Road cycling - Ronda & the white villages

Type: Invidual tour

Guidance: GPS

Cycling type: Road cycling

Difficulty level: 3/5

Luggage xfer: Included

Prices & Accommodations

Prices 2025

Tour info: 8 days, 7 nights, 6 cycling days
Departure: daily, prices are per person

  2025
Package Price
Price per person, double room
incl. breakfast (for 2 travelers)
€ 525
Single traveler supplement on request
Optional Extras
Own standard single room p.p. on request
Half board (breakfast + dinner) on request
Extra Nights
Extra night in Ronda
standard double room (incl. breakfast)
€ 45

 

Prices include:

    • 7 nights in a standard double room with breakfast
    • Comfortable, small-scale hotels
    • Luggage transport between accommodations
    • GPS with tracks for mobile app
    • General tourist information about the area
    • Telephone assistance during the trip
    • Reservation fees
    • Financial Protection through VZR Garant

Prices exclude:

  • Bike rental
  • Airport transfers
  • Insurance
  • Local tourist taxes

Rental Bikes & Extras

  • Road bike (aluminum, carbon fork, Shimano 105): € 175
  • Full carbon road bike(full carbon,Shimano 105, disc): € 270
  • E-bike touring bike, 6 days rental: € 270
  • Transfer from Malaga airport to Ronda: € 135
    (up to 4 people)
  • Transfer from Ronda to Malaga airport: € 135
    (up to 4 people)

Accommodations

During your cycling holiday, you’ll stay in cozy accommodations ranging from charming inns to welcoming family-run hotels with two or three stars. Here, you won’t find cookie-cutter establishments but places full of character, offering a warm, personal atmosphere and unique touches that make you feel at home. Each location is carefully selected to ensure comfort and authentic hospitality. Rooms are en suite (your own bathroom).

In short
  • Cycling from hotels in Ronda and Grazalema
  • Daily choice between a shorter or longer route
  • Discover Ronda, the white villages, and the Grazalema Natural Park
  • An ideal training area with challenging climbs
  • Cycle through highly diverse landscapes
  • Tour info: 8 days, 7 nights, 6 cycling days

 

Looking for a week of training in a stunning, hilly region in southern Spain? Then this is for you. You’ll spend the first few days cycling from the lively Andalusian town of Ronda, before heading to your second location in the picturesque white village of Grazalema. From Grazalema, you can enjoy two more day rides. On the final day, you’ll return to Ronda via a different route.

You’ll be in mountainous terrain, so by the end of the week, you’ll have tackled plenty of elevation. However, this cycling holiday lets you choose your intensity level. You can opt for shorter (or longer) daily distances or even skip a day of cycling. For the cycling days, we’ve carefully selected quiet secondary roads with smooth asphalt. Drivers in the area are known for their courtesy towards cyclists. Another advantage of this trip is that you won’t need to pack your bags every day.

Your journey begins in Ronda, a city rich in Moorish influences and home to the impressive Tajo Gorge. From here, you cycle north through rolling landscapes to unique villages such as Setenil, where houses are built into the rocks, and the charming Olvera, known for its scenic hilltop views. Along the way, you’ll enjoy the tranquility and open spaces of quiet backroads.

The route continues through expansive forests to the white village of El Burgo, where you tackle the steep Puerto del Viento, rewarded with panoramic views. From Ronda, the journey takes you to Grazalema, a gem in the natural park, surrounded by lush valleys and winding roads. This delightful village is perfect for a well-deserved break or a peaceful walk, offering an authentic experience of the white villages amidst breathtaking nature.

Your ride through the Grazalema Natural Park takes you over the Puerto del Boyar, a pass with stunning vistas. You then cycle via Zahara and the renowned Puerto de las Palomas, a climb offering phenomenal views, before returning to Grazalema. The final cycling day leads you through spectacular canyons and picturesque villages such as Montejaque, eventually bringing you back to Ronda. Here, a cozy evening in the historic city awaits, wrapping up this extraordinary week filled with nature, culture, and active exploration.

The Route

    1. Arrival in Ronda
    2. Day trip to Olvera & Setenil
    3. Day trip Cuevas – El Burgo
    4. Stage from Ronda to Grazalema
    5. Day trip to Ubrique and El Bosque (or rest day)
    6. Day trip to the Puerto de las Palomas (or rest day)
    7. Stage from Grazalema to Ronda
    8. End of the tour
Day-to-day program

You can expand each day for more information.
Every day, you can choose from 2 different routes and distances (with corresponding elevation gains).

  • Day 1 – Arrival in Ronda

    Today, you arrive in Ronda, likely traveling via Malaga, which is just over an hour’s drive away. Along the way, you’ll notice the diverse landscape—rolling green hills, densely wooded mountain slopes, canyons, and striking rock formations. Ronda itself is a delightful town, vibrant with shops, restaurants, and terraces. It’s also steeped in history, boasting a charming old town, Moorish palaces, and Spain’s oldest bullring. The iconic bridge spanning the Tajo Gorge is a sight you may already recognize from photographs.

  • Day 2 – Day Trip North of Ronda (45 km, 830 m+ or 75 km, 1,400 m+)

    Today, you can choose between: Ronda-Setenil-Arriate (45 km, 830 m+) or Ronda-Setenil-Olvera (75 km, 1,400 m+).
    Both routes begin with a steady climb northwards.

    The shorter option passes by an ancient Roman theater and quickly reaches the spectacular village of Setenil, a truly unique place where houses and rocks seamlessly merge. Be sure to take a break at one of the terraces here.

    The longer option continues further north on a beautifully undulating road through rolling hills, offering stunning views of Olvera, a prominent village perched atop a hill—a characteristic feature of this region. After Olvera, the route descends into a valley before reaching Setenil.

    From Setenil, both routes feature a long final climb to a low pass. The shorter route then takes quiet backroads with a few additional climbs, passing through hamlets and the village of Arriate before returning to Ronda. The longer route includes a small detour. Once back in Ronda, you can unwind on a terrace and savor your achievement.

  • Day 3 – Towards El Burgo (52 km, 1,100 m+ or 72 km, 1,400 m+)

    Today, you can choose between: a round trip to El Burgo (52 km, 1,100 m+) or Ronda-Cuevas-Serrato-El Burgo (72 km, 1,400 m+).

    Your ride takes you to the charming white village of El Burgo. The route winds through an expansive pine forest, involving a fair amount of climbing. The longer option adds a loop through two additional small white villages. El Burgo is an excellent spot for lunch—a good meal is recommended, as you’ll need energy for the second half of the stage.

    The highlight of the day is the rugged Puerto del Viento (Pass of the Wind), a climb that starts gently but becomes progressively steeper. The landscape becomes more barren, with views of the Sierra de las Nieves mountains in the distance. Once at the pass, you’ll spot Ronda, which you’ll reach after an exhilarating descent. You’ll spend your third and final night in Ronda for now.

    Serrato El Burgo
  • Day 4 – Ronda to Grazalema (45 km, 1,050 m+ or 53 km, 1,240 m+)

    Today is not a loop ride but a point-to-point stage. You leave Ronda and head towards your overnight stop in Grazalema. Both routes are varied and almost entirely on quiet, small roads with constant ascents and descents. After a small pass, the road descends for a long stretch, offering beautiful views of Montecorto (short route) or Setenil and Olvera (long route).

    The longer option revisits Setenil, as on Day 1. After passing through Setenil, there are a few steep sections before you arrive in the picturesque Montecorto. From here, you can already see the Sierra de Grazalema in the distance. Both routes then follow one of the most scenic winding roads in the region, leading you to Grazalema.

    This white village is a gem, nestled at the base of the natural park with its rocky peaks and lush surroundings. Here, a comfortable hotel awaits, offering a restful end to your journey.

  • Day 5 – West of Grazalema (39 km, 630 m+ or 55 km, 1,200 m+)

    Today offers a scenic cycling route through several white villages and the stunning Grazalema Natural Park. If you prefer, you can take a rest day or enjoy a peaceful hike in the area.

    The cycling stage takes you through Villaluenga to Benaocaz, where the shorter route turns back. The longer option continues via Ubrique to El Bosque, a lively village with plenty of bars and restaurants, making it a perfect spot for a break.

    Afterwards, the route climbs to the unique mountain village of Benamahoma and further up to the renowned Puerto del Boyar, a pass that has featured multiple times in the Vuelta a España. A perfect mix of nature, culture, and physical challenge!

  • Day 6 – A Visit to Iconic Zahara (39 km, 900 m+)

    Today, you once again have the option of a cycling day or a rest day. The area is perfect for hiking or even swimming if you’re looking to relax.

    For those opting to cycle, the day begins with a descent to the reservoir of Zahara, home to another iconic white village. On the charming village square, with its picturesque church, you’ll find plenty of terraces for a coffee break.

    From Zahara, the challenge begins: the longest climb in the region, the famous Puerto de las Palomas. This climb starts with gentle gradients but becomes significantly steeper towards the top. The breathtaking views, however, make the effort worthwhile. After reaching the summit, enjoy a thrilling and speedy descent back to the village square of Grazalema.

  • Day 7 – Return to Ronda (61 km, 1,300 m+ or 88 km, 1,900 m+)

    Today, you cycle back to Ronda on your final day of riding. It’s a challenging route but incredibly rewarding. The journey begins with a breathtaking canyon leading to the charming white village of Montejaque. From there, a quiet road winds past rock formations to Jimena de Líbar, followed by a climb through a serene, lush valley where solitude reigns.

    For the shorter route, Atajate is the last village before Ronda—a perfect spot for a break. From there, the road steadily ascends to a pass, though the gradient is gentle.

    The longer route takes an additional loop through a stunning valley with sweeping views and several white villages. As you approach Ronda, the terrain becomes more rugged, culminating in an exhilarating descent. You re-enter Ronda via the historic San Francisco district, ready to enjoy one final evening and night in this lively and historic town.

  • Dag 8 – End of tour

    Your cycling week has come to an end, and your legs are sure to feel much stronger after all the climbing.
    A taxi (additional cost) can take you back to Malaga for your return flight, or you might choose to extend your stay in Spain.

Practical
  • Difficulty Level Explanation: 3/5 – Road Cycling

    For the difficulty level of this tour, we base it on the shorter distances. If you opt for the longer distances with more elevation gain, the difficulty level increases to 4/5.

    Difficulty level 3 for road cycling means it is manageable for the average cyclist. There may be 1 or 2 days where the ride is slightly longer and more challenging. On average, daily distances range between 75 and 100 kilometers, with 750 to 1500 meters of elevation gain.

Road cycling – Ronda & the white villages

8 days from € 525 p.p. Request tour proposal

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