Spanish adventure is the abundance of exceptional local food and drink you’ll enjoy in every town and village along the way, culminating in a tapas tour of Granada.
Whilst lunches and dinners are not included in the tour price, so that you can choose what you wish from the dinner menu, we will eat together as a group at each mealtime.
No specific vaccinations are needed to enter Spain.
It is wise to carry basic medicines such as paracetamol or aspirin for fever and pain and Pepto-Bismol for stomach upset.
You should always consult your own doctor or physician before travelling to new countries to seek their advice on matters concerning your health abroad.
Your health and safety on tour is our top priority and when you travel with us you will be covered by Global Rescue emergency medical and evacuation services.
The official currency of Spain is the Euro EUR and is the only currency that will be accepted. ATM machines are available in most towns.
Tipping
It is not compulsory to tip your guides or drivers in Spain, but if you feel that you have had a tremendous experience on your MTB adventure in Spain, you can tip at your discretion; as a rough guide, around 5% of your tour price for your guiding team.
It is not compulsory to tip in restaurants, however should you wish to tip your servers, 10% of your meal cost would be acceptable.
You are required as a condition of booking to be insured against medical and personal accident risks. In this policy you must include cover for mountain biking and we recommend that you take out a policy which covers cancellation and baggage, including your bike.
We work with Global Rescue whose policies are specially designed for adventure travel and you can arrange your insurance cover directly with them.
To make this a private tour for you and your favourite people, complete the form and we’ll work with you to make it happen.
To make this a private tour for you and your favourite people, complete the form and we’ll work with you to make it happen.
Alex isn’t really our guide in Spain, we just can’t get rid of him! Manu’s details and photo coming soon…
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Once again H+I deliver, this was my 4 th time, and I’m never ceased to be amazed how they seem to get it right.The trails were amazing both challenging and exhilarating (rating about right) acomadation was good we seemed to get a good cross section of Spanish towns and villages.Food amazing , Cali head man knows his way around some wonderful eating establishments.We had an amazing bunch of fellow riders, it is so stimulating to meet MTBs from different parts of world.
Manu our guide was extremely helpful,and as it was his first one,I believe he will become an outstanding guide
Lastly the large numbers of returning riders tells you how good the H+I organisation is.
Once again H+I delivers with a stellar guide team, fine accommodations, amazing food with spectacular trails and scenery.
By far the most physically demanding of the H+I trips we've been on. Long days with lots of climbing and hike-a-bike thrown in, I did not train enough, but it was still a blast. Successive 1000m+ days of climbing will test your legs and your mental fortitude. Steep and narrow (estrecha) technical descents that don't let you relax until you're at the next hotel.
The trails are beautifully natural. Rocks, rocks and more rocks with grades that are designed more for livestock than mountain bikes. You work hard for the vertical you gain, but there is a great mix of trails during the week to keep you engaged. Lot's of dirt roads thrown in the mix to connect the single track. Unfortunately some paved connections are a necessary as well, but the roads are in fantastic shape and generally empty of traffic.
So. Much. Food. I feel like long days in the saddle should promote weight loss, but the Spanish Tapas and leisurely lunch and dinner timelines made for marathon consumption. Our guides helped pick the best options for us to split family style and that worked great to ensure sampling a variety of meats, cheeses and dishes in the region.
The one thing H+I doesn't control is the group of people you end up with, but we had a stellar crew of really strong riders. That group looked out for each other, pulled, pushed and supported one another through every km of the trip. The days were not without adversity and those challenges help form rapid bonds with what becomes your team.
Cali leads the guide team with a tremendous amount of historical knowledge of the area and the culture. Manu was our trail guide when Cali had obligations and did a great job, especially considering it was his first full trip as a guide. We had a few backtracks that we all took in stride. Eventually we settled into the idea of "Spanish Flat" which is basically uphill by our standards. But Manu took our ribbing in stride and I'm sure by his standards, a lot of those sections were flat or only 5km.
Wonderful and humbling trip. Train hard and enjoy it.
